An immunogenic and protective alphavirus replicon particle-based dengue vaccine overcomes maternal antibody interference in weanling mice

A candidate pediatric dengue virus (DENV) vaccine based on nonpropagating Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles (VRP) was tested for immunogenicity and protective efficacy in weanling mice in the presence and absence of potentially interfering maternal antibodies. A gene cassette encoding envelope proteins prM and E from mouse-adapted DENV type 2 (DENV2) strain NGC was cloned into a VEE replicon vector and packaged into VRP, which programmed proper in vitro expression and processing of DENV2 envelope proteins upon infection of Vero cells. Primary immunization of 3-week-old weanling BALB/c mice in the footpad with DENV2 VRP resulted in high levels of DENV-specific serum immunoglobulin G antibodies and significant titers of neutralizing antibodies in all vaccinates. A booster immunization 12 weeks after the prime immunization resulted in increased neutralizing antibodies that were sustained for at least 30 weeks. Immunization at a range of doses of DENV2 VRP protected mice from an otherwise-lethal intracranial DENV2 challenge. To model vaccination in the presence of maternal antibodies, weanling pups born to DENV2-immune or DENV2-naïve dams were immunized with either DENV2 VRP or live DENV2 given peripherally. The DENV2 VRP vaccine induced neutralizing-antibody responses in young mice regardless of the maternal immune status. In contrast, live-DENV2 vaccination performed poorly in the presence of preexisting anti-DENV2 antibodies. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a VRP vaccine approach as an early-life DENV vaccine in populations with high levels of circulating DENV antibodies and suggests the utility of VRP-based vaccines in other instances where maternal antibodies make early vaccination problematic.Dengue viruses (DENV) are members of the family Flaviviridae and one of the most important groups of emerging viruses of global significance today (36, 66). There are four distinct antigenic serotypes (DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, and DENV4), all of which are capable of causing a spectrum of diseases in humans ranging from asymptomatic infections to debilitating classical dengue fever and severe and often fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) (36, 68). DENV is transmitted to humans primarily by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The lack of effective mosquito control, as well as demographic and economic changes, has contributed to the dramatic expansion and worldwide distribution of DENV epidemic activity in tropical and subtropical areas (36). It is estimated that up to 100 million infections and several hundred thousand cases of DHF/DSS occur each year, with more than 2.5 billion people living in areas at risk of infection in 2004 (21, 68). DHF is a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in many countries in Southeast and South Asia, and the WHO has reported a rising trend in disease over the past decade (68). At the peak of epidemic times, as many as 70 children with severe DHF may present to a single hospital in a day, 20 of them with potentially fatal DSS (58). Although DHF/DSS in infants has not been comprehensively studied, it is estimated that more than 5% of all DHF/DSS cases occur in infants (26, 33, 41, 43, 56, 67, 70).In the absence of vector control effective on a global scale, there is a clear need for a DENV vaccine. However, the development of a DENV vaccine has faced significant challenges that have resulted in the lack of a licensed vaccine after 70 years of research (17). In many areas where there is cocirculation of two or more serotypes, there is a high probability that individuals will be infected more than once in their lifetimes. Preexisting homotypic immunity protects from a secondary infection with the same serotype, and this protection seems to last for life (24, 25). However, preexisting heterotypic nonneutralizing immunity to a secondary infection with a different DENV serotype is a risk factor for the development of severe DHF/DSS (23, 27, 61). These considerations suggest that a safe and efficacious DENV vaccine must be tetravalent and induce a long-term and balanced immune response to all four serotypes simultaneously in order to avoid sensitizing the vaccine recipient to a more severe outcome during a subsequent DENV infection. Additionally, primary infections during the first year of life that result in DHF/DSS have been associated with the presence of subneutralizing levels of maternal anti-DENV antibodies, which may increase the risk of enhanced infection and disease by antibody-mediated enhancement (26, 33, 41, 56). To protect infants and children in dengue-endemic countries from severe dengue, the ideal DENV vaccine should be given during the first 6 months of life. In addition, an infant DENV vaccine has to be effective in the face of circulating anti-DENV maternal antibodies, which in dengue-endemic countries are present in more than 95% of newborns and have disappeared by 12 months of age (63).There are a number of DENV vaccine candidates in preclinical and clinical trials (reviewed in references 10 and 66), including live attenuated virus, DNA plasmids (49), subunit vaccines (11, 16), and adenovirus vectors (29, 31). Live attenuated virus vaccines are the more advanced candidates in phase I and II clinical trials. They have been attenuated either empirically (4), by engineering attenuating mutations into a DENV cDNA infectious clone (5, 15), or by chimerization with other flaviviruses (22, 39, 46). Further clinical development of these candidates has been delayed due to several problems. (i) Balanced immune responses to the four serotypes have proven difficult to achieve with tetravalent cocktails of live vaccine candidates, in which each component differs in its level of attenuation or in which interference among the live components of the vaccine may occur. (ii) Determination of virulence in primate models may not accurately predict attenuation for humans. In fact, an attenuated DENV3 candidate vaccine that was deemed safe in mice and primates produced dengue fever in human volunteers (51). (iii) In many DENV-endemic regions of Asia, the dengue seroprevalence is very high, and over 95% of children born have maternal dengue antibody. Human safety as assessed in a phase I trial in seronegative populations may not accurately reflect safety in persons seropositive for one of the DENV serotypes or infants with maternal antibodies. (iv) The presence of such antibodies also might interfere with live attenuated dengue vaccines. If vaccine is administered during the first year of life, passively transferred anti-DENV maternal antibodies would likely interfere with the replication and immunogenicity of one or more components of the tetravalent cocktail. If the vaccine is administered later in childhood or in adulthood, antibodies to an earlier natural infection may be boosted and yet interfere with the immunogenicity of a heterologous component of the multivalent live vaccine.We propose that nonpropagating Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) replicon particles (VRP) are well suited to address the difficulties faced in DENV vaccine development. Three properties of the VEE vectors may contribute to their ability to overcome maternal-antibody interference to a significant degree. (i) The DENV antigens are not exposed on the VRP surface; therefore, preexisting DENV-neutralizing antibodies should not affect delivery of the DENV genes to the target cells. (ii) Unlike live attenuated vaccines that depend on multiple rounds of replication and are thus more susceptible to interference by preexisting anti-DENV antibodies, nonpropagating VRP vectors express high levels of the heterologous gene in a single round of infection. (iii) Due to the tropism mediated by the VEE glycoproteins that targets the VRP to the lymph node (35), and due to the adjuvant activity of the VRP (57), antigen presentation is facilitated and enhanced.The safety of nonpropagating VEE replicon vectors has been tested in many different animals, including over 2,000 rodents, 100 macaques, and more than 20 horses. No clinical signs of disease have been observed with any of these animals, including neonatal mice inoculated intracranially (i.c.) with 5 × 10⁷ infectious units (IU) and RAG^−/− mice inoculated with 10⁷ IU of a VRP vaccine (48; A. West and N. Davis, personal communication). Safety has also been demonstrated in young adult volunteers in the United States, South Africa, and Botswana undergoing phase I clinical trials with a VRP expressing the Gag protein of clade C human immunodeficiency virus type 1. No serious adverse events were reported with doses as high as 10⁸ IU (12). VRP vectors confer long-lived humoral and cellular immune responses to a wide variety of viral and bacterial antigens tested in animal models, resulting in strong and complete protective immune responses to influenza virus in rodents and chickens (48, 52), Lassa fever and ebola viruses in rodents (69), equine arteritis virus in rodents and horses (2), and Marburg virus in primates (28).Here, we demonstrate the ability of VRP vaccine vectors to deliver the immunogenic membrane prM and E protein genes of DENV2 into young mice and to induce a protective humoral immune response, even in the presence of maternal antibodies that otherwise interfere with immunization with a model live DENV2 vaccine. This study shows the feasibility of a VRP vaccine approach as an early-life DENV vaccine to protect infants during that window of time when maternal antibodies are no longer protective but still may interfere with active immunization induced by a live attenuated vaccine.     

Human metapneumovirus fusion protein vaccines that are immunogenic and protective in cotton rats

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently described paramyxovirus that is a major cause of upper and lower respiratory infection in children and adults worldwide. A safe and effective vaccine could decrease the burden of disease associated with this novel pathogen. We previously reported the development of the cotton rat model of hMPV infection and pathogenesis (J. V. Williams et al., J. Virol. 79:10944-10951, 2005). We report here the immunogenicity of an hMPV fusion (F) protein in this model. We constructed DNA plasmids that exhibited high levels of expression of hMPV F in mammalian cells (DNA-F). These constructs were used to develop a novel strategy to produce highly pure, soluble hMPV F protein lacking the transmembrane domain (FDeltaTM). We then immunized cotton rats at 0 and 14 days with either control vector, DNA-F alone, DNA-F followed by FDeltaTM protein, or FDeltaTM alone. All groups were challenged intranasally at 28 days with live hMPV. All three groups that received some form of hMPV F immunization mounted neutralizing antibody responses and exhibited partial protection against virus shedding in the lungs compared to controls. The FDeltaTM-immunized animals showed the greatest degree of protection (>1,500-fold reduction in lung virus titer). All three immunized groups showed a modest reduction of nasal virus shedding. Neither evidence of a Th2-type response nor increased lung pathology were present in the immunized animals. We conclude that sequence-optimized hMPV F protein protects against hMPV infection when delivered as either a DNA or a protein vaccine in cotton rats.     

Pathogenesis of human metapneumovirus lung infection in BALB/c mice and cotton rats

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly described member of the Paramyxoviridae family causing acute respiratory tract infections, especially in young children. We studied the pathogenesis of this viral infection in two experimental small animal models (BALB/c mice and cotton rats). Significant viral replication in the lungs of both animals was found following an intranasal challenge of 10(8) 50% tissue culture infectious doses (TCID50) and persisted for <2 and <3 weeks in the case of cotton rats and mice, respectively. Peak viral loads were found on day 5 postinfection in both mice (mean of 1.92 x 10(7) TCID50/g lung) and cotton rats (mean of 1.03 x 10(5) TCID50/g). Clinical symptoms consisting of breathing difficulties, ruffled fur, and weight loss were noted in mice only around the time of peak viral replication. Most significant pulmonary inflammatory changes and peak expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha, gamma interferon, and RANTES occurred at the time of maximal viral replication (day 5) in both models. Cellular infiltration occurred predominantly around and within alveoli and persisted for at least 21 days in mice, whereas it was more limited in time with more peribronchiolitis in cotton rats. Both animal models would be of great value in evaluating different therapeutic agents, as well as vaccine candidates against hMPV.     

The cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a permissive small animal model of human metapneumovirus infection, pathogenesis, and protective immunity

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly described paramyxovirus that is an important cause of acute respiratory tract disease. We undertook to develop a small animal model of hMPV infection, pathogenesis, and protection. Hamsters, guinea pigs, cotton rats, and nine inbred strains of mice were inoculated intranasally with hMPV. The animals were sacrificed, and nasal and lung tissue virus yields were determined by plaque titration. None of the animals exhibited respiratory symptoms. The quantity of virus present in the nasal tissue ranged from 4.6 x 10(2) PFU/gram tissue (C3H mice) to greater than 10(5) PFU/gram (hamster). The amount of virus in the lungs was considerably less than in nasal tissue in each species tested, ranging from undetectable (<5 PFU/g; guinea pigs) to 1.8 x 10(5) PFU/gram (cotton rat). The peak virus titer in cotton rat lungs occurred on day 4 postinfection. hMPV-infected cotton rat lungs examined on day 4 postinfection exhibited histopathological changes consisting of peribronchial inflammatory infiltrates. Immunohistochemical staining detected virus only at the luminal surfaces of respiratory epithelial cells throughout the respiratory tract. hMPV-infected cotton rats mounted virus-neutralizing antibody responses and were partially protected against virus shedding and lung pathology on subsequent rechallenge with hMPV. Viral antigen was undetectable in the lungs on challenge of previously infected animals. This study demonstrates that the cotton rat is a permissive small animal model of hMPV infection that exhibits lung histopathology associated with infection and that primary infection protected animals against subsequent infection. This model will allow further in vivo studies of hMPV pathogenesis and evaluation of vaccine candidates.     

A DNA vaccine against chikungunya virus is protective in mice and induces neutralizing antibodies in mice and nonhuman primates

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne alphavirus indigenous to tropical Africa and Asia. Acute illness is characterized by fever, arthralgias, conjunctivitis, rash, and sometimes arthritis. Relatively little is known about the antigenic targets for immunity, and no licensed vaccines or therapeutics are currently available for the pathogen. While the Aedes aegypti mosquito is its primary vector, recent evidence suggests that other carriers can transmit CHIKV thus raising concerns about its spread outside of natural endemic areas to new countries including the U.S. and Europe. Considering the potential for pandemic spread, understanding the development of immunity is paramount to the development of effective counter measures against CHIKV. In this study, we isolated a new CHIKV virus from an acutely infected human patient and developed a defined viral challenge stock in mice that allowed us to study viral pathogenesis and develop a viral neutralization assay. We then constructed a synthetic DNA vaccine delivered by in vivo electroporation (EP) that expresses a component of the CHIKV envelope glycoprotein and used this model to evaluate its efficacy. Vaccination induced robust antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, which individually were capable of providing protection against CHIKV challenge in mice. Furthermore, vaccine studies in rhesus macaques demonstrated induction of nAb responses, which mimicked those induced in convalescent human patient sera. These data suggest a protective role for nAb against CHIKV disease and support further study of envelope-based CHIKV DNA vaccines.     

An alphavirus replicon particle chimera derived from venezuelan equine encephalitis and sindbis viruses is a potent gene-based vaccine delivery vector

Alphavirus replicon particle-based vaccine vectors derived from Sindbis virus (SIN), Semliki Forest virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) have been shown to induce robust antigen-specific cellular, humoral, and mucosal immune responses in many animal models of infectious disease and cancer. However, since little is known about the relative potencies among these different vectors, we compared the immunogenicity of replicon particle vectors derived from two very different parental alphaviruses, VEE and SIN, expressing a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 p55(Gag) antigen. Moreover, to explore the potential benefits of combining elements from different alphaviruses, we generated replicon particle chimeras of SIN and VEE. Two distinct strategies were used to produce particles with VEE-p55(gag) replicon RNA packaged within SIN envelope glycoproteins and SIN-p55(gag) replicon RNA within VEE envelope glycoproteins. Each replicon particle configuration induced Gag-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses in murine models when administered alone or after priming with DNA. However, Gag-specific responses varied dramatically, with the strongest responses to this particular antigen correlating with the VEE replicon RNA, irrespective of the source of envelope glycoproteins. Comparing the replicons with respect to heterologous gene expression levels and sensitivity to alpha/beta interferon in cultured cells indicated that each might contribute to potency differences. This work shows that combining desirable elements from VEE and SIN into a replicon particle chimera may be a valuable approach toward the goal of developing vaccine vectors with optimal in vivo potency, ease of production, and safety.     

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope vaccination protects against human metapneumovirus infection and disease in mice

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has emerged as an important human respiratory pathogen causing upper and lower respiratory tract infections in young children and older adults. In addition, hMPV infection is associated with asthma exacerbation in young children. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates that hMPV may cocirculate with human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) and mediate clinical disease similar to that seen with hRSV. Therefore, a vaccine for hMPV is highly desirable. In the present study, we used predictive bioinformatics, peptide immunization, and functional T-cell assays to define hMPV cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes recognized by mouse T cells restricted through several major histocompatibility complex class I alleles, including HLA-A*0201. We demonstrate that peptide immunization with hMPV CTL epitopes reduces viral load and immunopathology in the lungs of hMPV-challenged mice and enhances the expression of Th1-type cytokines (gamma interferon and interleukin-12 [IL-12]) in lungs and regional lymph nodes. In addition, we show that levels of Th2-type cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) are significantly lower in hMPV CTL epitope-vaccinated mice challenged with hMPV. These results demonstrate for the first time the efficacy of an hMPV CTL epitope vaccine in the control of hMPV infection in a murine model.     

Pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine: mechanisms of protective immunity and human vaccine trials

In order to provide a rational basis for the development of a pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine we have aimed at: (a) elucidating the mechanisms of protection, and (b) identifying vaccine formulations that best elicit protection in experimental animals and humans. Based on earlier successful immunization of experimental animals with irradiated sporozoites, human volunteers were exposed to the bites of large numbers of Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax infected irradiated mosquitoes. The result of this vaccine trial demonstrated for the first time that a pre-erythrocytic vaccine, administered to humans, can result in their complete resistance to malaria infection. However, since infected irradiated mosquitoes are unavailable for large scale vaccination, the alternative is to develop subunit vaccines. The human trials using irradiated sporozoites provided valuable information on the human immune responses to pre-erythrocytic stages and studies on mice an excellent experimental model to characterize protective immune mechanisms. The circumsporozoite protein, the first pre-erythrocytic antigen identified, is present in all malaria species, displaying a similar structure, with a central region of repeats, and two conserved regions, essential for parasite development. Most pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidates are based on the CS protein, expressed in various cell lines, microorganisms, and recently the corresponding DNA. We and others have identified CS-specific B and T cell epitopes, recognized by the rodent and human immune systems, and used them for the development of synthetic vaccines. We used synthetic peptide vaccines, multiple antigen peptides and polyoximes, for immunization, first in experimental animals, and recently in two human safety and immunogenicity trials. We also report here on our work on T cell mediated immunity, particularly the protection of mice immunized with viral vectors expressing CS-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cell epitopes, and the striking booster effect of recombinant vaccinia virus. To what degree CD8+ T cells, and/or other T cells specific for sporozoites and/or liver stage epitopes, contribute to pre-erythrocytic protective immunity in humans, remains to be determined.     

An MVA vaccine overcomes tolerance to human p53 in mice and humans

Background The cellular regulatory protein p53 is overexpressed by almost 50% of all malignancies making it an attractive target for a vaccine approach to cancer. A number of immunotherapy approaches targeting p53 have been evaluated successfully in murine models, but translation of these preclinical findings to the clinic has been unsuccessful. Prior studies in our laboratory employing murine models demonstrated that a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vaccine expressing murine p53 could stimulate p53 specific immunity. Systemic administration of the MVA vaccine was able to effect the rejection of established tumors. To better understand the immunologic mechanisms that underlie the vaccine function of human p53, we utilized a murine model in which the murine germ line copy of p53 was replaced with a modified human one. These mice, referred to as Hupki, were evaluated as a tolerant model to explore the capacity of MVA expressing human p53 to overcome tolerance and reject human p53-expressing tumors. Results MVAp53 immunization of Hupki mice resulted in the generation of p53-specific CD8⁺ T cells and the rejection of a highly aggressive murine mammary carcinoma cell line 4T1(H-2d) transfected with human p53 (4T1p53). An immunologic correlate of tumor protection was evaluated utilizing an overlapping peptide library spanning the full length of human p53. This reagent was also used in combination with MVAp53 to stimulate p53-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses in cancer patients. Conclusion These studies demonstrate the potential of MVAp53 to overcome tolerance to p53 for cancer immunotherapy.     

The immune response to human metapneumovirus is associated with aberrant immunity and impaired virus clearance in BALB/c mice

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), recently identified in isolates from children hospitalized with acute respiratory tract illness, is associated with clinical diagnosis of pneumonia, asthma exacerbation, and acute bronchiolitis in young children. HMPV has been shown to cocirculate with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and mediate clinical disease features similarly to RSV. Little is known regarding the pathophysiology or immune response associated with HMPV infection; thus, animal models are needed to better understand the mechanisms of immunity and disease pathogenesis associated with infection. In this study, we examine features of the innate and adaptive immune response to HMPV infection in a BALB/c mouse model. Primary HMPV infection elicits weak innate and aberrant adaptive immune responses characterized by induction of a Th2-type cytokine response at later stages of infection that coincides with increased interleukin-10 expression and persistent virus replication in the lung. Examination of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte and antibody response to HMPV infection revealed a delayed response, but passive transfer of HMPV-specific antibodies provided considerable protection. These features are consistent with virus persistence and indicate that the immune response to HMPV is unique compared to the immune response to RSV.     

The rat ErbB2 tyrosine kinase receptor produced in plants is immunogenic in mice and confers protective immunity against ErbB2+ mammary cancer

The rat ErbB2 (rErbB2) protein is a 185‐kDa glycoprotein belonging to the epidermal growth factor‐related proteins (ErbB) of receptor tyrosine kinases. Overexpression and mutations of ErbB proteins lead to several malignancies including breast, lung, pancreatic, bladder and ovary carcinomas. ErbB2 is immunogenic and is an ideal candidate for cancer immunotherapy. We investigated the possibility of expressing the extracellular (EC) domain of rErbB2 (653 amino acids, aa) in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, testing the influence of the 23 aa transmembrane (TM) sequence on protein accumulation. Synthetic variants of the rErbB2 gene portion encoding the EC domain, optimized with a human codon usage and either linked to the full TM domain (rErbB2_TM, 676 aa), to a portion of it (rErbB2‐pTM, 662 aa), or deprived of it (rErbB2_noTM, 653 aa) were cloned in the pEAQ‐HT expression vector as 6X His tag fusions. All rErbB2 variants (72–74.5 kDa) were transiently expressed, but the TM was detrimental for rErbB2 EC accumulation. rERbB2_noTM was the most expressed protein; it was solubilized and purified with Nickel affinity resin. When crude soluble extracts expressing rErbB2_noTM were administered to BALB/c mice, specific rErbB2 immune responses were triggered. A potent antitumour activity was induced when vaccinated mice were challenged with syngeneic transplantable ErbB2⁺ mammary carcinoma cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of expression of rErbB2 in plants and of its efficacy in inducing a protective antitumour immune response, opening interesting perspectives for further immunological testing.     

表达猪肺炎支原体免疫原性基因的重组猪霍乱沙门氏菌对小鼠的免疫原性

【目的】构建表达猪肺炎支原体免疫原性基因的重组猪霍乱沙门氏菌,对重组菌株的生物学特性以及对小鼠的免疫原性进行研究。【方法】分别将猪肺炎支原体的免疫原性基因p36、p46、p65和p97R1-Nrdf克隆到pYA3493,得到重组质粒pYA-36、pYA-46、pYA-65和pYA-97R1-Nrdf。重组质粒和空质粒pYA3493分别电转asd基因缺失株C500ˉ,获得重组菌株C36(pYA-36)、C46(pYA-46)、C65(pYA-65)、C97R1-Nrdf(pYA-97R1-Nrdf)和空质粒菌株CpYA(pYA3493)。研究重组菌株的生物学特性,并以小鼠为动物模型评价重组菌株在口服、肌注两种不同免疫途径下的免疫原性。【结果】成功构建表达猪肺炎支原体免疫原性基因的重组猪霍乱沙门氏菌,重组菌株能表达外源蛋白,生化和生长特性未发生改变,插入的外源基因亦稳定存在。小鼠的免疫原性结果显示:口服C36+C46+C65+C97R1-Nrdf组的猪肺炎支原体抗体极显著高于口服C36+C46+C65组和肌注商品疫苗组(P<0.01),但与肌注C36+C46+C65组无显著性差异(P>0.05);IFN-γ为肌注C36+C46+C65组显著高于肌注商品疫苗组(P<0.05),而与口服C36+C46+C65或C36+C46+C65+C97R1-Nrdf组差异均不显著(P>0.05);IL-4水平为口服C36+C46+C65组>口服C36+C46+C65+C97R1-Nrdf组>肌注商品疫苗组>肌注C36+C46+C65组,但各组之间差异均不显著(P>0.05)。对照组的猪肺炎支原体抗体、IFN-γ以及IL-4均与试验组差异极显著(P<0.01)。【结论】构建的表达猪肺炎支原体免疫原性基因的重组猪霍乱沙门氏菌,采用肌注免疫时具有较好的免疫原性,有望发展为猪肺炎支原体的基因工程疫苗。     

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles encoding respiratory syncytial virus surface glycoproteins induce protective mucosal responses in mice and cotton rats

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important viral pathogen that causes severe lower respiratory tract infection in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. There are no licensed RSV vaccines to date. To prevent RSV infection, immune responses in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts are required. Previously, immunization with Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles (VRPs) demonstrated effectiveness in inducing mucosal protection against various pathogens. In this study, we developed VRPs encoding RSV fusion (F) or attachment (G) glycoproteins and evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of these vaccine candidates in mice and cotton rats. VRPs, when administered intranasally, induced surface glycoprotein-specific virus neutralizing antibodies in serum and immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in secretions at the respiratory mucosa. In addition, fusion protein-encoding VRPs induced gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-secreting T cells in the lungs and spleen, as measured by reaction with an H-2K^d-restricted CD8⁺ T-cell epitope. In animals vaccinated with F protein VRPs, challenge virus replication was reduced below the level of detection in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts following intranasal RSV challenge, while in those vaccinated with G protein VRPs, challenge virus was detected in the upper but not the lower respiratory tract. Close examination of histopathology of the lungs of vaccinated animals following RSV challenge revealed no enhanced inflammation. Immunization with VRPs induced balanced Th1/Th2 immune responses, as measured by the cytokine profile in the lungs and antibody isotype of the humoral immune response. These results represent an important first step toward the use of VRPs encoding RSV proteins as a prophylactic vaccine for RSV.     

Intranasal pediatric parainfluenza virus-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is protective in monkeys

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B-vitamin deficiency is protective against DSS-induced colitis in mice

Vitamin deficiencies are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Homocysteine (Hcys) is a thrombogenic amino acid produced from methionine (Met), and its increase in patients with IBD indicates a disruption of Met metabolism; however, the role of Hcys and Met metabolism in IBD is not well understood. We hypothesized that disrupted Met metabolism from a B-vitamin-deficient diet would exacerbate experimental colitis. Mice were fed a B(6)-B(12)-deficient or control diet for 2 wk and then treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to induce colitis. We monitored disease activity during DSS treatment and collected plasma and tissue for analysis of inflammatory tissue injury and Met metabolites. We also quantified Met cycle activity by measurements of in vivo Met kinetics using [1-(13)C-methyl-(2)H(3)]methionine infusion in similarly treated mice. Unexpectedly, we found that mice given the B-vitamin-deficient diet had improved clinical outcomes, including increased survival, weight maintenance, and reduced disease scores. We also found lower histological disease activity and proinflammatory gene expression (TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase) in the colon in deficient-diet mice. Metabolomic analysis showed evidence that these effects were associated with deficient B(6), as markers of B(12) function were only mildly altered. In vivo methionine kinetics corroborated these results, showing that the deficient diet suppressed transsulfuration but increased remethylation. Our findings suggest that disrupted Met metabolism attributable to B(6) deficiency reduces the inflammatory response and disease activity in DSS-challenged mice. These results warrant further human clinical studies to determine whether B(6) deficiency and elevated Hcys in patients with IBD contribute to disease pathobiology.     

Induction of tolerance in athymic mice with an antigen which is highly immunogenic in euthymic mice.

Adult congenitally athymic (nu/nu) mice were found to be unable to respond to aggregated human γ-globulin (AHGG), the normally immunogenic form of HGG, unless first reconstituted with specific T cells. However, pretreatment of nude mice with AHGG prior to T-cell reconstitution resulted in the induction of unresponsiveness. This state of tolerance was specific since pretreated animals responded normally to the noncross-reacting antigens turkey γ-globulin or DNP-Ficoll. Transfer of spleen cells from nude mice pretreated with AHGG into normal littermates did not significantly affect a subsequent anti-HGG response of the recipients. Conversely, nude mice pretreated with AHGG and reconstituted with normal littermate spleen cells were hyporesponsive to challenge with AHGG. The results of these experiments are discussed in reference to various models for the induction of B-cell unresponsiveness.     

A chloroplast-derived C4V3 polypeptide from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is orally immunogenic in mice

Although the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide, attempts to develop an effective vaccine remain elusive. Designing recombinant proteins capable of eliciting significant and protective mammalian immune responses remain a priority. Moreover, large-scale production of proteins of interest at affordable cost remains a challenge for modern biotechnology. In this study, a synthetic gene encoding a C4V3 recombinant protein, known to induce systemic and mucosal immune responses in mammalian systems, has been introduced into tobacco chloroplasts to yield high levels of expression. Integration of the transgene into the tobacco plastome has been verified by Southern blot hybridization. The recombinant C4V3 protein is also detected in tobacco chloroplasts by confocal microscopy. Reactivity of the heterologous protein with both an anti-C4V3 rabbit serum as well as sera from HIV positive patients have been assayed using Western blots. When administered by the oral route in a four-weekly dose immunization scheme, the plant-derived C4V3 has elicited both systemic and mucosal antibody responses in BALB/c mice, as well as CD4+ T cell proliferation responses. These findings support the viability of using plant chloroplasts as biofactories for HIV candidate vaccines, and could serve as important vehicles for the development of a plant-based candidate vaccine against HIV.