Encephalomyocarditis virus(EMCV),a potential zoonotic pathogen,poses significant socioeconomic and public health challenges across various host species.Although EMCV rarely triggers severe clinical symptoms in humans,...Encephalomyocarditis virus(EMCV),a potential zoonotic pathogen,poses significant socioeconomic and public health challenges across various host species.Although EMCV rarely triggers severe clinical symptoms in humans,its widespread prevalence and unique biological characteristics underscore the need for continuous surveillance and the development of effective therapeutics and prophylactics.In this study,we evaluated the neutralizing effects of a monoclonal antibody derived from the spleens of mice immunized with EMCV virus-like particles(VLPs),both in vitro and in vivo.Using recombinant DNA technology,we engineered a baculovirus system to express EMCVs P12A and 3C,facilitating the production of VLPs in Sf9 cells.These VLPs serve as antigens to immunize mice,leading to the isolation of the monoclonal antibody 45G3.This antibody exhibited high specificity for EMCV confor-mational epitopes,excluding linear epitopes,and demonstrated potent in vitro neutralizing activity,with an IC50 of 0.01873μg/mL.Immunoelectron microscopy(IEM)revealed a strong direct interaction between the 45G3 antibody and EMCV particles.Virus adsorption inhibition assays demonstrated that 45G3 effectively blocked viral attachment,thereby preventing further infection of host cells.These findings further support the notion of a robust interaction between the virus and the antibody.Moreover,in vivo assessments revealed that 45G3 significantly reduced viral loads in treated mice and improved survival outcomes following EMCV exposure.Additionally,posttreatment analysis revealed reduced tissue damage and a markedly decreased inflammatory response in the brain,indicating that the 45G3 antibody effectively blocked viral infection,thereby mitigating tissue damage and enhancing survival.These findings position 45G3 as a promising candidate for EMCV management and provide a strong foundation for the future development of antiviral drugs targeting this widespread virus.展开更多
Dear Editor,Porcine astrovirus(PAstV)is a swine enteric virus which can cause diarrhea and vomiting in pigs,particularly in neonatal piglets(Fang et al.,2019;Su etal.,2020).PAstVwasfirstdetectedby electron microscopyi...Dear Editor,Porcine astrovirus(PAstV)is a swine enteric virus which can cause diarrhea and vomiting in pigs,particularly in neonatal piglets(Fang et al.,2019;Su etal.,2020).PAstVwasfirstdetectedby electron microscopyinthe fecal samples from diarrheal piglets in 1980(Bridger,1980).Based on viral genomes,PAstV is divided into five distinct genotypes(PAstV1-PAstV5)(Fang et al.,2019;Mi et al.,2020;Su et al.,2020).The PAstV5 was the main genotype prevalent in China.Xiao reported a positivity rate of 24.8%for PAstV5 as the predominant genotype in Hunan Province(Xiao et al.,2017).Cai reported a positive rate of 7.5%for PAstV5 in Sichuan Province(Cai et al.,2016).A study in Yunnan Province revealed a total infection rate of 39.9%for PAstV2 and PAstV5(Ren et al.,2022).The PAstV genome open read frame 2(ORF2)encodes for a~90 kDa structural polyprotein called capsid protein(Cap)(Arias and DuBois,2017).The region including amino acids(aa)1-415(N-terminus)of the Cap ishighly conserved,and the region starting at aa 416(C-terminus)is extremely variable(Ren et al.,2022).Moreover,the Cap can bind to host cell receptors and is the main target of neutralizing antibodies(Ricemeyer et al.,2022).展开更多
Dear Editor,COVID-19 inactivated vaccines have been extensively administered inChina.However,the majority of the Chinese population has experiencedbreakthrough infections from SARS-CoV-2 ancestral,Delta or Omicronvari...Dear Editor,COVID-19 inactivated vaccines have been extensively administered inChina.However,the majority of the Chinese population has experiencedbreakthrough infections from SARS-CoV-2 ancestral,Delta or Omicronvariants over the past three years,particularly during the wave of Omicron BA.5 and BA.7 variants at the end of 2022(Zhu et al.,2023).Subsequently,new Omicron variants,such as BQ.1,BQ.1.1,XBB,XBB.1/XBB.1.9,and XBB.1.5/XBB.1.9.1,are emerging in China(Yueetal.,2023;Zhu et al.,2023).Therefore,it is an urgentneed and a publichealth imperative to assess the extent of the immunoprotection established in this population.展开更多
Human adenoviruses(HAdVs) commonly cause many diseases such as respiratory diseases, gastroenteritis, cystitis worldwide. HAdV-3,-7,-4 and emergent HAdV-55 and HAdV-14 are the most important types causing severe respi...Human adenoviruses(HAdVs) commonly cause many diseases such as respiratory diseases, gastroenteritis, cystitis worldwide. HAdV-3,-7,-4 and emergent HAdV-55 and HAdV-14 are the most important types causing severe respiratory diseases. There is no effective drug available for clinical treatment, and no vaccine available for the general population.Therefore, it is important to investigate the seroprevalence against HAdV for developing novel vaccines and vectors. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence and titer levels of neutralizing antibodies(NAb) against HAdV-3,-4,-7,-14,-55,and-11 in total 278 healthy populations between 0 months and 49 years of age(228 children and 50 adults) from Guangzhou. In children under the age of 18 years, the seropositive rates were significantly increased against HAdV-3 at12.07%, 33.96%, and 64.29% and against HAdV-7 at 0%, 18.87%, and 19.05% in age groups of 1–2, 3–5, and 6–17 years,respectively. The seroprevalence was very low(0% - 8.1%) for all other four types. In adults aged between 18 and49 years, HAdV-3,-4, and-7(> 50.00%) were the most common types, followed by HAdV-14(38.00%),-55(34.00%),and-11(24.00%). Adults tended to have high NAb titers against HAdV-4 and-55. HAdV-55-seropositive donors tended to be HAdV-11-and HAdV-14-seropositive. These results indicated the low level of herd immunity against all six HAdV types in young children, and HAdV-14,-55,-11 in adults from Guangzhou City. Our findings demonstrate the importance of monitoring HAdV types and developing vaccines against HAdV for children and adults.展开更多
The ongoing Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic has likely changed the world in ways not seen in the past.Neutralizing antibody(NAb)assays play an important role in the management of the severe acute respiratory syndrome ...The ongoing Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic has likely changed the world in ways not seen in the past.Neutralizing antibody(NAb)assays play an important role in the management of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)outbreak.Using these tools,we can assess the presence and duration of antibody-mediated protection in naturally infected individuals,screen convalescent plasma preparations for donation,test the efficacy of immunotherapy,and analyze NAb titers and persistence after vaccination to predict vaccine-induced protective effects.This review briefly summarizes the various methods used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 NAbs and compares their advantages and disadvantages to facilitate their development and clinical application.展开更多
Periodic outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD) occur in children under 5 years old, and can cause death in some cases. The C4 strain of enterovirus 71(EV71) is the main pathogen that causes HFMD in China. Al...Periodic outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD) occur in children under 5 years old, and can cause death in some cases. The C4 strain of enterovirus 71(EV71) is the main pathogen that causes HFMD in China. Although no drugs against EV71 are available, some studies have shown that candidate vaccines or viral capsid proteins can produce anti-EV71 immunity. In this study, female BABL/c mice(6–8 weeks old) were immunized with virus-like particles(VLPs) of EV71 produced in yeast to screen for anti-EV71 antibodies. Two hybridomas that could produce neutralizing antibodies against EV71 were obtained. Both neutralizing m Abs(D4 and G12) were confirmed to bind the VP1 capsid protein of EV71, and could protect > 95% cells from 100 TCID50 EV71 infection at 25 μg/m L solution(lowest concentration). Those two neutralizing m Abs identified in the study may be promising candidates in development for m Abs to treat EV71 infection, and utilized as suitable reagents for use in diagnostic tests and biological studies.展开更多
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus （MERS-CoV）, a member of the Coronavifidae family, is the causative pathogen for MERS that is characterized by high fever, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome ...Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus （MERS-CoV）, a member of the Coronavifidae family, is the causative pathogen for MERS that is characterized by high fever, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS）, as well as extrapul- monary manifestations. Currently, there are no approved treatment regimens or vaccines for MERS. Here~ we generated recombinant nonvirulent Newcastle disease virus （NDV） LaSota strain expressing MERS-CoV S protein （designated as rLa- MERS-S）, and evaluated its immunogenicity in mice and Bactrian camels. The results revealed that rLa-MERS-S showed similar growth properties to those of LaSota in embryonated chicken eggs, while animal immunization studies showed that rLa-MERS-S induced MERS-CoV neutralizing antibodies in mice and camels. Our findings suggest that recombinant rLa- MERS-S may be a potential MERS-CoV veterinary vaccine candidate for camels and other animals affected by MERS.展开更多
The serum samples and corresponding cervical swabs were collected from 50 women with genital warts from Tianjin city, China. The neutralizing antibodies against HPV-16, -18, -58, -45, -6 and -11 in serum samples were ...The serum samples and corresponding cervical swabs were collected from 50 women with genital warts from Tianjin city, China. The neutralizing antibodies against HPV-16, -18, -58, -45, -6 and -11 in serum samples were tested by using pseudovirus-based neutralization assays and HPV DNAs in cervical swabs were also tested by using a typing kit that can detect 21 types of HPV. The results revealed that 36% （18/50） of sera were positive for type-specific neutralizing antibodies with a titer range of 160-2560, of which 22%（11/50）, 12%（6/50）, 10%（5/50）, 4%（2/50）, 4%（2/50） and 2%（1/50） were against HPVs -6, -16, -18, -58, -45 and -1 l, respectively. Additionally, 60% （30/50） of samples were HPV DNA-positive, in which the most common types detected were HPV-68（18%）, HPV-16（14%）, HPV-58（12%）, HPV-33（8%） and HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-18 and HPV-52 （6% each）. The concordance between HPV DNA and corresponding neutralizing antibodies was 56% （28/50） with a significant difference （P〈0.05）. The full-length sequences of five HPV types （HPV -42, -52, -53, -58 and -68） were determined and exhibited 98%-100% identities with their reported genomes. The present data may have utility for investigating the natural history of HPV infection and promote the development of HPV vaccines.展开更多
AIM:To determine the involvement of the transforming growth factor(TGF)-β with the development of experimental subretinal fibrosis in a mouse model.· METHODS:Subretinal fibrosis was induced by subretinal injecti...AIM:To determine the involvement of the transforming growth factor(TGF)-β with the development of experimental subretinal fibrosis in a mouse model.· METHODS:Subretinal fibrosis was induced by subretinal injection of macrophage-rich peritoneal exudate cells(PECs) and the local expression of TGF-β isoforms was assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) at various time points.In addition,we investigated the effect of TFG-β-neutralizing antibodies(TGF-β NAb) on subretinal fibrosis development.· RESULTS:TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 mRNA level was significantly elevated at day 2 after subretinal fibrosis induction and increased further to 5 and 6.5-fold respectively at day 5,reaching the peak.TGF-β3 mRNA was not detected in the present study.The result of ELSIA showed that active TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 levels were upregulated to 10-fold approximately,while total TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 levels were even upregulated more than 10-fold and more than 20-fold respectively in subretinal fibrosis mice in comparison with na?觙ve mice at day 5.TGF-β NAb resulted in a reduced subretinal fibrosis areas by 65% compared to animals from control group at day 7.· CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that TGF-β signaling may contribute to the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrogenesis and TGF-β inhibition may provide an effective,novel treatment of advanced and late-stage neovascular age-related macular degeneration.·展开更多
The newly emerged mosquito-borne Zika virus(ZIKV) strains pose a global challenge owing to its ability to cause microcephaly and neurological disorders. Several ZIKV vaccine candidates have been proposed, including in...The newly emerged mosquito-borne Zika virus(ZIKV) strains pose a global challenge owing to its ability to cause microcephaly and neurological disorders. Several ZIKV vaccine candidates have been proposed, including inactivated and live attenuated virus vaccines, vector-based vaccines, DNA and RNA vaccines. These have been shown to be efficacious in preclinical studies in mice and nonhuman primates, but their use will potentially be a threat to immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Virus-like particles(VLPs) are empty particles composed merely of viral proteins, which can serve as a safe and valuable tool for clinical prevention and treatment strategies. In this study, we used a new strategy to produce ZIKV VLPs based on the baculovirus expression system and demonstrated the feasibility of their use as a vaccine candidate. The pre-membrane(prM) and envelope(E) proteins were co-expressed in insect cells and selfassembled into particles similar to ZIKV. We found that the ZIKV VLPs could be quickly and easily prepared in large quantities using this system. The VLPs were shown to have good immunogenicity in immunized mice, as they stimulated high levels of virus neutralizing antibody titers, ZIKV-specific IgG titers and potent memory T cell responses. Thus, the baculovirus-based ZIKV VLP vaccine is a safe, effective and economical vaccine candidate for use against ZIKV.展开更多
Objective Preliminary assessment of rabies virus neutralizing activity,safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant human rabies antibody(NM57)compared with human rabies immunoglobulin(HRIG)in Chinese healthy adults.Met...Objective Preliminary assessment of rabies virus neutralizing activity,safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant human rabies antibody(NM57)compared with human rabies immunoglobulin(HRIG)in Chinese healthy adults.Methods Subjects were randomly(1:1:1)allocated to Groups A(20 IU/kg NM57),B(40 IU/kg NM57),or C(20 IU/kg HRIG).One injection was given on the day of enrollment.Blood samples were collected on days-7 to 0(pre-injection),3,7,14,28,and 42.Adverse events(AEs)and serious AEs(SAEs)were recorded over a period of 42 days after injection.Results All 60 subjects developed detectable rabies virus neutralizing antibodies(RVNAs)(>0.05 IU/mL)on days 3,7,14,28,and 42.The RVNA levels peaked on day 3 in all three groups,with a geometric mean concentration(GMC)of 0.2139 IU/mL in Group A,0.3660 IU/mL in Group B,and0.1994 IU/mL in Group C.At each follow-up point,the GMC in Group B was significantly higher than that in Groups A and C.The areas under the antibody concentration curve over 0-14 days and 0-42 days in Group B were significantly larger than those in Groups A and C.Fifteen AEs were reported.Except for one grade 2 myalgia in Group C,the other 14 were all grade 1.No SAEs were observed.Conclusion The rabies virus neutralizing activity of 40 IU/kg NM57 was superior to that of 20 IU/kg NM57 and 20 IU/kg HRIG,and the rabies virus neutralizing activity of 20 IU/kg NM57 and 20 IU/kg HRIG were similar.Safety was comparable between NM57 and HRIG.展开更多
Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor CXCR4 are essential regulators of the neurogenesis that occurs in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus.However,the effects of CXCR7,a new atypical receptor of stromal cell...Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor CXCR4 are essential regulators of the neurogenesis that occurs in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus.However,the effects of CXCR7,a new atypical receptor of stromal cell-derived factor-1,on hippocampal neurogenesis after a stroke remain largely unknown.Our study is the first to investigate the effect of a CXCR7-neutralizing antibody on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and the associated recovery of cognitive function of rats in the chronic stage of cerebral ischemia.The rats were randomly divided into sham,sham+anti-CXCR7,ischemia and ischemia+anti-CXCR7 groups.Endothelin-1 was injected in the ipsilateral motor cortex and striatum to induce focal cerebral ischemia.Sham group rats were injected with saline instead of endothelin-1 via intracranial injection.Both sham and ischemic rats were treated with intraventricular infusions of CXCR7-neutralizing antibodies for 6 days 1 week after surgery.Immunofluorescence staining with doublecortin,a marker for neuronal precursors,was performed to assess the neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus.We found that anti-CXCR7 antibody infusion enhanced the proliferation and dendritic development of doublecortin-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus in both ischemic and sham-operated rats.Spatial learning and memory functions were assessed by Morris water maze tests 30-32 days after ischemia.CXCR7-neutralizing antibody treatment significantly reduced the escape latency of the spatial navigation trial and increased the time spent in the target quadrant of spatial probe trial in animals that received ischemic insult,but not in sham operated rats.These results suggest that CXCR7-neutralizing antibody enhances the neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and improves the cognitive function after cerebral ischemia in rats.All animal experimental protocols and procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of China Medical University(CMU16089 R)on December 8,2016.展开更多
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatitis world-wide. The majority of infected individuals develop chronic hepatitis which can then progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Spontaneous vir...Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatitis world-wide. The majority of infected individuals develop chronic hepatitis which can then progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Spontaneous viral clearance occurs in about 20%-30% of acutely infected individuals and results in resolution of infection without sequaelae. Both viral and host factors appear to play an important role for resolution of acute infection. A large body of evidence suggests that a strong, multispecific and long-lasting cellular immune response appears to be important for control of viral infection in acute hepatitis C. Due too the lack of convenient neutralization assays, the impact of neutralizing responses for control of viral infection had been less defined. In recent years, the development of robust tissue culture model systems for HCV entry and infection has finally allowed study of antibody-mediated neutralization and to gain further insights into viral targets of host neutralizing responses. In addition, detailed analysis of antibody-mediated neutralization in individual patients as well as cohorts with well defined viral isolates has enabled the study of neutralizing responses in the course of HCV infection and characterization of the impact of neutralizing antibodiesfor control of viral infection. This review will summarize recent progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of antibody-mediated neutralization and its impact for HCV pathogenesis.展开更多
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV)is characterized by its genetic variation and limited cross protection among heterologous strains.Even though several viral structural proteins have been regar...Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV)is characterized by its genetic variation and limited cross protection among heterologous strains.Even though several viral structural proteins have been regarded as inducers of neutralizing antibodies(NAs)against PRRSV,the mechanism underlying limited cross-neutralization among heterologous strains is still controversial.In the present study,examinations of NA cross reaction between a highly pathogenic PRRSV(HP-PRRSV)strain,JXwn06,and a low pathogenic PRRSV(LP-PRRSV)strain,HB-1/3.9,were conducted with viral neutralization assays in MARC-145 cells.None of the JXwn06-hyperimmuned pigs’sera could neutralize HB-1/3.9 in vitro and vice versa.To address the genetic variation between these two viruses that are associated with limited crossneutralization,chimeric viruses with coding regions swapped between these two strains were constructed.Viral neutralization assays indicated that variations in nonstructural protein 2(nsp2)and structural proteins together contribute to weak cross-neutralization activity between JXwn06 and HB-1/3.9.Furthermore,we substituted the nsp2-,glycoprotein2(GP2)-,GP3-,and GP4-coding regions together,or nsp2-,GP5-,and membrane(M)protein-coding regions simultaneously between these two viruses to construct chimeric viruses to test cross-neutralization reactivity with hyperimmunized sera induced by their parental viruses.The results indicated that the swapped nsp2 and GP5-M viruses increased the neutralization reactivity with the donor strain antisera in MARC-145 cells.Taken together,these results show that variations in nsp2 and GP5-M correlate with the limited neutralization reactivity between the heterologous strains HP-PRRSV JXwn06 and LP-PRRSV HB-1/3.9.展开更多
As we know more about Zika virus(ZIKV), as well as its linkage to birth defects(microcephaly) and autoimmune neurological syndromes, we realize the importance of developing an efficient vaccine against it. Zika virus ...As we know more about Zika virus(ZIKV), as well as its linkage to birth defects(microcephaly) and autoimmune neurological syndromes, we realize the importance of developing an efficient vaccine against it. Zika virus disease has affected many countries and is becoming a major public health concern. To deal with the infection of ZIKV, plenty of experiments have been done on selection of neutralizing antibodies that can target the envelope(E) protein on the surface of the virion. However, the existence of antibody-dependent enhancement(ADE) effect might limit the use of them as therapeutic candidates. In this review, we classify the neutralizing antibodies against ZIKV based on the epitopes and summarize the resolved structural information on antibody/antigen complex from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy(cryo-EM), which might be useful for further development of potent neutralizing antibodies and vaccines toward clinical use.展开更多
The CD4 binding site(CD4bs) of envelope glycoprotein(Env) is an important conserved target for anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) neutralizing antibodies. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies IgG1 b12(b12) ...The CD4 binding site(CD4bs) of envelope glycoprotein(Env) is an important conserved target for anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) neutralizing antibodies. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies IgG1 b12(b12) could recognize conformational epitopes that overlap the CD4 bs of Env. Different virus strains, even derived from the same individual, showed distinct neutralization susceptibility to b12. We examined the key amino acid residues affecting b12 neutralization susceptibility using single genome amplification and pseudovirus neutralization assay. Eleven amino acid residues were identified that affect the sensitivity of Env to b12. Through site-directed mutagenesis, an amino acid substitution at position 182 in the V2 region of Env was confirmed to play a key role in regulating the b12 neutralization susceptibility. The introduction of V182 L to a resistant strain enhanced its sensitivity to b12 more than twofold. Correspondingly, the introduction of L182 V to a sensitive strain reduced its sensitivity to b12 more than tenfold. Amino acid substitution at positions 267 and 346 could both enhance the sensitivity to b12 more than twofold. However, no additive effect was observed when the three site mutageneses were introduced into the same strain, and the sensitivity was equivalent to the single V182 L mutation. CRF07_BC is a major circulating recombinant form of HIV-1 prevalent in China. Our data may provide important information for understanding the molecular mechanism regulating the neutralization susceptibility of CRF07_BC viruses to b12 and may be helpful for a vaccine design targeting the CD4 bs epitopes.展开更多
Coronavirus disease 2019 is threatening thousands of millions of people around the world.In the absence of specific and highly effective medicines,the treatment of infected persons is still very challenging.As therape...Coronavirus disease 2019 is threatening thousands of millions of people around the world.In the absence of specific and highly effective medicines,the treatment of infected persons is still very challenging.As therapeutics,neutralizing antibodies(NAbs)have great potential.Many NAbs have been reported,and most target various regions on the receptor-binding domain of the spike(S)protein,or the N-terminal domain.Several NAbs and NAb cocktails have been authorized for emergency use,and more arc in clinical trials or are under development.In this review,considering the angle of binding epitopes on the S protein,we summarize the functions and the underlying mechanisms of a set of well-recognized NAbs and provide guidance for vaccine design and the combinatorial use of these antibodies.In addition,we review the NAbs and NAb cocktails that have been approved for emergency use and discuss the effectiveness of these NAbs for combating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mutants.展开更多
Arthropod-borne chikungunya virus(CHIKV)infection can cause a debilitating arthritic disease in human.However,there are no specific antiviral drugs and effective licensed vaccines against CHIKV available for clinical ...Arthropod-borne chikungunya virus(CHIKV)infection can cause a debilitating arthritic disease in human.However,there are no specific antiviral drugs and effective licensed vaccines against CHIKV available for clinical use.Here,we developed an m RNA-lipid nanoparticle(m RNA-LNP)vaccine expressing CHIKV E2-E1 antigen,and compared its immunogenicity with soluble recombinant protein s E2-E1 antigen expressed in S2 cells.For comparison,we first showed that recombinant protein antigens mixed with aluminum adjuvant elicit strong antigenspecific humoral immune response and a moderate cellular immune response in C57BL/6 mice.Moreover,s E2-E1vaccine stimulated 12-23 folds more neutralizing antibodies than s E1 vaccine and s E2 vaccine.Significantly,when E2-E1 gene was delivered by an m RNA-LNP vaccine,not only the better magnitude of neutralizing antibody responses was induced,but also greater cellular immune responses were generated,especially for CD8+T cell responses.Moreover,E2-E1-LNP induced CD8~+T cells can perform cytotoxic effect in vivo.Considering its better immunogenicity and convenience of preparation,we suggest that more attention should be placed to develop CHIKV E2-E1-LNP m RNA vaccine.展开更多
Objective In previous studies, we immunized mice with Ebola recombinant protein vaccine and gene vector vaccine. Both stimulated high levels of humoral immunity. In this work, we constructed a pseudovirus containing E...Objective In previous studies, we immunized mice with Ebola recombinant protein vaccine and gene vector vaccine. Both stimulated high levels of humoral immunity. In this work, we constructed a pseudovirus containing Ebola membrane proteins to verify whether the two immunization strategies can induce neutralizing antibodies in mice. Methods A pseudovirus containing an Ebola virus membrane protein based on the HIV-1 viral gene sequence was constructed and evaluated using a known neutralizing antibody. The titer of the neutralizing antibody in the sera of mice immunized with the recombinant protein and the gene vector vaccine was examined using a neutralization test. Results Ebola pseudovirus was successfully prepared and applied for neutralizing antibody detection. Immunological experiments showed that recombinant protein GP-Fc and gene vaccine pVR-modGP-Fc had good immunogenicity. The titer of the bound antibody in the serum after 8 weeks of immunization in mice was more than 1：105, and the recombinant protein induced greater humoral immunity. The results of the neutralization test based on the Ebola pseudovirus system demonstrated that both vaccines induced production of protective antibodies, while the gene vaccine induced a higher titer of neutralizing antibodies. Conclusion An Ebola pseudovirus detection system was successfully established and used to evaluate two Ebola vaccines. Both produced good immunogenicity. The findings lay the foundation for the development of new Ebola vaccines and screening for neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.展开更多
Human adenoviruses type 26(HAdV26)and type 35(HAdV35)have increasingly become the choice of adenovirus vectors for vaccine application.However,the population pre-existing immunity to these two adenoviruses in China,wh...Human adenoviruses type 26(HAdV26)and type 35(HAdV35)have increasingly become the choice of adenovirus vectors for vaccine application.However,the population pre-existing immunity to these two adenoviruses in China,which may reduce vaccine efficacy,remains largely unknown.Here,we established micro-neutralizing(MN)assays to investigate the seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies(nAbs)against HAdV26 and HAdV35 in the general population of Guangdong and Shandong provinces,China.A total of 1184 serum samples were collected,47.0%and 15.8%of which showed HAdV26 and HAdV35 nAb activity,respectively.HAdV26-seropositive individuals tended to have more moderate nAbs titers(201-1000),while HAdV35-seropositive individuals appeared to have more low nAbs titers(72-200).The seropositive rates of HAdV26 and HAdV35 in individuals younger than 20 years old were very low.The seropositive rates of HAdV26 increased with age before 70 years old and decreased thereafter,while HAdV35 seropositive rates did not show similar characteristics.Notably,the seropositive rates and nAb levels of both HAdV26 and HAdV35 were higher in Guangdong Province than in Shandong Province,but did not exert significant differences between males and females.The seroprevalence between HAdV26 and HAdV35 showed little correlation,and no significant cross-neutralizing activity was detected.These results clarified the characteristics of the herd immunity against HAdV26 and HAdV35,and provided information for the rational development and application of HAdV26 and HAdV35 as vaccine vectors in China.展开更多
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(grant number:2023YFC2306501)the Hubei Provincial Fund for Supporting High-Quality Development of the Seed Industry"Conservation and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm Resources"Project(grant number:HBZY2023A001-16)。
文摘Encephalomyocarditis virus(EMCV),a potential zoonotic pathogen,poses significant socioeconomic and public health challenges across various host species.Although EMCV rarely triggers severe clinical symptoms in humans,its widespread prevalence and unique biological characteristics underscore the need for continuous surveillance and the development of effective therapeutics and prophylactics.In this study,we evaluated the neutralizing effects of a monoclonal antibody derived from the spleens of mice immunized with EMCV virus-like particles(VLPs),both in vitro and in vivo.Using recombinant DNA technology,we engineered a baculovirus system to express EMCVs P12A and 3C,facilitating the production of VLPs in Sf9 cells.These VLPs serve as antigens to immunize mice,leading to the isolation of the monoclonal antibody 45G3.This antibody exhibited high specificity for EMCV confor-mational epitopes,excluding linear epitopes,and demonstrated potent in vitro neutralizing activity,with an IC50 of 0.01873μg/mL.Immunoelectron microscopy(IEM)revealed a strong direct interaction between the 45G3 antibody and EMCV particles.Virus adsorption inhibition assays demonstrated that 45G3 effectively blocked viral attachment,thereby preventing further infection of host cells.These findings further support the notion of a robust interaction between the virus and the antibody.Moreover,in vivo assessments revealed that 45G3 significantly reduced viral loads in treated mice and improved survival outcomes following EMCV exposure.Additionally,posttreatment analysis revealed reduced tissue damage and a markedly decreased inflammatory response in the brain,indicating that the 45G3 antibody effectively blocked viral infection,thereby mitigating tissue damage and enhancing survival.These findings position 45G3 as a promising candidate for EMCV management and provide a strong foundation for the future development of antiviral drugs targeting this widespread virus.
基金supported by grants from the Henan Province Key Research and Development Special Project(231111113100)the Henan Province Natural Science Foundation Interdisciplinary Innovation Research Group Project(232300421001)the Postgraduate Education Reform and Quality Improvement Project of Henan Province(YJS2023SZ13).
文摘Dear Editor,Porcine astrovirus(PAstV)is a swine enteric virus which can cause diarrhea and vomiting in pigs,particularly in neonatal piglets(Fang et al.,2019;Su etal.,2020).PAstVwasfirstdetectedby electron microscopyinthe fecal samples from diarrheal piglets in 1980(Bridger,1980).Based on viral genomes,PAstV is divided into five distinct genotypes(PAstV1-PAstV5)(Fang et al.,2019;Mi et al.,2020;Su et al.,2020).The PAstV5 was the main genotype prevalent in China.Xiao reported a positivity rate of 24.8%for PAstV5 as the predominant genotype in Hunan Province(Xiao et al.,2017).Cai reported a positive rate of 7.5%for PAstV5 in Sichuan Province(Cai et al.,2016).A study in Yunnan Province revealed a total infection rate of 39.9%for PAstV2 and PAstV5(Ren et al.,2022).The PAstV genome open read frame 2(ORF2)encodes for a~90 kDa structural polyprotein called capsid protein(Cap)(Arias and DuBois,2017).The region including amino acids(aa)1-415(N-terminus)of the Cap ishighly conserved,and the region starting at aa 416(C-terminus)is extremely variable(Ren et al.,2022).Moreover,the Cap can bind to host cell receptors and is the main target of neutralizing antibodies(Ricemeyer et al.,2022).
基金supported in part by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82151218)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2301703,2021YFC2301303,2021YFC2300900,2022YFC2303704)+2 种基金Yunnan Key Research and Development Program(202103AC100005,202103AQ100001,202102AA310055)Yunnan Fundamental Research Project(202101AT070282)CAS“Light of West China”.Ethics Review Board of the Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences approved this study(assurance No.:IACUC-PA-2021-11-009)。
文摘Dear Editor,COVID-19 inactivated vaccines have been extensively administered inChina.However,the majority of the Chinese population has experiencedbreakthrough infections from SARS-CoV-2 ancestral,Delta or Omicronvariants over the past three years,particularly during the wave of Omicron BA.5 and BA.7 variants at the end of 2022(Zhu et al.,2023).Subsequently,new Omicron variants,such as BQ.1,BQ.1.1,XBB,XBB.1/XBB.1.9,and XBB.1.5/XBB.1.9.1,are emerging in China(Yueetal.,2023;Zhu et al.,2023).Therefore,it is an urgentneed and a publichealth imperative to assess the extent of the immunoprotection established in this population.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1200100)the Guangzhou Science and Technology Program Key Project, China (201803040004)+2 种基金the National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2017ZX10103011003, 2018ZX10102001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China, China (31570163)the Youth Project of State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, China (SKLRD-QN-201713)。
文摘Human adenoviruses(HAdVs) commonly cause many diseases such as respiratory diseases, gastroenteritis, cystitis worldwide. HAdV-3,-7,-4 and emergent HAdV-55 and HAdV-14 are the most important types causing severe respiratory diseases. There is no effective drug available for clinical treatment, and no vaccine available for the general population.Therefore, it is important to investigate the seroprevalence against HAdV for developing novel vaccines and vectors. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence and titer levels of neutralizing antibodies(NAb) against HAdV-3,-4,-7,-14,-55,and-11 in total 278 healthy populations between 0 months and 49 years of age(228 children and 50 adults) from Guangzhou. In children under the age of 18 years, the seropositive rates were significantly increased against HAdV-3 at12.07%, 33.96%, and 64.29% and against HAdV-7 at 0%, 18.87%, and 19.05% in age groups of 1–2, 3–5, and 6–17 years,respectively. The seroprevalence was very low(0% - 8.1%) for all other four types. In adults aged between 18 and49 years, HAdV-3,-4, and-7(> 50.00%) were the most common types, followed by HAdV-14(38.00%),-55(34.00%),and-11(24.00%). Adults tended to have high NAb titers against HAdV-4 and-55. HAdV-55-seropositive donors tended to be HAdV-11-and HAdV-14-seropositive. These results indicated the low level of herd immunity against all six HAdV types in young children, and HAdV-14,-55,-11 in adults from Guangzhou City. Our findings demonstrate the importance of monitoring HAdV types and developing vaccines against HAdV for children and adults.
基金supported by grants from the Applied Basic Research Key Project of Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology(2020020601012218)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(HUST COVID-19 Rapid Response Call No.2020kfyXGYJ040).
文摘The ongoing Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic has likely changed the world in ways not seen in the past.Neutralizing antibody(NAb)assays play an important role in the management of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)outbreak.Using these tools,we can assess the presence and duration of antibody-mediated protection in naturally infected individuals,screen convalescent plasma preparations for donation,test the efficacy of immunotherapy,and analyze NAb titers and persistence after vaccination to predict vaccine-induced protective effects.This review briefly summarizes the various methods used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 NAbs and compares their advantages and disadvantages to facilitate their development and clinical application.
基金supported by the grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31070147)
文摘Periodic outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD) occur in children under 5 years old, and can cause death in some cases. The C4 strain of enterovirus 71(EV71) is the main pathogen that causes HFMD in China. Although no drugs against EV71 are available, some studies have shown that candidate vaccines or viral capsid proteins can produce anti-EV71 immunity. In this study, female BABL/c mice(6–8 weeks old) were immunized with virus-like particles(VLPs) of EV71 produced in yeast to screen for anti-EV71 antibodies. Two hybridomas that could produce neutralizing antibodies against EV71 were obtained. Both neutralizing m Abs(D4 and G12) were confirmed to bind the VP1 capsid protein of EV71, and could protect > 95% cells from 100 TCID50 EV71 infection at 25 μg/m L solution(lowest concentration). Those two neutralizing m Abs identified in the study may be promising candidates in development for m Abs to treat EV71 infection, and utilized as suitable reagents for use in diagnostic tests and biological studies.
基金support by National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2013BAD12B05)
文摘Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus （MERS-CoV）, a member of the Coronavifidae family, is the causative pathogen for MERS that is characterized by high fever, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS）, as well as extrapul- monary manifestations. Currently, there are no approved treatment regimens or vaccines for MERS. Here~ we generated recombinant nonvirulent Newcastle disease virus （NDV） LaSota strain expressing MERS-CoV S protein （designated as rLa- MERS-S）, and evaluated its immunogenicity in mice and Bactrian camels. The results revealed that rLa-MERS-S showed similar growth properties to those of LaSota in embryonated chicken eggs, while animal immunization studies showed that rLa-MERS-S induced MERS-CoV neutralizing antibodies in mice and camels. Our findings suggest that recombinant rLa- MERS-S may be a potential MERS-CoV veterinary vaccine candidate for camels and other animals affected by MERS.
文摘The serum samples and corresponding cervical swabs were collected from 50 women with genital warts from Tianjin city, China. The neutralizing antibodies against HPV-16, -18, -58, -45, -6 and -11 in serum samples were tested by using pseudovirus-based neutralization assays and HPV DNAs in cervical swabs were also tested by using a typing kit that can detect 21 types of HPV. The results revealed that 36% （18/50） of sera were positive for type-specific neutralizing antibodies with a titer range of 160-2560, of which 22%（11/50）, 12%（6/50）, 10%（5/50）, 4%（2/50）, 4%（2/50） and 2%（1/50） were against HPVs -6, -16, -18, -58, -45 and -1 l, respectively. Additionally, 60% （30/50） of samples were HPV DNA-positive, in which the most common types detected were HPV-68（18%）, HPV-16（14%）, HPV-58（12%）, HPV-33（8%） and HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-18 and HPV-52 （6% each）. The concordance between HPV DNA and corresponding neutralizing antibodies was 56% （28/50） with a significant difference （P〈0.05）. The full-length sequences of five HPV types （HPV -42, -52, -53, -58 and -68） were determined and exhibited 98%-100% identities with their reported genomes. The present data may have utility for investigating the natural history of HPV infection and promote the development of HPV vaccines.
文摘AIM:To determine the involvement of the transforming growth factor(TGF)-β with the development of experimental subretinal fibrosis in a mouse model.· METHODS:Subretinal fibrosis was induced by subretinal injection of macrophage-rich peritoneal exudate cells(PECs) and the local expression of TGF-β isoforms was assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) at various time points.In addition,we investigated the effect of TFG-β-neutralizing antibodies(TGF-β NAb) on subretinal fibrosis development.· RESULTS:TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 mRNA level was significantly elevated at day 2 after subretinal fibrosis induction and increased further to 5 and 6.5-fold respectively at day 5,reaching the peak.TGF-β3 mRNA was not detected in the present study.The result of ELSIA showed that active TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 levels were upregulated to 10-fold approximately,while total TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 levels were even upregulated more than 10-fold and more than 20-fold respectively in subretinal fibrosis mice in comparison with na?觙ve mice at day 5.TGF-β NAb resulted in a reduced subretinal fibrosis areas by 65% compared to animals from control group at day 7.· CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that TGF-β signaling may contribute to the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrogenesis and TGF-β inhibition may provide an effective,novel treatment of advanced and late-stage neovascular age-related macular degeneration.·
基金supported by the Science and Technology Basic Work Program (2013FY113500) from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Chinathe strategic priority research program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ZDRW-ZS2016-4)
文摘The newly emerged mosquito-borne Zika virus(ZIKV) strains pose a global challenge owing to its ability to cause microcephaly and neurological disorders. Several ZIKV vaccine candidates have been proposed, including inactivated and live attenuated virus vaccines, vector-based vaccines, DNA and RNA vaccines. These have been shown to be efficacious in preclinical studies in mice and nonhuman primates, but their use will potentially be a threat to immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Virus-like particles(VLPs) are empty particles composed merely of viral proteins, which can serve as a safe and valuable tool for clinical prevention and treatment strategies. In this study, we used a new strategy to produce ZIKV VLPs based on the baculovirus expression system and demonstrated the feasibility of their use as a vaccine candidate. The pre-membrane(prM) and envelope(E) proteins were co-expressed in insect cells and selfassembled into particles similar to ZIKV. We found that the ZIKV VLPs could be quickly and easily prepared in large quantities using this system. The VLPs were shown to have good immunogenicity in immunized mice, as they stimulated high levels of virus neutralizing antibody titers, ZIKV-specific IgG titers and potent memory T cell responses. Thus, the baculovirus-based ZIKV VLP vaccine is a safe, effective and economical vaccine candidate for use against ZIKV.
基金supported by 2021 Beijing Key Specialty Program for Major Epidemic Prevention and Control。
文摘Objective Preliminary assessment of rabies virus neutralizing activity,safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant human rabies antibody(NM57)compared with human rabies immunoglobulin(HRIG)in Chinese healthy adults.Methods Subjects were randomly(1:1:1)allocated to Groups A(20 IU/kg NM57),B(40 IU/kg NM57),or C(20 IU/kg HRIG).One injection was given on the day of enrollment.Blood samples were collected on days-7 to 0(pre-injection),3,7,14,28,and 42.Adverse events(AEs)and serious AEs(SAEs)were recorded over a period of 42 days after injection.Results All 60 subjects developed detectable rabies virus neutralizing antibodies(RVNAs)(>0.05 IU/mL)on days 3,7,14,28,and 42.The RVNA levels peaked on day 3 in all three groups,with a geometric mean concentration(GMC)of 0.2139 IU/mL in Group A,0.3660 IU/mL in Group B,and0.1994 IU/mL in Group C.At each follow-up point,the GMC in Group B was significantly higher than that in Groups A and C.The areas under the antibody concentration curve over 0-14 days and 0-42 days in Group B were significantly larger than those in Groups A and C.Fifteen AEs were reported.Except for one grade 2 myalgia in Group C,the other 14 were all grade 1.No SAEs were observed.Conclusion The rabies virus neutralizing activity of 40 IU/kg NM57 was superior to that of 20 IU/kg NM57 and 20 IU/kg HRIG,and the rabies virus neutralizing activity of 20 IU/kg NM57 and 20 IU/kg HRIG were similar.Safety was comparable between NM57 and HRIG.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81401002(to SSZ)
文摘Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor CXCR4 are essential regulators of the neurogenesis that occurs in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus.However,the effects of CXCR7,a new atypical receptor of stromal cell-derived factor-1,on hippocampal neurogenesis after a stroke remain largely unknown.Our study is the first to investigate the effect of a CXCR7-neutralizing antibody on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and the associated recovery of cognitive function of rats in the chronic stage of cerebral ischemia.The rats were randomly divided into sham,sham+anti-CXCR7,ischemia and ischemia+anti-CXCR7 groups.Endothelin-1 was injected in the ipsilateral motor cortex and striatum to induce focal cerebral ischemia.Sham group rats were injected with saline instead of endothelin-1 via intracranial injection.Both sham and ischemic rats were treated with intraventricular infusions of CXCR7-neutralizing antibodies for 6 days 1 week after surgery.Immunofluorescence staining with doublecortin,a marker for neuronal precursors,was performed to assess the neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus.We found that anti-CXCR7 antibody infusion enhanced the proliferation and dendritic development of doublecortin-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus in both ischemic and sham-operated rats.Spatial learning and memory functions were assessed by Morris water maze tests 30-32 days after ischemia.CXCR7-neutralizing antibody treatment significantly reduced the escape latency of the spatial navigation trial and increased the time spent in the target quadrant of spatial probe trial in animals that received ischemic insult,but not in sham operated rats.These results suggest that CXCR7-neutralizing antibody enhances the neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and improves the cognitive function after cerebral ischemia in rats.All animal experimental protocols and procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of China Medical University(CMU16089 R)on December 8,2016.
基金Inserm, France Université Louis Pasteur, France+3 种基金the European Union (Virgil Network of Excellence)the DeutscheForschungsgemeinschaft (Ba1417/11-1), Germanythe ANRchair of excellence program and ANRS, FranceInserm "PosteVert" research fellowship in the framework of Inserm EuropeanAssociated Laboratory Inserm U748-Department of Medicine Ⅱ,University of Freiburg, Germany
文摘Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatitis world-wide. The majority of infected individuals develop chronic hepatitis which can then progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Spontaneous viral clearance occurs in about 20%-30% of acutely infected individuals and results in resolution of infection without sequaelae. Both viral and host factors appear to play an important role for resolution of acute infection. A large body of evidence suggests that a strong, multispecific and long-lasting cellular immune response appears to be important for control of viral infection in acute hepatitis C. Due too the lack of convenient neutralization assays, the impact of neutralizing responses for control of viral infection had been less defined. In recent years, the development of robust tissue culture model systems for HCV entry and infection has finally allowed study of antibody-mediated neutralization and to gain further insights into viral targets of host neutralizing responses. In addition, detailed analysis of antibody-mediated neutralization in individual patients as well as cohorts with well defined viral isolates has enabled the study of neutralizing responses in the course of HCV infection and characterization of the impact of neutralizing antibodiesfor control of viral infection. This review will summarize recent progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of antibody-mediated neutralization and its impact for HCV pathogenesis.
基金supported by the Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (31490603, 31572549)the National Key Technology R & D Program of China (2015BAD12B01-2)
文摘Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV)is characterized by its genetic variation and limited cross protection among heterologous strains.Even though several viral structural proteins have been regarded as inducers of neutralizing antibodies(NAs)against PRRSV,the mechanism underlying limited cross-neutralization among heterologous strains is still controversial.In the present study,examinations of NA cross reaction between a highly pathogenic PRRSV(HP-PRRSV)strain,JXwn06,and a low pathogenic PRRSV(LP-PRRSV)strain,HB-1/3.9,were conducted with viral neutralization assays in MARC-145 cells.None of the JXwn06-hyperimmuned pigs’sera could neutralize HB-1/3.9 in vitro and vice versa.To address the genetic variation between these two viruses that are associated with limited crossneutralization,chimeric viruses with coding regions swapped between these two strains were constructed.Viral neutralization assays indicated that variations in nonstructural protein 2(nsp2)and structural proteins together contribute to weak cross-neutralization activity between JXwn06 and HB-1/3.9.Furthermore,we substituted the nsp2-,glycoprotein2(GP2)-,GP3-,and GP4-coding regions together,or nsp2-,GP5-,and membrane(M)protein-coding regions simultaneously between these two viruses to construct chimeric viruses to test cross-neutralization reactivity with hyperimmunized sera induced by their parental viruses.The results indicated that the swapped nsp2 and GP5-M viruses increased the neutralization reactivity with the donor strain antisera in MARC-145 cells.Taken together,these results show that variations in nsp2 and GP5-M correlate with the limited neutralization reactivity between the heterologous strains HP-PRRSV JXwn06 and LP-PRRSV HB-1/3.9.
基金funded by the External Cooperation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 153211KYSB20160001)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC1202902)+1 种基金the Key Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. ZDRW-ZS2016-4)funded by FNLCR Contract HHSN261200800001E
文摘As we know more about Zika virus(ZIKV), as well as its linkage to birth defects(microcephaly) and autoimmune neurological syndromes, we realize the importance of developing an efficient vaccine against it. Zika virus disease has affected many countries and is becoming a major public health concern. To deal with the infection of ZIKV, plenty of experiments have been done on selection of neutralizing antibodies that can target the envelope(E) protein on the surface of the virion. However, the existence of antibody-dependent enhancement(ADE) effect might limit the use of them as therapeutic candidates. In this review, we classify the neutralizing antibodies against ZIKV based on the epitopes and summarize the resolved structural information on antibody/antigen complex from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy(cryo-EM), which might be useful for further development of potent neutralizing antibodies and vaccines toward clinical use.
基金supported by grants from National Science and Technology Major Project(2012ZX10004701)
文摘The CD4 binding site(CD4bs) of envelope glycoprotein(Env) is an important conserved target for anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) neutralizing antibodies. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies IgG1 b12(b12) could recognize conformational epitopes that overlap the CD4 bs of Env. Different virus strains, even derived from the same individual, showed distinct neutralization susceptibility to b12. We examined the key amino acid residues affecting b12 neutralization susceptibility using single genome amplification and pseudovirus neutralization assay. Eleven amino acid residues were identified that affect the sensitivity of Env to b12. Through site-directed mutagenesis, an amino acid substitution at position 182 in the V2 region of Env was confirmed to play a key role in regulating the b12 neutralization susceptibility. The introduction of V182 L to a resistant strain enhanced its sensitivity to b12 more than twofold. Correspondingly, the introduction of L182 V to a sensitive strain reduced its sensitivity to b12 more than tenfold. Amino acid substitution at positions 267 and 346 could both enhance the sensitivity to b12 more than twofold. However, no additive effect was observed when the three site mutageneses were introduced into the same strain, and the sensitivity was equivalent to the single V182 L mutation. CRF07_BC is a major circulating recombinant form of HIV-1 prevalent in China. Our data may provide important information for understanding the molecular mechanism regulating the neutralization susceptibility of CRF07_BC viruses to b12 and may be helpful for a vaccine design targeting the CD4 bs epitopes.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31970130,31600672,31670831,and 31370813).
文摘Coronavirus disease 2019 is threatening thousands of millions of people around the world.In the absence of specific and highly effective medicines,the treatment of infected persons is still very challenging.As therapeutics,neutralizing antibodies(NAbs)have great potential.Many NAbs have been reported,and most target various regions on the receptor-binding domain of the spike(S)protein,or the N-terminal domain.Several NAbs and NAb cocktails have been authorized for emergency use,and more arc in clinical trials or are under development.In this review,considering the angle of binding epitopes on the S protein,we summarize the functions and the underlying mechanisms of a set of well-recognized NAbs and provide guidance for vaccine design and the combinatorial use of these antibodies.In addition,we review the NAbs and NAb cocktails that have been approved for emergency use and discuss the effectiveness of these NAbs for combating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mutants.
基金supported by the following grants:the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant 2016YFC1201000 to X.J.)the Institute Fund of Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center(Grant KY-GW-2021-17 to ZH.L.)。
文摘Arthropod-borne chikungunya virus(CHIKV)infection can cause a debilitating arthritic disease in human.However,there are no specific antiviral drugs and effective licensed vaccines against CHIKV available for clinical use.Here,we developed an m RNA-lipid nanoparticle(m RNA-LNP)vaccine expressing CHIKV E2-E1 antigen,and compared its immunogenicity with soluble recombinant protein s E2-E1 antigen expressed in S2 cells.For comparison,we first showed that recombinant protein antigens mixed with aluminum adjuvant elicit strong antigenspecific humoral immune response and a moderate cellular immune response in C57BL/6 mice.Moreover,s E2-E1vaccine stimulated 12-23 folds more neutralizing antibodies than s E1 vaccine and s E2 vaccine.Significantly,when E2-E1 gene was delivered by an m RNA-LNP vaccine,not only the better magnitude of neutralizing antibody responses was induced,but also greater cellular immune responses were generated,especially for CD8+T cell responses.Moreover,E2-E1-LNP induced CD8~+T cells can perform cytotoxic effect in vivo.Considering its better immunogenicity and convenience of preparation,we suggest that more attention should be placed to develop CHIKV E2-E1-LNP m RNA vaccine.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China [2017YFC1200503]Emergency research Program on the prevention and control of Ebola hemorrhagic fever [1061400100275]
文摘Objective In previous studies, we immunized mice with Ebola recombinant protein vaccine and gene vector vaccine. Both stimulated high levels of humoral immunity. In this work, we constructed a pseudovirus containing Ebola membrane proteins to verify whether the two immunization strategies can induce neutralizing antibodies in mice. Methods A pseudovirus containing an Ebola virus membrane protein based on the HIV-1 viral gene sequence was constructed and evaluated using a known neutralizing antibody. The titer of the neutralizing antibody in the sera of mice immunized with the recombinant protein and the gene vector vaccine was examined using a neutralization test. Results Ebola pseudovirus was successfully prepared and applied for neutralizing antibody detection. Immunological experiments showed that recombinant protein GP-Fc and gene vaccine pVR-modGP-Fc had good immunogenicity. The titer of the bound antibody in the serum after 8 weeks of immunization in mice was more than 1：105, and the recombinant protein induced greater humoral immunity. The results of the neutralization test based on the Ebola pseudovirus system demonstrated that both vaccines induced production of protective antibodies, while the gene vaccine induced a higher titer of neutralizing antibodies. Conclusion An Ebola pseudovirus detection system was successfully established and used to evaluate two Ebola vaccines. Both produced good immunogenicity. The findings lay the foundation for the development of new Ebola vaccines and screening for neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB29050701)the Emergency Key Program of Guangzhou (EKPG21-20)+2 种基金the China Evergrande Group funding for SARS-Co V-2 (2020GIRHHMS22)the Zhongnanshan Medical Foundation of Guangdong Province (ZNSA-2022009)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020M682942)
文摘Human adenoviruses type 26(HAdV26)and type 35(HAdV35)have increasingly become the choice of adenovirus vectors for vaccine application.However,the population pre-existing immunity to these two adenoviruses in China,which may reduce vaccine efficacy,remains largely unknown.Here,we established micro-neutralizing(MN)assays to investigate the seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies(nAbs)against HAdV26 and HAdV35 in the general population of Guangdong and Shandong provinces,China.A total of 1184 serum samples were collected,47.0%and 15.8%of which showed HAdV26 and HAdV35 nAb activity,respectively.HAdV26-seropositive individuals tended to have more moderate nAbs titers(201-1000),while HAdV35-seropositive individuals appeared to have more low nAbs titers(72-200).The seropositive rates of HAdV26 and HAdV35 in individuals younger than 20 years old were very low.The seropositive rates of HAdV26 increased with age before 70 years old and decreased thereafter,while HAdV35 seropositive rates did not show similar characteristics.Notably,the seropositive rates and nAb levels of both HAdV26 and HAdV35 were higher in Guangdong Province than in Shandong Province,but did not exert significant differences between males and females.The seroprevalence between HAdV26 and HAdV35 showed little correlation,and no significant cross-neutralizing activity was detected.These results clarified the characteristics of the herd immunity against HAdV26 and HAdV35,and provided information for the rational development and application of HAdV26 and HAdV35 as vaccine vectors in China.
