Immune control of an SIV challenge by a T-cell-based vaccine in rhesus monkeys

A recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) vector-based vaccine for HIV-1 has recently failed in a phase 2b efficacy study in humans. Consistent with these results, preclinical studies have demonstrated that rAd5 vectors expressing simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag failed to reduce peak or setpoint viral loads after SIV challenge of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) that lacked the protective MHC class I allele Mamu-A*01 (ref. 3). Here we show that an improved T-cell-based vaccine regimen using two serologically distinct adenovirus vectors afforded substantially improved protective efficacy in this challenge model. In particular, a heterologous rAd26 prime/rAd5 boost vaccine regimen expressing SIV Gag elicited cellular immune responses with augmented magnitude, breadth and polyfunctionality as compared with the homologous rAd5 regimen. After SIV(MAC251) challenge, monkeys vaccinated with the rAd26/rAd5 regimen showed a 1.4 log reduction of peak and a 2.4 log reduction of setpoint viral loads as well as decreased AIDS-related mortality as compared with control animals. These data demonstrate that durable partial immune control of a pathogenic SIV challenge for more than 500 days can be achieved by a T-cell-based vaccine in Mamu-A*01-negative rhesus monkeys in the absence of a homologous Env antigen. These findings have important implications for the development of next-generation T-cell-based vaccine candidates for HIV-1.     

Profound early control of highly pathogenic SIV by an effector memory T-cell vaccine

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-causing lentiviruses human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) effectively evade host immunity and, once established, infections with these viruses are only rarely controlled by immunological mechanisms. However, the initial establishment of infection in the first few days after mucosal exposure, before viral dissemination and massive replication, may be more vulnerable to immune control. Here we report that SIV vaccines that include rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV) vectors establish indefinitely persistent, high-frequency, SIV-specific effector memory T-cell (T(EM)) responses at potential sites of SIV replication in rhesus macaques and stringently control highly pathogenic SIV(MAC239) infection early after mucosal challenge. Thirteen of twenty-four rhesus macaques receiving either RhCMV vectors alone or RhCMV vectors followed by adenovirus 5 (Ad5) vectors (versus 0 of 9 DNA/Ad5-vaccinated rhesus macaques) manifested early complete control of SIV (undetectable plasma virus), and in twelve of these thirteen animals we observed long-term (≥1 year) protection. This was characterized by: occasional blips of plasma viraemia that ultimately waned; predominantly undetectable cell-associated viral load in blood and lymph node mononuclear cells; no depletion of effector-site CD4(+) memory T cells; no induction or boosting of SIV Env-specific antibodies; and induction and then loss of T-cell responses to an SIV protein (Vif) not included in the RhCMV vectors. Protection correlated with the magnitude of the peak SIV-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses in the vaccine phase, and occurred without anamnestic T-cell responses. Remarkably, long-term RhCMV vector-associated SIV control was insensitive to either CD8(+) or CD4(+) lymphocyte depletion and, at necropsy, cell-associated SIV was only occasionally measurable at the limit of detection with ultrasensitive assays, observations that indicate the possibility of eventual viral clearance. Thus, persistent vectors such as CMV and their associated T(EM) responses might significantly contribute to an efficacious HIV/AIDS vaccine.     

鸡腺病毒内蒙古分离株六邻体蛋白基因片段的合成和分子克隆

根据鸡１０型腺病毒以及人２、５、４０、４１型腺病毒、牛３型、鼠１型腺病毒六邻体蛋白基因序列，选择保守区，设计和合成一对引物，以鸡腺病毒内蒙古分离株基因组ＤＮＡ为模板，进行聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）扩增得到预期大小的０．５５ｋｂＤＮＡ片段．将此ＤＮＡ片段克隆于ｐＵＣ１９的ＳｍａＩ位点，筛选重组质粒，进行限制酶切分析和ＰＣＲ检测，得到含有六邻体蛋白基因片段的重组质粒，为进一步开展此病毒分子生物学研究和分子生物学诊断技术的建立创造了条件     

Improved immunogenicity of a peptide epitope after fusion to hepatitis B core protein

Synthetic vaccines for viral diseases can use defined regions of viral proteins as immunogens: the peptide sequence of amino acids 141-160 of the VP1 protein of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) elicits virus-neutralizing antibodies to protect guinea pigs, cattle and pigs either when coupled to a carrier protein or when administered in liposomes or in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. The immune response to these peptides is much lower than that to complete virus particles and the same sequence fused to the N terminus of beta-galactosidase did not produce a more potent immunogen than synthetic peptide alone. We report here an expression system for immunogenic epitopes linked to a carrier protein, hepatitis B core antigen, to form part of a virus-like complex which can present these epitopes to the immune system at high density. The immunogenicity of these structures approaches that of FMDV particles.     

Broad neutralization coverage of HIV by multiple highly potent antibodies

Broadly neutralizing antibodies against highly variable viral pathogens are much sought after to treat or protect against global circulating viruses. Here we probed the neutralizing antibody repertoires of four human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected donors with remarkably broad and potent neutralizing responses and rescued 17 new monoclonal antibodies that neutralize broadly across clades. Many of the new monoclonal antibodies are almost tenfold more potent than the recently described PG9, PG16 and VRC01 broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and 100-fold more potent than the original prototype HIV broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies largely recapitulate the neutralization breadth found in the corresponding donor serum and many recognize novel epitopes on envelope (Env) glycoprotein gp120, illuminating new targets for vaccine design. Analysis of neutralization by the full complement of anti-HIV broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies now available reveals that certain combinations of antibodies should offer markedly more favourable coverage of the enormous diversity of global circulating viruses than others and these combinations might be sought in active or passive immunization regimes. Overall, the isolation of multiple HIV broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies from several donors that, in aggregate, provide broad coverage at low concentrations is a highly positive indicator for the eventual design of an effective antibody-based HIV vaccine.     

Research advances in gene therapy for Parkinson's disease

During the long period of time when people have been seeking for an effective therapeutic method for PD, the gene therapy has shown greater and greater advantages over other methods. It can be performed mainly in two ways: ex vivo and in vivo. With the former, TH gene as well as some neurotrophic factor genes (such as GDNF, BNDF genes) can be invited to some cell lines or primary cells thus forming engineered cells and then implanting them into brain. While with the latter, viral vectors including HSV-1, Ad, AAV that can be utilized to construct recombinant viruses, or non-virus vectors can be used to delived DNA into brain directly. The present review summarizes the recent research advances in the gene therapy for PD, and it is reasonable for us to predict a notable progress in prevention and treatment for PD in the next decade.     

单价流感疫苗脂质体干粉细胞免疫研究

从细胞免疫水平考察流感疫苗脂质体干粉肺部免疫的免疫原性,以验证在稳定性提高的同时,流感疫苗脂质体干粉肺部免疫原性不低于现行应用的流感疫苗原液腹腔注射免疫。将实验小鼠分为2个大组,每组分为阴性对照组、疫苗脂质体冻干粉组、非脂质体流感疫苗原液组和阳性对照组(n=5)。非脂质体流感疫苗原液组和疫苗脂质体冻干粉组分别以每只6μg血凝素(以H1N1计)肺部灌注免疫,同时以每只6μg非脂质体流感疫苗原液组腹腔免疫作为阳性对照。分别免疫14 d和28 d后,用四甲基偶氮唑盐微量酶反应比色法(MTT法)检测脾淋巴细胞增殖情况,以考察其细胞免疫原性。脂质体肺部免疫可以诱导细胞免疫,且其免疫原性明显高于流感疫苗原液传统腹腔注射免疫组。与流感疫苗原液腹腔注射免疫相比,流感疫苗脂质体干粉通过肺部免疫,细胞免疫效果明显提高。     

Cationic polymeric nanoformulation: Recent advances in material design for CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy

CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat associated proteins 9) gene editing platform is a promising therapeutic tool for genetic disorders, due to its ability to manipulate the pathogenic gene in genomic level and to easily target specific gene by manipulating single-guide RNA. However, its successful delivery remains a challenge. Up to now, great efforts have been made to explore an effective strategy for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery. But among those delivery methods, physical methods are mainly operated on cultured cells thus limited to laboratorial use; viral vectors are hindered by fetal immunogenic and carcinogenic effects thus dubious in clinical application. Therefore, cationic polymeric vectors, with the ability to interact with CRISPR/Cas9 system to form a nanoformulation as a non-viral approach, are attracting increasing attentions, due to advantages such as well protection of cargos, less limitation in payload size, low immunogenicity or carcinogenicity, potential modifications for further functions, and ease in mass production. In this review, the recent discoveries on polymeric vectors utilized in delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system will be summarized. With emphasis on advanced features of those polymeric vectors or their nanoformulations to meet the demands of different CRISPR/Cas9 delivery forms (plasmid, mRNA or protein), the detailed illustrations on their disease treatment applications, such as cancer, diabetes or antibiotic-resistant infections, will also be reviewed.     

Covalently closed circles of adenovirus 5 DNA

The genome of adenoviruses is a double-stranded linear DNA molecule with inverted terminal repeats about 100 base pairs (bp) in length and a terminal protein covalently linked to the 5' nucleotide of each strand. Both of these features permit the formation of DNA circles, the inverted repeats allowing the circularization of single-stranded DNA and the terminal protein the joining of one or more molecules to yield double-stranded circles or concatemers. However, although the existence of covalently closed circles has been postulated, double-stranded viral DNA purified from virions or infected cells by conventional methods (that is, using proteases and phenol or chloroform) has always been obtained in a linear form. Here, we present evidence for the existence in adenovirus 5 (Ad5) infected cells of novel structures resulting from covalent head-to-tail joining of viral DNA molecules and show that these structures are due at least in part to the formation of covalently closed circles.     

Structural basis of West Nile virus neutralization by a therapeutic antibody

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to the human epidemic-causing dengue, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis viruses. In establishing infection these icosahedral viruses undergo endosomal membrane fusion catalysed by envelope glycoprotein rearrangement of the putative receptor-binding domain III (DIII) and exposure of the hydrophobic fusion loop. Humoral immunity has an essential protective function early in the course of West Nile virus infection. Here, we investigate the mechanism of neutralization by the E16 monoclonal antibody that specifically binds DIII. Structurally, the E16 antibody Fab fragment engages 16 residues positioned on four loops of DIII, a consensus neutralizing epitope sequence conserved in West Nile virus and distinct in other flaviviruses. The E16 epitope protrudes from the surface of mature virions in three distinct environments, and docking studies predict Fab binding will leave five-fold clustered epitopes exposed. We also show that E16 inhibits infection primarily at a step after viral attachment, potentially by blocking envelope glycoprotein conformational changes. Collectively, our results suggest that a vaccine strategy targeting the dominant DIII epitope may elicit safe and effective immune responses against flaviviral diseases.     

Cyclophilin A retrotransposition into TRIM5 explains owl monkey resistance to HIV-1

In Old World primates, TRIM5-alpha confers a potent block to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection that acts after virus entry into cells. Cyclophilin A (CypA) binding to viral capsid protects HIV-1 from a similar activity in human cells. Among New World primates, only owl monkeys exhibit post-entry restriction of HIV-1 (ref. 1). Paradoxically, the barrier to HIV-1 in owl monkey cells is released by capsid mutants or drugs that disrupt capsid interaction with CypA. Here we show that knockdown of owl monkey CypA by RNA interference (RNAi) correlates with suppression of anti-HIV-1 activity. However, reintroduction of CypA protein to RNAi-treated cells did not restore antiviral activity. A search for additional RNAi targets unearthed TRIMCyp, an RNAi-responsive messenger RNA encoding a TRIM5-CypA fusion protein. TRIMCyp accounts for post-entry restriction of HIV-1 in owl monkeys and blocks HIV-1 infection when transferred to otherwise infectable human or rat cells. It seems that TRIMCyp arose after the divergence of New and Old World primates when a LINE-1 retrotransposon catalysed the insertion of a CypA complementary DNA into the TRIM5 locus. This is the first vertebrate example of a chimaeric gene generated by this mechanism of exon shuffling.     

The interaction between the membrane-proximal external region and the N-trimer region of HIV-1 gp41: Involvement in viral fusion

The membrane proximal external region (MPER) of gp41 is extremely conserved among diverse HIV-1 variants, implying its important role in viral infection. Interestingly, two of the most broadly neutralizing antibodies, 2F5 and 4E10, specifically recognize this region. Our previous study demonstrated that the antigenicity and immunogenicity of 4E10 epitope are affected by remodeling gp41 fusion core, suggesting that the MPER may be associated with gp41 core and involved in gp41-mediated membrane fusion. Here we measured the binding activity of 4E10 epitope peptide (D4E10P) with various gp41 core-derived peptides and found that the N-trimer region in a construct designated N-trimer-6HB interacted significantly with D4E10P. Using N-trimer-6HB to screen a phage library, we identified a motif (WF) located in 4E10 epitope that may play a certain role in the interaction of gp41 MPER with the N-trimer in gp41 fusion core and, we thus speculated upon the potential involvement of MPER in the fusion process between viral envelope and target cell membrane. Supported by National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB914402)     

Attenuation of Mengo virus through genetic engineering of the 5' noncoding poly(C) tract

The murine cardioviruses, such as the Mengo and encephalomyocarditis viruses, and the bovine aphthoviruses, such as foot-and-mouth disease virus, are distinguished among positive-strand RNA viruses by the presence of long homopolymeric poly(C) tracts within their 5' noncoding sequences. Although the specific lengths (60-350 bases) and sequence discontinuities (for example, uridine residues) that sometimes disrupt the homopolymer have served to characterize natural viral isolates, the biological function of the poly(C) region has never been clear. We now report that complementary DNA-mediated truncation of the Mengo virus poly(C) tract dramatically attenuates the pathogenicity of the virus in mice. Animals injected with viruses with short tracts not only survived inoculation of up to 50 micrograms live virus (10(11) plaque-forming units) but consistently produced high titres of neutralizing antibodies, which conferred long-term immunogenic protection from (normally) lethal virus challenge. We propose that analogous synthetic strains of foot and mouth disease virus could serve as the basis for new attenuated vaccines.