A Novel Naturally Occurring Tandem Promoter in Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Drives Very Early Gene Expression and Potent Immune Responses

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) has been shown to be suitable for the generation of experimental vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases, eliciting strong humoral and cellular immune responses. In viral vectored vaccines, strong recombinant antigen expression and timing of expression influence the quantity and quality of the immune response. Screening of synthetic and native poxvirus promoters for strong protein expression in vitro and potent immune responses in vivo led to the identification of the MVA13.5L promoter, a unique and novel naturally occurring tandem promoter in MVA composed of two 44 nucleotide long repeated motifs, each containing an early promoter element. The MVA13.5L gene is highly conserved across orthopoxviruses, yet its function is unknown. The unique structure of its promoter is not found for any other gene in the MVA genome and is also conserved in other orthopoxviruses. Comparison of the MVA13.5L promoter activity with synthetic poxviral promoters revealed that the MVA13.5L promoter produced higher levels of protein early during infection in HeLa cells and particularly in MDBK cells, a cell line in which MVA replication stops at an early stage before the expression of late genes. Finally, a recombinant antigen expressed under the control of this novel promoter induced high antibody titers and increased CD8 T cell responses in homologous prime-boost immunization compared to commonly used promoters. In particular, the recombinant antigen specific CD8 T cell responses dominated over the immunodominant B8R vector-specific responses after three vaccinations and even more during the memory phase. These results have identified the native MVA13.5L promoter as a new potent promoter for use in MVA vectored preventive and therapeutic vaccines.     

Comparing Adjuvanted H28 and Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Expressing H28 in a Mouse and a Non-Human Primate Tuberculosis Model

Here we report for the first time on the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a vaccine strategy involving the adjuvanted fusion protein “H28” (consisting of Ag85B-TB10.4-Rv2660c) and Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara expressing H28. We show that a heterologous prime-boost regimen involving priming with H28 in a Th1 adjuvant followed by boosting with H28 expressed by MVA (H28/MVA28) induced the highest percentage of IFN-γ expressing T cells, the highest production of IFN-γ per single cell and the highest induction of CD8 T cells compared to either of the vaccines given alone. In contrast, in mice vaccinated with adjuvanted recombinant H28 alone (H28/H28) we observed the highest production of IL-2 per single cell and the highest frequency of antigen specific TNF-α/IL-2 expressing CD4 T cells pre and post infection. Interestingly, TNF-α/IL-2 expressing central memory-like CD4 T cells showed a significant positive correlation with protection at week 6 post infection, whereas the opposite was observed for post infection CD4 T cells producing only IFN-γ. Moreover, as a BCG booster vaccine in a clinically relevant non-human primate TB model, the H28/H28 vaccine strategy induced a slightly more prominent reduction of clinical disease and pathology for up to one year post infection compared to H28/MVA28. Taken together, our data showed that the adjuvanted subunit and MVA strategies led to different T cell subset combinations pre and post infection and that TNF-α/IL-2 double producing but not IFN-γ single producing CD4 T cell subsets correlated with protection in the mouse TB model. Moreover, our data demonstrated that the H28 vaccine antigen was able to induce strong protection in both a mouse and a non-human primate TB model.     

Immune Requirements of Post-Exposure Immunization with Modified Vaccinia Ankara of Lethally Infected Mice

Current prophylactic vaccines work via the induction of B and T cell mediated memory that effectively control further replication of the pathogen after entry. In the case of therapeutic or post-exposure vaccinations the situation is far more complex, because the pathogen has time to establish itself in the host, start producing immune-inhibitory molecules and spread into distant organs. So far it is unclear which immune parameters have to be activated in order to thwart an existing lethal infection. Using the mousepox model, we investigated the immunological mechanisms responsible for a successful post-exposure immunization with modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA). In contrast to intranasal application of MVA, we found that intravenous immunization fully protected mice infected with ectromelia virus (ECTV) when applied three days after infection. Intravenous MVA immunization induced strong innate and adaptive immune responses in lethally infected mice. By using various gene-targeted and transgenic mouse strains we show that NK cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells and antibodies are essential for the clearance of ECTV after post-exposure immunization. Post-exposure immunization with MVA is an effective measure in a murine model of human smallpox. MVA activates innate and adaptive immune parameters and only a combination thereof is able to purge ECTV from its host. These data not only provide a basis for therapeutic vaccinations in the case of the deliberate release of pathogenic poxviruses but possibly also for the treatment of chronic infections and cancer.     

Ty virus-like particles, DNA vaccines and Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara; comparisons and combinations

Three types of vaccine, all expressing the same antigen from Plasmodium berghei, or a CD8+ T cell epitope from that antigen, were compared for their ability to induce CD8+ T cell responses in mice. Higher levels of lysis and numbers of IFN-gamma secreting T cells were primed with Ty virus-like particles and Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA) than with DNA vaccines, but none of the vaccines were able to protect immunised mice from infectious challenge even after repeated doses. However, when the immune response was primed with one type of vaccine (Ty-VLPs or DNA) and boosted with another (MVA) complete protection against infection was achieved. Protection correlated with very high levels of IFN-gamma secreting T cells and lysis. This method of vaccination uses delivery systems and routes that can be used in humans and could provide a generally applicable regime for the induction of high levels of CD8+ T cells.     

Deletion of Fifteen Open Reading Frames from Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Fails to Improve Immunogenicity

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is a highly attenuated strain of vaccinia virus, which has been used as a recombinant vaccine vector in many vaccine development programmes. The loss of many immunosuppressive and host-range genes resulted in a safe and immunogenic vaccine vector. However it still retains some immunomodulatory genes that may reduce MVA immunogenicity. Earlier reports demonstrated that the deletion of the A41L, B15R, C6L, or C12L open reading frames (ORFs) enhanced cellular immune responses in recombinant MVA (rMVA) by up to 2-fold. However, previously, we showed that deletion of the C12L, A44L, A46R, B7R, or B15R ORFs from rMVA, using MVA-BAC recombineering technology, did not enhance rMVA immunogenicity at either peak or memory cellular immune responses. Here, we extend our previous study to examine the effect of deleting clusters of genes on rMVA cellular immunogenicity. Two clusters of fifteen genes were deleted in one rMVA mutant that encodes either the 85A antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or an immunodominant H2-K^d-restricted murine malaria epitope (pb9). The deletion mutants were tested in prime only or prime and boost vaccination regimens. The responses showed no improved peak or memory CD8⁺ T cell frequencies. Our results suggest that the reported small increases in MVA deletion mutants could not be replicated with different antigens, or epitopes. Therefore, the gene deletion strategy may not be taken as a generic approach for improving the immunogenicity of MVA-based vaccines, and should be carefully assessed for every individual recombinant antigen.     

Protective Efficacy of Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Delivering Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Spike Glycoprotein

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes severe respiratory disease in humans. We tested a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vaccine expressing full-length MERS-CoV spike (S) glycoprotein by immunizing BALB/c mice with either intramuscular or subcutaneous regimens. In all cases, MVA-MERS-S induced MERS-CoV-specific CD8⁺ T cells and virus-neutralizing antibodies. Vaccinated mice were protected against MERS-CoV challenge infection after transduction with the human dipeptidyl peptidase 4 receptor. This MERS-CoV infection model demonstrates the safety and efficacy of the candidate vaccine.     

Safety and Immunogenicity of Novel Recombinant BCG and Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Vaccines in Neonate Rhesus Macaques

Although major inroads into making antiretroviral therapy available in resource-poor countries have been made, there is an urgent need for an effective vaccine administered shortly after birth, which would protect infants from acquiring human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) through breast-feeding. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is given to most infants at birth, and its recombinant form could be used to prime HIV-1-specific responses for a later boost by heterologous vectors delivering the same HIV-1-derived immunogen. Here, two groups of neonate Indian rhesus macaques were immunized with either novel candidate vaccine BCG.HIVA⁴⁰¹ or its parental strain AERAS-401, followed by two doses of recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara MVA.HIVA. The HIVA immunogen is derived from African clade A HIV-1. All vaccines were safe, giving local reactions consistent with the expected response at the injection site. No systemic adverse events or gross abnormality was seen at necropsy. Both AERAS-401 and BCG.HIVA⁴⁰¹ induced high frequencies of BCG-specific IFN-γ-secreting lymphocytes that declined over 23 weeks, but the latter failed to induce detectable HIV-1-specific IFN-γ responses. MVA.HIVA elicited HIV-1-specific IFN-γ responses in all eight animals, but, except for one animal, these responses were weak. The HIV-1-specific responses induced in infants were lower compared to historic data generated by the two HIVA vaccines in adult animals but similar to other recombinant poxviruses tested in this model. This is the first time these vaccines were tested in newborn monkeys. These results inform further infant vaccine development and provide comparative data for two human infant vaccine trials of MVA.HIVA.Close to 2.3 million of children globally are infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The majority of neonatal infections occur in utero or intrapartum and, in the absence of preventative interventions, up to 29% of infants breast-fed by infected mothers acquire HIV-1 (6). Furthermore, HIV-1-infected children face a worse prognosis than adults in that, without antiretroviral treatment (ART), 25% of perinatally infected children progress to AIDS within 1 year (10), and the median time to AIDS for the remaining children is less than 7 years (2). It is now clearly established that maternal and extended infant ART can substantially reduce transmission of HIV-1 through breast-feeding (23). However, in a resource-poor setting, many logistical barriers to implementation of the ART-based prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) remain (23). Because nutrition and hygiene makes breast milk an important determinant of infant survival (22, 28), formula feeding as a protective measure against HIV-1 acquisition is recommended only if it is AFASS (acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable, and safe). Unfortunately, AFASS it is still not for majority of infected mothers in sub-Saharan Africa. Also, mixed bottle and breast feeding is associated with a 10-fold increase in HIV-1 transmission relative to exclusive breast-feeding (4). Thus, an effective infant vaccine against HIV-1 infection is the best and safest solution for PMTCT of HIV-1 with the added practical option of prolonging breast-feeding.Neonatal immunity is immature compared to the adult immune system (25). The differences include naivety of the immune cells, a tendency to develop Th2 responses (5) and antigen-presenting cells with inefficient cytokine production (35). For example, human cord blood T cells proliferated poorly and produced low levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) when endogenous antigen-presenting cells presented the antigen (35, 44). Also, infant myeloid dendritic cells are less efficient in priming Th1 responses because of their decreased responsiveness to Toll-like receptor stimulation, lower levels of surface costimulatory molecules, and lower production of IL-12 (8, 27). In several infections, qualitative and quantitative differences between human newborn and adult responses were detected (1, 9, 26, 37). In contrast, other studies of infants reported proliferation as well as IL-2 and IFN-γ production by T cells equal to that of adults following T-cell receptor-independent activation (21, 46). These latter observations indicate that neonate T cells are not intrinsically “locked” into an immature phenotype but, given the correct stimuli, they can develop mature immune responses (25). The requirement for specific stimuli will likely differ for different pathogens and vaccine vectors.Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is commonly delivered at birth as an antituberculosis vaccine as a part of the WHO Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). It has been reported by several studies to promote an adultlike Th1 response in newborns (16, 24, 34, 43), although it was also suggested that delaying the BCG delivery to 10 weeks of age benefits the quantity and quality of BCG-induced CD4 T-cell responses (20). BCG and related mycobacterial vectors have been explored as vaccines against other infectious agents, including human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (19), and in adult animals showed immunogenicity and protection (3, 36, 39, 47, 48). The only clinical study of recombinant BCG (rBCG) in adults failed to provide consistent efficacy (7). We have suggested the use of rBCG expressing an HIV-1-derived immunogen as the priming component of a heterologous vaccine platform for PMTCT of HIV-1 through infected breast milk (18), where it is critical to prime HIV-1-specific responses as soon as possible after birth. These responses could be boosted a few weeks later or shortly after the already busy EPI by heterologous vaccines delivering the same HIV-1-derived immunogen. To this extent, we constructed the novel candidate vaccine BCG.HIVA⁴⁰¹ (36) by inserting a gene coding for the HIV-1 clade A-derived immunogen HIVA (14) into recombinant BCG strain AREAS-401 (40). AERAS-401 is a newly developed strain that displayed enhanced safety (40) and immunogenicity (11, 15) in murine models relative to its parental BCG vaccine strain Danish SSI-1331. Increased safety represents an important feature should the BCG.HIVA⁴⁰¹ vaccine be deployed in babies born to HIV-1-infected mothers. We showed that BCG.HIVA⁴⁰¹ in a heterologous combination with recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara MVA.HIVA and recombinant ovine atadenovirus OAdV.HIVA induced robust polyfunctional HIV-1-specific T-cell responses in adult macaques (36). Here, we assess the safety and immunogenicity of the BCG.HIVA prime-MVA.HIVA boost regimen in newborn rhesus macaques.     

Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Expressing Glycoprotein E2 of Chikungunya Virus Protects AG129 Mice against Lethal Challenge

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection is characterized by rash, acute high fever, chills, headache, nausea, photophobia, vomiting, and severe polyarthralgia. There is evidence that arthralgia can persist for years and result in long-term discomfort. Neurologic disease with fatal outcome has been documented, although at low incidences. The CHIKV RNA genome encodes five structural proteins (C, E1, E2, E3 and 6K). The E1 spike protein drives the fusion process within the cytoplasm, while the E2 protein is believed to interact with cellular receptors and therefore most probably constitutes the target of neutralizing antibodies. We have constructed recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) expressing E3E2, 6KE1, or the entire CHIKV envelope polyprotein cassette E3E26KE1. MVA is an appropriate platform because of its demonstrated clinical safety and its suitability for expression of various heterologous proteins. After completing the immunization scheme, animals were challenged with CHIV-S27. Immunization of AG129 mice with MVAs expressing E2 or E3E26KE1 elicited neutralizing antibodies in all animals and provided 100% protection against lethal disease. In contrast, 75% of the animals immunized with 6KE1 were protected against lethal infection. In conclusion, MVA expressing the glycoprotein E2 of CHIKV represents as an immunogenic and effective candidate vaccine against CHIKV infections.     

修饰的痘苗病毒安卡拉株（MVA）基因组中高频的同源重组

痘苗病毒由于其外源基因容量大,表达产物后加工完善等优势而广泛用于基因工程的研究以及基因治疗,痘苗病毒基因组的同源重组现象为其基因操作带来了方便,也被用于很多痘苗病毒基因结构和功能的研究,痘苗病毒安卡拉株（MVA）是一种修饰的复制限制的痘苗病毒,由于极高的安全性,正在实验室和临床应用的很多领域取代普通的痘苗病毒,为提高重组MVA系统的安全性以及筛选重组MVA的效率,发展了一种暂时选择系统,此系统利用分子内2段同向的相同序列发生同源重组去除选择标记k1l基因,从而消除选择标记对宿主可能的危害。利用此暂时表达系统构建了4个携带编码不同长度外源多蛋白质序列的重组MVA,并估算了每次传代的重组频率,结果显示,MVA同源重组频率虽然比其他痘苗病毒株要低,但仍然是较斋的,将带有k1l基因的重组MVA经3-4次盲传（blind passage),即可获得完全去除选择标记的重组MVA。进一步证明上述利用暂时选择标记k1l基因构建重组MVA的系统具有十分可靠的安全性,适合作为人体活疫苗开发和基因治疗的载体,而且,通过盲传进行筛选,能大大提高去除选择标记的效率,降低鸺建重组MVA的成本。     

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Spike Protein Delivered by Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Efficiently Induces Virus-Neutralizing Antibodies

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has recently emerged as a causative agent of severe respiratory disease in humans. Here, we constructed recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing full-length MERS-CoV spike (S) protein (MVA-MERS-S). The genetic stability and growth characteristics of MVA-MERS-S make it a suitable candidate vaccine for clinical testing. Vaccinated mice produced high levels of serum antibodies neutralizing MERS-CoV. Thus, MVA-MERS-S may serve for further development of an emergency vaccine against MERS-CoV.     

共表达PRRSV修饰的GP5与M蛋白的重组改良型痘苗病毒安卡拉株的构建及其生物学特性

将猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, PRRSV)修饰的ORF5(MORF5)与ORF6基因分别克隆入笔者构建的改良型痘苗病毒安卡拉株(Modified vaccinia virus ankara, MVA) 转移载体pLR-gpt的两个多克隆位点中, 构建重组转移载体pLR-MORF5/ORF6。经脂质体介导, 将构建好的pLR-MORF5/ORF6 转染已感染亲本MVA 2h的BHK-21细胞单层, 用药物选择性培养基(MXHAT)在24孔板上进行连续筛选纯化, 得到带有筛选标记的重组病毒rMVAgpt-MGP5/M。将rMVAgpt-MGP5/M 感染表达Cre重组酶的BHK-21细胞(BHK-Cre), 获得删除筛选标记的重组病毒rMVA-MGP5/M。PCR证明MORF5与ORF6成功插入MVA基因组中; Western blotting与间接免疫荧光证明重组病毒能表达MGP5与M蛋白; 重组病毒的生长特性表明与亲本MVA出现病变的时间及病毒滴度基本一致。结果表明, 本研究成功构建了共表达PRRSV MGP5与M蛋白的重组MVA, 并且表达产物具有免疫原性; 外源基因的插入不影响MVA复制, 具较好的稳定性, 从而为PRRSV新型基因工程疫苗的研制奠定了良好的基础。     

共表达PRRSV修饰的GP5与M蛋白的重组改良型痘苗病毒安卡拉株的构建及其生物学特性

将猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, PRRSV)修饰的ORF5(MORF5)与ORF6基因分别克隆入笔者构建的改良型痘苗病毒安卡拉株(Modified vaccinia virus ankara, MVA) 转移载体pLR-gpt的两个多克隆位点中, 构建重组转移载体pLR-MORF5/ORF6。经脂质体介导, 将构建好的pLR-MORF5/ORF6 转染已感染亲本MVA 2h的BHK-21细胞单层, 用药物选择性培养基(MXHAT)在24孔板上进行连续筛选纯化, 得到带有筛选标记的重组病毒rMVAgpt-MGP5/M。将rMVAgpt-MGP5/M 感染表达Cre重组酶的BHK-21细胞(BHK-Cre), 获得删除筛选标记的重组病毒rMVA-MGP5/M。PCR证明MORF5与ORF6成功插入MVA基因组中; Western blotting与间接免疫荧光证明重组病毒能表达MGP5与M蛋白; 重组病毒的生长特性表明与亲本MVA出现病变的时间及病毒滴度基本一致。结果表明, 本研究成功构建了共表达PRRSV MGP5与M蛋白的重组MVA, 并且表达产物具有免疫原性; 外源基因的插入不影响MVA复制, 具较好的稳定性, 从而为PRRSV新型基因工程疫苗的研制奠定了良好的基础。     

HIV-1 C／B’亚型多价重组MVA病毒疫苗免疫原性的研究

目的:检测人类免疫缺陷病毒1型(HIV-1) C/B'亚型与痘苗病毒安卡拉株(MVA)的多价重组疫苗的免疫原性,此疫苗中包含HIV-1 C/B'CRF 株的5个基因,分别是env,gag,pol,nef,tat.方法:设105pfu/ml,106 pfu/ml,107 pfu/ml ADMVA 3个剂量组,用ELISPOT方法检测细胞免疫反应.同时,以Gag蛋白作为包被抗原,使用间接ELISA的方法检测体液免疫反应.结果:免疫后的小鼠对插入基因env,gag,pol和nef所表达蛋白均产生了特异性细胞免疫应答,且免疫效果与免疫剂量呈正相关.ELISA结果表明, MVA重组疫苗免疫诱导产生了特异性体液免疫,抗HIV-1Gag的抗体滴度与免疫次数和免疫剂量都存在正相关性.结论:多价MVA重组疫苗能有效地诱导小鼠产生特异的细胞免疫和体液免疫反应.