OVX836 Heptameric Nucleoprotein Vaccine Generates Lung Tissue-Resident Memory CD8+ T-Cells for Cross-Protection Against Influenza.

Tissue-resident memory (TRM) CD8+ T-cells play a crucial role in the protection against influenza infection but remain difficult to elicit using recombinant protein vaccines. OVX836 is a recombinant protein vaccine, obtained by the fusion of the DNA sequence of the influenza A nucleoprotein (NP) to the DNA sequence of the OVX313 heptamerization domain. We previously demonstrated that OVX836 provides broad-spectrum protection against influenza viruses. Here, we show that OVX836 intramuscular (IM) immunization induces higher numbers of NP-specific IFNγ-producing CD8+ T-cells in the lung, compared to mutant NP (NPm) and wild-type NP (NPwt), which form monomeric and trimeric structures, respectively. OVX836 induces cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells and high frequencies of lung TRM CD8+ T-cells, while inducing solid protection against lethal influenza virus challenges for at least 90 days. Adoptive transfer experiments demonstrated that protection against diverse influenza subtypes is mediated by NP-specific CD8+ T-cells isolated from the lung and spleen following OVX836 vaccination. OVX836 induces a high number of NP-specific lung CD8+ TRM-cells for long-term protection against influenza viruses.

Expression and characterization of a novel human recombinant factor IX molecule with enhanced in vitro and in vivo clotting activity.

INTRODUCTION: Hemophilia B is an inherited X-linked recessive bleeding disorder, due to a defect in human factor IX (FIX). The main treatment for hemophilia B is replacement therapy using FIX concentrates. Prophylactic treatment in severe hemophilia B is very effective but is limited by cost issues. Production of a recombinant FIX (rFIX) with enhanced clotting activity, offering the possibility of fewer infusions and fewer costs with similar efficacy, is one of the current challenges for hemophilia B treatment. The present study focused on an important amino acid sequence known to be involved in the interaction of activated FIX (FIXa) with its cofactor, activated factor VIII (FVIIIa). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using site-directed mutagenesis of glutamate E410 (c240, chymotrypsin numbering), four recombinant FIX-E410 (E410H, A, L and N) mutants were developed and produced by the human hepatoma cell line Huh-7. RESULTS: The in-vitro clotting activity of mutant FIX molecules was 3 to 5-fold higher than wild-type recombinant FIX (FIX-WT). FIX-E410H compound showed the highest in-vitro procoagulant activity. Enhanced specific activity was confirmed using thrombin generation assay. FIX-E410H induced 5.2-fold higher thrombin generation than FIX-WT. In hemophilia B mice, we observed significantly higher in-vivo clotting activity and thrombin generating capacity with FIX-E410H compared to FIX-WT. We demonstrated that increased procoagulant activity of FIX-E410H was mainly explained by 2.5- fold enhanced affinity of the mutant for human FVIIIa. CONCLUSION: We have engineered and characterized four improved FIX proteins with enhanced in-vitro and in-vivo activity. Future studies are required to evaluate the immunogenicity of FIX-E410.