A two-stage, multilevel quality control system for serological assays in anthrax vaccine clinical trials

A two-stage, multilevel assay quality control (QC) system was designed and implemented for two high stringency QC anthrax serological assays; a quantitative anti-PA IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an anthrax lethal toxin neutralization activity (TNA) assay. The QC system and the assays were applied for the congressionally mandated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Phase 4 human clinical trial of anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA, BioThrax). A total of 57,284 human serum samples were evaluated by anti-PA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 11,685 samples by anthrax lethal toxin neutralization activity (TNA) assay. The QC system demonstrated overall sample acceptance rates of 86% for ELISA and 90% for the TNA assays respectively. Monitoring of multiple assay and test sample variables showed no significant long term trends or degradation in any of the critical assay reagents or reportable values for both assays. Assay quality control data establish the functionality of the quality control system and demonstrates the reliability of the serological data generated using these assays.     

炭疽受体CMG2-Fc融合蛋白在CHO细胞中的表达、纯化与鉴定

目的：构建炭疽受体CMG2和人IgGl Fc片段融合基因载体,转染CHO细胞并通过毒素中和试验检测CMG2-Fc拮抗炭疽毒素（PA＋LF）的能力。方法-将含有CMG2胞外区1-217AA片度基因和人IgGl的Fc片段基因共同连接入pcDNA3．1载体转染CHO细胞并筛选高表达CMG2-Fc的CHO细胞系,通过小鼠RAW264．7巨噬细胞保护试验检测CMG2-Fc拮抗炭疽毒素的能力。结果：获得了表达CMG2-Fc的细胞株,毒素中和实验显示该蛋白可以有效抑制炭疽毒素引起的细胞损伤。结论：CMG2-Fc能够保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素攻击,提示其可以作为抗毒素治疗炭疽感染。     

细胞自噬与炭疽致死毒素的相互作用

目的：研究炭疽致死毒素在巨噬细胞中引起细胞自噬现象以及细胞自噬对炭疽致死毒素毒性的影响。方法：采用电子显微镜观察、单丹磺酰尸胺（MDC）荧光染色、Western印迹检测研究炭疽致死毒素作用后的巨噬细胞;采用MTT法检测细胞自噬对炭疽致死毒素毒性的影响。结果：采用以上3种方法,在巨噬细胞J774A.1中均可检测到细胞自噬现象;通过诱导或抑制细胞自噬,分别提高或降低了炭疽致死毒素的半数致死浓度。结论：炭疽致死毒素在巨噬细胞内能引起细胞自噬现象;细胞自噬能减弱炭疽致死毒素对巨噬细胞的毒性。     

Targeted Silencing of Anthrax Toxin Receptors Protects against Anthrax Toxins

Anthrax spores can be aerosolized and dispersed as a bioweapon. Current postexposure treatments are inadequate at later stages of infection, when high levels of anthrax toxins are present. Anthrax toxins enter cells via two identified anthrax toxin receptors: tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) and capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2). We hypothesized that host cells would be protected from anthrax toxins if anthrax toxin receptor expression was effectively silenced using RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Thus, anthrax toxin receptors in mouse and human macrophages were silenced using targeted siRNAs or blocked with specific antibody prior to challenge with anthrax lethal toxin. Viability assays were used to assess protection in macrophages treated with specific siRNA or antibody as compared with untreated cells. Silencing CMG2 using targeted siRNAs provided almost complete protection against anthrax lethal toxin-induced cytotoxicity and death in murine and human macrophages. The same results were obtained by prebinding cells with specific antibody prior to treatment with anthrax lethal toxin. In addition, TEM8-targeted siRNAs also offered significant protection against lethal toxin in human macrophage-like cells. Furthermore, silencing CMG2, TEM8, or both receptors in combination was also protective against MEK2 cleavage by lethal toxin or adenylyl cyclase activity by edema toxin in human kidney cells. Thus, anthrax toxin receptor-targeted RNAi has the potential to be developed as a life-saving, postexposure therapy against anthrax.     

CMG2-Fc 融合蛋白突变体筛选及中和炭疽毒素活性分析

目的:筛选能有效中和炭疽毒素和抵抗炭疽毒素损伤细胞的CMG2-Fc(炭疽毒素受体II-人免疫球蛋白Fc段融合蛋白)突变体。方法:运用FoldX等计算软件分析CMG2与PA晶体学结构,设计能提高CMG2-PA亲和力的突变体分子,并与人IgG1Fc片段构成融合基因,转染CHO-S细胞并通过亲和层析获得CMG2-Fc突变体蛋白,通过亲和力检测和细胞保护实验分析各突变体中和炭疽毒素能力。结果:筛选并表达了8个CMG2-Fc突变体分子,亲和力实验显示其中E117Q突变可明显提高CMG2-Fc与PA的亲和力(KD=1.35×10-11 mol/L),细胞保护实验提示E117Q突变能有效提高CMG2-Fc中和炭疽毒素能力(CMG2-Fc(E117Q)的IC50为15 ng/μL,而wt CMG2-Fc的IC50为50ng/μL)。结论:CMG2-Fc(E117Q)突变体分子可作为拮抗炭疽毒素损伤的炭疽治疗药物分子,进行进一步研究。     

Guanidinylated 2,5-dideoxystreptamine derivatives as anthrax lethal factor inhibitors

Anthrax lethal factor is a Zn(2+)-dependent metalloprotease and the key virulence factor of tripartite anthrax toxin secreted by Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. A series of guanidinylated 2,5-dideoxystreptamine derivatives were designed and synthesized as inhibitors of lethal factor, some of which show strong inhibitory activity against lethal factor in an in vitro FRET assay. Preparation and structure-activity relationships of these compounds are presented.     

An enzymatic electrochemiluminescence assay for the lethal factor of anthrax

The lethal factor (LF) of anthrax toxin is the toxic component of the exotoxin (lethal toxin) secreted by toxic strains of Bacillus anthracis. The lethal factor is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease that specifically cleaves the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) family of enzymes. We took advantage of this substrate specificity to develop an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) peptide cleavage assay. The ECL assay uses the stable ruthenium (Ru) metal chelate that, in the presence of tripropylamine, generates a light reaction triggered by the application of an electric potential. The Ru label is specifically incorporated into the C-terminal CYS residue of a synthetic peptide (23mer) containing the MAPKK2 cleavage sequence of LF. Streptavidin-coated paramagnetic beads were the solid phase and facilitated separation and characterization of the enzymatic reaction products based upon N-terminal biotinylation of the peptide substrate. Intact peptide bound via the biotin moiety generated high signal due to the Ru label, whereas binding of the cleaved peptide fragment devoid of Ru label reduced the ECL signal. The proposed assay provides a novel opportunity for the screening of potential therapeutics against anthrax.     

Deletion mutants of protective antigen that inhibit anthrax toxin both in vitro and in vivo

The anthrax toxin complex is primarily responsible for most of the symptoms of anthrax. This complex is composed of three proteins, anthrax protective antigen, anthrax edema factor, and anthrax lethal factor. The three proteins act in binary combination of protective antigen plus edema factor (edema toxin) and protective antigen plus lethal factor (lethal toxin) that paralyze the host defenses and eventually kill the host. Both edema factor and lethal factor are intracellularly acting proteins that require protective antigen for their delivery into the host cell. In this study, we show that deletion of certain residues of protective antigen results in variants of protective antigen that inhibit the action of anthrax toxin both in vitro and in vivo. These mutants protected mice against both lethal toxin and edema toxin challenge, even when injected at a 1:8 ratio relative to the wild-type protein. Thus, these mutant proteins are promising candidates that may be used to neutralize the action of anthrax toxin.     

Intracellular calcium antagonist protects cultured peritoneal macrophages against anthrax lethal toxin-induced cytotoxicity

The lethal toxin ofBacillus anthracis is central to the pathogenesis of anthrax. Using primary cultures of mouse peritoneal macrophages, we have demonstrated that intracellular calcium release inhibitors protect against anthrax lethal toxin-induced cytotoxicity. The cytolytic effect of anthrax lethal toxin was markedly reduced by dantrolene, an inhibitor of calcium release from intracellular calcium stores. Pretreatment of macrophages with cyclosporin A, which has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of calcium release from mitochondria, also protected cells against cytotoxicity. These results indicate that calcium release from intracellular store may be an essential step for the propagation of anthrax lethal toxin-induced cell damage in macrophages. Thus our findings suggest that dantrolene, cyclosporin A, and possibly other drugs affecting intracellular calcium pools might be effectively preventing the toxicity from anthrax lethal toxin. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

炭疽受体CMG2-Fc 融合蛋白在CHO 细胞中的表达、纯化与鉴定

目的:构建炭疽受体CMG2和人IgG1 Fc片段融合基因载体,转染CHO细胞并通过毒素中和试验检测CMG2-Fc拮抗炭疽毒素(PA+LF)的能力。方法:将含有CMG2胞外区1-217AA片度基因和人IgG1的Fc片段基因共同连接入pcDNA3.1载体转染CHO细胞并筛选高表达CMG2-Fc的CHO细胞系,通过小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞保护试验检测CMG2-Fc拮抗炭疽毒素的能力。结果:获得了表达CMG2-Fc的细胞株,毒素中和实验显示该蛋白可以有效抑制炭疽毒素引起的细胞损伤。结论:CMG2-Fc能够保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素攻击,提示其可以作为抗毒素治疗炭疽感染。     

Beta-cyclodextrin derivatives that inhibit anthrax lethal toxin

Recently, we demonstrated that simultaneous blocking of bacterial growth by antibiotics and inhibition of anthrax toxin action with antibodies against protective antigen were beneficial for the treatment of anthrax. The present study examined the hypothesis that blocking the pore formed by protective antigen can inhibit the action of anthrax toxin. The potential inhibitors were chosen by a structure-based design using beta-cyclodextrin as the starting molecule. Several beta-cyclodextrin derivatives were evaluated for their ability to protect RAW 264.7 cells from the action of anthrax lethal toxin. Per-substituted aminoalkyl derivatives displayed inhibitory activity and were protective against anthrax lethal toxin action at low micromolar concentrations. These results provide the basis for a structure-based drug discovery program, with the goal of identifying new drug candidates for anthrax treatment.     

Improving the Anti-Toxin Abilities of the CMG2-Fc Fusion Protein with the Aid of Computational Design

CMG2-Fc is a fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2) and the Fc region of human immunoglobulin G; CMG2-Fc neutralizes anthrax toxin and offers protection against Bacillus anthracis challenge. To enhance the efficacy of CMG2-Fc against anthrax toxin, we attempted to engineer a CMG2-Fc with an improved affinity for PA. Using the automatic design algorithm FoldX and visual inspection, we devised two CMG2-Fc variants that introduce mutations in the CMG2 binding interface and improve the computationally assessed binding affinity for PA. An experimental affinity assay revealed that the two variants showed increased binding affinity, and in vitro and in vivo toxin neutralization testing indicated that one of these mutants (CMG2-Fc(E117Q)) has superior activity against anthrax toxin and was suitable for further development as a therapeutic agent for anthrax infections. This study shows that the computational design of the PA binding interface of CMG2 to obtain CMG2-Fc variants with improving anti-toxin abilities is viable. Our results demonstrate that computational design can be further applied to generate other CMG2-Fc mutants with greatly improved therapeutic efficacy.     

重组炭疽保护性抗原的表达、纯化与生物活性分析

构建分泌型表达质粒 ,在大肠杆菌中实现了重组炭疽保护性抗原 (rPA)的分泌型表达。重组蛋白位于细菌外周质 ,表达量约占菌体总蛋白的 10 %。以离子交换、疏水层析和凝胶过滤为基础 ,建立了rPA的纯化工艺 ,每升培养物可获得约 15mgrPA ,纯度可达 95 %以上。体外细胞毒性试验显示rPA具有较好的生物学活性。用rPA免疫家兔产生的抗血清在体外可抑制炭疽致死毒素的活性 ,表明rPA可诱导机体产生保护性免疫。以上结果为今后发展新一代炭疽疫苗打下基础     

The early humoral immune response to Bacillus anthracis toxins in patients infected with cutaneous anthrax

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, produces a tripartite toxin composed of two enzymatically active subunits, lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF), which, when associated with a cell-binding component, protective antigen (PA), form lethal toxin and edema toxin, respectively. In this preliminary study, we characterized the toxin-specific antibody responses observed in 17 individuals infected with cutaneous anthrax. The majority of the toxin-specific antibody responses observed following infection were directed against LF, with immunoglobulin G (IgG) detected as early as 4 days after the onset of symptoms in contrast to the later and lower EF- and PA-specific IgG responses. Unlike the case with infection, the predominant toxin-specific antibody response of those immunized with the US anthrax vaccine absorbed and UK anthrax vaccine precipitated licensed anthrax vaccines was directed against PA. We observed that the LF-specific human antibodies were, like anti-PA antibodies, able to neutralize toxin activity, suggesting the possibility that they may contribute to protection. We conclude that an antibody response to LF might be a more sensitive diagnostic marker of anthrax than to PA. The ability of human LF-specific antibodies to neutralize toxin activity supports the possible inclusion of LF in future anthrax vaccines.     

Expression of protective antigen in transgenic plants: a step towards edible vaccine against anthrax

Protective antigen (PA) is the most potent molecule for vaccination against anthrax. In the present study, we have successfully integrated protective antigen gene in nuclear genome of tobacco plants by Agrobacterium mediated leaf-disc transformation method. Expression of protective antigen gene was detected by immunoblot analysis using antisera raised against purified PA. A distinct band of approximately 83kDa lighted up in the protein extracted from transformed plants while there was no such band in untransformed plants. The plant expressed PA showed biological activity just like native PA, which was demonstrated by cytolytic assay on macrophage like cell lines with lethal factor. This study establishes for the first time expression of PA gene in a plant system and thus marks the first milestone towards developing edible vaccine against anthrax.     

利用转基因小鼠筛选全人源炭疽致死因子中和抗体

炭疽是由炭疽芽孢杆菌引起的严重威胁人类健康的传染病。炭疽毒素包括3种蛋白质成分:保护性抗原(PA)、致死因子(LF)和水肿因子(EF)。PA与LF形成致死毒素(LT),与EF形成水肿毒素(ET)。由于致死毒素(LT)在感染者损伤及死亡中发挥主要作用,因此在炭疽感染晚期单纯使用抗生素治疗难以发挥疗效,治疗性中和抗体成为目前最有效的炭疽治疗药物。目前国外获得的炭疽毒素抗体多为炭疽PA抗体,美国FDA已批准瑞西巴库(人源PA单抗)用于吸入性炭疽的治疗。一旦炭疽芽孢杆菌被人为改构或PA中和表位发生突变,针对PA单一表位的抗体将可能失效,因此针对LF的抗体将成为炭疽治疗的有效补充。目前国外已有的LF抗体多为鼠源抗体和嵌合抗体,而全人源抗体可以避免鼠源抗体免疫原性高等缺点。本研究首先用LF抗原免疫人抗体转基因小鼠,利用流式细胞仪从小鼠脾淋巴细胞中分选抗原特异的记忆B细胞,通过单细胞PCR方法快速获得两株具有结合活性的抗LF单抗1D7和2B9。瞬时转染Expi 293F细胞制备抗体,通过毒素中和实验(TNA)发现1D7和2B9在细胞模型中均显示较好的中和活性,并且与PA单抗联合使用时,表现出较好的协同作用。总之,本文利用转基因小鼠、流式分选技术和单细胞PCR技术的优势,快速筛选到全人源LF抗体,为快速筛选全人源单克隆抗体开辟了新的思路与方法。     

A Comparison of the Adaptive Immune Response between Recovered Anthrax Patients and Individuals Receiving Three Different Anthrax Vaccines

Several different human vaccines are available to protect against anthrax. We compared the human adaptive immune responses generated by three different anthrax vaccines or by previous exposure to cutaneous anthrax. Adaptive immunity was measured by ELISPOT to count cells that produce interferon (IFN)-γ in response to restimulation ex vivo with the anthrax toxin components PA, LF and EF and by measuring circulating IgG specific to these antigens. Neutralising activity of antisera against anthrax toxin was also assayed. We found that the different exposures to anthrax antigens promoted varying immune responses. Cutaneous anthrax promoted strong IFN-γ responses to all three antigens and antibody responses to PA and LF. The American AVA and Russian LAAV vaccines induced antibody responses to PA only. The British AVP vaccine produced IFN-γ responses to EF and antibody responses to all three antigens. Anti-PA (in AVA and LAAV vaccinees) or anti-LF (in AVP vaccinees) antibody titres correlated with toxin neutralisation activities. Our study is the first to compare all three vaccines in humans and show the diversity of responses against anthrax antigens.     

Nasal immunization with the mixture of PA63, LF, and a PGA conjugate induced strong antibody responses against all three antigens

A new generation anthrax vaccine is expected to target not only the anthrax protective antigen (PA) protein, but also other virulent factors of Bacillus anthracis. It is also expected to be amenable for rapid mass immunization of a large number of people. This study aimed to address these needs by designing a prototypic triantigen nasal anthrax vaccine candidate that contained a truncated PA (rPA63), the anthrax lethal factor (LF), and the capsular poly-gamma-D-glutamic acid (gammaDPGA) as the antigens and a synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), polyriboinosinic-polyribocytodylic acid (poly(I:C)) as the adjuvant. This study identified the optimal dose of nasal poly(I:C) in mice, demonstrated that nasal immunization of mice with the LF was capable of inducing functional anti-LF antibodies (Abs), and showed that nasal immunization of mice with the prototypic triantigen vaccine candidate induced strong immune responses against all three antigens. The immune responses protected macrophages against an anthrax lethal toxin challenge in vitro and enabled the immunized mice to survive a lethal dose of anthrax lethal toxin challenge in vivo. The anti-PGA Abs were shown to have complement-mediated bacteriolytic activity. After further optimization, this triantigen nasal vaccine candidate is expected to become one of the newer generation anthrax vaccines.     

Thermostabilization of protective antigen—the binding component of anthrax lethal toxin

Protective antigen (PA) is the binding component of anthrax lethal toxin produced by Bacillus anthracis, and constitutes a major ingredient of the vaccine against anthrax. PA and lethal factor when added together are cytolytic to mouse macrophages and J774G8 macrophage cell line. This in vitro lethal toxicity assay is very useful in understanding the molecular mechanism of action of lethal toxin. Effective utilization of PA is, however, hampered due to its thermolability. On prolonged storage at 37 ° C, PA was found to lose its activity almost completely. The effect of solvent additives like trehalose, sorbitol, xylitol, sodium citrate and magnesium sulphate on the thermal stabilization of PA was examined. The results indicated an increase in the stability of PA when the incubation at 37 ° C was carried out in the presence of solvent additives used in the 1–3 M range. Magnesium sulphate helped retain the activity up to 82.7% against the control in which no additive was used, as judged by cytolytic assay using J774G8 macrophage cell line. Trehalose or sodium citrate also showed an appreciable protection of PA activity, while sorbitol or xylitol were not very effective. Competitive binding assay using radiolabeled PA showed that PA had lost capacity of binding to macrophage cells on prolonged incubation at 37 ° C. Circular dichroism results at 4, 18 and 37 ° C indicated an increase in secondary structure at 37 ° C relative to that at 4 or 18 ° C, supporting the activity data.     

Human antibodies from immunized donors are protective against anthrax toxin in vivo

A panel of Fabs that neutralize anthrax toxin in vitro was selected from libraries generated from human donors vaccinated against anthrax. At least two of these antibodies protect rats from anthrax intoxication in vivo. Fabs 83K7C and 63L1D bind with subnanomolar affinity to protective antigen (PA) 63, and Fab 63L1D neutralizes toxin substoichiometrically, inhibits lethal factor (LF) interaction with PA63 and binds to a conformational epitope formed by PA63.