Spectroscopic characterisation of a series of Salmonella Typhi Vi-diphtheria toxoid glycoconjugate antigens differing in polysaccharide-protein ratio.

Glycoconjugate vaccines consisting of the Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) Vi capsular polysaccharide (PS) covalently attached to a suitable carrier protein have become available to support mass paediatric vaccination campaigns against typhoid. One developmental vaccine from the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) uses diphtheria toxoid (DTx) as the carrier protein. Several investigational conjugates with different PS:protein ratios were prepared, as previously reported by the IVI group, for physicochemical and immunochemical characterisation. We describe here the further spectroscopic characterisation of this series of glycoconjugate immunogen bulks using NMR spectroscopy, circular dichroism and absorption spectroscopy. We have used several mathematical approaches to extract information from the spectroscopic data not previously applied to glycoconjugates. These complementary approaches provide information on (i) the integrity of the carrier protein, (ii) consistency between batches of vaccine components, (iii) the polysaccharide: protein ratio (iv) the O-acetylation of the Vi in the conjugate (v) the stability of the O-acetylation of the Vi, and (vi) the presence of residual process reagents in the bulk. The utility of the data analysis approaches is discussed. Together, these analytical methods provide important characterisation of Vi-DTx conjugates to support development and quality control of commercial products.

IgM specific to lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae is a surrogate antibody isotype responsible for serum vibriocidal activity.

Serum vibriocidal antibody assays have long been used to evaluate the immunogenicity of cholera vaccines formulated with killed whole-cell Vibrio cholerae. However, the antibody isotypes responsible for the serum vibriocidal activity are not fully characterized. In this study, we examined 20 clinical serum samples obtained from human subjects who had been vaccinated with a killed, whole-cell cholera vaccine and a positive control, human convalescent sera with high vibriocidal activity, to determine which isotype antibody is associated with the vibriocidal activity. Antibody isotypes from pooled convalescent sera were fractionated by size-exclusion column chromatography, and the major vibriocidal activity was detected in the IgM fraction. Depletion of IgM antibodies in the convalescent sera produced a significant (P<0.05) decrease in vibriocidal activity (16-fold decrease), whereas only a small change was observed with depletion of IgG or IgA. In addition, anti-LPS IgM antibody showed the highest correlation with vibriocidal activity (Spearman correlation coefficient r = 0.846) among antibody isotypes against heat-killed V. cholerae, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or major outer membrane protein (Omp U), while total IgG, IgA, or IgM antibody level was not correlated with vibriocidal activity in the 20 human clinical serum samples. Furthermore, human convalescent sera significantly (P<0.001) inhibited the attachment of V. cholerae to HT-29, a human intestinal epithelial cell in vitro. Interestingly, IgM-depleted convalescent sera could not effectively inhibit bacterial adherence compared with non-depleted sera (P<0.05). Finally, bacterial adhesion was significantly inhibited by sera with high vibriocidal titer compared with low-titer sera (P = 0.014). Collectively, we demonstrated that anti-V. cholerae LPS IgM is highly correlated with serum vibriocidal activity and it could be a surrogate antibody isotype representing protective antibodies against V. cholerae.

Asxl1 exerts an antiproliferative effect on mouse lung maturation via epigenetic repression of the E2f1-Nmyc axis.

Although additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1) has been extensively described in hematologic malignancies, little is known about the molecular role of ASXL1 in organ development. Here, we show that Asxl1 ablation in mice results in postnatal lethality due to cyanosis, a respiratory failure. This lung defect is likely caused by higher proliferative potential and reduced expression of surfactant proteins, leading to reduced air space and defective lung maturation. By microarray analysis, we identified E2F1-responsive genes, including Nmyc, as targets repressed by Asxl1. Nmyc and Asxl1 are reciprocally expressed during the fetal development of normal mouse lungs, whereas Nmyc downregulation is impaired in Asxl1-deficient lungs. Together with E2F1 and ASXL1, host cell factor 1 (HCF-1), purified as an Asxl1-bound protein, is recruited to the E2F1-binding site of the Nmyc promoter. The interaction occurs between the C-terminal region of Asxl1 and the N-terminal Kelch domain of HCF-1. Trimethylation (me3) of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) is enriched in the Nmyc promoter upon Asxl1 overexpression, whereas it is downregulated in Asxl1-deleted lung and -depleted A549 cells, similar to H3K9me3, another repressive histone marker. Overall, these findings suggest that Asxl1 modulates proliferation of lung epithelial cells via the epigenetic repression of Nmyc expression, deficiency of which may cause hyperplasia, leading to dyspnea.

Development of a bivalent conjugate vaccine candidate against malaria transmission and typhoid fever.

Immune responses to poorly immunogenic antigens, such as polysaccharides, can be enhanced by conjugation to carriers. Our previous studies indicate that conjugation to Vi polysaccharide of Salmonella Typhi may also enhance immunogenicity of some protein carriers. We therefore explored the possibility of generating a bivalent vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria and typhoid fever, which are co-endemic in many parts of the world, by conjugating Vi polysaccharide, an approved antigen in typhoid vaccine, to Pfs25, a malaria transmission blocking vaccine antigen in clinical trials. Vi-Pfs25 conjugates induced strong immune responses against both Vi and Pfs25 in mice, whereas the unconjugated antigens are poorly immunogenic. Functional assays of immune sera revealed potent transmission blocking activity mediated by anti-Pfs25 antibody and serum bactericidal activity due to anti-Vi antibody. Pfs25 conjugation to Vi modified the IgG isotype distribution of antisera, inducing a Th2 polarized immune response against Vi antigen. This conjugate may be further developed as a bivalent vaccine to concurrently target malaria and typhoid fever.

Asxl1 deficiency in embryonic fibroblasts leads to cellular senescence via impairment of the AKT-E2F pathway and Ezh2 inactivation.

Although ASXL1 mutations are frequently found in human diseases, including myeloid leukemia, the cell proliferation-associated function of ASXL1 is largely unknown. Here, we explored the molecular mechanism underlying the growth defect found in Asxl1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We found that Asxl1, through amino acids 371 to 655, interacts with the kinase domain of AKT1. In Asxl1-null MEFs, IGF-1 was unable to induce AKT1 phosphorylation and activation; p27Kip1, which forms a ternary complex with ASXL1 and AKT1, therefore remained unphosphorylated. Hypophosphorylated p27Kip1 is able to enter the nucleus, where it prevents the phosphorylation of Rb; this ultimately leads to the down-regulation of E2F target genes as confirmed by microarray analysis. We also found that senescence-associated (SA) genes were upregulated and that SA ß-gal staining was increased in Asxl1 -/- MEFs. Further, the treatment of an AKT inhibitor not only stimulated nuclear accumulation of p27Kip1 leading to E2F inactivation, but also promoted senescence. Finally, Asxl1 disruption augmented the expression of p16Ink4a as result of the defect in Asxl1-Ezh2 cooperation. Overall, our study provides the first evidence that Asxl1 both activates the AKT-E2F pathway and cooperates with Ezh2 through direct interactions at early embryonic stages, reflecting that Asxl1 disruption causes cellular senescence.

Preparation and testing of a Haemophilus influenzae Type b/Hepatitis B surface antigen conjugate vaccine.

The majority of conjugate vaccines focus on inducing an antibody response to the polysaccharide antigen and the carrier protein is present primarily to induce a T-cell dependent response. In this study conjugates consisting of poly(ribosylribitolphosphate) (PRP) purified from Haemophilus influenzae Type b bound to Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) virus like particles were prepared with the aim of inducing an antibody response to not only the PRP but also the HBsAg. A conjugate consisting of PRP bound to HBsAg via an adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) spacer induced strong IgG antibodies to both the PRP and HBsAg. When conjugation was performed without the ADH spacer the induction of an anti-PRP response was equivalent to that seen by conjugate with the ADH spacer, however, a negligible anti-HBsAg response was induced. For comparison, PRP was conjugated to diphtheria toxoid (DT) and Vi polysaccharide purified from Salmonella Typhi conjugated to HBsAg both using an ADH spacer. The PRPAH-DT conjugate induced strong anti-PRP and anti-DT responses, the Vi-AHHBsAg conjugate induced a good anti-HBsAg response but not as strong as that induced by the PRPAH-HBsAg conjugate. This study demonstrated that in mice it was possible to induce robust antibody responses to both polysaccharide and carrier protein provided the conjugate has certain physico-chemical properties. A PRPAH-HBsAg conjugate with the capacity to induce anti-PRP and anti-HBsAg responses could be incorporated into a multivalent pediatric vaccine and simplify formulation of such a vaccine.

A novel method for purification of Vi capsular polysaccharide produced by Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi.

Vi capsular polysaccharide is the major component of Vi polysaccharide typhoid vaccines. Vi is synthesized during growth of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi and is released into the fermentation broth in large quantities. Along with the Vi considerable amounts of impurities consisting of bacterial protein, nucleic acid and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as media components contaminate the fermentation broth. A purification method based on selective precipitation of Vi using the cationic detergent cetavlon was developed to separate impurities from Vi. A novel method for handling the Vi precipitate using 0.2 µm sterilizing grade filters to trap and wash the Vi and then, after re-solubilization, allow the Vi to pass through the filter was developed. Cetavlon selectively precipitates Vi and is the major purification step in the process, however, the conditions must be carefully controlled otherwise LPS will co-precipitate in large quantities. Various diafiltration steps help to remove contaminating protein, nucleic acid and fermentation media components as well as chemicals added during the process to induce precipitation of either Vi or contaminants. The final yield of purified Vi was approximately 45% and the bulk concentrate complied with the specifications defined in the WHO recommendations for Vi polysaccharide vaccine. Analysis of the Vi by size exclusion chromatography revealed a uniform peak with a narrow size distribution. The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrum was similar to Vi produced by other methods. The method developed produces large quantities of Vi using low cost production methods translating into Vi based vaccines that can be produced at affordable prices for use in developing countries.

Functions of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 in transgenic mice fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet.

Monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3), a chemokine that is in a superfamily of structurally related small chemotactic cytokines involved in leukocyte trafficking, is regarded as a key factor in atherogenesis. In this study, we examined the changes in atherogenic parameters including hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative balance in MCP- 3-overexpressing transgenic mice (MCP-3 mice) under atherogenic conditions. To induce an extreme atherogenic condition, mice were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet for 12 weeks. The body weight and food intake were not changed by MCP-3 overexpression in the aorta. On a HFHC diet, the MCP-3 mice had higher plasma levels of total cholesterol and a higher atherogenic index compared with wild-type mice, although there were no differences in the plasma HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, an increase in lipid accumulation was observed in the aortas as well as the livers of the HFHC diet-fed MCP-3 mice compared with wild-type mice. The activities of antioxidant enzymes increased in the livers of the HFHC diet-fed MCP-3 mice, whereas supplementation with antioxidants, naringin and hesperidin, reversed the activities of the hepatic antioxidant enzymes in HFHC diet-fed MCP-3 mice, indicating that there might be more oxidative damage to the tissues in the HFHC diet-fed MCP-3 mice leading to progression towards atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis. Microarray analyses of the aorta revealed atherosclerosis-, PPARs-, lipoprotein receptor, and apolipoprotein-related genes that were affected by the HFHC diet in MCP-3 mice. These findings suggest that aortic MCP-3 overexpression may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis under atherogenic conditions.

Preparation and evaluation of immunogenic conjugates of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi O-specific polysaccharides with diphtheria toxoid.

Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), is a major health problem particularly in developing countries. The available vaccines have certain limitations regarding their efficacy, and inability to induce an immune response especially in individuals under 2 years of age. Conjugate vaccines which consist of a bacteria-specific polysaccharide chemically bound to a carrier protein overcome these problems by inducing a T-cell dependent immune response characterized by enhanced immunogenicity in all ages. In this study, O-specific polysaccharides (OSP) of S. Typhi were conjugated to diphtheria toxoid (DT) using adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) as a linker. These conjugates (OSP-AH-DT) were then evaluated for their immunogenicity using mice as a model and showed significantly higher levels of IgG ELISA titers (P = 0.0241 and 0.0245) than lipopolysaccharides alone. Different immunization  schedules were compared and it was found that schedule-B (three injections with 4-weeks interval) induced higher immune responses than schedule-A (three injections with 2-weeks interval). We showed that diphtheria toxoid can be successfully employed as a carrier protein for conjugation with Salmonella OSP and play an important role in facilitating adequate immune response.

Immune suppression induced by Vi capsular polysaccharide is overcome by Vi-DT conjugate vaccine.

The influence pre-exposure of mice to Vi capsular polysaccharide, purified from Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi, on the subsequent immune response induced by a Vi-diphtheria toxoid (Vi-DT) conjugate was evaluated. Vi induced low anti Vi IgG titers with the dominant subclass being IgG3. The Vi-DT conjugate induced high titers of anti Vi IgG with the dominant subclass being IgG1 but with considerable quantities of IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3. Priming of mice with Vi suppressed the response to a subsequent dose of conjugate and the suppression was overcome by a second dose of conjugate. Priming with conjugate prevented suppression of the anti Vi response and subsequent dosing with Vi raised titers back to previous levels but did not boost to new higher levels. The anti DT IgG response to one dose of conjugate was relatively strong and protracted and continued to rise for 12 weeks, compared to the response to one dose of DT which was poor and peaked at two weeks. The prolonged anti DT response was most likely due to the slow release of DT from the conjugate lattice as it degrades within the mouse resulting in a continuous stimulation of the immune response. The presence of increasing amounts of un-conjugated Vi, up to 50%, administered with the conjugate resulted in increasingly higher levels of both anti Vi and anti DT. Larger amounts of un-conjugated Vi inhibited the anti Vi response. These findings have implications for vaccine quality and a limit for un-conjugated polysaccharide should not exceed 50% and from a vaccine program perspective if the results presented here translate to humans then a Vi conjugate, once it becomes available, should replace Vi polysaccharide vaccines.

Physico-chemical properties of Salmonella typhi Vi polysaccharide-diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccines affect immunogenicity.

In this study it was demonstrated that the immunogenicity of Vi polysaccharide-diphtheria toxoid conjugates was related to the physical and chemical structure of the conjugate. Conjugates were prepared in two steps, firstly binding adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) spacer molecules to diphtheria toxoid (DT) carrier protein then secondly binding varying amounts of this derivatized DT to a fixed amount of Vi capsular polysaccharide purified from Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi. As the amount of DT bound to the Vi increased the size of the conjugate increased but also the degree of cross-linking increased. The immunogenicity of the conjugates was tested in mice and measured by ELISA for anti Vi and anti DT IgG responses, and the results revealed a trend that as the amount of DT bound to the Vi increased the anti Vi responses increased. This study establishes a correlation between physico-chemical characteristics of the conjugate and the magnitude of the anti Vi and anti DT responses.

Physical and chemical characterization and immunologic properties of Salmonella enterica serovar typhi capsular polysaccharide-diphtheria toxoid conjugates.

Typhoid fever remains a serious public health problem in developing countries, especially among young children. Recent studies showed more than 50% of typhoid cases are in children under 5 years old. Licensed vaccines, such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi capsular Vi, did not confer protection against typhoid fever for this age group. Vi conjugate, prepared by binding Vi to Pseudomonas aeruginosa recombinant exoprotein A (rEPA), induces protective levels of antibody at as young as 2 years old. Because of the lack of regulatory precedent for rEPA in licensing vaccines, we employed diphtheria toxoid (DT) as the carrier protein to accommodate accessibility in developing countries. Five lots of Vi-DT conjugates were prepared using adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) as the linker. All 5 lots showed consistency in their physical and chemical characteristics and final yields. These Vi-DT conjugates elicited levels of IgG anti-Vi in young mice significantly higher than those in mice injected with Vi alone and induced a booster response upon reinjection. This booster effect was absent if the Vi replaced one of the two conjugate injections. Vi-DT was stable under repeated freeze-thaw (20 cycles). We plan to perform clinical evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity of Vi-DT when added to the infant combination vaccines.

Optimization of Vi capsular polysaccharide production during growth of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi Ty2 in a bioreactor.

Vi capsular polysaccharide is synthesized during growth of Salmonella typhi Ty2 and is spontaneously released from the bacterial cells into the culture medium during culture. Vi production was dependent on cell growth and the greater the cell mass the greater the production of Vi. Using fed batch culture to optimize bacterial growth resulted is an increase in cell mass and consequently Vi production. The yield of Vi obtained in fed batch culture was 415 mgl(-1), which was over three times that, obtained in batch culture. A proportion of the Vi remained cell associated in the form of a capsule and at least part of this was released from the bacterial surface by sonication. The size of the Vi polysaccharide produced was consistently high and did not change during the different phases of bacterial growth. The synthesis of Vi was also dependent upon the media components and the fermentation conditions. The presence of high concentrations of glucose at the beginning of growth inhibited the production of Vi, particularly during the stationary phase. At a concentration of 400 mM sodium phosphate the synthesis of Vi was strongly inhibited.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with mechanical heart valves.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal complications and perinatal outcomes in women with mechanical heart valves treated with warfarin and heparin during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was performed on 45 pregnancies in 28 women who were previously fitted with mechanical valve prostheses and treated between 1991 and 2005 at Seoul National University Hospital. Outcome parameters were maternal complications and perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, there were 27 live births (60%), 7 stillbirths (15.6%), 2 therapeutic terminations in the second trimester (4.4%), 9 first-trimester spontaneous abortions (20%) and 2 neonatal deaths after preterm delivery. After excluding 9 first-trimester spontaneous abortions and 3 pregnancies administered warfarin throughout pregnancy, there were significantly more live births among patients administered heparin only after a diagnosis of pregnancy than among those administered warfarin from the second trimester (11 of 11 vs. 13 of 22, p = 0.015). One patient with mitral valve thrombosis during heparinization in the first trimester received valve replacement surgery and then aborted. Late postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 1 patient. All stillbirths and therapeutic terminations occurred in women being administered warfarin. CONCLUSION: Warfarin use from the second trimester in combination anticoagulation regimens increases the risk of an adverse perinatal outcome.