Increased efficacy of influenza virus vaccine candidate through display of recombinant neuraminidase on virus like particles.

Vaccination against influenza virus can reduce the risk of influenza by 40% to 60%, they rely on the production of neutralizing antibodies specific to influenza hemagglutinin (HA) ignoring the neuraminidase (NA) as an important surface target. Vaccination with standardized NA concentration may offer broader and longer-lasting protection against influenza infection. In this regard, we aimed to compare the potency of a NA displayed on the surface of a VLP with a soluble NA. The baculovirus expression system (BEVS) and the novel virus-free Tnms42 insect cell line were used to express N2 NA on gag-based VLPs. To produce VLP immunogens with high levels of purity and concentration, a two-step chromatography purification process combined with ultracentrifugation was used. In a prime/boost vaccination scheme, mice vaccinated with 1 µg of the N2-VLPs were protected from mortality, while mice receiving the same dose of unadjuvanted NA in soluble form succumbed to the lethal infection. Moreover, NA inhibition assays and NA-ELISAs of pre-boost and pre-challenge sera confirm that the VLP preparation induced higher levels of NA-specific antibodies outperforming the soluble unadjuvanted NA.

Modulation of abscisic acid signaling via endosomal TOL proteins.

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) functions in the control of plant stress responses, particularly in drought stress. A significant mechanism in attenuating and terminating ABA signals involves regulated protein turnover, with certain ABA receptors, despite their main presence in the cytosol and nucleus, subjected to vacuolar degradation via the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery. Collectively our findings show that discrete TOM1-LIKE (TOL) proteins, which are functional ESCRT-0 complex substitutes in plants, affect the trafficking for degradation of core components of the ABA signaling and transport machinery. TOL2,3,5 and 6 modulate ABA signaling where they function additively in degradation of ubiquitinated ABA receptors and transporters. TOLs colocalize with their cargo in different endocytic compartments in the root epidermis and in guard cells of stomata, where they potentially function in ABA-controlled stomatal aperture. Although the tol2/3/5/6 quadruple mutant plant line is significantly more drought-tolerant and has a higher ABA sensitivity than control plant lines, it has no obvious growth or development phenotype under standard conditions, making the TOL genes ideal candidates for engineering to improved plant performance.

Elimination of damaged mitochondria during UVB-induced senescence is orchestrated by NIX-dependent mitophagy.

Skin aging is the result of two types of aging, "intrinsic aging" an inevitable consequence of physiologic and genetically determined changes and "extrinsic aging," which is dependent on external factors such as exposure to sunlight, smoking, and dietary habits. UVB causes skin injury through the generation of free radicals and other oxidative byproducts, also contributing to DNA damage. Appearance and accumulation of senescent cells in the skin are considered one of the hallmarks of aging in this tissue. Mitochondria play an important role for the development of cellular senescence, in particular stress-induced senescence of human cells. However, many aspects of mitochondrial physiology relevant to cellular senescence and extrinsic skin aging remain to be unraveled. Here, we demonstrate that mitochondria damaged by UVB irradiation of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) are eliminated by NIX-dependent mitophagy and that this process is important for cell survival under these conditions. Additionally, UVB-irradiation of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) induces the shedding of extracellular vesicles (EVs), and this process is significantly enhanced in UVB-irradiated NIX-depleted cells. Our findings establish NIX as the main mitophagy receptor in the process of UVB-induced senescence and suggest the release of EVs as an alternative mechanism of mitochondrial quality control in HDF.

Imaging the ER and Endomembrane System in Cereal Endosperm.

The cereal endosperm is a complex structure comprising distinct cell types, characterized by specialized organelles for the accumulation of storage proteins. Protein trafficking in these cells is complicated by the presence of several different storage organelles including protein bodies (PBs) derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and dynamic protein storage vacuoles (PSVs). In addition, trafficking may follow a number of different routes depending on developmental stage, showing that the endomembrane system is capable of massive reorganization. Thus, developmental sequences involve progressive changes of the endomembrane system of endosperm tissue and are characterized by a high structural plasticity and endosomal activity.Given the technical dexterity required to access endosperm tissue and study subcellular structures and SSP trafficking in cereal seeds, static images are the state of the art providing a bulk of information concerning the cellular composition of seed tissue. In view of the highly dynamic endomembrane system in cereal endosperm cells, it is reasonable to expect that live cell imaging will help to characterize the spatial and temporal changes of the endomembrane system. The high resolution achieved with electron microscopy perfectly complements the live cell imaging.We therefore established an imaging platform for TEM as well as for live cell imaging. Here, we describe the preparation of different cereal seed tissues for live cell imaging concomitant with immunolocalization studies and ultrastructure.

Generation of multi-layered protein bodies in N. benthamiana for the encapsulation of vaccine antigens.

The ability of plants to assemble particulate structures such as virus-like particles and protein storage organelles allows the direct bioencapsulation of recombinant proteins during the manufacturing process, which holds promise for the development of new drug delivery vehicles. Storage organelles found in plants such as protein bodies (PBs) have been successfully used as tools for accumulation and encapsulation of recombinant proteins. The fusion of sequences derived from 27-kDa-γ-zein, a major storage protein of maize, with a protein of interest leads to the incorporation of the chimeric protein into the stable and protected environment inside newly induced PBs. While this procedure has proven successful for several, but not all recombinant proteins, the aim of this study was to refine the technology by using a combination of PB-forming proteins, thereby generating multi-layered protein assemblies in N. benthamiana. We used fluorescent proteins to demonstrate that up to three proteinaceous components can be incorporated into different layers. In addition to 27-kDa-γ-zein, which is essential for PB initiation, 16-kDa-γ-zein was identified as a key element to promote the incorporation of a third zein-component into the core of the PBs. We show that a vaccine antigen could be incorporated into the matrix of multi-layered PBs, and the protein microparticles were characterized by confocal and electron microscopy as well as flow cytometry. In future, this approach will enable the generation of designer PBs that serve as drug carriers and integrate multiple components that can be functionalized in different ways.

N-glycan antennal modifications are altered in Caenorhabditis elegans lacking the HEX-4 N-acetylgalactosamine-specific hexosaminidase.

Simple organisms are often considered to have simple glycomes, but plentiful paucimannosidic and oligomannosidic glycans overshadow the less abundant N-glycans with highly variable core and antennal modifications; Caenorhabditis elegans is no exception. By use of optimized fractionation and assessing wildtype in comparison to mutant strains lacking either the HEX-4 or HEX-5 ß-N-acetylgalactosaminidases, we conclude that the model nematode has a total N-glycomic potential of 300 verified isomers. Three pools of glycans were analyzed for each strain: either PNGase F released and eluted from a reversed-phase C18 resin with either water or 15% methanol or PNGase Ar released. While the water-eluted fractions were dominated by typical paucimannosidic and oligomannosidic glycans and the PNGase Ar-released pools by glycans with various core modifications, the methanol-eluted fractions contained a huge range of phosphorylcholine-modified structures with up to three antennae, sometimes with four N-acetylhexosamine residues in series. There were no major differences between the C. elegans wildtype and hex-5 mutant strains, but the hex-4 mutant strains displayed altered sets of methanol-eluted and PNGase Ar-released pools. In keeping with the specificity of HEX-4, there were more glycans capped with N-acetylgalactosamine in the hex-4 mutants, as compared with isomeric chito-oligomer motifs in the wildtype. Considering that fluorescence microscopy showed that a HEX-4::enhanced GFP fusion protein colocalizes with a Golgi tracker, we conclude that HEX-4 plays a significant role in late-stage Golgi processing of N-glycans in C. elegans. Furthermore, finding more "parasite-like" structures in the model worm may facilitate discovery of glycan-processing enzymes occurring in other nematodes.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles in response to baculovirus infection of a Trichoplusia ni cell line.

Due to its outstanding suitability to produce complex biopharmaceutical products including virus-like particles and subunit vaccines, the baculovirus/insect cell expression system has developed into a highly popular production platform in the biotechnological industry. For high productivity, virus-cell communication and an efficient spreading of the viral infection are crucial, and, in this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs) might play a significant role. EVs are small particles, utilized by cells to transfer biologically active compounds such as proteins, lipids as well as nucleic acids to recipient cells for intracellular communication. Studies in mammalian cells showed that the release of EVs is altered in response to infection with many viruses, ultimately either limiting or fostering infection spreading. In this study we isolated and characterized EVs, from both uninfected and baculovirus infected Tnms42 insect cells. Via quantitative proteomic analysis we identified more than 3000 T. ni proteins in Tnms42 cell derived EVs, of which more than 400 were significantly differentially abundant upon baculovirus infection. Subsequent gene set enrichment analysis revealed a depletion of proteins related to the extracellular matrix in EVs from infected cultures. Our findings show a significant change of EV protein cargo upon baculovirus infection, suggesting a major role of EVs as stress markers. Our study might serve in designing new tools for process monitoring and control to further improve biopharmaceutical production within the baculovirus/insect cell expression system.

Cell Biology Methods to Study Recombinant Proteins in Seeds.

Seeds are an attractive platform for the production of recombinant proteins because of their excellent storage properties and their well-developed endomembrane system, which allows accumulation of the product within specialized storage organelles. Due to the presence of these additional organelles and the resulting complexity of intracellular protein trafficking it is interesting to investigate the transport and storage of a recombinant protein within seed tissues, its interactions with endogenous reserve proteins and its impact on the ultrastructure of the endomembrane system. Possible approaches include sequential extraction procedures, subcellular fractionation and 2D as well as 3D electron microscopy techniques such as electron tomography (ET) and serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM), which are described and discussed in this chapter.

Multiscale imaging reveals the presence of autophagic vacuoles in developing maize endosperm.

Cereal endosperm is solely devoted to the storage of proteins and starch that will be used by the embryo upon germination. The high degree of specialization of this tissue is reflected in its endomembrane system, in which ER derived protein bodies and protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) are of particular interest. In maize seeds, the main storage proteins are zeins, that form transport incompetent aggregates within the ER lumen and finally build protein bodies that bud from the ER. In contrast to the zeins, the maize globulins are not very abundant and the vacuolar storage compartment of maize endosperm is not fully described. Whereas in other cereals, including wheat and barley, the PSV serves as the main protein storage compartment, only small, globulin-containing PSVs have been identified in maize so far. We present here a multi-scale set of data, ranging from live-cell imaging to more sophisticated 3D electron microscopy techniques (SBF-SEM), that has allowed us to investigate in detail the vacuoles in maize endosperm cells, including a novel, autophagic vacuole that is present in early developmental stages.

Progressive Aggregation of 16 kDa Gamma-Zein during Seed Maturation in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.

Prolamins constitute a unique class of seed storage proteins, present only in grasses. In the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), prolamins form large, insoluble heteropolymers termed protein bodies (PB). In transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves, the major maize (Zea mays) prolamin, 27 kDa γ-zein (27γz), assembles into insoluble disulfide-linked polymers, as in maize endosperm, forming homotypic PB. The 16 kDa γ-zein (16γz), evolved from 27γz, instead forms disulfide-bonded dispersed electron-dense threads that enlarge the ER lumen without assembling into PB. We have investigated whether the peculiar features of 16γz are also maintained during transgenic seed development. We show that 16γz progressively changes its electron microscopy appearance during transgenic Arabidopsis embryo maturation, from dispersed threads to PB-like, compact structures. In mature seeds, 16γz and 27γz PBs appear very similar. However, when mature embryos are treated with a reducing agent, 27γz is fully solubilized, as expected, whereas 16γz remains largely insoluble also in reducing conditions and drives insolubilization of the ER chaperone BiP. These results indicate that 16γz expressed in the absence of the other zein partners forms aggregates in a storage tissue, strongly supporting the view that 16γz behaves as the unassembled subunit of a large heteropolymer, the PB, and could have evolved successfully only following the emergence of the much more structurally self-sufficient 27γz.

Sclerotia formed by citric acid producing strains of Aspergillus niger: Induction and morphological analysis.

Some strains of Aspergillus niger have been previously reported to produce sclerotia under certain conditions. Sclerotia are aggregations of hyphae which can act either as survival or as sexual structures in species related to A. niger. In this study, we were able to induce the formation of sclerotia in the progenitor of the industrial citric acid producing strains of A. niger, ATCC 1015, and in pyrG mutants derived from it. Sclerotia can be stably formed by ATCC 1015 on malt extract agar medium supplemented with raisins, showing a spatial differentiation of the fungus dependent on the addition and on the position of the fruits into the medium. On other media, including malt extract agar, pyrG auxotrophs also form abundant sclerotia, while the complementation of this gene reverses this phenotype. Additionally, a macro- and microscopical analysis of the sclerotia is reported. Our results show that the sclerotia formed by A. niger are similar to those formed by other fungi, not only in their morphology but also in their ability to germinate and regenerate the organism.

Corrigendum: 3D Electron Microscopy Gives a Clue: Maize Zein Bodies Bud From Central Areas of ER Sheets.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00809.].

3D Electron Microscopy Gives a Clue: Maize Zein Bodies Bud From Central Areas of ER Sheets.

Zeins are the main storage proteins in maize seed endosperm, and the onset of zein synthesis in young seeds challenges the endomembrane system and results in the formation of storage organelles. Even though zeins lack a conventional endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal, they accumulate within the ER and assemble in conspicuous ER-derived protein bodies (PBs) stabilized by disulfide bridge formation and hydrophobic interaction between zein chains. Zein body formation during seed development has been extensively studied, as well as the mechanisms that lead to the initiation of PBs. However, the exact course of the PB formation process and the spatial relationship with the ER remain unclear. The development of serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) techniques that allow three-dimensional imaging combined with the high resolution of electron microscopy provides new perspectives on the study of the plant endomembrane system. Here, we demonstrate that (i) the ER of maize seeds is mainly formed by massive sheets and (ii) PBs are not budding from tubules or the edge of sheets, but protrude from the entire surface of the ER sheet.

Seed-produced anti-globulin VHH-Fc antibodies retrieve globulin precursors in the insoluble fraction and modulate the Arabidopsis thaliana seed subcellular morphology.

KEY MESSAGE: Nanobody-heavy chain (VHH-Fc) antibody formats have the potential to immunomodulate even highly accumulating proteins and provide a valuable tool to experimentally modulate the subcellular distribution of seed storage proteins. Recombinant antibodies often obtain high accumulation levels in plants, and thus, besides being the actual end-product, antibodies targeting endogenous host proteins can be used to interfere with the localization and functioning of their corresponding antigens. Here, we compared the effect of a seed-expressed nanobody-heavy chain (VHH-Fc) antibody against the highly abundant Arabidopsis thaliana globulin seed storage protein cruciferin with that of a VHH-Fc antibody without endogenous target. Both antibodies reached high accumulation levels of around 10% of total soluble protein, but strikingly, another significant part was present in the insoluble protein fraction and was recovered only after extraction under denaturing conditions. In seeds containing the anti-cruciferin antibodies but not the antibody without endogenous target, the amount of soluble, processed globulin subunits was severely reduced and a major part of the cruciferin molecules was found as precursor in the insoluble fraction. Moreover, in these seeds, aberrant vacuolar phenotypes were observed that were different from the effects caused by the depletion of globulins in knock-out seeds. Remarkably, the seeds with strongly reduced globulin amounts are fully viable and germinate with frequencies similar to wild type, illustrating how flexible seeds can retrieve amino acids from the stored proteins to start germination.

Russell-Like Bodies in Plant Seeds Share Common Features With Prolamin Bodies and Occur Upon Recombinant Protein Production.

Although many recombinant proteins have been produced in seeds at high yields without adverse effects on the plant, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and aberrant localization of endogenous or recombinant proteins have also been reported. The production of murine interleukin-10 (mIL-10) in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds resulted in the de novo formation of ER-derived structures containing a large fraction of the recombinant protein in an insoluble form. These bodies containing mIL-10 were morphologically similar to Russell bodies found in mammalian cells. We confirmed that the compartment containing mIL-10 was enclosed by ER membranes, and 3D electron microscopy revealed that these structures have a spheroidal shape. Another feature shared with Russell bodies is the continued viability of the cells that generate these organelles. To investigate similarities in the formation of Russell-like bodies and the plant-specific protein bodies formed by prolamins in cereal seeds, we crossed plants containing ectopic ER-derived prolamin protein bodies with a line accumulating mIL-10 in Russell-like bodies. This resulted in seeds containing only one population of protein bodies in which mIL-10 inclusions formed a central core surrounded by the prolamin-containing matrix, suggesting that both types of protein aggregates are together removed from the secretory pathway by a common mechanism. We propose that, like mammalian cells, plant cells are able to form Russell-like bodies as a self-protection mechanism, when they are overloaded with a partially transport-incompetent protein, and we discuss the resulting challenges for recombinant protein production.

Extracellular Vesicles in Human Skin: Cross-Talk from Senescent Fibroblasts to Keratinocytes by miRNAs.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their miRNA cargo are intercellular communicators transmitting their pleiotropic messages between different cell types, tissues, and body fluids. Recently, they have been reported to contribute to skin homeostasis and were identified as members of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype of human dermal fibroblasts. However, the role of EV-miRNAs in paracrine signaling during skin aging is yet unclear. Here we provide evidence for the existence of small EVs in the human skin and dermal interstitial fluid using dermal open flow microperfusion and show that EVs and miRNAs are transferred from dermal fibroblasts to epidermal keratinocytes in 2D cell culture and in human skin equivalents. We further show that the transient presence of senescent fibroblast derived small EVs accelerates scratch closure of epidermal keratinocytes, whereas long-term incubation impairs keratinocyte differentiation in vitro. Finally, we identify vesicular miR-23a-3p, highly secreted by senescent fibroblasts, as one contributor of the EV-mediated effect on keratinocytes in in vitro wound healing assays. To summarize, our findings support the current view that EVs and their miRNA cargo are members of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and, thus, regulators of human skin homeostasis during aging.

The Integration of Algal Carbon Concentration Mechanism Components into Tobacco Chloroplasts Increases Photosynthetic Efficiency and Biomass.

Increasing the productivity of crops is a major challenge in agricultural research. Given that photosynthetic carbon assimilation is necessary for plant growth, enhancing the efficiency of photosynthesis is one strategy to boost agricultural productivity. The authors attempted to increase the photosynthetic efficiency and biomass of tobacco plants by expressing individual components of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii carbon concentration mechanism (CCM) and integrating them into the chloroplast. Independent transgenic varieties are generated accumulating the carbonic anhydrase CAH3 in the thylakoid lumen or the bicarbonate transporter LCIA in the inner chloroplast membrane. Independent homozygous transgenic lines showed enhanced CO2 uptake rates (up to 15%), increased photosystem II efficiency (by up to 18%), and chlorophyll content (up to 19%). Transgenic lines produced more shoot biomass than wild-type and azygous controls, and accumulated more carbohydrate and amino acids, reflecting the higher rate of photosynthetic CO2 fixation. These data demonstrate that individual algal CCM components can be integrated into C3 plants to increase biomass, suggesting that transgenic lines combining multiple CCM components could further increase the productivity and yield of C3 crops.

LALF32-51 -E7, a HPV-16 therapeutic vaccine candidate, forms protein body-like structures when expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves.

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause cervical cancer, and while there are good prophylactic vaccines on the market, these are ineffective against established infections, creating a clear need for therapeutic vaccines. The HPV E7 protein is one of the essential oncoproteins for the onset and maintenance of malignancy and is therefore an ideal therapeutic vaccine target. We fused the HPV-16 E7 protein to the Limulus polyphemus antilipopolysaccharide factor (LALF32-51 ), a small hydrophobic peptide that can penetrate cell membranes and that has immunomodulatory properties. LALF32-51 -E7 was transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana, and we previously determined that it accumulated better when targeted to chloroplasts compared to being localized in the cytoplasm. Subsequently, we aimed to prove whether LALF32-51 -E7 was indeed associated with the chloroplasts by determining its subcellular localization. The LALF32-51 -E7 gene was fused to one encoding enhanced GFP to generate a LG fusion protein, and localization was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The fluorescence observed from chloroplast-targeted LG was distinctively different from that of the cytoplasmic LG. Small spherical structures resembling protein bodies (PBs) were seen that clearly localized with the chloroplasts. Larger but less abundant PB-like structures were also seen for the cytoplasmic LG. PB-like structure formation was confirmed for both LG and LALF32-51 -E7 by TEM. LALF32-51 -E7 was indeed targeted to the chloroplasts by the chloroplast transit peptide used in this study, and it formed aggregated PB-like structures. This study could open a new avenue for the use of LALF32-51 as a PB-inducing peptide.

Imaging the ER and Endomembrane System in Cereal Endosperm.

The cereal endosperm is a complex structure comprising distinct cell types, characterized by specialized organelles for the accumulation of storage proteins. Protein trafficking in these cells is complicated by the presence of several different storage organelles including protein bodies (PBs) derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and dynamic protein storage vacuoles (PSVs). In addition, trafficking may follow a number of different routes depending on developmental stage, showing that the endomembrane system is capable of massive reorganization. Thus, developmental sequences involve progressive changes of the endomembrane system of endosperm tissue and are characterized by a high structural plasticity and endosomal activity.Given the technical dexterity required to access endosperm tissue and study subcellular structures and (seed storage protein) SSP trafficking in cereal seeds, static images are the state of the art providing a bulk of information concerning the cellular composition of seed tissue. In view of the highly dynamic endomembrane system in cereal endosperm cells, it is reasonable to expect that live cell imaging will help to characterize the spatial and temporal changes of the system. The high resolution achieved with electron microscopy perfectly complements the live cell imaging.We therefore established an imaging platform for TEM as well as for live cell imaging. Here, we describe the preparation of different cereal seed tissues for live cell imaging concomitant with immunolocalization studies and ultrastructure.

The Transcriptome of Exophiala dermatitidis during Ex-vivo Skin Model Infection.

The black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis is a widespread polyextremophile and human pathogen, that is found in extreme natural habitats and man-made environments such as dishwashers. It can cause various diseases ranging from phaeohyphomycosis and systemic infections, with fatality rates reaching 40%. While the number of cases in immunocompromised patients are increasing, knowledge of the infections, virulence factors and host response is still scarce. In this study, for the first time, an artificial infection of an ex-vivo skin model with Exophiala dermatitidis was monitored microscopically and transcriptomically. Results show that Exophiala dermatitidis is able to actively grow and penetrate the skin. The analysis of the genomic and RNA-sequencing data delivers a rich and complex transcriptome where circular RNAs, fusion transcripts, long non-coding RNAs and antisense transcripts are found. Changes in transcription strongly affect pathways related to nutrients acquisition, energy metabolism, cell wall, morphological switch, and known virulence factors. The L-Tyrosine melanin pathway is specifically upregulated during infection. Moreover the production of secondary metabolites, especially alkaloids, is increased. Our study is the first that gives an insight into the complexity of the transcriptome of Exophiala dermatitidis during artificial skin infections and reveals new virulence factors.