Characterization of a hepatitis C virus-like particle vaccine produced in a human hepatocyte-derived cell line.

An effective immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) requires the early development of multi-specific class 1 CD8+ and class II CD4+ T-cells together with broad neutralizing antibody responses. We have produced mammalian-cell-derived HCV virus-like particles (VLPs) incorporating core, E1 and E2 of HCV genotype 1a to produce such immune responses. Here we describe the biochemical and morphological characterization of the HCV VLPs and study HCV core-specific T-cell responses to the particles. The E1 and E2 glycoproteins in HCV VLPs formed non-covalent heterodimers and together with core protein assembled into VLPs with a buoyant density of 1.22 to 1.28 g cm-3. The HCV VLPs could be immunoprecipited with anti-ApoE and anti-ApoC. On electron microscopy, the VLPs had a heterogeneous morphology and ranged in size from 40 to 80 nm. The HCV VLPs demonstrated dose-dependent binding to murine-derived dendritic cells and the entry of HCV VLPs into Huh7 cells was blocked by anti-CD81 antibody. Vaccination of BALB/c mice with HCV VLPs purified from iodixanol gradients resulted in the production of neutralizing antibody responses while vaccination of humanized MHC class I transgenic mice resulted in the prodution of HCV core-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. Furthermore, IgG purified from the sera of patients chronically infected with HCV genotypes 1a and 3a blocked the binding and entry of the HCV VLPs into Huh7 cells. These results show that our mammalian-cell-derived HCV VLPs induce humoral and HCV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses and will have important implications for the development of a preventative vaccine for HCV.

Improved Correlation of Strain Indices with Cognitive Dysfunction with Inclusion of Adventitial Layer with Carotid Plaque.

Plaque instability may lead to chronic embolization, which in turn may contribute to progressive cognitive decline. Accumulated strain tensor indices over a cardiac cycle within a pulsating carotid plaque may be viable biomarkers for the diagnosis of plaque instability. Using plaque-only carotid artery segmentations, we recently demonstrated that impaired cognitive function correlated significantly with maximum axial and lateral strain indices within a localized region of interest in plaque. Inclusion of the adventitial layer focuses our strain or instability measures on the vessel wall-plaque interface hypothesized to be a region with increased shearing forces and measureable instability. A hierarchical block-matching motion tracking algorithm developed in our laboratory was used to estimate accumulated axial, lateral, and shear strain distribution in plaques identified with the plaque-with-adventitia segmentation. Correlations of strain indices to the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status Total score were performed and compared with previous results. Overall, correlation coefficients (r) and significance (p) values improved for axial, lateral, and shear strain indices. Shear strain indices, however, demonstrated the largest improvement. The Pearson correlation coefficients for maximum shear strain and cognition improved from the previous plaque-only analyses of -0.432 and -0.345 to -0.795 and -0.717 with the plaque-with-adventitia segmentation for the symptomatic group and for all patients combined, respectively. Our results demonstrate the advantage of including adventitia for ultrasound carotid strain imaging providing improved association to parameters assessing cognitive impairment in patients. This supports theories of the importance of the vessel wall plaque interface in the pathophysiology of embolic disease.

New multi-determinant strategy for a group A streptococcal vaccine designed for the Australian Aboriginal population.

Infection with group A streptococci can result in acute and post-infectious pathology, including rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. These diseases are associated with poverty and are increasing in incidence, particularly in developing countries and amongst indigenous populations, such as Australia's Aboriginal population, who suffer the highest incidence worldwide. Immunity to group A streptococci is mediated by antibodies against the M protein, a coiled-coil alpha helical surface protein of the bacterium. Vaccine development faces two substantial obstacles. Although opsonic antibodies directed against the N terminus of the protein are mostly responsible for serotypic immunity, more than 100 serotypes exist. Furthermore, whereas the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever is not well understood, increasing evidence indicates an autoimmune process. To develop a suitable vaccine candidate, we first identified a minimum, helical, non-host-cross-reactive peptide from the conserved C-terminal half of the protein and displayed this within a non-M-protein peptide sequence designed to maintain helical folding and antigenicity, J14 (refs. 8,9). As this region of the M protein is identical in only 70% of group A streptococci isolates, the optimal candidate might consist of the conserved determinant with common N-terminal sequences found in communities with endemic group A streptococci. We linked seven serotypic peptides with J14 using a new chemistry technique that enables the immunogen to display all the individual peptides pendant from an alkane backbone. This construct demonstrated excellent immunogenicity and protection in mice.

Hierarchical self-tolerance to T cell determinants within the ubiquitous nuclear self-antigen La (SS-B) permits induction of systemic autoimmunity in normal mice.

Systemic autoimmune diseases are frequently associated with clustering of high titer autoantibody responses towards nuclear self-antigens. Little is known, however, about the extent of immune tolerance to the target nuclear antigens or the events leading to the complex autoantibody responses that are characteristic of systemic autoimmunity. To address these issues, we have examined the mouse immune response to La autoantigen (mLa) and the homologous human La antigen (hLa), which are components of the La(SS-B)/Ro(SS-A) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex targeted in systemic lupus erythematosus and primary Sjögren's syndrome. The findings reveal the presence of hierarchical T cell tolerance involving multiple autodeterminants within the La autoantigen expressed by normal H-2k and H-2a mice. At one end of this spectrum, there was no detectable T or B cell autoimmunity observed in mice that were immunized with the immunodominant mLa287-301 determinant, which differed by a single residue in its core sequence from the homologous but highly immunogenic human La288-302 determinant. Interestingly, the mLa287-301 peptide acted as an altered peptide ligand that specifically antagonized the activation of an hLa288-302-specific T cell hybridoma. In contrast to the tolerogenic mLa287-301 determinant, a range of autoimmune potential was identified among poorly tolerizing, subdominant self-peptides present within mouse La autoantigen. Notably, immunization of normal mice with the autologous subdominant La25-44 and La106-129 determinants resulted in limited or no detectable autoantibody response. In contrast, immunization with the subdominant mouse La13-30 determinant induced a proliferative T cell response associated with the appearance of specific autoantibodies recognizing multiple intrastructural (La) and intermolecular components (Ro) of the murine La/Ro RNP. The findings suggest how diversified autoimmunity might follow initiation of immunity to simple peptide mimics of poorly tolerogenic determinants that are present within ubiquitous self-antigens.

Structural investigation of Au(111)/butylthiolate adsorption phases.

The structures of the high-coverage ('standing-up') and low-coverage ('lying-down') phases of butylthiolate on Au(111) have been investigated by a range of experimental methods. Normal incidence X-ray standing waves, photoelectron diffraction and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure results all identify the local S headgroup site as atop a surface Au atom in a bulk continuation site for both high- and low-coverage phases. Low energy electron diffraction shows the low-coverage phase to have a (12 x radical 3)rect. surface mesh with glide-line symmetry (pmg space group), the long dimension of this mesh being approximately four times the length of the butylthiolate molecule. A structural model is proposed for this phase based on two different enantiomers of an Au-adatom-dithiolate species that is consistent with these results and with recent finding for propylthiolate on this surface using low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy (O. Voznyy, J. J. Dubowski, J. T. Yates Jr. and P. Maksymovych, J. Am Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 12989).

Buoyancy control in the freshwater turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans.

Freshwater turtles (Pseudemys scripta elegans) significantly corrected experimental displacements of their specific gravity. By reciprocally changing the volumes of lung air and stored water, they set their buoyancy and maintained their body volume. The cloacal bursae may be the active site for water storage and exchange in this mechanism.

Density-independent growth of floodplain river channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus.

This study investigated the relative influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the growth of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in seven Mississippi floodplain rivers. The results indicate that growth was density-independent, being defined largely by abiotic conditions.

Language function in childhood idiopathic epilepsy syndromes.

PURPOSE: To examine the impact of diverse syndromes of focal and generalized epilepsy on language function in children with new and recent onset epilepsy. Of special interest was the degree of shared language abnormality across epilepsy syndromes and the unique effects associated with specific epilepsy syndromes. METHODS: Participants were 136 youth with new or recent-onset (diagnosis within past 12 months) epilepsy and 107 healthy first-degree cousin controls. The participants with epilepsy included 20 with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE; M age = 12.99  years, SD = 3.11), 41 with Benign Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS; M age = 10.32, SD = 1.67), 42 with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME; M age = 14.85, SD = 2.75) and 33 with absence epilepsy (M age = 10.55, SD = 2.76). All children were administered a comprehensive test battery which included multiple measures of language and language-dependent abilities (i.e., verbal intelligence, vocabulary, verbal reasoning, object naming, reception word recognition, word reading, spelling, lexical and semantic fluency, verbal list learning and delayed verbal memory). Test scores were adjusted for age and gender and analyzed via MANCOVA. RESULTS: Language abnormalities were found in all epilepsy patient groups. The most broadly affected children were those with TLE and absence epilepsy, whose performance differed significantly from controls on 8 of 11 and 9 of 11 tests respectively. Although children with JME and BECTS were less affected, significant differences from controls were found on 4 of 11 tests each. While each group had a unique profile of language deficits, commonalities were apparent across both idiopathic generalized and localization-related diagnostic categories. DISCUSSION: The localization related and generalized idiopathic childhood epilepsies examined here were associated with impact on diverse language abilities early in the course of the disorder.

Human dendritic cells pulsed with specific lipopeptides stimulate autologous antigen-specific T cells without the addition of exogenous maturation factors.

SUMMARY: Serum-free culture conditions to generate immature human monocyte-derived DC (Mo-DC) were optimized, and the parameters that influence their maturation after exposure to lipopeptides containing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell epitopes were examined. The lipopeptides contained a single CD4(+) helper T-cell epitopes, one of a number of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-restricted cytotoxic T-cell epitope and the lipid Pam2Cys. To ensure complete maturation of the Mo-DC, we examined (i) the optimal lipopeptide concentration, (ii) the optimal Mo-DC density and (iii) the appropriate period of exposure of the Mo-DC to the lipopeptides. The results showed that a high dose of lipopeptide (30 microm) was no more efficient at upregulating maturation markers on Mo-DC than a low dose (6 microm). There was an inverse relationship between Mo-DC concentration and the mean fluorescence intensity of maturation markers. In addition, at the higher cell concentrations, the chemotactic capacity of the Mo-DC towards a cognate ligand, CCL21, was reduced. Thus, high cell concentrations during lipopeptide exposure were detrimental to Mo-DC maturation and function. The duration of exposure of Mo-DC to the lipopeptides had little effect on phenotype, although Mo-DC exposed to lipopeptides for 48 rather than 4 h showed an increased ability to stimulate autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells to release interferon-gamma in the absence of exogenous maturation factors. These findings reveal conditions for generating mature antigen-loaded DC suitable for targeted immunotherapy.

Immunological responses following administration of a genotype 1a/1b/2/3a quadrivalent HCV VLP vaccine.

The significant public health problem of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been partially addressed with the advent of directly acting antiviral agents (DAAs). However, the development of an effective preventative vaccine would have a significant impact on HCV incidence and would represent a major advance towards controlling and possibly eradicating HCV globally. We previously reported a genotype 1a HCV viral-like particle (VLP) vaccine that produced neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and T cell responses to HCV. To advance this approach, we produced a quadrivalent genotype 1a/1b/2a/3a HCV VLP vaccine to produce broader immune responses. We show that this quadrivalent vaccine produces antibody and NAb responses together with strong T and B cell responses in vaccinated mice. Moreover, selective neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs) targeting conserved antigenic domain B and D epitopes of the E2 protein bound strongly to the HCV VLPs, suggesting that these critical epitopes are expressed on the surface of the particles. Our findings demonstrate that a quadrivalent HCV VLP based vaccine induces broad humoral and cellular immune responses that will be necessary for protection against HCV. Such a vaccine could provide a substantial addition to highly active antiviral drugs in eliminating HCV.

Quantification of carotid artery plaque stability with multiple region of interest based ultrasound strain indices and relationship with cognition.

Vulnerability and instability in carotid artery plaque has been assessed based on strain variations using noninvasive ultrasound imaging. We previously demonstrated that carotid plaques with higher strain indices in a region of interest (ROI) correlated to patients with lower cognition, probably due to cerebrovascular emboli arising from these unstable plaques. This work attempts to characterize the strain distribution throughout the entire plaque region instead of being restricted to a single localized ROI. Multiple ROIs are selected within the entire plaque region, based on thresholds determined by the maximum and average strains in the entire plaque, enabling generation of additional relevant strain indices. Ultrasound strain imaging of carotid plaques, was performed on 60 human patients using an 18L6 transducer coupled to a Siemens Acuson S2000 system to acquire radiofrequency data over several cardiac cycles. Patients also underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests under a protocol based on National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Canadian Stroke Network guidelines. Correlation of strain indices with composite cognitive index of executive function revealed a negative association relating high strain to poor cognition. Patients grouped into high and low cognition groups were then classified using these additional strain indices. One of our newer indices, namely the average L - 1 norm with plaque (AL1NWP) presented with significantly improved correlation with executive function when compared to our previously reported maximum accumulated strain indices. An optimal combination of three of the new indices generated classifiers of patient cognition with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.880, 0.921 and 0.905 for all (n = 60), symptomatic (n = 33) and asymptomatic patients (n = 27) whereas classifiers using maximum accumulated strain indices alone provided AUC values of 0.817, 0.815 and 0.813 respectively.

Mucosal-associated invariant T-cell activation and accumulation after in vivo infection depends on microbial riboflavin synthesis and co-stimulatory signals.

Despite recent breakthroughs in identifying mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell antigens (Ags), the precise requirements for in vivo MAIT cell responses to infection remain unclear. Using major histocompatibility complex-related protein 1 (MR1) tetramers, the MAIT cell response was investigated in a model of bacterial lung infection employing riboflavin gene-competent and -deficient bacteria. MAIT cells were rapidly enriched in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice infected with Salmonella Typhimurium, comprising up to 50% of αß-T cells after 1 week. MAIT cell accumulation was MR1-dependent, required Ag derived from the microbial riboflavin synthesis pathway, and did not occur in response to synthetic Ag, unless accompanied by a Toll-like receptor agonist or by co-infection with riboflavin pathway-deficient S. Typhimurium. The MAIT cell response was associated with their long-term accumulation in the lungs, draining lymph nodes and spleen. Lung MAIT cells from infected mice displayed an activated/memory phenotype, and most expressed the transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt. T-bet expression increased following infection. The majority produced interleukin-17 while smaller subsets produced interferon-γ or tumor necrosis factor, detected directly ex vivo. Thus the activation and expansion of MAIT cells coupled with their pro-inflammatory cytokine production occurred in response to Ags derived from microbial riboflavin synthesis and was augmented by co-stimulatory signals.

Simultaneous binding of two monoclonal antibodies to epitopes separated in sequence by only three amino acid residues.

Two monoclonal antibodies recognizing distinct epitopes the outer boundaries of which are separated by only three amino acid residues, a maximum of 10A, were demonstrated to bind simultaneously to a short synthetic peptide. The affinity of binding of the two monoclonal antibodies and of Fab' fragments derived from them was determined. The stoichiometry of the interaction was analysed by velocity sedimentation and by gel permeation chromatography experiments. The results indicate that the immune complexes formed are composed of two antibody molecules in association with one or two peptide molecules.

A synthetic peptide-based polyoxime vaccine construct of high purity and activity.

An artificial protein containing four copies of a peptide comprising the C-terminal 23 residues of influenza virus hemagglutinin was constructed using oxime chemistry and compared with two tetrameric multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) constructions of the same peptide displayed either radially or linearly which were made by conventional techniques. The tetra-oxime was much more homogeneous yielding a single peak on reversed phase HLPC and the correct mass spectrum. In addition, the tetra-oxime was found to be recognized by anti-peptide antibodies, to stimulate at low concentrations a T-cell clone and also to elicit in mice high titres of antibodies which were able to recognize native virus. The modular polyoxime approach, which permits artificial proteins to be assembled rapidly, in high yield and in high purity, is expected to lead to an increase in the use of artificial proteins in vaccine technology.

Analysis of the interaction between a synthetic peptide of influenza virus hemagglutinin and monoclonal antibodies using an optical biosensor.

The interaction between two monoclonal antibodies and their corresponding Fab' fragments with a synthetic peptide, corresponding to the C-terminal 23 residues of the HA1 chain of influenza virus hemagglutinin against which they were generated, has been examined using an optical biosensor employing the detection principal of surface plasmon resonance (Pharmacia BIAcore). The data obtained has been analysed in detail by linear transformation of the primary data and nonlinear regression analysis, as well as by analysis of equilibrium binding data. The 2/1 antibodies and their Fab' fragments displayed higher affinity than the corresponding 1/1 proteins. The IgGs were found to have equilibrium association constants (KA) 10-20-fold higher than the corresponding Fab' fragments. This appears largely to be due to differences in the dissociation rate constant (kd) and probably reflects increased avidity due to bivalent binding.

Antigenic determinants of influenza virus hemagglutinin--IX. The carbohydrate side chains from an Asian strain.

The heavy chain (HA1) of hemagglutinin from the Asian variant A/Japan/305/57 was examined to establish which of the four oligosaccharide units on this polypeptide could cross-react with host antigen. Cyanogen bromide and enzymic digests were fractionated and the resulting peptides screened for their ability to bind to antibodies raised against uninfected chick chorioallantoic membranes. This 324 residue HA1 polypeptide from the Asian strain A/Japan/305/57 is known to contain oligosaccharide units at asparagine residues 11, 23, 285 and at either 164, 165 or both. The peptides carrying the four carbohydrate units have been isolated, the monosaccharide compositions determined and the location of the fourth oligosaccharide shown to be Asn164 by direct amino acid sequence analysis. All four sugar units on A/Japan/305/57 HA1 are of the N-acetyllactosamine type, but only the one attached to Asn11 could cross-react with anti-(host antigen) antibodies. This antigenic carbohydrate unit on the Asian hemagglutinin heavy chain is located in a similar region to the two antigenically active oligosaccharides located on the hemagglutinin from the Hong Kong variant A/Memphis/102/72. The study was therefore extended to include the early Hong Kong variant A/Aichi/2/68, which has the same oligosaccharide distribution as A/Memphis/102/72 but different sugar compositions for the individual oligosaccharide units Like A/Memphis/102/72, only the N-acetyllactosamine units attached at positions 8 and 22 of A/Aichi/2/68 were capable of binding to anti-(host antigen) IgG. Finally, the light chain (HA2) polypeptides from A/Bel/42 (HO), the A/Japan/305/57 (H2) and the two Hong Kong variants A/Aichi/2/68 (X-31) and A/Memphis/102/72 were also examined and found to contain carbohydrate which is antigenically related to chick embryo host antigen.

Quantitative analysis of the interaction between lysozyme and monoclonal antibody D1.3.

The method of sedimentation equilibrium has been used to determine the stoichiometry and binding constant for the interaction between hen egg white lysozyme and monoclonal antibody D1.3. The procedures described allow the relative binding affinities of 125I-labelled lysozyme and unlabelled lysozyme to be compared. The data indicate that labelled and unlabelled lysozyme bind to monoclonal D1.3 with similar affinity (binding constant, K = 1.6 x 10(9)/M). Using solid-phase methods estimates obtained for the binding constant were lower and dependent both on the amount of antigen coated on the plate and the dilution of primary antibody (D1.3). These data were not consistent with a simple equilibrium binding model, suggesting kinetic or orientation effects. In contrast sedimentation equilibrium experiments provide a rapid and accurate method for determining both the stoichiometry and binding constants for the interaction between antigens and antibodies.

Analysis of antibody-antigen and antibody-anti-(idiotypic antibody) cross-reactivity using synthetic peptide probes.

The extent, nature and structural basis of immunological cross-reactivity of an anti-synthetic peptide monoclonal antibody (MAb) with the parent antigen (influenza virus haemagglutinin) from which the peptide was derived, and with a paratope-directed anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibody was investigated. Use of synthetic homologs and analogs of the peptide indicated that the anti-peptide MAb utilizes a common binding site to complex with peptide, haemagglutinin (HA) and anti-Id antibody, and the affinity constants for the binding of the anti-peptide MAb to peptide and to the anti-Id MAb were found to differ only by three fold. Determination of the amino acid sequence of the heavy chain variable domain (VH) of the anti-Id MAb did not reveal any obvious sequence homology with the peptide. Consideration of the spatial arrangement of residues, however, disclosed a region within the framework of the anti-Id VH with similarity to the epitope recognized by the anti-peptide MAb. This region, formed from antiparallel chains, contains amino acid residues arranged in a conformation similar to that assumed by amino acid residues comprising the epitope within the intact HA.

Antibodies elicited by influenza virus hemagglutinin fail to bind to synthetic peptides representing putative antigenic sites.

A number of peptides of the hemagglutinin (HA) of X-31 influenza virus have been synthesised. The amino acid sequences of some of these peptides represent regions of HA which have been postulated [Wiley et al., Nature, Lond. 289, 373-378 (1981)] to form the antigenic sites of this molecule. Animals were immunized with free peptide or peptide conjugated to a carrier and the resulting antisera examined for their capacities to bind to homologous peptide, whole HA, reduced and alkylated HA, and intact virus. Not all peptides examined in this way were immunogenic. Only antibodies raised against the C-terminus of HA1 peptide displayed binding to virus. This antiserum bound to the intact HA but not to the reduced and alkylated form of the molecule. These results raise questions as to the feasibility of using synthetic peptides of the influenza HA in short linear sequences to elicit neutralising antibody.

Direct solid-phase radioimmunoassay for measuring antigenic differences between the hemagglutinins of influenza viruses.

A direct solid-phase radioimmunoassay, which involves binding of purified radio-labeled IgG to influenza virus hemagglutinins immobilized on Sepharose 4B gel, is described.