As of December 2022,2603 laboratory-identified Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV)infections and 935 associated deaths,with a mortality rate of 36%,had been reported to the World Health Organization...As of December 2022,2603 laboratory-identified Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV)infections and 935 associated deaths,with a mortality rate of 36%,had been reported to the World Health Organization(WHO).However,there are still no vaccines for MERS-CoV,which makes the prevention and control of MERS-CoV difficult.In this study,we generated two DNA vaccine candidates by integrating MERS-CoV Spike(S)gene into a replicating Vaccinia Tian Tan(VTT)vector.Compared to homologous immunization with either vaccine,mice immunized with DNA vaccine prime and VTT vaccine boost exhibited much stronger and durable humoral and cellular immune responses.The immunized mice produced robust binding antibodies and broad neutralizing antibodies against the EMC2012,England1 and KNIH strains of MERS-CoV.Prime-Boost immunization also induced strong MERS-S specific T cells responses,with high memory and poly-functional(CD107a-IFN-γ-TNF-α)effector CD8t T cells.In conclusion,the research demonstrated that DNA-Prime/VTT-Boost strategy could elicit robust and balanced humoral and cellular immune responses against MERS-CoV-S.This study not only provides a promising set of MERS-CoV vaccine candidates,but also proposes a heterologous sequential immunization strategy worthy of further development.展开更多
Background Although DNA vaccine is considered as the next generation of vaccine, most DNA vaccine candidates are still suffering from the relatively weak immunogenicity despite the increased dosage of plasmid DNA admi...Background Although DNA vaccine is considered as the next generation of vaccine, most DNA vaccine candidates are still suffering from the relatively weak immunogenicity despite the increased dosage of plasmid DNA administered. In order to enhance the immune responses elicited by a codon-optimized HIV gag DNA vaccine, a modified plasmid vector pDRVI1.0 and a booster immunization with replicating Tiantan vaccinia （RTV） strain expressing the same gene were employed. Methods Vector pDRVI1.0 was constructed through inserting the 72-bp element from the SV40 enhancer, which was reported promoting nuclear transport of plasmid DNA, to the upstream of cytomegalovirus enhancer/promoter region of the plasmid vector pVR1012. Gene expression levels from expression plasmids based on pDRVI1.0 and pVR1012 were tested. Humoral and cellular immune responses induced by DNA vaccine alone or DNA prime-RTV boost regimen were determined in mice. Results It was shown that the 72-bp element significantly enhanced the gene expression level in non-dividing cells. gag-specific humoral and cellular immune responses induced by DNA vaccination were both significantly improved, while the Thl/Th2 balance was not obviously affected by the 72-bp element. RTV boosting further significantly enhanced DNA vaccine-palmed antibody and T cell responses in a Thl-biased manner. Conclusions The 72-bp SV40 enhancer element should be included in the DNA vaccine vector and RTV strain is a very efficient live vector for boosting immunization.展开更多
基金financially supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China(U20A20362)the Subject of SKLID(2020SKLID102).
文摘As of December 2022,2603 laboratory-identified Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV)infections and 935 associated deaths,with a mortality rate of 36%,had been reported to the World Health Organization(WHO).However,there are still no vaccines for MERS-CoV,which makes the prevention and control of MERS-CoV difficult.In this study,we generated two DNA vaccine candidates by integrating MERS-CoV Spike(S)gene into a replicating Vaccinia Tian Tan(VTT)vector.Compared to homologous immunization with either vaccine,mice immunized with DNA vaccine prime and VTT vaccine boost exhibited much stronger and durable humoral and cellular immune responses.The immunized mice produced robust binding antibodies and broad neutralizing antibodies against the EMC2012,England1 and KNIH strains of MERS-CoV.Prime-Boost immunization also induced strong MERS-S specific T cells responses,with high memory and poly-functional(CD107a-IFN-γ-TNF-α)effector CD8t T cells.In conclusion,the research demonstrated that DNA-Prime/VTT-Boost strategy could elicit robust and balanced humoral and cellular immune responses against MERS-CoV-S.This study not only provides a promising set of MERS-CoV vaccine candidates,but also proposes a heterologous sequential immunization strategy worthy of further development.
基金This project was supported by the CIPRA Program granted by the National Institute of Health(No.1 U19 AI51915-02)a grant from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(863 Program,No.2003AA219100)
文摘Background Although DNA vaccine is considered as the next generation of vaccine, most DNA vaccine candidates are still suffering from the relatively weak immunogenicity despite the increased dosage of plasmid DNA administered. In order to enhance the immune responses elicited by a codon-optimized HIV gag DNA vaccine, a modified plasmid vector pDRVI1.0 and a booster immunization with replicating Tiantan vaccinia （RTV） strain expressing the same gene were employed. Methods Vector pDRVI1.0 was constructed through inserting the 72-bp element from the SV40 enhancer, which was reported promoting nuclear transport of plasmid DNA, to the upstream of cytomegalovirus enhancer/promoter region of the plasmid vector pVR1012. Gene expression levels from expression plasmids based on pDRVI1.0 and pVR1012 were tested. Humoral and cellular immune responses induced by DNA vaccine alone or DNA prime-RTV boost regimen were determined in mice. Results It was shown that the 72-bp element significantly enhanced the gene expression level in non-dividing cells. gag-specific humoral and cellular immune responses induced by DNA vaccination were both significantly improved, while the Thl/Th2 balance was not obviously affected by the 72-bp element. RTV boosting further significantly enhanced DNA vaccine-palmed antibody and T cell responses in a Thl-biased manner. Conclusions The 72-bp SV40 enhancer element should be included in the DNA vaccine vector and RTV strain is a very efficient live vector for boosting immunization.
