Development of a monoclonal antibody specific to envelope domain III with broad-spectrum detection of all four dengue virus serotypes.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that annually infects more than 390 million people in 100 different countries. Symptoms of the viral infection include a relatively weak dengue fever to severe dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome, which are mortal infectious diseases. As of yet, there is no commercially available vaccine or therapeutic for DENV. Currently, passive immunotherapy using DENV-specific antibody (Ab) is a considered strategy to treat DENV infection. Here, we developed a monoclonal Ab (mAb), EDIIImAb-61, specific to the DENV domain III of the envelope glycoprotein (EDIII) with broad-spectrum detection ability to all four DENV serotypes (DENV-1∼4) to use as a therapeutic Ab. Although EDIII contains non-immunodominant epitopes compared to domains I and II, domain III plays a critical role in host receptor binding. EDIIImAb-61 exhibited cross-reactive binding affinity to all four DENV serotypes that had been isolated from infected humans. To further characterize EDIIImAb-61 and prepare genes for large-scale production using a heterologous expression system, the sequence of the complementarity determining regions was analyzed after cloning the full-length cDNA genes encoding the heavy and light chain of the mAb. Finally, we produced Ab from CHO-K1 cells transfected with the cloned EDIIImAb-61 heavy and light chain genes and confirmed the binding ability of the Ab. Collectively, we conclude that EDIIImAb-61 itself and the recombinant Ab produced using the cloned heavy and light chain gene of EDIIImAb-61 is a candidate for passive immunotherapy against DENV infection.

Application of an M-cell-targeting ligand for oral vaccination induces efficient systemic and mucosal immune responses against a viral antigen.

Oral mucosal vaccination is an alternative method to overcome the pitfalls of current injection-based vaccines, such as pain and high cost of vaccination. It is a feasible and economic vaccine application, especially in developing countries. However, achieving effective antigen delivery into mucosal lymphoid organs and efficient immune stimulation are prerequisites to successful oral mucosal vaccination. One promising approach for oral mucosal vaccine development is exploring the potential of M cells via M-cell-targeting ligands that have the potential to deliver ligand-conjugated antigens into mucosal lymphoid organs and evoke conjugated-antigen-specific systemic and mucosal immune responses. Here, we investigated the M-cell-targeting ligand, Co1, in inducing specific immune responses against a pathogenic viral antigen, envelope domain III (EDIII) of dengue virus, to provide the foundation for oral mucosal vaccine development against the pathogen. After oral administration of Co1-conjugated EDIII antigens, we observed efficient antigen delivery into Peyer's patches. We also report the elicitation of EDIII-specific immunity in systemic and mucosal compartments by Co1 ligand (located in the C-terminus of EDIII). Furthermore, the antibodies induced by the ligand-conjugated EDIII antigen showed effective virus-neutralizing activity. The results of this study suggest that the M-cell-targeting strategy using Co1 ligand as a mucosal adjuvant may be applicable for developing oral vaccine candidates against pathogenic viral antigen.

Antibody to dengue 1 detected more than 60 years after infection.

We investigated the duration of humoral responses to dengue virus infection in individuals who recalled experiencing dengue fever-like illnesses at the time of the Second World War, when dengue fever epidemics occurred throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia. In July 1943 dengue fever reappeared in Hawaii following an interval of 31 years. Over the next 12 months a total of 1498 locally transmitted cases were reported, and at least 46 imported cases were identified, most of which were among members of the military returning from the Pacific Theatre of the war. Serum samples collected in 2005, more than 60 years after onset of symptoms, were tested for the presence of dengue-specific antibodies using a rapid ELISA test, and by plaque reduction neutralization test. Four of seven samples were positive for dengue-specific IgG and demonstrated neutralization titers >or=160 to dengue 1. We describe the existence of dengue-specific antibodies in the serum of people infected more than 60 years earlier.

C5a receptor-targeting ligand-mediated delivery of dengue virus antigen to M cells evokes antigen-specific systemic and mucosal immune responses in oral immunization.

Oral mucosal immunization is a feasible and economic vaccination strategy. In order to achieve a successful oral mucosal vaccination, antigen delivery to gut immune inductive site and avoidance of oral tolerance induction should be secured. One promising approach is exploring the specific molecules expressed on the apical surfaces of M cells that have potential for antigen uptake and immune stimulation. We previously identified complement 5a receptor (C5aR) expression on human M-like cells and mouse M cells and confirmed its non-redundant role as a target receptor for antigen delivery to M cells using a model antigen. Here, we applied the OmpH ligand, which is capable of targeting the ligand-conjugated antigen to M cells to induce specific mucosal and systemic immunities against the EDIII of dengue virus (DENV). Oral immunization with the EDIII-OmpH efficiently targeted the EDIII to M cells and induced EDIII-specific immune responses comparable to those induced by co-administration of EDIII with cholera toxin (CT). Also, the enhanced responses by OmpH were characterized as Th2-skewed responses. Moreover, oral immunization using EDIII-OmpH did not induce systemic tolerance against EDIII. Collectively, we suggest that OmpH-mediated targeting of antigens to M cells could be used for an efficient oral vaccination against DENV infection.