Cell Biological Characterization of the Malaria Vaccine Candidate Trophozoite Exported Protein 1

In a genome-wide screen for alpha-helical coiled coil motifs aiming at structurally defined vaccine candidates we identified PFF0165c. This protein is exported in the trophozoite stage and was named accordingly Trophozoite exported protein 1 (Tex1). In an extensive preclinical evaluation of its coiled coil peptides Tex1 was identified as promising novel malaria vaccine candidate providing the rational for a comprehensive cell biological characterization of Tex1. Antibodies generated against an intrinsically unstructured N-terminal region of Tex1 and against a coiled coil domain were used to investigate cytological localization, solubility and expression profile. Co-localization experiments revealed that Tex1 is exported across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane and located to Maurer''s clefts. Change in location is accompanied by a change in solubility: from a soluble state within the parasite to a membrane-associated state after export to Maurer''s clefts. No classical export motifs such as PEXEL, signal sequence/anchor or transmembrane domain was identified for Tex1.     

Age Dependence of Immunity Induced by a Candidate Universal Influenza Vaccine in Mice

Influenza has a major impact on the elderly due to increased susceptibility to infection with age and poor response to current vaccines. We have studied universal influenza vaccine candidates based on influenza A nucleoprotein and matrix 2 (A/NP+M2). Long-lasting protection against influenza virus strains of divergent subtypes is induced, especially with mucosal immunization. Here, we tested universal vaccination in BALB/c mice of different ages. Vaccination used intramuscular DNA priming to A/NP+M2 followed by intranasal (i.n.) boosting with recombinant adenoviruses (rAd) expressing the same antigens, or only A/NP+M2-rAd given i.n. Antigen-specific systemic antibody responses were induced in young, middle-aged, and elderly mice (2, 11–17, and 20 months old, respectively), but decreased with age. Antibody responses in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were detected only in young mice. Antigen-specific T cell responses were seen in young and middle-aged but not elderly mice. A/NP+M2 vaccination by the two regimens above protected against stringent challenge in young and middle-aged mice, but not in elderly mice. However, mice vaccinated with A/NP-rAd or A/M2-rAd during their youth were partially protected against challenge 16 months later when they were elderly. In addition, a regimen of two doses of A/NP+M2-rAd given i.n. one month apart beginning in old age protected elderly mice against stringent challenge. This study highlights the potential benefit of cross-protective vaccines through middle age, and suggests that their performance might be enhanced in elderly individuals who had been exposed to influenza antigens early in life, as most humans have been, or by a two-dose rAd regimen given later in life.     

Human Antigen-Presenting Cells: Characterization of the Cells in the T-Lymphocyte Proliferative Response

Human antigen-presenting cells (APC) which present the antigen to T lymphocytes resulting in a T-lymphocyte proliferative response were found among peripheral mononuclear cells (MNC), by employing purified protein derivative (PPD) as soluble antigen. To assess the adherence capacity of human antigen-presenting cells, MNC were separated by plastic Petri dishes or nylon wool columns. Plastic nonadherent cells were almost equivalent to unseparated cells in antigen-presenting ability. Plastic adherent cells, however, showed better antigen-presenting ability than unseparated cells. On the other hand, cells passed over nylon wool columns showed essentially no ability to present PPD to T lymphocytes. Removal of phagocytic cells by carbonyl iron resulted in about 50–70% reduction in antigen-presenting ability. Carrageenan, which is known to be toxic to macrophages, had no effect on APC. By using both rabbit anti-human Ia-like antiserum and alloantiserum specific for HLA-DR phenotype and complement, it was shown that APC possessed Ia-like antigens, whereas they did not bear surface immunoglobulins. These results indicate that the human APC is probably a cell in the monocyte-macrophage lineage. Allogeneic MNC were used as APC in order to determine whether any genetic restriction exists between MNC as APC and responding T lymphocytes. Optimal stimulation was shown to require identity of mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR)-activating determinants between APC and T lymphocytes. It is, however, obscure whether an HLA-D region restriction exists in these combinations because PPD-pulsed allogeneic MNC lost their ability to elicit even MLR. It is possible that this failure to elicit MLR was caused by T lymphocytes among the MNC used as APC.     

马传染性贫血弱毒疫苗株核衣壳蛋白基因的表达与鉴定

从感染驴白细胞的马传染性贫血弱毒疫苗株前病毒DNA中克隆了编码核衣壳蛋白 (pll)的基因 ,在大肠杆菌中得到了表达 ,而表达的蛋白是一种可溶性的融合蛋白 ,其氨基端带有 6个组氨酸的标签 ,因此可以用固定化金属离子亲和层析法在非变性条件下进行纯化。经间接ELISA和免疫印迹试验检测 ,这种表达的融合蛋白可与马传贫阳性血清样品发生反应 ,而与健康马血清无任何反应 ,显示其具有良好的抗原性和特异性 ,可用于马传贫弱毒疫苗株在体内外复制及在接种马体内免疫应答的研究。     

肾综合征出血热疫苗候选毒株A16株的分子特性

为研究肾综合征出血热疫苗候选毒株A16株的分子基础,应用RT－PCR方法扩增并测定了A16株的M和S片段的序列,结果A16株M片段的全基因序列共3615个核苷酸,编码1133个氨基酸。S片段的全基因序列共1770个核苷酸,编码429个氨基酸。A16株M片段核苷酸全基因序列及其的氨基酸与HTN型毒株同源率为75.5%-90.3%和85.9%-97.1%,即A16与HTN同型毒株间的差异高达9.7%-24.3%和2.9%-14.1%,而与SEO型的同源率比较,核苷酸和氨基酸分别仅为70.2%-70.8%和73.4%-76.7%.S片段的序列同源率与M片段的结果相类似,即核苷酸和氨基酸的同源率与HTN型毒株分别为76.0%－905和92.1%-97.7%,与SEO型为67.0%-67.7%和81.7%-82.6%。结果显示,A16株虽然属于HTN型,但该毒株为HTN型病毒的新亚型病毒株。     

Evaluation of Borrelia burgdorferi BbHtrA Protease as a Vaccine Candidate for Lyme Borreliosis in Mice

Borrelia burgdorferi synthesizes an HtrA protease (BbHtrA) which is a surface-exposed, conserved protein within Lyme disease spirochetes with activity toward CheX and BmpD of Borrelia spp, as well as aggrecan, fibronectin and proteoglycans found in skin, joints and neural tissues of vertebrates. An antibody response against BbHtrA is observed in Lyme disease patients and in experimentally infected laboratory mice and rabbits. Given the surface location of BbHtrA on B. burgdorferi and its ability to elicit an antibody response in infected hosts, we explored recombinant BbHtrA as a potential vaccine candidate in a mouse model of tick-transmitted Lyme disease. We immunized mice with two forms of BbHtrA: the proteolytically active native form and BbHtrA ablated of activity by a serine to alanine mutation at amino acid 226 (BbHtrA^S226A). Although inoculation with either BbHtrA or BbHtrA^S226A produced high-titer antibody responses in C3H/HeJ mice, neither antigen was successful in protecting mice from B. burgdorferi challenge. These results indicate that the search for novel vaccine candidates against Lyme borreliosis remains a challenge.     

肾综合征出血热疫苗候选毒株A16株的分子特性

为研究肾综合征出血热疫苗候选毒株A16株的分子基础,应用RT-PCR方法扩增并测定了A16株的M和S片段的序列,结果A16株M片段的全基因序列共3 615个核苷酸,编码1 133个氨基酸.S片段的全基因序列共1770个核苷酸,编码429个氨基酸.A16株M片段核苷酸全基因序列及其推导的氨基酸与HTN型毒株同源率为75.5%～90.3%和85.9%～97.1%,即A16与HTN同型毒株间的差异高达9.7%～24.3%和2.9%～14.1%,而与SEO型的同源率比较,核苷酸和氨基酸分别仅为70.2%～70.8%和73.4%～76.7%.S片段的序列同源率与M片段的结果相类似,即核苷酸和氨基酸的同源率与HTN型毒株分别为76.0%～90%和92.1%～97.7%,与SEO型为67.0%～67.7%和81.7%～82.6%.结果显示,A16株虽然属于HTN型,但该毒株为HTN型病毒的新亚型病毒株.     

Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Measles-HIV-1 Clade B Candidate Vaccine

Live attenuated measles virus is one of the most efficient and safest vaccines available, making it an attractive candidate vector for a HIV/AIDS vaccine aimed at eliciting cell-mediated immune responses (CMI). Here we have characterized the potency of CMI responses generated in mice and non-human primates after intramuscular immunisation with a candidate recombinant measles vaccine carrying an HIV-1 insert encoding Clade B Gag, RT and Nef (MV1-F4). Eight Mauritian derived, MHC-typed cynomolgus macaques were immunised with 10⁵ TCID₅₀ of MV1-F4, four of which were boosted 28 days later with the same vaccine. F4 and measles virus (MV)-specific cytokine producing T cell responses were detected in 6 and 7 out of 8 vaccinees, respectively. Vaccinees with either M6 or recombinant MHC haplotypes demonstrated the strongest cytokine responses to F4 peptides. Polyfunctional analysis revealed a pattern of TNFα and IL-2 responses by CD4+ T cells and TNFα and IFNγ responses by CD8+ T cells to F4 peptides. HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing cytokines waned in peripheral blood lymphocytes by day 84, but CD8+ T cell responses to F4 peptides could still be detected in lymphoid tissues more than 3 months after vaccination. Anti-F4 and anti-MV antibody responses were detected in 6 and 8 out of 8 vaccinees, respectively. Titres of anti-F4 and MV antibodies were boosted in vaccinees that received a second immunisation. MV1-F4 carrying HIV-1 Clade B inserts induces robust boostable immunity in non-human primates. These results support further exploration of the MV1-F4 vector modality in vaccination strategies that may limit HIV-1 infectivity.     

Control of Murine Cytomegalovirus in the Lungs: Relative but Not Absolute Immunodominance of the Immediate-Early 1 Nonapeptide during the Antiviral Cytolytic T-Lymphocyte Response in Pulmonary Infiltrates

The lungs are a major organ site of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, pathogenesis, and latency. Interstitial CMV pneumonia represents a critical manifestation of CMV disease, in particular in recipients of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We have employed a murine model for studying the immune response to CMV in the lungs in the specific scenario of immune reconstitution after syngeneic BMT. Control of pulmonary infection was associated with a vigorous infiltration of the lungs, which was characterized by a preferential recruitment and massive expansion of the CD8 subset of α/β T cells. The infiltrate provided a microenvironment in which the CD8 T cells differentiated into mature effector cells, that is, into functionally active cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). This gave us the opportunity for an ex vivo testing of the antigen specificities of CTL present at a relevant organ site of viral pathogenesis. The contribution of the previously identified immediate-early 1 (IE1) nonapeptide of murine CMV was evaluated by comparison with the CD3-redirected cytolytic activity used as a measure of the overall CTL response in the lungs. The IE1 peptide was detected by pulmonary CTL, but it accounted for a minor part of the response. Interestingly, no additional viral or virus-induced antigenic peptides were detectable among naturally processed peptides derived from infected lungs, even though infected fibroblasts were recognized in a major histocompatibility complex-restricted manner. We conclude that the antiviral pulmonary immune response is a collaborative function that involves many antigenic peptides, among which the IE1 peptide is immunodominant in a relative sense.     

Construction and Characterization of a Single-Cycle Chimeric Flavivirus Vaccine Candidate That Protects Mice against Lethal Challenge with Dengue Virus Type 2

We have previously described a novel flavivirus vaccine technology based on a single-cycle, capsid (C) gene-deleted flavivirus called RepliVAX. RepliVAX can be propagated in cells that express high levels of C but undergoes only a single cycle of infection in vaccinated hosts. Here we report that we have adapted our RepliVAX technology to produce a dengue vaccine by replacing the prM/E genes of RepliVAX WN (a West Nile virus [WNV] RepliVAX) with the same genes of dengue virus type 2 (DENV2). Our first RepliVAX construct for dengue virus (RepliVAX D2) replicated poorly in WNV C-expressing cells. However, addition of mutations in prM and E that were selected during blind passage of a RepliVAX D2 derivative was used to produce a second-generation RepliVAX D2 (designated D2.2) that displayed acceptable growth in WNV C-expressing cells. RepliVAX D2.2 grew better in DENV2 C-expressing cells than WNV C-expressing cells, but after several passages in DENV2 C-expressing cells it acquired further mutations that permitted efficient growth in WNV C-expressing cells. We tested the potency and efficacy of RepliVAX D2.2 in a well-described immunodeficient mouse model for dengue (strain AG129; lacking the receptors for both type I and type II interferons). These mice produced dose-dependent DENV2-neutralizing antibody responses when vaccinated with RepliVAX D2.2. When challenged with 240 50% lethal doses of DENV2, mice given a single inoculation of RepliVAX D2.2 survived significantly longer than sham-vaccinated animals, although some of these severely immunocompromised mice eventually died from the challenge. Taken together these studies indicate that the RepliVAX technology shows promise for use in the development of vaccines that can be used to prevent dengue.     

乙肝病毒DNA疫苗的构建及其诱导小鼠的免疫应答

构建含adr亚型HBV表面抗原基因的核酸疫苗 ,考察人白细胞介素II基因及重组白细胞介素II的免疫佐剂作用。用含有人白细胞介素II基因的真核表达质粒及基因重组白细胞介素II蛋白作为佐剂 ,将编码乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原的重组真核表达质粒 pVAX/HBS免疫BALB/C小鼠 (试验组 ) ,同时设置注射质粒pVAX的阴性对照组 ,并分别于第 2 ,4周后加强免疫各 1次。试验组在第 4周时开始有HBsAb产生 ,阴性对照组未测到HbsAb ,试验组和对照组均未检测到HBsAg。乙肝病毒DNA疫苗能引起小鼠特异性体液免疫应答 ,白细胞介素II的真核表达质粒的佐剂作用不明显 ,基因重组白细胞介素II蛋白具有提高小鼠对乙肝病毒核酸疫苗免疫应答水平的佐剂活性。     

人轮状病毒ZTR-5株灭活疫苗的制备及小鼠血清免疫学评价

目的: 研究人轮状病毒ZTR-5株灭活疫苗的制备及在实验小鼠中的免疫原性评价。方法: 轮状病毒ZTR-5株在MA104细胞上经蚀斑筛选纯化后,获得单一克隆接种至Vero细胞上适应性培养,免疫荧光定量检测病毒的感染性滴度,对收获的病毒液进行离心、超滤、分子筛纯化,甲醛灭活,抗原定量检测Al(OH)₃吸附制备的实验性疫苗。使用不同剂量(8EU、32EU、128EU、256EU)经肌内注射免疫小鼠,共免疫三次,免疫间隔2周。采用间接ELISA法检测血清特异性抗体效价。 结果: 通过蚀斑纯化,筛选得到一株纯化的病毒株ZTR-5纯-1,在Vero细胞上适应性后感染性滴度达7.35logCCID₅₀/ml;大量培养收获的病毒原液滴度为7.57logCCID₅₀/ml,制备获得轮状病毒样品抗原含量为2 560EU/ml;经肌内注射,初次免疫后,所有剂量组动物均获得抗体阳转,阳转率为100%;第一次加强免疫后,各组血清特异性抗体水平均明显增高,免疫剂量为128EU和256EU的两组小鼠血清抗体效价均达1∶10 240;第二次加强免疫后,各剂量组(8EU、32EU、128EU、256EU)血清抗体效价依次达1∶5 120,1∶7 456,1∶14 481.54,1∶14 481.54。 结论:人轮状病毒ZTR-5株可在Vero细胞上稳定增殖,所制备的疫苗具良好免疫原性,用128EU/2次免疫即可获得良好的免疫效果。     

A Comprehensive Genetic Analysis of Candidate Genes Regulating Response to Trypanosoma congolense Infection in Mice

Background

African trypanosomes are protozoan parasites that cause “sleeping sickness” in humans and a similar disease in livestock. Trypanosomes also infect laboratory mice and three major quantitative trait loci (QTL) that regulate survival time after infection with T. congolense have been identified in two independent crosses between susceptible A/J and BALB/c mice, and the resistant C57BL/6. These were designated Tir1, Tir2 and Tir3 for Trypanosoma infection response, and range in size from 0.9–12 cM.

Principal Findings

Mapping loci regulating survival time after T. congolense infection in an additional cross revealed that susceptible C3H/HeJ mice have alleles that reduce survival time after infection at Tir1 and Tir3 QTL, but not at Tir2. Next-generation resequencing of a 6.2 Mbp region of mouse chromosome 17, which includes Tir1, identified 1,632 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) including a probably damaging non-synonymous SNP in Pram1 (PML-RAR alpha-regulated adaptor molecule 1), which was the most plausible candidate QTL gene in Tir1. Genome-wide comparative genomic hybridisation identified 12 loci with copy number variants (CNV) that correlate with differential gene expression, including Cd244 (natural killer cell receptor 2B4), which lies close to the peak of Tir3c and has gene expression that correlates with CNV and phenotype, making it a strong candidate QTL gene at this locus.

Conclusions

By systematically combining next-generation DNA capture and sequencing, array-based comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH), gene expression data and SNP annotation we have developed a strategy that can generate a short list of polymorphisms in candidate QTL genes that can be functionally tested.     

稳定、无抗药的痢疾福氏2a和宋内双价菌苗候选株的构建

通过体内外基因重组,将大肠杆菌粘附因子cs3基因定位整合到痢疾杆菌福氏2a疫苗株T32菌染色体的asd基因内,使asd基因灭活;将来内O抗原基因克隆至无抗药性表达载体pXL378,获得重组质粒pXL390,将其转化asd-的T32受体菌,构建成福氏2a和宋内双价苗苗株FS01。实验表明:重组质粒pXL390在不带任何抗菌素基因的情况下,在asd-的T32受体菌内是稳定的。FS01株遗传稳定,能表达两种痢疾菌的PLS-O抗原,无明显毒性作用。动物试验表明,以FS01株皮下免疫的小鼠对福氏2a和宋内有毒株的腹腔攻击有100％的保护。     

糖尿病小鼠对H5N1病毒的易感性及灭活疫苗诱导的免疫反应

糖尿病患者免疫功能低下,是流感病毒感染的高危人群.研制有效的流感病毒疫苗对糖尿病患者尤为重要.以注射STZ的方法建立糖尿病小鼠模型,比较糖尿病小鼠和健康小鼠对H5N1病毒易感性的差异.病毒感染3 d后糖尿病小鼠的肺部病毒滴度比健康小鼠高,显示糖尿病小鼠对H5N1病毒更易感.用一次免疫的方法接种不同剂量的H5N1灭活疫苗(单独免疫或与佐剂共同免疫),比较其在糖尿病小鼠和健康小鼠诱导抗体应答的能力.一次免疫H5N1流感病毒灭活疫苗可诱导糖尿病小鼠产生体液免疫应答,但其抗体量低于健康小鼠,增加疫苗剂量可提高抗体水平.佐剂能增强H5N1全病毒灭活疫苗在糖尿病小鼠体内诱导的抗体反应.     

Evidence for Generation of Suppressor T Cells in Mycobacterium lepraemurium-Infected CBA/J Mice,a Mouse Strain Highly Susceptible to the Infection

Susceptibility to Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM) infection markedly differed between two mouse strains, CBA/J and C57BL/6. CBA/J mice showed high susceptibility to MLM infection and developed either very weak or no delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to MLM antigen after the injection of MLM. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice, which were resistant to MLM infection, showed significant DTH reaction to MLM antigen after the injection. Treatment of CBA/J mice with cyclophosphamide (Cy) conferred significant resistance to MLM infection on the CBA/J mice, and the treated mice developed a strong anti-MLM DTH response after the MLM injection. When spleen cells from MLM-infected CBA/J mice were transferred to Cy-treated and MLM-infected syngeneic mice, the anti-MLM DTH reaction of the recipient mice was suppressed. Treatment of the spleen cells to be transferred with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody or anti-I-J^k antiserum plus complement abrogated the suppressive activity. Thus, it is suggested that the high susceptibility of CBA/J mice to MLM infection is due to the generation of Cy-sensitive, I-J^k-positive suppressor T cells after infection with MLM.     

Modeling of Periodically Changing Predictable Response to Mutagens in Successive Inbred Generations of CBA/LacY Mice

A hypothesis on the genetic determination of periodic fluctuations of the sensitivity to the mutagen thioTEPA in successive inbred generations of mice has been earlier put forward. This study was the initial stage of testing this hypothesis. The mouse strain CBA/LacY was divided into two substrains, which differed in the rate of generation change. As a result, two colonies of isogenic mice differing by 10–12 generations with respect to the inbred age will be obtained. Both the rate and range of variations in the mutagen sensitivity (four generations per period of the cycle and 20–40% of cells with chromosome aberrations after the standard dose of 2.5 mg/kg of thioTEPA, respectively) in 19 generations of the fast substrain agreed with earlier data. The response of the slow substrain corresponded to the expected response of the fast substrain after the given number of generations. In the mice of generations F₁₄₂and F₁₄₆that lived simultaneously and differed in thioTEPA sensitivity, the effects of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) were significantly different. The levels of these effects corresponded to the levels of the responses to thioTEPA. The data obtained agree with the hypothesis tested.     

融合表达DEC205单链抗体和NS3蛋白的HCV DNA疫苗的免疫原性研究

为研发新型HCV DNA疫苗并探讨优化其免疫原性的策略,我们分析靶向树突状细胞(Dendritic cells,DC)的分子对HCV DNA疫苗免疫原性的影响。我们基于抗小鼠DC细胞表面分子DEC205/CD205的单克隆抗体DEC205的单链分子,构建可单独表达DEC205单链抗体或者与HCV非结构蛋白NS3融合表达的DNA表达质粒,并构建单独表达HCV非结构蛋白NS3的DNA表达质粒;经瞬时转染法鉴定HCV NS3及其与DEC205单链抗体融合蛋白的表达;随后采用注射结合电转的方式免疫Balb/C小鼠并研究各疫苗的体液(NS3特异性IgG抗体)与细胞免疫(IFN-γELISPOT)效果。结果表明:DEC205单链抗体基因与HCV NS3编码基因的融合可显著增强NS3特异的免疫应答;采用皮内注射加卡钳电极电转的方式可以产生最强的NS3特异性抗体和T细胞免疫反应。因此,通过DEC205单链抗体与HCV DNA疫苗靶抗原融合可明显增强免疫应答效果。该策略为HCV及其他类似病原的新型DNA疫苗研制提供重要依据。     

Chronic Schistosoma japonicum Infection Reduces Immune Response to Vaccine against Hepatitis B in Mice

Background

Hepatitis B and schistosomiasis are most prevalent in Africa and Asia, and co-infections of both are frequent in these areas. The immunomodulation reported to be induced by schistosome infections might restrict immune control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) leading to more severe viral infection. Vaccination is the most effective measure to control and prevent HBV infection, but there is evidence for a reduced immune response to the vaccine in patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this paper, we demonstrate in a mouse model that a chronic Schistosoma japonicum infection can inhibit the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine (HBV vaccine) and lead to lower production of anti-HBs antibodies, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). After deworming with Praziquantel (PZQ), the level of anti-HBs antibodies gradually increased and the Th2-biased profile slowly tapered. At 16 weeks after deworming, the levels of anti-HBs antibodies and Th1/Th2 cytokines returned to the normal levels.

Conclusions/Significance

The results suggest that the preexisting Th2-dominated immune profile in the host infected with the parasite may down–regulate levels of anti-HBs antibodies and Th1 cytokines. To improve the efficacy of HBV vaccination in schistosome infected humans it may be valuable to treat them with praziquantel (PZQ) some time prior to HBV vaccination.