Virus-Like Particle Vaccination Protects Nonhuman Primates from Lethal Aerosol Exposure with Marburgvirus (VLP Vaccination Protects Macaques against Aerosol Challenges).

Marburg virus (MARV) was the first filovirus to be identified following an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever disease in Marburg, Germany in 1967. Due to several factors inherent to filoviruses, they are considered a potential bioweapon that could be disseminated via an aerosol route. Previous studies demonstrated that MARV virus-like particles (VLPs) containing the glycoprotein (GP), matrix protein VP40 and nucleoprotein (NP) generated using a baculovirus/insect cell expression system could protect macaques from subcutaneous (SQ) challenge with multiple species of marburgviruses. In the current study, the protective efficacy of the MARV VLPs in conjunction with two different adjuvants: QS-21, a saponin derivative, and poly I:C against homologous aerosol challenge was assessed in cynomolgus macaques. Antibody responses against the GP antigen were equivalent in all groups receiving MARV VLPs irrespective of the adjuvant; adjuvant only-vaccinated macaques did not demonstrate appreciable antibody responses. All macaques were subsequently challenged with lethal doses of MARV via aerosol or SQ as a positive control. All MARV VLP-vaccinated macaques survived either aerosol or SQ challenge while animals administered adjuvant only exhibited clinical signs and lesions consistent with MARV disease and were euthanized after meeting the predetermined criteria. Therefore, MARV VLPs induce IgG antibodies recognizing MARV GP and VP40 and protect cynomolgus macaques from an otherwise lethal aerosol exposure with MARV.

Quantitative serology assays for determination of antibody responses to Ebola virus glycoprotein and matrix protein in nonhuman primates and humans.

The West Africa Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has reached unprecedented magnitude and caused worldwide concerns for the spread of this deadly virus. Recent findings in nonhuman primates (NHPs) demonstrate that antibodies can be protective against EVD. However, the role of antibody response in vaccine-mediated protection is not fully understood. To address these questions quantitative serology assays are needed for measurement of the antibody response to key Ebola virus (EBOV) proteins. Serology enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA's), using a reference detection antibody, were developed in order to standardize the quantitation of antibody levels in vaccinated NHPs or in humans exposed to EBOV or immunized with an EBOV vaccine. Critical reagents were generated to support the development of the serology ELISAs. Recombinant EBOV matrix protein (VP40) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Two variants of the glycoprotein (GP), the ectodomain lacking the transmembrane domain (GPΔTM), and an engineered GP lacking the mucin-like domain (GPΔmuc) were expressed and purified from mammalian cell systems. Using these proteins, three ELISA methods were developed and optimized for reproducibility and robustness, including stability testing of critical reagents. The assay was used to determine the antibody response against VP40, GPΔTM, and GPΔmuc in a NHP vaccine study using EBOV virus-like particles (VLP) vaccine expressing GP, VP40 and the nucleoprotein. Additionally, these ELISAs were used to successfully detect antibody responses to VP40, GPΔTM and GPΔmuc in human sera from EBOV infected individuals.

Homologous and heterologous protection of nonhuman primates by Ebola and Sudan virus-like particles.

Filoviruses cause hemorrhagic fever resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in humans. Several vaccine platforms that include multiple virus-vectored approaches and virus-like particles (VLPs) have shown efficacy in nonhuman primates. Previous studies have shown protection of cynomolgus macaques against homologous infection for Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) following a three-dose vaccine regimen of EBOV or MARV VLPs, as well as heterologous protection against Ravn Virus (RAVV) following vaccination with MARV VLPs. The objectives of the current studies were to determine the minimum number of vaccine doses required for protection (using EBOV as the test system) and then demonstrate protection against Sudan virus (SUDV) and Taï Forest virus (TAFV). Using the EBOV nonhuman primate model, we show that one or two doses of VLP vaccine can confer protection from lethal infection. VLPs containing the SUDV glycoprotein, nucleoprotein and VP40 matrix protein provide complete protection against lethal SUDV infection in macaques. Finally, we demonstrate protective efficacy mediated by EBOV, but not SUDV, VLPs against TAFV; this is the first demonstration of complete cross-filovirus protection using a single component heterologous vaccine within the Ebolavirus genus. Along with our previous results, this observation provides strong evidence that it will be possible to develop and administer a broad-spectrum VLP-based vaccine that will protect against multiple filoviruses by combining only three EBOV, SUDV and MARV components.

Vaccinating captive chimpanzees to save wild chimpanzees.

Infectious disease has only recently been recognized as a major threat to the survival of Endangered chimpanzees and Critically Endangered gorillas in the wild. One potentially powerful tool, vaccination, has not been deployed in fighting this disease threat, in good part because of fears about vaccine safety. Here we report on what is, to our knowledge, the first trial in which captive chimpanzees were used to test a vaccine intended for use on wild apes rather than humans. We tested a virus-like particle vaccine against Ebola virus, a leading source of death in wild gorillas and chimpanzees. The vaccine was safe and immunogenic. Captive trials of other vaccines and of methods for vaccine delivery hold great potential as weapons in the fight against wild ape extinction.

Dual-role self-assembling nanoplexes for efficient gene transfection and sustained gene delivery.

Novel cationic pentablock copolymers with poly(diethylamino ethyl methacrylate) blocks covalently attached to parent triblock Pluronic copolymers have been designed and developed as sustained release non-viral gene delivery vectors. These copolymers electrostatically condense plasmid DNA into nanostructures (nanoplexes) and further self-assemble above critical concentration to form thermoreversible hydrogels at physiological temperatures. Unlike other sustained gene delivery systems of non-ionic copolymers that release naked DNA, hydrogels of pentablock copolymer/DNA nanoplexes dissolve in excess buffers to release DNA compacted inside the nanoplexes. These hydrogels permit aqueous pharmaceutical formulations that do not involve organic solvents and are non-invasively injectable with syringes into localized tissues where they instantly form hydrogels in situ. The hydrogels were found to have better mechanical strength than Pluronic gels. Hydrogels of nanoplexes containing 15wt% copolymer dissolved to release nanoplexes up to 5 days in vitro, compared to rapid release of up to 90% entrapped naked DNA from only Pluronic gels by day 1. The release profile of the nanoplexes from the hydrogels could be modulated by changing the concentration of copolymer or plasmid DNA in the hydrogel formulation. Since DNA is electrostatically bound to copolymer molecules, it does not freely diffuse out of the polymeric network, preventing initial release bursts observed with other such controlled release gels/matrices/microspheres. The released nanoplexes were colloidally stable, preserved the integrity of supercoiled plasmid DNA, and gave good transfection efficiencies in vitro upon dissolution. These novel copolymers, thus, act as both nanoscale gene delivery vectors and macroscale sustained delivery agents, and make a clinically viable long-term sustained gene delivery system.

Colloidally stable novel copolymeric system for gene delivery in complete growth media.

Novel cationic pentablock copolymers based on poly(2-diethylaminoethylmethacrylate) (PDEAEM) and Pluronic F127 were evaluated as non-viral gene delivery vectors from a physiochemical point of view for stability and transfection efficiency in complete growth media. A novel strategy was introduced to sterically stabilize the polyplexes of such Pluronic-based cationic polymers against aggregation with serum proteins. As cationic pentablock copolymers condense plasmid DNA into nanoplexes of 100-150 nm diameter, unmodified Pluronic added to the formulation self-assemble with the pentablock copolymers on the surface of polyplexes and shield the cationic PDEAEM chains of pentablock copolymers sterically with its long poly(ethyleneoxide) chains. These coated polyplexes formed colloidally stable dispersions of 150-250 nm diameter in serum-supplemented buffers. Cryo-TEM micrographs also showed that coating polyplexes with unmodified Pluronic reduced aggregation in serum proteins. Pentablock copolymers preserved the integrity of plasmid DNA condensed inside the polyplexes and provided efficient resistance to its degradation by nucleases. Though the total amount of DNA retained by ExGen 500 polyplexes after nuclease digestion was more than that retained by pentablock copolymers, the amount of plasmid retained in supercoiled form was not significantly different. Polyplexes coated with unmodified Pluronic provided efficient transfection in SKOV3 cells in complete growth media, comparable to that provided by ExGen 500 in terms of number of cells transfected, and one order less in terms of total transgene protein expressed. These sterically shielded polyplexes also exhibited much lower cytotoxicities than uncoated polyplexes of pentablock copolymers, and significantly lower than the cytotoxicity of ExGen 500 at relevant concentrations. This colloidally stable, versatile, multi-component gene delivery system also forms thermo-reversible injectable hydrogels like Pluronics at physiological temperatures that can be used for sustained delivery of polyplexes, and is promising for systemic applications.

Effective treatment of preexisting melanoma with whole cell vaccines expressing alpha(1,3)-galactosyl epitopes.

The hyperacute immune response in humans is a potent mechanism of xenograft rejection mediated by complement-fixing natural antibodies recognizing alpha(1,3)-galactosyl epitopes (alphaGal) not present on human cells. We exploited this immune mechanism to create a whole cell cancer vaccine to treat melanoma tumors. B16 melanoma vaccines genetically engineered to express alphaGal epitopes (B16alphaGal) effectively treated preexisting s.c. and pulmonary alphaGal-negative melanoma (B16Null) tumors in the alpha(1,3)-galactosyltransferase knockout mouse model. T cells from mice vaccinated with B16alphaGal recognized B16Null melanoma cells measured by detection of intracellular tumor necrosis factor-alpha. We showed successful adoptive transfer of immunity to recipient mice bearing lung melanoma metastasis. Mice receiving lymphocytes from donors previously immunized with B16alphaGal had reduced pulmonary metastases. The transfer of lymphocytes from mice vaccinated with control vaccine had no effect in the pulmonary metastasis burden. This study unequivocally establishes for the first time efficacy in the treatment of preexisting melanoma tumors using whole cell vaccines expressing alphaGal epitopes. Vaccination with B16alphagal induced strong long-lasting cell-mediated antitumor immunity extended to B16Null. These data formed the basis for the testing of this therapeutic strategy in human clinical trials currently under way.

Complete protection against melanoma in absence of autoimmune depigmentation after rejection of melanoma cells expressing alpha(1,3)galactosyl epitopes.

The major barrier for xenotransplantation in humans is the presence of alpha(1-3) Galactosyl epitopes (alphaGal) in xenogeneic tissue and the vast quantities of natural antibodies (Ab) produced by humans against this epitope. The binding of anti-alphaGal Ab to cells expressing alphaGal triggers a complement-mediated hyperacute rejection of target cells. The hyperacute rejection of whole cancer cells, modified to express alphaGal epitopes, could be exploited as a new cancer vaccine to treat human cancers. We tested this hypothesis in alphaGalactosyltransferase knockout (alphaGT KO) mice which, like humans, do not express alphaGal on their cell surfaces and can produce anti-alphaGal Ab. Forty-five percent of mice with preexisting anti-alphaGal Ab rejected alphaGal positive melanoma cells (B16alphaGal). These mice remained tumor-free for more than 90 days. The majority of control mice injected with B16Null, alphaGal negative cells succumbed to melanoma. The rejection of B16alphaGal induced strong long-lasting antitumor immunity against B16Null measured by the expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In addition, mice rejecting B16alphaGal were protected against melanoma since they survived a second rechallenge with B16Null. Protected mice developed antitumor immunity in the absence of autoimmune depigmentation (vitiligo). These results show that rejection of alphaGal positive melanoma cells can efficiently boost the immune response to other tumor associated antigens present in alphaGal negative melanoma cells. This study supports the concept of a novel anticancer vaccine to treat human malignancies.

Immunity to the alpha(1,3)galactosyl epitope provides protection in mice challenged with colon cancer cells expressing alpha(1,3)galactosyl-transferase: a novel suicide gene for cancer gene therapy.

Human immunity to alpha(1,3)Galactosyl epitopes (alpha Gal) may provide the means for a successful cancer gene therapy that uses the immune system to identify and to destroy tumor cells expressing the suicide gene alpha(1,3)Galactosyltransferase (alpha GT). Innate antibody specific for cell surface alpha Gal constitutes a high percentage of circulating IgG and IgM immunoglobulins in humans and is the basis for complement-mediated hyperacute xenograft rejection and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In humans, the gene for alpha GT is mutated, and cells do not express the alpha Gal moiety. We hypothesized that human tumor cells induced to express the alpha Gal epitope would be killed by the hosts' innate immunity. Previous in vitro work by our group has demonstrated complement-mediated lysis of alpha Gal-transduced human tumor cells in culture by human serum. To induce antibodies to alpha Gal in this in vivo study, alpha GT knockout mice were used to determine whether immunization with alpha Gal could provide protection from challenge with alpha Gal-expressing murine MC38 colon cancer cells. Knockout mice were immunized either a single time, or twice, with rabbit RBC. Antibody titers to alpha Gal measured by indirect ELISA were significantly higher in mice immunized twice and approached the titers observed in human serum. Anti-alpha Gal antibodies were predominantly of the IgG1 and IgG3 subtype. Immunized knockout mice were challenged i.p. with varying doses of alpha Gal(+) MC38 colon carcinoma cells. Nonimmunized control groups consisting of alpha GT knockout mice, and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were challenged as well with MC38 cells. Immunized mice survived and exhibited slower tumor development in comparison to nonimmunized knockout and control mice. This study demonstrates, in vivo, the protective benefit of an immune response to the alpha Gal epitope. Our results provide a basis to pursue additional development of this cancer gene therapy strategy.