A chimeric EBV gp350/220-based VLP replicates the virion B-cell attachment mechanism and elicits long-lasting neutralizing antibodies in mice.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an oncogenic gammaherpesvirus, causes acute infectious mononucleosis (AIM) and is linked to the development of several human malignancies. There is an urgent need for a vaccine that is safe, prevents infection and/or limits disease. Unique among human herpesviruses, glycoprotein (gp)350/220, which initiates EBV attachment to susceptible host cells, is the major ligand on the EBV envelope and is highly conserved. Interaction between gp350/220 and complement receptor type 2 (CR2)/CD21 and/or (CR1)/CD35 on B-cells is required for infection. Potent antibody responses to gp350/220 occur in animal models and humans. Thus, gp350/220 provides an attractive candidate for prophylactic subunit vaccine development. However, in a recent Phase II clinical trial immunization with soluble recombinant gp350 reduced the incidence of AIM, but did not prevent infection. Despite various attempts to produce an EBV vaccine, no vaccine is licensed. Herein we describe a sub-unit vaccine against EBV based on a novel Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-virus-like particle (VLP) platform consisting of EBVgp350/220 ectodomain fused to NDV-fusion (F) protein. The chimeric protein EBVgp350/220-F is incorporated into the membrane of a VLP composed of the NDV matrix and nucleoprotein. The particles resemble native EBV in diameter and shape and bind CD21 and CD35. Immunization of BALB/c mice with EBVgp350/220-F VLPs elicited strong, long-lasting neutralizing antibody responses when assessed in vitro. This chimeric VLP is predicted to provide a superior safety profile as it is efficiently produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using a platform devoid of human nucleic acid and EBV-transforming genes.

Structure and assembly of a paramyxovirus matrix protein.

Many pleomorphic, lipid-enveloped viruses encode matrix proteins that direct their assembly and budding, but the mechanism of this process is unclear. We have combined X-ray crystallography and cryoelectron tomography to show that the matrix protein of Newcastle disease virus, a paramyxovirus and relative of measles virus, forms dimers that assemble into pseudotetrameric arrays that generate the membrane curvature necessary for virus budding. We show that the glycoproteins are anchored in the gaps between the matrix proteins and that the helical nucleocapsids are associated in register with the matrix arrays. About 90% of virions lack matrix arrays, suggesting that, in agreement with previous biological observations, the matrix protein needs to dissociate from the viral membrane during maturation, as is required for fusion and release of the nucleocapsid into the host's cytoplasm. Structure and sequence conservation imply that other paramyxovirus matrix proteins function similarly.

Long-term and memory immune responses in mice against Newcastle disease virus-like particles containing respiratory syncytial virus glycoprotein ectodomains.

Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant human pathogen, no RSV vaccines are available. We have reported that a virus-like particle (VLP) RSV vaccine candidate stimulated, in mice, robust, protective anti-RSV glycoprotein T(H)1 biased immune responses without enhanced respiratory disease upon RSV challenge. We report here an analysis of long-term responses to these VLPs. BALB/c mice immunized, without adjuvant, with VLPs or with infectious RSV generated anti-F and anti-G protein serum antibody responses that were stable over 14 months. Neutralizing antibody titers stimulated by VLPs were robust and durable for 14 months, whereas those of RSV-immunized animals declined significantly by 3 months. F protein-specific antibody-secreting cells were detected in the bone marrows of VLP-immunized mice but not in the marrows of RSV-immunized mice. Adoptive transfer of enriched splenic B cells from VLP-immunized mice into immunodeficient rag(-/-) mice resulted in anti-F and anti-G protein serum IgG antibody responses, in recipient mice, that were protective upon RSV challenge. In contrast, transfer of splenic B cells from RSV-immunized mice produced no detectable serum antibody in the recipients, nor could these mice inhibit RSV replication upon virus challenge. Immunization with VLPs stimulated the formation of germinal center GL7(+) B cells in normal mice. VLP immunization of TCR ßδ(-/-) T-cell-deficient mice did not induce anti-RSV IgG antibodies, results consistent with T-cell-dependent immune responses. These results demonstrate that VLPs are effective in stimulating long-lived RSV-specific, T-cell-dependent neutralizing antibody-secreting cells and RSV-specific memory responses.

The transmembrane domain sequence affects the structure and function of the Newcastle disease virus fusion protein.

The role of specific sequences in the transmembrane (TM) domain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein in the structure and function of this protein was assessed by replacing this domain with the F protein TM domains from two other paramyxoviruses, Sendai virus (SV) and measles virus (MV), or the TM domain of the unrelated glycoprotein (G) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Mutant proteins with the SV or MV F protein TM domains were expressed, transported to cell surfaces, and proteolytically cleaved at levels comparable to that of the wild-type protein, while mutant proteins with the VSV G protein TM domain were less efficiently expressed on cell surfaces and proteolytically cleaved. All mutant proteins were defective in all steps of membrane fusion, including hemifusion. In contrast to the wild-type protein, the mutant proteins did not form detectable complexes with the NDV hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein. As determined by binding of conformation-sensitive antibodies, the conformations of the ectodomains of the mutant proteins were altered. These results show that the specific sequence of the TM domain of the NDV F protein is important for the conformation of the preactivation form of the ectodomain, the interactions of the protein with HN protein, and fusion activity.

Assembly and immunological properties of Newcastle disease virus-like particles containing the respiratory syncytial virus F and G proteins.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a serious respiratory pathogen in infants and young children as well as elderly and immunocompromised populations. However, no RSV vaccines are available. We have explored the potential of virus-like particles (VLPs) as an RSV vaccine candidate. VLPs composed entirely of RSV proteins were produced at levels inadequate for their preparation as immunogens. However, VLPs composed of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) nucleocapsid and membrane proteins and chimera proteins containing the ectodomains of RSV F and G proteins fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of NDV F and HN proteins, respectively, were quantitatively prepared from avian cells. Immunization of mice with these VLPs, without adjuvant, stimulated robust, anti-RSV F and G protein antibody responses. IgG2a/IgG1 ratios were very high, suggesting predominantly T(H)1 responses. In contrast to infectious RSV immunization, neutralization antibody titers were robust and stable for 4 months. Immunization with a single dose of VLPs resulted in the complete protection of mice from RSV replication in lungs. Upon RSV intranasal challenge of VLP-immunized mice, no enhanced lung pathology was observed, in contrast to the pathology observed in mice immunized with formalin-inactivated RSV. These results suggest that these VLPs are effective RSV vaccines in mice, in contrast to other nonreplicating RSV vaccine candidates.

Assembly and biological and immunological properties of Newcastle disease virus-like particles.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) released from avian cells expressing the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain AV proteins NP, M, HN (hemagglutinin-neuraminidase), and F were characterized. The VLP-associated HN and F glycoproteins directed the attachment of VLPs to cell surfaces and fusion of VLP membranes with red blood cell membranes, indicating that they were assembled into VLPs in an authentic conformation. These particles were quantitatively prepared and used as an immunogen, without adjuvant, in BALB/c mice. The resulting immune responses, detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), virus neutralization, and intracellular cytokine staining, were comparable to the responses to equivalent amounts of inactivated NDV vaccine virus. HN and F proteins from another strain of NDV, strain B1, could be incorporated into these VLPs. Foreign peptides were incorporated into these VLPs when fused to the NP or HN protein. The ectodomain of a foreign glycoprotein, the Nipah virus G protein, fused to the NDV HN protein cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains was incorporated into ND VLPs. Thus, ND VLPs are a potential NDV vaccine candidate. They may also serve as a platform to construct vaccines for other pathogens.

Newcastle disease virus-like particles containing respiratory syncytial virus G protein induced protection in BALB/c mice, with no evidence of immunopathology.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of serious respiratory infections in children as well as a serious cause of disease in elderly and immunosuppressed populations. There are no licensed vaccines available to prevent RSV disease. We have developed a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidate for protection from RSV. The VLP is composed of the NP and M proteins of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and a chimeric protein containing the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of the NDV HN protein and the ectodomain of the human RSV G protein (H/G). Immunization of mice with 10 or 40 microg total VLP-H/G protein by intraperitoneal or intramuscular inoculation stimulated antibody responses to G protein which were as good as or better than those stimulated by comparable amounts of UV-inactivated RSV. Immunization of mice with two doses or even a single dose of these particles resulted in the complete protection of mice from RSV replication in the lungs. Immunization with these particles induced neutralizing antibodies with modest titers. Upon RSV challenge of VLP-H/G-immunized mice, no enhanced pathology in the lungs was observed, although lungs of mice immunized in parallel with formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) showed the significant pathology that has previously been documented after immunization with FI-RSV. Thus, the VLP-H/G candidate vaccine was immunogenic in BALB/c mice and prevented replication of RSV in murine lungs, with no evidence of immunopathology. These data support further development of virus-like particle vaccine candidates for protection against RSV.

Role of thiol/disulfide exchange in newcastle disease virus entry.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) entry into host cells is mediated by the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) glycoproteins. We previously showed that production of free thiols in F protein is required for membrane fusion directed by F protein (S. Jain et al., J. Virol. 81:2328-2339, 2007). In the present study we evaluated the oxidation state of F protein in virions and virus-like particles and its relationship to activation of F protein by HN protein, F protein conformational intermediates, and virus-cell fusion. F protein, in particles, does not have free thiols, but free thiols were produced upon binding of particles to target cells. Free thiols were produced at 16 degrees C in F protein in virions bound to the target cells. They also appeared in different fusion defective mutant F proteins. Free thiols were produced in the presence of mutant HN proteins that are defective in F protein activation but are attachment competent. These results suggest that free thiols appear prior to any of the proposed major conformational changes in F protein which accompany fusion activation. These results also indicate that HN protein binding to its receptor likely facilitates the interaction between F protein and host cell isomerases, leading to reduction of disulfide bonds in F protein. Taken together, these results show that free thiols are produced in F protein at a very early stage during the onset of fusion and that the production of free thiols is required for fusion in addition to activation by HN protein.

Overexpression of thiol/disulfide isomerases enhances membrane fusion directed by the Newcastle disease virus fusion protein.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein directs membrane fusion, which is required for virus entry and cell-cell fusion. We have previously shown that free thiols are present in cell surface-expressed NDV F protein and that blocking the production of free thiols by thiol-disulfide exchange inhibitors inhibited the membrane fusion mediated by F protein (J Virol. 81:2328-2339, 2007). Extending these observations, we evaluated the role of the overexpression of two disulfide bond isomerases, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and ERdj5, in cell-cell fusion mediated by NDV glycoproteins. The overexpression of these isomerases resulted in significantly increased membrane fusion, as measured by syncytium formation and content mixing. The overexpression of these isomerases enhanced the production of free thiols in F protein when expressed without hemagglutination-neuraminidase (HN) protein but decreased free thiols in F protein expressed with HN protein. By evaluating the binding of conformation-sensitive antibodies, we found that the overexpression of these isomerases favored a postfusion conformation of surface-expressed F protein in the presence of HN protein. These results suggest that isomerases belonging to the PDI family catalyze the production of free thiols in F protein, and free thiols in F protein facilitate membrane fusion mediated by F protein.

Newcastle disease virus-like particles: preparation, purification, quantification, and incorporation of foreign glycoproteins.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are large particles, the size of viruses, composed of repeating structures that mimic those of infectious virus. Since their structures are similar to that of viruses, they have been used to study the mechanisms of virus assembly. They are also in development for delivery of molecules to cells and in studies of the immunogenicity of particle-associated antigens. However, they have been most widely used for development of vaccines and vaccine candidates. VLPs can form upon the expression of the structural proteins of many different viruses. This chapter describes the generation and purification of VLPs formed with the structural proteins, M, NP, F, and HN proteins, of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Newcastle disease virus-like particles (ND VLPs) have also been developed as a platform for assembly into VLPs of glycoproteins from other viruses. This chapter describes the methods for this use of ND VLPs.

Thiol/disulfide exchange is required for membrane fusion directed by the Newcastle disease virus fusion protein.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian paramyxovirus, initiates infection with attachment of the viral hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein to sialic acid-containing receptors, followed by fusion of viral and cell membranes, which is mediated by the fusion (F) protein. Like all class 1 viral fusion proteins, the paramyxovirus F protein is thought to undergo dramatic conformational changes upon activation. How the F protein accomplishes extensive conformational rearrangements is unclear. Since several viral fusion proteins undergo disulfide bond rearrangement during entry, we asked if similar rearrangements occur in NDV proteins during entry. We found that inhibitors of cell surface thiol/disulfide isomerase activity--5'5-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), bacitracin, and anti-protein disulfide isomerase antibody--inhibited cell-cell fusion and virus entry but had no effect on cell viability, glycoprotein surface expression, or HN protein attachment or neuraminidase activities. These inhibitors altered the conformation of surface-expressed F protein, as detected by conformation-sensitive antibodies. Using biotin maleimide (MPB), a reagent that binds to free thiols, free thiols were detected on surface-expressed F protein, but not HN protein. The inhibitors DTNB and bacitracin blocked the detection of these free thiols. Furthermore, MPB binding inhibited cell-cell fusion. Taken together, our results suggest that one or several disulfide bonds in cell surface F protein are reduced by the protein disulfide isomerase family of isomerases and that F protein exists as a mixture of oxidized and reduced forms. In the presence of HN protein, only the reduced form may proceed to refold into additional intermediates, leading to the fusion of membranes.

Incorporation of functional HN-F glycoprotein-containing complexes into newcastle disease virus is dependent on cholesterol and membrane lipid raft integrity.

Newcastle disease virus assembles in plasma membrane domains with properties of membrane lipid rafts, and disruption of these domains by cholesterol extraction with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin resulted in the release of virions with irregular protein composition, abnormal particle density, and reduced infectivity (J. P. Laliberte, L. W. McGinnes, M. E. Peeples, and T. G. Morrison, J. Virol. 80:10652-10662, 2006). In the present study, these results were confirmed using Niemann-Pick syndrome type C cells, which are deficient in normal membrane rafts due to mutations affecting cholesterol transport. Furthermore, cholesterol extraction of infected cells resulted in the release of virions that attached to target cells at normal levels but were defective in virus-cell membrane fusion. The reduced fusion capacity of particles released from cholesterol-extracted cells correlated with significant loss of HN-F glycoprotein-containing complexes detected in the virion envelopes of these particles and with detection of cell-associated HN-F protein-containing complexes in extracts of cholesterol-extracted cells. Extraction of cholesterol from purified virions had no effect on virus-cell attachment, virus-cell fusion, particle infectivity, or the levels of glycoprotein-containing complexes. Taken together, these results suggest that cholesterol and membrane rafts are required for the formation or maintenance of HN-F glycoprotein-containing complexes in cells but not the stability of preformed glycoprotein complexes once assembled into virions.

Newcastle disease virus: propagation, quantification, and storage.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a prototype paramyxovirus used to define basic steps in the life cycle of this family of viruses. NDV is also an ideal virus system for elucidating determinants of viral pathogenicity. Some strains of this virus are important agricultural pathogens that cause disease in poultry with a high mortality while other strains are avirulent and used for vaccines. Methods for preparation and titration of virus stocks are essential for all of these purposes. Procedures for growth and purification of NDV stocks in embryonated chicken eggs as well as in tissue culture cells are described. Use of embryonated chicken eggs to grow the virus is the superior method since infectious stocks of all strains of NDV result. Stocks of avirulent NDV prepared in tissue culture are noninfectious. Virus stocks are routinely titered using plaque assays or hemagglutination assays, both of which are described.

Requirements for the assembly and release of Newcastle disease virus-like particles.

Paramyxoviruses, such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV), assemble in and bud from plasma membranes of infected cells. To explore the role of each of the NDV structural proteins in virion assembly and release, virus-like particles (VLPs) released from avian cells expressing all possible combinations of the nucleoprotein (NP), membrane or matrix protein (M), an uncleaved fusion protein (F-K115Q), and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein were characterized for densities, protein content, and efficiencies of release. Coexpression of all four proteins resulted in the release of VLPs with densities and efficiencies of release (1.18 to 1.16 g/cm(3) and 83.8% +/- 1.1%, respectively) similar to those of authentic virions. Expression of M protein alone, but not NP, F-K115Q, or HN protein individually, resulted in efficient VLP release, and expression of all different combinations of proteins in the absence of M protein did not result in particle release. Expression of any combination of proteins that included M protein yielded VLPs, although with different densities and efficiencies of release. To address the roles of NP, F, and HN proteins in VLP assembly, the interactions of proteins in VLPs formed with different combinations of viral proteins were characterized by coimmunoprecipitation. The colocalization of M protein with cell surface F and HN proteins in cells expressing all combinations of viral proteins was characterized. Taken together, the results show that M protein is necessary and sufficient for NDV budding. Furthermore, they suggest that M-HN and M-NP interactions are responsible for incorporation of HN and NP proteins into VLPs and that F protein is incorporated indirectly due to interactions with NP and HN protein.

Integrity of membrane lipid rafts is necessary for the ordered assembly and release of infectious Newcastle disease virus particles.

Membrane lipid raft domains are thought to be sites of assembly for many enveloped viruses. The roles of both classical lipid rafts and lipid rafts associated with the membrane cytoskeleton in the assembly of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were investigated. The lipid raft-associated proteins caveolin-1, flotillin-2, and actin were incorporated into virions, while the non-lipid raft-associated transferrin receptor was excluded. Kinetic analyses of the distribution of viral proteins in lipid rafts, as defined by detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs), in non-lipid raft membranes, and in virions showed an accumulation of HN, F, and NP viral proteins in lipid rafts early after synthesis. Subsequently, these proteins exited the DRMs and were recovered quantitatively in purified virions, while levels of these proteins in detergent-soluble cell fractions remained relatively constant. Cholesterol depletion of infected cells drastically altered the association of viral proteins with DRMs and resulted in an enhanced release of virus particles with reduced infectivity. Decreased infectivity was not due to effects on subsequent virus entry, since the extraction of cholesterol from intact virus did not significantly reduce infectivity. Particles released from cholesterol-depleted cells had very heterogeneous densities and altered ratios of NP and glycoproteins, demonstrating structural abnormalities which potentially contributed to their lowered infectivity. Taken together, these results indicate that lipid rafts, including cytoskeleton-associated lipid rafts, are sites of NDV assembly and that these domains are important for ordered assembly and release of infectious Newcastle disease virus particles.

Characterization of an alternate form of Newcastle disease virus fusion protein.

The sequence and structure of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein are consistent with its classification as a type 1 glycoprotein. We have previously reported, however, that F protein can be detected in at least two topological forms with respect to membranes in both a cell-free protein synthesizing system containing membranes and infected COS-7 cells (J. Virol. 77:1951-1963, 2003). One form is the classical type 1 glycoprotein, while the other is a polytopic form in which approximately 200 amino acids of the amino-terminal end as well as the cytoplasmic domain (CT) are translocated across membranes. Furthermore, we detected CT sequences on surfaces of F protein-expressing cells, and antibodies specific for these sequences inhibited red blood cell fusion to hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and F protein-expressing cells, suggesting a role for surface-expressed CT sequences in cell-cell fusion. Extending these findings, we have found that the alternate form of the F protein can also be detected in infected and transfected avian cells, the natural host cells of NDV. Furthermore, the alternate form of the F protein was also found in virions released from both infected COS-7 cells and avian cells by Western analysis. Mass spectrometry confirmed its presence in virions released from avian cells. Two different polyclonal antibodies raised against sequences of the CT domain of the F protein slowed plaque formation in both avian and COS-7 cells. Antibody specific for the CT domain also inhibited single-cycle infections, as detected by immunofluorescence of viral proteins in infected cells. The potential roles of this alternate form of the NDV F protein in infection are discussed.

Newcastle disease virus HN protein alters the conformation of the F protein at cell surfaces.

Conformational changes in the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein during activation of fusion and the role of HN protein in these changes were characterized with a polyclonal antibody. This antibody was raised against a peptide with the sequence of the amino-terminal half of the F protein HR1 domain. This antibody immunoprecipitated both F(0) and F(1) forms of the fusion protein from infected and transfected cell extracts solubilized with detergent, and precipitation was unaffected by expression of the HN protein. In marked contrast, this antibody detected significant conformational differences in the F protein at cell surfaces, differences that depended upon HN protein expression. The antibody minimally detected the F protein, either cleaved or uncleaved, in the absence of HN protein expression. However, when coexpressed with HN protein, an uncleaved mutant F protein bound the anti-HR1 antibody, and this binding depended upon the coexpression of specifically the NDV HN protein. When the cleaved wild-type F protein was coexpressed with HN protein, the F protein bound anti-HR1 antibody poorly although significantly more than F protein expressed alone. Anti-HR1 antibody inhibited the fusion of R18 (octadecyl rhodamine B chloride)-labeled red blood cells to syncytia expressing HN and wild-type F proteins. This inhibition showed that fusion-competent F proteins present on surfaces of syncytia were capable of binding anti-HR1. Furthermore, only antibody which was added prior to red blood cell binding could inhibit fusion. These results suggest that the conformation of uncleaved cell surface F protein is affected by HN protein expression. Furthermore, the cleaved F protein, when coexpressed with HN protein and in a prefusion conformation, can bind anti-HR1 antibody, and the anti-HR1-accessible conformation exists prior to HN protein attachment to receptors on red blood cells.

Evidence for mixed membrane topology of the newcastle disease virus fusion protein.

The synthesis of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system containing membranes was characterized. The membrane-associated products were in at least two different topological forms with respect to the membranes. The properties of one form were consistent with the expected membrane insertion as a classical type 1 glycoprotein. This form of the protein was fully glycosylated, and sequences amino terminal to the transmembrane domain were protected from protease digestion by the membranes. The second form of membrane-associated F protein was partially glycosylated and partially protected from protease digestion by the membranes. Protease digestion resulted in a 23-kDa protease-protected polypeptide derived from F2 sequences and sequences from the amino-terminal end of the F1 domain. Furthermore, a 10-kDa polypeptide derived from the cytoplasmic domain (CT) was also protected from protease digestion by the membranes. Protease resistance of the 23- and 10-kDa polypeptides suggested that this second form of F protein inserted in membranes in a polytopic conformation with both the amino-terminal end and the carboxyl-terminal end translocated across membranes. To determine if this second form of the fusion protein could be found in cells expressing the F protein, two different approaches were taken. A polypeptide with the size of the partially translocated F protein was detected by Western analysis of proteins in total-cell extracts of NDV strain B1 (avirulent)-infected Cos-7 cells. Using antibodies raised against a peptide with sequences from the cytoplasmic domain, CT sequences were detected on surfaces of F protein-expressing Cos-7 cells by immunofluorescence and by flow cytometry. This antibody also inhibited the fusion of red blood cells to cells expressing F and HN proteins. These results suggest that NDV F protein made both in a cell-free system and in Cos-7 cells may exist in two topological forms with respect to membranes and that the second form of the protein may be involved in cell-cell fusion.