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Nanoformulation of active payloads or pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has always been an area of interest to achieve targeted, sustained, and efficacious delivery. Various delivery platforms have been explored, but loading and delivery of APIs have been challenging because of the chemical and structural properties of these molecules. Polymersomes made from amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCPs) have shown enormous promise as a tunable API delivery platform and confer multifold advantages over lipid-based systems. For example, a COVID booster vaccine comprising polymersomes encapsulating spike protein (ACM-001) has recently completed a Phase I clinical trial and provides a case for developing safe drug products based on ABCP delivery platforms. However, several limitations need to be resolved before they can reach their full potential. In this Perspective, we would like to highlight such aspects requiring further development for translating an ABCP-based delivery platform from a proof of concept to a viable commercial product.
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Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Nanoestruturas , Polímeros/química , Preparações Farmacêuticas , Nanoestruturas/químicaRESUMO
mAbs are a possible adjunct to vaccination and drugs in treatment of influenza virus infection. However, questions remain whether small animal models accurately predict efficacy in humans. We have established the pig, a large natural host animal for influenza, with many physiological similarities to humans, as a robust model for testing mAbs. We show that a strongly neutralizing mAb (2-12C) against the hemagglutinin head administered prophylactically at 15 mg/kg reduced viral load and lung pathology after pandemic H1N1 influenza challenge. A lower dose of 1 mg/kg of 2-12C or a DNA plasmid-encoded version of 2-12C reduced pathology and viral load in the lungs but not viral shedding in nasal swabs. We propose that the pig influenza model will be useful for testing candidate mAbs and emerging delivery platforms prior to human trials.
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Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1 , Influenza Humana , Infecções por Orthomyxoviridae , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais , Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1/imunologia , Influenza Humana/tratamento farmacológico , SuínosRESUMO
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic of COVID-19, resulting in cases of mild to severe respiratory distress and significant mortality. The global outbreak of this novel coronavirus has now infected >20 million people worldwide, with >5 million cases in the United States (11 August 2020). The development of diagnostic and research tools to determine infection and vaccine efficacy is critically needed. We have developed multiple serologic assays using newly designed SARS-CoV-2 reagents for detecting the presence of receptor-binding antibodies in sera. The first assay is surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based and can quantitate both antibody binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and blocking to the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in a single experiment. The second assay is enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based and can measure competition and blocking of the ACE2 receptor to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with antispike antibodies. The assay is highly versatile, and we demonstrate the broad utility of the assay by measuring antibody functionality of sera from small animals and nonhuman primates immunized with an experimental SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In addition, we employ the assay to measure receptor blocking of sera from SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. The assay is shown to correlate with pseudovirus neutralization titers. This type of rapid, surrogate neutralization diagnostic can be employed widely to help study SARS-CoV-2 infection and assess the efficacy of vaccines.
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Anticorpos Bloqueadores/sangue , Betacoronavirus/imunologia , Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico , Infecções por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/imunologia , Pneumonia Viral/diagnóstico , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/sangue , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Betacoronavirus/isolamento & purificação , COVID-19 , Teste para COVID-19 , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/sangue , Infecções por Coronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Cobaias , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Camundongos , Testes de Neutralização , Pandemias , Pneumonia Viral/sangue , Pneumonia Viral/imunologia , Primatas , Coelhos , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Ressonância de Plasmônio de Superfície , Vacinas Virais/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Virais/imunologiaRESUMO
Intradermal delivery of DNA vaccines via electroporation (ID-EP) has shown clinical promise, but the use of needle electrodes is typically required to achieve consistent results. Here, delivery of a DNA vaccine targeting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is achieved using noninvasive intradermal vacuum-EP (ID-VEP), which functions by pulling a small volume of skin tissue into a vacuum chamber containing noninvasive electrodes to perform EP at the injection site. Gene expression and immunogenicity correlated with EP parameters and vacuum chamber geometry in guinea pigs. ID-VEP generated potent humoral and cellular immune responses across multiple studies, while vacuum (without EP) greatly enhanced localized transfection but did not improve immunogenicity. Because EP was performed noninvasively, the only treatment site reaction observed was transient redness, and ID-VEP immune responses were comparable to a clinical needle-based ID-EP device. The ID-VEP delivery procedure is straightforward and highly repeatable, without any dependence on operator technique. This work demonstrates a novel, reliable, and needle-free delivery method for DNA vaccines.
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Small molecular inhibitors are excellent tools for manipulating cell reactions. They are widely used in scientific research to study molecular mechanisms of cells under physiological and pathophysiological conditions as well as in clinical applications to treat patients. However, their selectivity is often not well known. Moreover, it can vary according to cell types and the analysis methods used. Therefore, it is usually not possible to make comparisons between the data presented in the literature. Here we analyzed the selectivity of five chosen inhibitors of calcineurin/NFAT activation under the same conditions. Using a combination of fluorescent cell barcoding and phospho-specific flow cytometry we studied the inhibition of activation of NF-κBp65 and MAPK pathways in stimulated primary human Th cells. This semi-high throughput approach enabled us to demonstrate that (i) CsA and NCI3 are around 5 to 10- and 20-fold less potent, respectively, at inhibiting phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 and p38 than activation of NFAT, (ii) AM404 is at least 15-fold selective for NFAT but already toxic at concentrations above 40 µM, (iii) INCA6 is not selective at all, and (iv) BTP1 is at least 100-fold selective for inhibition of NFAT activation relative to NF-κBp65, p38 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Altogether, our results not only show the applicability of a semi-high throughput inhibitor test system but also that BTP1 is the most selective inhibitor of calcineurin/NFAT activation among the studied inhibitors under the used conditions.
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Inibidores de Calcineurina , Processamento Eletrônico de Dados/métodos , Citometria de Fluxo/métodos , Fatores de Transcrição NFATC/antagonistas & inibidores , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/efeitos dos fármacos , Fator de Transcrição RelA/antagonistas & inibidores , Ácidos Araquidônicos/farmacologia , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos , Fluorescência , Genes Reporter , Humanos , Imidazóis/farmacologia , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Sistema de Sinalização das MAP Quinases , Fatores de Transcrição NFATC/metabolismo , Nitrilas/farmacologia , Fosforilação , Piridinas/farmacologia , Sulfonas/farmacologia , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/metabolismo , Fator de Transcrição RelA/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinases p38 Ativadas por Mitógeno/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas Quinases p38 Ativadas por Mitógeno/metabolismoRESUMO
The enhanced transmissibility and immune evasion associated with emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants demands the development of next-generation vaccines capable of inducing superior protection amid a shifting pandemic landscape. Since a portion of the global population harbors some level of immunity from vaccines based on the original Wuhan-Hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 sequence or natural infection, an important question going forward is whether this immunity can be boosted by next-generation vaccines that target emerging variants while simultaneously maintaining long-term protection against existing strains. Here, we evaluated the immunogenicity of INO-4800, our synthetic DNA vaccine candidate for COVID-19 currently in clinical evaluation, and INO-4802, a next-generation DNA vaccine designed to broadly target emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, as booster vaccines in nonhuman primates. Rhesus macaques primed over one year prior with the first-generation INO-4800 vaccine were boosted with either INO-4800 or INO-4802 in homologous or heterologous prime-boost regimens. Both boosting schedules led to an expansion of T cells and antibody responses which were characterized by improved neutralizing and ACE2 blocking activity across wild-type SARS-CoV-2 as well as multiple variants of concern. These data illustrate the durability of immunity following vaccination with INO-4800 and additionally support the use of either INO-4800 or INO-4802 in prime-boost regimens.
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COVID-19 , Vacinas de DNA , Vacinas Virais , Animais , Formação de Anticorpos , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Humanos , Macaca mulatta , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , SARS-CoV-2 , VacinaçãoRESUMO
HIV Envelope (Env) is the main vaccine target for induction of neutralizing antibodies. Stabilizing Env into native-like trimer (NLT) conformations is required for recombinant protein immunogens to induce autologous neutralizing antibodies(nAbs) against difficult to neutralize HIV strains (tier-2) in rabbits and non-human primates. Immunizations of mice with NLTs have generally failed to induce tier-2 nAbs. Here, we show that DNA-encoded NLTs fold properly in vivo and induce autologous tier-2 nAbs in mice. DNA-encoded NLTs also uniquely induce both CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell responses as compared to corresponding protein immunizations. Murine neutralizing antibodies are identified with an advanced sequencing technology. The structure of an Env-Ab (C05) complex, as determined by cryo-EM, identifies a previously undescribed neutralizing Env C3/V5 epitope. Beyond potential functional immunity gains, DNA vaccines permit in vivo folding of structured antigens and provide significant cost and speed advantages for enabling rapid evaluation of new HIV vaccines.
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Vacinas contra a AIDS/imunologia , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Anti-HIV/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , HIV-1/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Produtos do Gene env do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/imunologia , Vacinas contra a AIDS/administração & dosagem , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/ultraestrutura , Antígenos Virais/imunologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Microscopia Crioeletrônica , ELISPOT , Epitopos/imunologia , Células HEK293 , Anticorpos Anti-HIV/ultraestrutura , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Infecções por HIV/virologia , HIV-1/fisiologia , Humanos , Interferon gama/imunologia , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/virologia , Vacinação/métodos , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Produtos do Gene env do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/químicaRESUMO
Monoclonal antibody therapy has played an important role against SARS-CoV-2. Strategies to deliver functional, antibody-based therapeutics with improved in vivo durability are needed to supplement current efforts and reach underserved populations. Here, we compare recombinant mAbs COV2-2196 and COV2-2130, which compromise clinical cocktail Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab, with optimized nucleic acid-launched forms. Functional profiling of in vivo-expressed, DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies (DMAbs) demonstrated similar specificity, broad antiviral potency and equivalent protective efficacy in multiple animal challenge models of SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis compared to protein delivery. In PK studies, DNA-delivery drove significant serum antibody titers that were better maintained compared to protein administration. Furthermore, cryo-EM studies performed on serum-derived DMAbs provide the first high-resolution visualization of in vivo-launched antibodies, revealing new interactions that may promote cooperative binding to trimeric antigen and broad activity against VoC including Omicron lineages. These data support the further study of DMAb technology in the development and delivery of valuable biologics.
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Produtos Biológicos , COVID-19 , Ácidos Nucleicos , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais , Antivirais/farmacologia , Antivirais/uso terapêutico , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , DNA , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/genéticaRESUMO
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines may target epitopes that reduce durability or increase the potential for escape from vaccine-induced immunity. Using synthetic vaccinology, we have developed rationally immune-focused SARS-CoV-2 Spike-based vaccines. Glycans can be employed to alter antibody responses to infection and vaccines. Utilizing computational modeling and in vitro screening, we have incorporated glycans into the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and assessed antigenic profiles. We demonstrate that glycan-coated RBD immunogens elicit stronger neutralizing antibodies and have engineered seven multivalent configurations. Advanced DNA delivery of engineered nanoparticle vaccines rapidly elicits potent neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs, hamsters, and multiple mouse models, including human ACE2 and human antibody repertoire transgenics. RBD nanoparticles induce high levels of cross-neutralizing antibodies against variants of concern with durable titers beyond 6 months. Single, low-dose immunization protects against a lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Single-dose coronavirus vaccines via DNA-launched nanoparticles provide a platform for rapid clinical translation of potent and durable coronavirus vaccines.
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Vacinas contra COVID-19/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Nanopartículas/administração & dosagem , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Sítios de Ligação , Vacinas contra COVID-19/química , Vacinas contra COVID-19/genética , Cricetinae , Epitopos , Cobaias , Imunogenicidade da Vacina , Camundongos , Nanopartículas/química , Vacinas Baseadas em Ácido Nucleico/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Baseadas em Ácido Nucleico/química , Vacinas Baseadas em Ácido Nucleico/genética , Vacinas Baseadas em Ácido Nucleico/imunologia , Polissacarídeos/química , Polissacarídeos/genética , Polissacarídeos/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/química , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/química , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/genética , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Potência de VacinaRESUMO
The emergence of multiple concurrent infectious diseases localized in the world creates a complex burden on global public health systems. Outbreaks of Ebola, Lassa, and Marburg viruses in overlapping regions of central and West Africa and the co-circulation of Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya viruses in areas with A. aegypti mosquitos highlight the need for a rapidly deployable, safe, and versatile vaccine platform readily available to respond. The DNA vaccine platform stands out as such an application. Here, we present proof-of-concept studies from mice, guinea pigs, and nonhuman primates for two multivalent DNA vaccines delivered using in vivo electroporation (EP) targeting mosquito-borne (MMBV) and hemorrhagic fever (MHFV) viruses. Immunization with MMBV or MHFV vaccines via intradermal EP delivery generated robust cellular and humoral immune responses against all target viral antigens in all species. MMBV vaccine generated antigen-specific binding antibodies and IFNγ-secreting lymphocytes detected in NHPs up to six months post final immunization, suggesting induction of long-term immune memory. Serum from MHFV vaccinated NHPs demonstrated neutralizing activity in Ebola, Lassa, and Marburg pseudovirus assays indicating the potential to offer protection. Together, these data strongly support and demonstrate the versatility of DNA vaccines as a multivalent vaccine development platform for emerging infectious diseases.
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Culicidae/virologia , Ebolavirus/imunologia , Vacinas Combinadas/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , África Ocidental , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Arenavirus do Novo Mundo/imunologia , Vírus da Dengue/imunologia , Epidemias , Feminino , Cobaias , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola/imunologia , Imunidade Humoral/imunologia , Imunização/métodos , Febre Lassa/imunologia , Marburgvirus/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Vacinação/métodos , Vacinas Virais/imunologia , Zika virus/imunologia , Infecção por Zika virus/imunologiaRESUMO
Global surveillance has identified emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) associated with broadened host specificity, pathogenicity, and immune evasion to vaccine-induced immunity. Here we compared humoral and cellular responses against SARS-CoV-2 VOC in subjects immunized with the DNA vaccine, INO-4800. INO-4800 vaccination induced neutralizing antibodies against all variants tested, with reduced levels detected against B.1.351. IFNγ T cell responses were fully maintained against all variants tested.
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Safe and effective vaccines will provide essential medical countermeasures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we assessed the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of the intradermal delivery of INO-4800, a synthetic DNA vaccine candidate encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the rhesus macaque model. Single and 2 dose vaccination regimens were evaluated. Vaccination induced both binding and neutralizing antibodies, along with IFN-γ-producing T cells against SARS-CoV-2. Upon administration of a high viral dose (5 × 106 pfu) via the intranasal and intratracheal routes we observed significantly reduced virus load in the lung and throat, in the vaccinated animals compared to controls. 2 doses of INO-4800 was associated with more robust vaccine-induced immune responses and improved viral protection. Importantly, histopathological examination of lung tissue provided no indication of vaccine-enhanced disease following SARS-CoV-2 challenge in INO-4800 immunized animals. This vaccine candidate is currently under clinical evaluation as a 2 dose regimen.
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COVID-19 , Vacinas de DNA , Vacinas Virais , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Humanos , Macaca mulatta , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína da Espícula de CoronavírusRESUMO
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a dramatic global impact on public health and social and economic infrastructures. Here, we assess the immunogenicity and anamnestic protective efficacy in rhesus macaques of an intradermal (i.d.)-delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike DNA vaccine, INO-4800, currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Vaccination with INO-4800 induced T cell responses and induced spike antigen and RBD binding antibodies with ADCP and ADCD activity. Sera from the animals neutralized both the D614 and G614 SARS-CoV-2 pseudotype viruses. Several months after vaccination, animals were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 resulting in rapid recall of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein T cell and neutralizing antibody responses. These responses were associated with lower viral loads in the lung. These studies support the immune impact of INO-4800 for inducing both humoral and cellular arms of the adaptive immune system, which are likely important for providing durable protection against COVID-19 disease.
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Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Vacinas contra COVID-19/administração & dosagem , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Pulmão/virologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/sangue , Vacinas contra COVID-19/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Injeções Intradérmicas , Macaca mulatta , Masculino , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de DNA/uso terapêutico , Carga ViralRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is of high urgency. Here the safety and immunogenicity induced by a DNA vaccine (INO-4800) targeting the full length spike antigen of SARS-CoV-2 are described. METHODS: INO-4800 was evaluated in two groups of 20 participants, receiving either 1.0 mg or 2.0 mg of vaccine intradermally followed by CELLECTRA® EP at 0 and 4 weeks. Thirty-nine subjects completed both doses; one subject in the 2.0 mg group discontinued trial participation prior to receiving the second dose. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04336410. FINDINGS: The median age was 34.5, 55% (22/40) were men and 82.5% (33/40) white. Through week 8, only 6 related Grade 1 adverse events in 5 subjects were observed. None of these increased in frequency with the second administration. No serious adverse events were reported. All 38 subjects evaluable for immunogenicity had cellular and/or humoral immune responses following the second dose of INO-4800. By week 6, 95% (36/38) of the participants seroconverted based on their responses by generating binding (ELISA) and/or neutralizing antibodies (PRNT IC50), with responder geometric mean binding antibody titers of 655.5 [95% CI (255.6, 1681.0)] and 994.2 [95% CI (395.3, 2500.3)] in the 1.0 mg and 2.0 mg groups, respectively. For neutralizing antibody, 78% (14/18) and 84% (16/19) generated a response with corresponding geometric mean titers of 102.3 [95% CI (37.4, 280.3)] and 63.5 [95% CI (39.6, 101.8)], in the respective groups. By week 8, 74% (14/19) and 100% (19/19) of subjects generated T cell responses by IFN-É£ ELISpot assay with the median SFU per 106 PBMC of 46 [95% CI (21.1, 142.2)] and 71 [95% CI (32.2, 194.4)] in the 1.0 mg and 2.0 mg groups, respectively. Flow cytometry demonstrated a T cell response, dominated by CD8+ T cells co-producing IFN-É£ and TNF-α, without increase in IL-4. INTERPRETATION: INO-4800 demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability and was immunogenic in 100% (38/38) of the vaccinated subjects by eliciting either or both humoral or cellular immune responses. FUNDING: Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
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Cytolytic T cells (CTL) play a pivotal role in surveillance against tumors. Induction of CTL responses by vaccination may be challenging, as it requires direct transduction of target cells or special adjuvants to promote cross-presentation. Here, we observed induction of robust CTL responses through electroporation-facilitated, DNA-launched nanoparticle vaccination (DLnano-vaccines). Electroporation was observed to mediate transient tissue apoptosis and macrophage infiltration, which were deemed essential to the induction of CTLs by DLnano-vaccines through a systemic macrophage depletion study. Bolus delivery of protein nano-vaccines followed by electroporation, however, failed to induce CTLs, suggesting direct in vivo production of nano-vaccines may be required. Following these observations, new DLnano-vaccines scaffolding immunodominant melanoma Gp100 and Trp2 epitopes were designed and shown to induce more potent and consistent epitope-specific CTL responses than the corresponding DNA monomeric vaccines or CpG-adjuvanted peptide vaccines. DNA, but not recombinant protein, nano-vaccinations induced CTL responses to these epitopes and suppressed melanoma tumor growth in mouse models in a CD8+ T-cell-dependent fashion. Further studies to explore the use of DLnano-vaccines against other cancer targets and the biology with which they induce CTLs are important.
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Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Nanopartículas/metabolismo , Neoplasias/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/uso terapêutico , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Camundongos , Vacinas de DNA/farmacologiaRESUMO
Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) is a major threat to many vulnerable populations. There are currently no approved vaccines, and RSV remains a high unmet global medical need. Here we describe the employment of a novel synthetic DNA-encoded antibody technology platform to develop and deliver an engineered human DNA-encoded monoclonal antibody (dMAbTM) targeting the fusion protein (F) of RSV as a new approach to prevention or therapy of at risk populations. In in vivo models, a single administration of synthetic DNA-encoding the single-chain fragment variable-constant fragment (scFv-Fc) RSV-F dMAb resulted in robust and durable circulating levels of a functional antibody systemically and in mucosal tissue. In cotton rats, which are the gold-standard animals to model RSV infection, we observed sustained scFv-Fc RSV-F dMAb in the sera and lung-lavage samples, demonstrating the potential for both long-lasting immunity to RSV and effective biodistribution. The scFv-Fc RSV-F dMAb harbored in the sera exhibited RSV antigen-specific binding and potent viral neutralizing activity. Importantly, in vivo delivery of synthetic DNA-encoding, the scFv-Fc RSV-F dMAb protected animals against viral challenge. Our findings support the significance of dMAbs as a potential platform technology for durable protection against RSV disease.
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Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial , Vacinas contra Vírus Sincicial Respiratório , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/prevenção & controle , Vacinas contra Vírus Sincicial Respiratório/genética , Sigmodontinae , Distribuição Tecidual , Proteínas Virais de Fusão/genéticaRESUMO
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in North America. The etiological agent is the spirochete Borreliella burgdorferi, transmitted to mammalian hosts by the Ixodes tick. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of cases of Lyme disease. Currently, there is no vaccine on the market for human use. We describe the development of a novel synthetically engineered DNA vaccine, pLD1 targeting the outer-surface protein A (OspA) of Borreliella burgdorferi. Immunization of C3 H/HeN mice with pLD1 elicits robust humoral and cellular immune responses that confer complete protection against a live Borreliella burgdorferi bacterial challenge. We also assessed intradermal (ID) delivery of pLD1 in Hartley guinea pigs, demonstrating the induction of robust and durable humoral immunity that lasts at least 1 year. We provide evidence of the potency of pLD1 by showing that antibodies targeting the OspA epitopes which have been associated with protection are prominently raised in the immunized guinea pigs. The described study provides the basis for the advancement of pDL1 as a potential vaccine for Lyme disease control.
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Grupo Borrelia Burgdorferi , Borrelia burgdorferi , Doença de Lyme , Vacinas de DNA , Animais , Anticorpos Antibacterianos , Antígenos de Superfície , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa , Vacinas Bacterianas , Borrelia burgdorferi/genética , Cobaias , Doença de Lyme/prevenção & controle , Camundongos , América do NorteRESUMO
Nanotechnologies are considered to be of growing importance to the vaccine field. Through decoration of immunogens on multivalent nanoparticles, designed nanovaccines can elicit improved humoral immunity. However, significant practical and monetary challenges in large-scale production of nanovaccines have impeded their widespread clinical translation. Here, an alternative approach is illustrated integrating computational protein modeling and adaptive electroporation-mediated synthetic DNA delivery, thus enabling direct in vivo production of nanovaccines. DNA-launched nanoparticles are demonstrated displaying an HIV immunogen spontaneously self-assembled in vivo. DNA-launched nanovaccines induce stronger humoral responses than their monomeric counterparts in both mice and guinea pigs, and uniquely elicit CD8+ effector T-cell immunity as compared to recombinant protein nanovaccines. Improvements in vaccine responses recapitulate when DNA-launched nanovaccines with alternative scaffolds and decorated antigen are designed and evaluated. Finally, evaluation of functional immune responses induced by DLnanovaccines demonstrates that, in comparison to control mice or mice immunized with DNA-encoded hemagglutinin monomer, mice immunized with a DNA-launched hemagglutinin nanoparticle vaccine fully survive a lethal influenza challenge, and have substantially lower viral load, weight loss, and influenza-induced lung pathology. Additional study of these next-generation in vivo-produced nanovaccines may offer advantages for immunization against multiple disease targets.
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The coronavirus family member, SARS-CoV-2 has been identified as the causal agent for the pandemic viral pneumonia disease, COVID-19. At this time, no vaccine is available to control further dissemination of the disease. We have previously engineered a synthetic DNA vaccine targeting the MERS coronavirus Spike (S) protein, the major surface antigen of coronaviruses, which is currently in clinical study. Here we build on this prior experience to generate a synthetic DNA-based vaccine candidate targeting SARS-CoV-2 S protein. The engineered construct, INO-4800, results in robust expression of the S protein in vitro. Following immunization of mice and guinea pigs with INO-4800 we measure antigen-specific T cell responses, functional antibodies which neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 infection and block Spike protein binding to the ACE2 receptor, and biodistribution of SARS-CoV-2 targeting antibodies to the lungs. This preliminary dataset identifies INO-4800 as a potential COVID-19 vaccine candidate, supporting further translational study.
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Antígenos Virais/imunologia , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Vacinas Virais/imunologia , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Antígenos Virais/química , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Mapeamento de Epitopos , Cobaias , Imunidade Humoral , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Pulmão/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio , Modelos Animais , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/metabolismo , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/química , Vacinas Virais/químicaRESUMO
Plasmid DNA (pDNA) gene delivery is a highly versatile technology that has the potential to address a multitude of unmet medical needs. Advances in pDNA delivery to host tissue with the employment of in vivo electroporation (EP) have led to significantly enhanced gene expression and the recent demonstration of clinical efficacy with the platform. Building upon this platform, this study reports that enzyme-mediated modification of the muscle tissue extracellular matrix structure at the site of pDNA delivery operates in a synergistic manner with EP to enhance both local and systemic gene expression further. Specifically, administration of chondroitinase ABC (Cho ABC) to the site of intramuscular delivery of pDNA led to transient disruption of chondroitin sulfate scaffolding barrier, permitting enhanced gene distribution and expression across the tissue. The employment of Cho ABC in combination with CELLECTRA® intramuscular EP resulted in increased gene expression by 5.5-fold in mice and 17.98-fold in rabbits. The study demonstrates how this protocol can be universally applied to an active prophylaxis platform to increase the in vivo production of functional immunoglobulin G, and to DNA vaccine protocols to permit drug dose sparing. The data indicate the Cho ABC formulation to be of significant value upon combination with EP to drive enhanced gene expression levels in pDNA delivery protocols.