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1.
Front Immunol ; 14: 1256094, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37691927

ABSTRACT

The first exposure to influenza is presumed to shape the B-cell antibody repertoire, leading to preferential enhancement of the initially formed responses during subsequent exposure to viral variants. Here, we investigated whether this principle remains applicable when there are large genetic and antigenic differences between primary and secondary influenza virus antigens. Because humans usually have a complex history of influenza virus exposure, we conducted this investigation in influenza-naive cynomolgus macaques. Two groups of six macaques were immunized four times with influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying either one (monovalent) or five (pentavalent) different hemagglutinin (HA) antigens derived from seasonal H1N1 (H1N1) strains. Four weeks after the final immunization, animals were challenged with pandemic H1N1 (H1N1pdm09). Although immunization resulted in robust virus-neutralizing responses to all VLP-based vaccine strains, there were no cross-neutralization responses to H1N1pdm09, and all animals became infected. No reductions in viral load in the nose or throat were detected in either vaccine group. After infection, strong virus-neutralizing responses to H1N1pdm09 were induced. However, there were no increases in virus-neutralizing titers against four of the five H1N1 vaccine strains; and only a mild increase was observed in virus-neutralizing titer against the influenza A/Texas/36/91 vaccine strain. After H1N1pdm09 infection, both vaccine groups showed higher virus-neutralizing titers against two H1N1 strains of intermediate antigenic distance between the H1N1 vaccine strains and H1N1pdm09, compared with the naive control group. Furthermore, both vaccine groups had higher HA-stem antibodies early after infection than the control group. In conclusion, immunization with VLPs displaying HA from antigenically distinct H1N1 variants increased the breadth of the immune response during subsequent H1N1pdm09 challenge, although this phenomenon was limited to intermediate antigenic variants.


Subject(s)
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Influenza Vaccines , Influenza, Human , Animals , Humans , Seasons , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Macaca fascicularis
2.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 5074, 2023 03 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36977691

ABSTRACT

Influenza virosomes serve as antigen delivery vehicles and pre-existing immunity toward influenza improves the immune responses toward antigens. Here, vaccine efficacy was evaluated in non-human primates with a COVID-19 virosome-based vaccine containing a low dose of RBD protein (15 µg) and the adjuvant 3M-052 (1 µg), displayed together on virosomes. Vaccinated animals (n = 6) received two intramuscular administrations at week 0 and 4 and challenged with SARS-CoV-2 at week 8, together with unvaccinated control animals (n = 4). The vaccine was safe and well tolerated and serum RBD IgG antibodies were induced in all animals and in the nasal washes and bronchoalveolar lavages in the three youngest animals. All control animals became strongly sgRNA positive in BAL, while all vaccinated animals were protected, although the oldest vaccinated animal (V1) was transiently weakly positive. The three youngest animals had also no detectable sgRNA in nasal wash and throat. Cross-strain serum neutralizing antibodies toward Wuhan-like, Alpha, Beta, and Delta viruses were observed in animals with the highest serum titers. Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, CXCL-10 and IL-6 were increased in BALs of infected control animals but not in vaccinated animals. Virosomes-RBD/3M-052 prevented severe SARS-CoV-2, as shown by a lower total lung inflammatory pathology score than control animals.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Influenza Vaccines , Influenza, Human , Animals , Humans , Macaca mulatta , Virosomes , SARS-CoV-2 , Toll-Like Receptor 7 , COVID-19/prevention & control , Adjuvants, Immunologic , Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies , COVID-19 Vaccines , Antibodies, Viral , Antibodies, Neutralizing
3.
Nature ; 615(7953): 678-686, 2023 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36922586

ABSTRACT

Dengue is a major health threat and the number of symptomatic infections caused by the four dengue serotypes is estimated to be 96 million1 with annually around 10,000 deaths2. However, no antiviral drugs are available for the treatment or prophylaxis of dengue. We recently described the interaction between non-structural proteins NS3 and NS4B as a promising target for the development of pan-serotype dengue virus (DENV) inhibitors3. Here we present JNJ-1802-a highly potent DENV inhibitor that blocks the NS3-NS4B interaction within the viral replication complex. JNJ-1802 exerts picomolar to low nanomolar in vitro antiviral activity, a high barrier to resistance and potent in vivo efficacy in mice against infection with any of the four DENV serotypes. Finally, we demonstrate that the small-molecule inhibitor JNJ-1802 is highly effective against viral infection with DENV-1 or DENV-2 in non-human primates. JNJ-1802 has successfully completed a phase I first-in-human clinical study in healthy volunteers and was found to be safe and well tolerated4. These findings support the further clinical development of JNJ-1802, a first-in-class antiviral agent against dengue, which is now progressing in clinical studies for the prevention and treatment of dengue.


Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents , Dengue Virus , Dengue , Primates , Viral Nonstructural Proteins , Animals , Humans , Mice , Antiviral Agents/adverse effects , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic , Dengue/drug therapy , Dengue/prevention & control , Dengue/virology , Dengue Virus/classification , Dengue Virus/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Resistance, Viral , In Vitro Techniques , Molecular Targeted Therapy , Primates/virology , Protein Binding/drug effects , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism , Virus Replication
4.
Front Immunol ; 13: 1026951, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36405682

ABSTRACT

Several studies have shown that the first encounter with influenza virus shapes the immune response to future infections or vaccinations. However, a detailed analysis of the primary antibody response is lacking as this is difficult to study in humans. It is therefore not known what the frequency and dynamics of the strain-specific hemagglutinin (HA) head- and stem-directed antibody responses are directly after primary influenza virus infection. Here, sera of twelve H1N1pdm2009 influenza virus-infected cynomolgus macaques were evaluated for HA-head and HA-stem domain antibody responses. We observed an early induction of HA-stem antibody responses, which was already decreased by day 56. In contrast, responses against the HA-head domain were low early after infection and increased at later timepoint. The HA-specific B cell repertoires in each animal showed diverse VH-gene usage with preferred VH-gene and JH-gene family usage for HA-head or HA-stem B cells but a highly diverse allelic variation within the VH-usage. HA-head B cells had shorter CDRH3s and higher VH-gene somatic hyper mutation levels relative to HA-stem B cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that HA-stem antibodies are the first to react to the infection while HA-head antibodies show a delayed response, but a greater propensity to enter the germinal center and undergo affinity maturation.


Subject(s)
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Influenza, Human , Orthomyxoviridae Infections , Humans , Animals , Antibody Formation , Hemagglutinins , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/genetics , Antibodies, Viral
5.
NPJ Vaccines ; 7(1): 54, 2022 May 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35585071

ABSTRACT

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging mosquito-borne bunyavirus that is highly pathogenic to wild and domesticated ruminants, camelids, and humans. While animals are exclusively infected via mosquito bites, humans can also be infected via contact with contaminated tissues or blood. No human vaccine is available and commercialized veterinary vaccines do not optimally combine efficacy with safety. We previously reported the development of two novel live-attenuated RVF vaccines, created by splitting the M genome segment and deleting the major virulence determinant NSs. The vaccine candidates, referred to as the veterinary vaccine vRVFV-4s and the human vaccine hRVFV-4s, were shown to induce protective immunity in multiple species after a single vaccination. Anticipating accidental exposure of humans to the veterinary vaccine and the application of hRVFV-4s to humans, the safety of each vaccine was evaluated in the most susceptible nonhuman primate model, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Marmosets were inoculated with high doses of each vaccine and were monitored for clinical signs as well as for vaccine virus dissemination, shedding, and spreading to the environment. To accurately assess the attenuation of both vaccine viruses, separate groups of marmosets were inoculated with the parent wild-type RVFV strains. Both wild-type strains induced high viremia and disseminated to primary target organs, associated with mild-to-severe morbidity. In contrast, both vaccines were well tolerated with no evidence of dissemination and shedding while inducing potent neutralizing antibody responses. The results of the studies support the unprecedented safety profile of both vaccines for animals and humans.

6.
Viruses ; 14(4)2022 04 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35458506

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV-2 causes acute respiratory disease, but many patients also experience neurological complications. Neuropathological changes with pronounced neuroinflammation have been described in individuals after lethal COVID-19, as well as in the CSF of hospitalized patients with neurological complications. To assess whether neuropathological changes can occur after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to mild-to-moderate disease, we investigated the brains of four rhesus and four cynomolgus macaques after pulmonary disease and without overt clinical symptoms. Postmortem analysis demonstrated the infiltration of T-cells and activated microglia in the parenchyma of all infected animals, even in the absence of viral antigen or RNA. Moreover, intracellular α-synuclein aggregates were found in the brains of both macaque species. The heterogeneity of these manifestations in the brains indicates the virus' neuropathological potential and should be considered a warning for long-term health risks, following SARS-CoV-2 infection.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Encephalitis , alpha-Synuclein , Animals , Encephalitis/metabolism , Encephalitis/virology , Macaca mulatta/virology , Protein Aggregates , SARS-CoV-2 , alpha-Synuclein/metabolism
7.
Front Immunol ; 13: 845887, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35371043

ABSTRACT

Novel safe, immunogenic, and effective vaccines are needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2. Here, we describe the safety, robust immunogenicity, and potent efficacy elicited in rhesus macaques by a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector expressing a full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein (MVA-S). MVA-S vaccination was well tolerated and induced S and receptor-binding domain (RBD)-binding IgG antibodies and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and several variants of concern. S-specific IFNγ, but not IL-4, -producing cells were also elicited. After SARS-CoV-2 challenge, vaccinated animals showed a significant strong reduction of virus loads in bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and decreased levels in throat and nasal mucosa. Remarkably, MVA-S also protected macaques from fever and infection-induced cytokine storm. Computed tomography and histological examination of the lungs showed reduced lung pathology in MVA-S-vaccinated animals. These findings favor the use of MVA-S as a potential vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 in clinical trials.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Vaccinia virus , Animals , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Vaccines , Humans , Macaca mulatta , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , Vaccinia virus/genetics
8.
Front Immunol ; 13: 857440, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35479095

ABSTRACT

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a worldwide pandemic. Here, we present non-human primate immunogenicity and protective efficacy data generated with the capsid virus-like particle (cVLP)-based vaccine ABNCoV2 that has previously demonstrated immunogenicity in mice. In rhesus macaques, a single vaccination with either 15 or 100 µg ABNCoV2 induced binding and neutralizing antibodies in a dose-dependent manner, at levels comparable to those measured in human convalescents. A second vaccine administration led to a >50-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies, with 2-log higher mean levels in the 100-µg ABNCoV2 group compared with convalescent samples. Upon SARS-CoV-2 challenge, a significant reduction in viral load was observed for both vaccine groups relative to the challenge control group, with no evidence of enhanced disease. Remarkably, neutralizing antibody titers against an original SARS-CoV-2 isolate and against variants of concern were comparable, indicating a potential for broad protection afforded by ABNCoV2, which is currently in clinical testing.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Viral Vaccines , Animals , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Vaccines , Capsid , Capsid Proteins , Humans , Macaca mulatta , SARS-CoV-2
9.
Vaccines (Basel) ; 9(7)2021 Jul 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34358138

ABSTRACT

Antibody responses against the influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA)-protein are studied intensively because they can protect against (re)infection. Previous studies have focused on antibodies targeting the head or stem domains, while other possible specificities are often not taken into account. To study such specificities, we developed a diverse set of HA-domain proteins based on an H1N1pdm2009-like influenza virus strain, including monomeric head and trimeric stem domain, as well as the full HA-trimer. These proteins were used to study the B cell and antibody responses in six healthy human donors. A large proportion of HA-trimer B cells bound exclusively to HA-trimer probe (54-77%), while only 8-18% and 9-23% were able to recognize the stem or head probe, respectively. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were isolated and three of these mAbs, targeting the different domains, were characterized in-depth to confirm the binding profile observed in flow cytometry. The head-directed mAb, targeting an epitope distinct from known head-specific mAbs, showed relatively broad H1N1 neutralization and the stem-directed mAb was able to broadly neutralize diverse H1N1 viruses. Moreover, we identified a trimer-directed mAb that did not compete with known head or stem domain specific mAbs, suggesting that it targets an unknown epitope or conformation of influenza virus' HA. These observations indicate that the described method can characterize the diverse antibody response to HA and might be able to identify HA-specific B cells and antibodies with previously unknown specificities that could be relevant for vaccine design.

10.
Viruses ; 13(8)2021 08 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34452537

ABSTRACT

The post-acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated in rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). During the acute phase of infection, SARS-CoV-2 was shed via the nose and throat, and viral RNA was occasionally detected in feces. This phase coincided with a transient change in systemic immune activation. Even after the alleged resolution of the infection, computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT revealed pulmonary lesions and activated tracheobronchial lymph nodes in all animals. Post-mortem histological examination of the lung tissue revealed mostly marginal or resolving minimal lesions that were indicative of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evidence for SARS-CoV-2-induced histopathology was also found in extrapulmonary tissue samples, such as conjunctiva, cervical, and mesenteric lymph nodes. However, 5-6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 exposure, upon necropsy, viral RNA was still detectable in a wide range of tissue samples in 50% of the macaques and included amongst others the heart, the respiratory tract and surrounding lymph nodes, salivary gland, and conjunctiva. Subgenomic messenger RNA was detected in the lungs and tracheobronchial lymph nodes, indicative of ongoing virus replication during the post-acute phase. These results could be relevant for understanding the long-term consequences of COVID-19 in humans.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/pathology , COVID-19/virology , Lung/pathology , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Animals , Antibodies, Viral/blood , COVID-19/immunology , Cytokines/blood , Disease Models, Animal , Humans , Lung/virology , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Lymph Nodes/physiopathology , Macaca fascicularis , Macaca mulatta , RNA, Messenger/analysis , RNA, Viral/analysis , Respiratory System/pathology , Respiratory System/virology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Virus Replication
11.
J Exp Med ; 218(7)2021 07 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33909009

ABSTRACT

Safe and effective coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines are urgently needed to control the ongoing pandemic. While single-dose vaccine regimens would provide multiple advantages, two doses may improve the magnitude and durability of immunity and protective efficacy. We assessed one- and two-dose regimens of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine candidate in adult and aged nonhuman primates (NHPs). A two-dose Ad26.COV2.S regimen induced higher peak binding and neutralizing antibody responses compared with a single dose. In one-dose regimens, neutralizing antibody responses were stable for at least 14 wk, providing an early indication of durability. Ad26.COV2.S induced humoral immunity and T helper cell (Th cell) 1-skewed cellular responses in aged NHPs that were comparable to those in adult animals. Aged Ad26.COV2.S-vaccinated animals challenged 3 mo after dose 1 with a SARS-CoV-2 spike G614 variant showed near complete lower and substantial upper respiratory tract protection for both regimens. Neutralization of variants of concern by NHP sera was reduced for B.1.351 lineages while maintained for the B.1.1.7 lineage independent of Ad26.COV2.S vaccine regimen.


Subject(s)
Adenoviridae/immunology , Aging/immunology , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , COVID-19/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Body Temperature , Bronchoalveolar Lavage , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/virology , Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic , Female , Immunity, Humoral , Kinetics , Lung/pathology , Lung/virology , Macaca mulatta , Male , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism , Treatment Outcome , Vaccination , Viral Load
12.
Viruses ; 13(2)2021 02 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33671829

ABSTRACT

Infection with highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza virus in humans often leads to severe respiratory disease with high mortality. Experimental infection in non-human primates can provide additional insight into disease pathogenesis. However, such a model should recapitulate the disease symptoms observed in humans, such as pneumonia and inflammatory cytokine response. While previous studies in macaques have demonstrated the occurrence of typical lesions in the lungs early after infection and a high level of immune activation, progression to severe disease and lethality were rarely observed. Here, we evaluated a routinely used combined route of infection via intra-bronchial, oral, and intra-nasal virus inoculation with aerosolized H5N1 exposure, with or without the regular collection of bronchoalveolar lavages early after infection. Both combined route and aerosol exposure resulted in similar levels of virus replication in nose and throat and similar levels of immune activation, cytokine, and chemokine release in the blood. However, while animals exposed to H5N1 by combined-route inoculation developed severe disease with high lethality, aerosolized exposure resulted in less lesions, as measured by consecutive computed tomography and less fever and lethal disease. In conclusion, not virus levels or immune activation, but route of infection determines fatal outcome for highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza infection.


Subject(s)
Aerosols/analysis , Bronchi/virology , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/physiology , Influenza, Human/virology , Macaca fascicularis/virology , Mouth/virology , Nose/virology , Air Microbiology , Animals , Cytokines/genetics , Cytokines/immunology , Disease Models, Animal , Environmental Exposure , Humans , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/genetics , Influenza, Human/genetics , Influenza, Human/immunology , Male
14.
Curr Biol ; 30(18): R1014-R1018, 2020 09 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32961149

ABSTRACT

Recently, a petition was offered to the European Commission calling for an immediate ban on animal testing. Although a Europe-wide moratorium on the use of animals in science is not yet possible, there has been a push by the non-scientific community and politicians for a rapid transition to animal-free innovations. Although there are benefits for both animal welfare and researchers, advances on alternative methods have not progressed enough to be able to replace animal research in the foreseeable future. This trend has led first and foremost to a substantial increase in the administrative burden and hurdles required to make timely advances in research and treatments for human and animal diseases. The current COVID-19 pandemic clearly highlights how much we actually rely on animal research. COVID-19 affects several organs and systems, and the various animal-free alternatives currently available do not come close to this complexity. In this Essay, we therefore argue that the use of animals is essential for the advancement of human and veterinary health.


Subject(s)
Animal Experimentation , Biomedical Research , Coronavirus Infections , Disease Models, Animal , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Animals , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Humans , SARS-CoV-2
15.
J Gen Virol ; 101(12): 1229-1241, 2020 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32975505

ABSTRACT

Non-human primates form an important animal model for the evaluation of immunogenicity and efficacy of novel 'universal' vaccine candidates against influenza virus. However, in most studies a combination of intra-tracheal or intra-bronchial, oral and nasal virus inoculation is used with a standard virus dose of between 1 and 10 million tissue culture infective doses, which differs from typical modes of virus exposure in humans. This paper studies the systemic and local inflammatory and immune effects of aerosolized versus combined-route exposure to pandemic H1N1 influenza virus. In agreement with a previous study, both combined-route and aerosol exposure resulted in similar levels of virus replication in nose, throat and lung lavages. However, the acute release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, acute monocyte activation in peripheral blood as well as increased cytokine production and T-cell proliferation in the lungs were only observed after combined-route infection and not after aerosol exposure. Longitudinal evaluation by computed tomography demonstrated persistence of lung lesions after resolution of the infection and a tendency for more lesions in the lower lung lobes after combined-route exposure versus upper and middle lung lobes after aerosol exposure. Computed tomography scores were observed to correlate with fever. In conclusion, influenza virus infection by aerosol exposure is accompanied by less immune-activation and inflammation in comparison with direct virus installation, despite similar levels of virus replication and development of lesions in the lungs.


Subject(s)
Disease Models, Animal , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Lung/immunology , Macaca fascicularis , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/immunology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology , Animals , Bronchi/virology , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/immunology , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/virology , Cytokines/blood , Cytokines/metabolism , Humans , Immunity, Cellular , Immunity, Humoral , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/immunology , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/physiology , Influenza, Human/immunology , Influenza, Human/virology , Lung/virology , Lymphopenia , Male , Mouth/virology , Nose/virology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/pathology , Virus Replication , Virus Shedding
16.
Nat Commun ; 10(1): 2355, 2019 05 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31142746

ABSTRACT

Stabilized HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) that resemble the native Env are utilized in vaccination strategies aimed at inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). To limit the exposure of rare isolate-specific antigenic residues/determinants we generated a SOSIP trimer based on a consensus sequence of all HIV-1 group M isolates (ConM). The ConM trimer displays the epitopes of most known bNAbs and several germline bNAb precursors. The crystal structure of the ConM trimer at 3.9 Å resolution resembles that of the native Env trimer and its antigenic surface displays few rare residues. The ConM trimer elicits strong NAb responses against the autologous virus in rabbits and macaques that are significantly enhanced when it is presented on ferritin nanoparticles. The dominant NAb specificity is directed against an epitope at or close to the trimer apex. Immunogens based on consensus sequences might have utility in engineering vaccines against HIV-1 and other viruses.


Subject(s)
AIDS Vaccines/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Epitopes/immunology , HIV Antibodies/immunology , HIV-1/immunology , env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/immunology , Animals , Consensus Sequence , Macaca , Protein Multimerization , Rabbits
17.
J Gen Virol ; 100(5): 738-751, 2019 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30920368

ABSTRACT

Antibodies directed against the conserved regions within the influenza A haemagglutinin (HA) protein are detected at low frequency in humans. These antibodies display a broad reactivity against divergent influenza virus strains and could potentially offer broad protection. The in vivo protective effect of these antibodies is mainly mediated through Fc receptor effector functions. While antibody-dependent phagocytosis (ADP) of anti-HA antibodies has been demonstrated in human sera and sera from influenza virus-infected macaques, it is not known whether ADP can also be induced by vaccination and what the relative strength of ADP responses is in comparison to other antibody functions. Using a cohort of influenza virus-infected and immunized macaques, we demonstrate that infection as well as immunization with DNA-encoding HA induces high-titre ADP responses against HA, which are of potency 100-1000 times higher than virus inhibitory functions including antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), virus neutralization (VN) and haemagglutinin inhibition (HAI). ADP activity was equally high against HA of heterologous influenza strains of the same subtype, in contrast to virus inhibitory functions, which were all greatly diminished. ADP titres against H5, representing a hetero-subtypic virus, were much lower. ADP was measured in THP-1 cells but was also observed in primary peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils. Furthermore, at high serum dilution enhanced infection of both monocytes and myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) was observed. Hence, influenza virus infection as well as DNA-immunization against HA can induce high-titre ADP responses that can potentially enhance influenza virus infection of primary phagocytic and dendritic cells.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/immunology , Influenza Vaccines/immunology , Monocytes/immunology , Orthomyxoviridae/immunology , Phagocytosis , Vaccines, DNA/immunology , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Dendritic Cells/immunology , Disease Models, Animal , Humans , Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage , Macaca , Neutrophils/immunology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/immunology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/prevention & control , Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
18.
Vaccine ; 37(6): 817-826, 2019 02 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30638800

ABSTRACT

Conventional influenza vaccines are hampered by slow and limited production capabilities, whereas DNA vaccines can be rapidly produced for global coverage in the event of an emerging pandemic. However, a drawback of DNA vaccines is their generally low immunogenicity in non-human primates and humans. We have previously demonstrated that targeting of influenza hemagglutinin to human HLA class II molecules can increase antibody responses in larger animals such as ferrets and pigs. Here, we extend these observations by immunizing non-human primates (rhesus macaques) with a DNA vaccine encoding a bivalent fusion protein that targets influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) to Mamu class II molecules. Such immunization induced neutralizing antibodies and antigen-specific T cells. The DNA was delivered by pain- and needle-free jet injections intradermally. No adverse effects were observed. Most importantly, the immunized rhesus macaques were protected against a challenge with influenza virus.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/immunology , Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/immunology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/prevention & control , Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage , Viral Fusion Proteins/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , Cytokines/immunology , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Injections, Intradermal/methods , Injections, Jet , Macaca mulatta , Male , Vaccination/methods , Vaccines, DNA/immunology , Viral Fusion Proteins/administration & dosage
19.
NPJ Vaccines ; 3: 25, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29977611

ABSTRACT

Seasonal vaccines are currently the most effective countermeasure against influenza. However, seasonal vaccines are only effective against strains closely related to the influenza strains contained in the vaccine. Recently a new hemagglutinin (HA) stem-based antigen, the so-called "mini-HA", has been shown to induce a cross-protective immune response in influenza-naive mice and non-human primates (NHP). However, prior exposure to influenza can have a profound effect on the immune response to subsequent influenza infection and the protective efficacy of vaccination. Here we show that mini-HA, compared to a trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV), elicits a broadened influenza-specific humoral immune response in NHP previously exposed to influenza. Serum transfer experiments showed that antibodies induced by both mini-HA and seasonal vaccine protected mice against lethal challenge with a H1N1 influenza strain heterologous to the H1 HA included in the TIV. However, antibodies elicited by mini-HA showed an additional benefit of protecting mice against lethal heterosubtypic H5N1 influenza challenge, associated with H5 HA-specific functional antibodies.

20.
J Virol ; 91(19)2017 10 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28701402

ABSTRACT

Strategies are needed to improve the immunogenicity of HIV-1 envelope (Env) antigens (Ag) for more long-lived, efficacious HIV-1 vaccine-induced B-cell responses. HIV-1 Env gp140 (native or uncleaved molecules) or gp120 monomeric proteins elicit relatively poor B-cell responses which are short-lived. We hypothesized that Env engagement of the CD4 receptor on T-helper cells results in anergic effects on T-cell recruitment and consequently a lack of strong, robust, and durable B-memory responses. To test this hypothesis, we occluded the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) of gp140 by stable cross-linking with a 3-kDa CD4 miniprotein mimetic, serving to block ligation of gp140 on CD4+ T cells while preserving CD4-inducible (CDi) neutralizing epitopes targeted by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) effector responses. Importantly, immunization of rhesus macaques consistently gave superior B-cell (P < 0.001) response kinetics and superior ADCC (P < 0.014) in a group receiving the CD4bs-occluded vaccine compared to those of animals immunized with gp140. Of the cytokines examined, Ag-specific interleukin-4 (IL-4) T-helper enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assays of the CD4bs-occluded group increased earlier (P = 0.025) during the inductive phase. Importantly, CD4bs-occluded gp140 antigen induced superior B-cell and ADCC responses, and the elevated B-cell responses proved to be remarkably durable, lasting more than 60 weeks postimmunization.IMPORTANCE Attempts to develop HIV vaccines capable of inducing potent and durable B-cell responses have been unsuccessful until now. Antigen-specific B-cell development and affinity maturation occurs in germinal centers in lymphoid follicles through a critical interaction between B cells and T follicular helper cells. The HIV envelope binds the CD4 receptor on T cells as soluble shed antigen or as antigen-antibody complexes, causing impairment in the activation of these specialized CD4-positive T cells. We proposed that CD4-binding impairment is partly responsible for the relatively poor B-cell responses to HIV envelope-based vaccines. To test this hypothesis, we blocked the CD4 binding site of the envelope antigen and compared it to currently used unblocked envelope protein. We found superior and durable B-cell responses in macaques vaccinated with an occluded CD4 binding site on the HIV envelope antigen, demonstrating a potentially important new direction in future design of new HIV vaccines.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4 Antigens/immunology , HIV Antibodies/immunology , Macaca mulatta/immunology , T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology , env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/immunology , AIDS Vaccines/immunology , Animals , Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity/immunology , Binding Sites, Antibody/immunology , HIV-1/immunology , Macaca mulatta/virology , Vaccination
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