Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kimberly Braz Gomes, Grace Lovia Allotey-Babington, Sucheta D'Sa, Sang-Moo Kang, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: This study examined the activation status of dendritic cells (DCs) and the innate and adaptive immune responses after exposure to M2e VLP vaccine. Results showed that the M2e VLP microparticle had a strong stimulatory effect on DCs, and the presence of Alhydrogel(R) and MPL-A(R) adjuvants enhanced this effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Kimberly Braz Gomes, Sucheta D'Sa, Grace Lovia Allotey-Babington, Sang-Moo Kang, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: The study utilized the highly conserved M2e VLP as a potential vaccine candidate against influenza, showing promising immunogenic potential and protective effects when administered transdermally in a pre-clinical mouse model.
Article
Immunology
Vili Lampinen, Stina Grohn, Saana Soppela, Vesna Blazevic, Vesa P. Hytonen, Minna M. Hankaniemi
Summary: Virus-like particles (VLPs) can be used as a platform for vaccine development. The use of SpyCatcher-mediated coupling and direct peptide fusion were compared in this study. The addition of an adjuvant to the SpyCatcher-M2e-decorated VLPs resulted in a strong immune response. Additionally, the fusion of SpyCatcher-M2e without VLP display also showed potential as an immunogen.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Semmannan Kalaiyarasu, Sandeep Bhatia, Niranjan Mishra, Dhanapal Senthil Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Richa Sood, Katherukamem Rajukumar, Boopathi Ponnusamy, Dhruv Desai, Vijendra Pal Singh
Summary: This study aimed to develop a broad protective influenza vaccine against HPAI H5N1 by evaluating the elicitation of M2e and HA2-specific immunity in chickens. The M2e-HA2 fusion protein induced strong M2e and HA2-specific antibody responses and showed high reactivity with known AIV-positive and -negative chicken sera. The findings suggest the potential of M2e-HA2 recombinant fusion protein in future development of a protective H5N1 influenza vaccine.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Kai Su, Yawen Wang, Chen Yuan, Yanan Zhang, Yanrui Li, Tanqing Li, Qinye Song
Summary: S1-BLPs vaccine can stimulate intestinal mucosal immune response, and intranasal administration is more effective than intramuscular administration in inducing specific antibodies and Th cell immune response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jeeva Subbbiah, Judy Oh, Ki-Hye Kim, Chong Hyun Shin, Bo Ryoung Park, Noopur Bhatnagar, Yu-Jin Jung, Youri Lee, Bao-Zhong Wang, Baik-Lin Seong, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: This study presents a genetically engineered thermostable vaccine that provides broad cross-protection against different subtypes of influenza viruses. It induces strong immune responses and enhances cross-protection through T cell and antibody-dependent cytotoxic cellular and humoral immunity.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Virology
Hae-Ji Kang, Ki-Back Chu, Keon-Woong Yoon, Gi-Deok Eom, Jie Mao, Min-Ju Kim, Su-Hwa Lee, Eun-Kyung Moon, Fu-Shi Quan
Summary: Research suggests that avian influenza VLP vaccines expressing multiple neuraminidases can provide both homologous and heterosubtypic protection against different subtypes, offering a promising approach for developing a universal influenza A vaccine against avian and human influenza virus infections.
Article
Virology
Judy Oh, Jeeva Subbiah, Ki-Hye Kim, Bo Ryoung Park, Noopur Bhatnagar, Karla Ruiz Garcia, Rong Liu, Yu-Jin Jung, Chong-Hyun Shin, Baik-Lin Seong, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: This study explores different strategies to improve cross-protection of influenza vaccines and emphasizes the importance of hemagglutinin (HA) functional integrity in vaccine efficacy. Conjugation of conserved M2e epitopes to the surface of the influenza virus showed diminished protection, while supplementation of influenza vaccines with a genetically linked chimeric protein (M2e-B stalk) effectively induced immune responses and enhanced protection against heterosubtypic influenza viruses.
Article
Immunology
Jeeva Subbiah, Judy Oh, Ki-Hye Kim, Chong-Hyun Shin, Bo Ryoung Park, Noopur Bhatnagar, Baik-Lin Seong, Bao-Zhong Wang, Sang-Moo Kang
Summary: A new chimeric protein vaccine called M2e-H3 stalk has been developed to overcome the low efficacy of monomeric domain-based universal vaccines. The vaccine was found to be effective in inducing immune responses and providing protection against various subtypes of influenza viruses in mice, making it a potential candidate for a universal influenza A virus vaccine for both young and aged populations.
Article
Immunology
Ajibola Omokanye, Li Ching Ong, Cristina Lebrero-Fernandez, Valentina Bernasconi, Karin Schon, Anneli Stromberg, Mats Bemark, Xavier Saelens, Paulo Czarnewski, Nils Lycke
Summary: Intranasal immunization with CTA1-3M2e-DD stimulates M2e-specific Th17 Trm cells, which provide strong protection against influenza virus infection and tissue injury. Single-cell RNAseq analysis reveals functional diversity of these Trm cells in the lung, and the same TCR clonotype can differentiate into different subclusters with distinct functions. These findings have important implications for vaccine development against respiratory virus infections.
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Lili Shi, Ying Long, Yanyan Zhu, Jingjian Dong, Yan Chen, Hao Feng, Xianliang Sun
Summary: This study demonstrated that chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) anchored with the stalk domain and M2e showed efficacy in reducing viral loads after the influenza virus challenge in the mice model. Vaccination with VLPs induced high levels of serum-specific IgG, enhanced ADCC activity and T cell responses, and provided cross-protection against different influenza virus subtypes. The stalk domain specific antibody conferred better protection than the M2e specific antibody.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
L-J Zhou, W-Z Lin, T. Liu, B-Y Chen, X-Q Meng, Y-L Li, L-J Du, Y. Liu, Y-C Qian, Y-Q Zhu, S-Z Duan
Summary: Periodontitis exacerbates multiple sclerosis, likely through the expansion of Th17 cells.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Louis-Philippe Hamel, Rachel Tardif, Francis Poirier-Gravel, Asieh Rasoolizadeh, Chantal Brosseau, Genevieve Giroux, Jean-Francois Lucier, Marie-Claire Goulet, Adam Barrada, Marie-Eve Pare, Elise Roussel, Marc-Andre Comeau, Pierre-Olivier Lavoie, Peter Moffett, Dominique Michaud, Marc-Andre D'Aoust
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of molecular changes occurring in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf cells during transient expression of the viral suppressor P19 or co-expression of P19 and the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) protein. The results show that the expression of foreign proteins induces general responses such as chloroplast gene expression shutdown, activation of oxidative stress responses, and reinforcement of the plant cell wall. Additionally, the expression of P19 promotes salicylic acid signaling, while co-expression of P19 and HA dampens this signaling. The expression of HA also affects lipid metabolism, lipid distribution within membranes, and oxylipin-related signaling pathways.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin-Zi Emily Tang, Shu Xuan Tan, Shawn Hoon, Gene W. Yeo
Summary: This study evaluated antibody and T cell responses to the Cas13d protein (RfxCas13d) from Ruminococcus flavefaciens in healthy donors. It found that most donors have antibodies and CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to RfxCas13d, similar to other Cas9 proteins. In addition, RfxCas13d-responsive T cells could produce inflammatory cytokines. These findings are important for the development of RfxCas13d for therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Keegan Braz Gomes, Sharon Vijayanand, Priyal Bagwe, Ipshita Menon, Akanksha Kale, Smital Patil, Sang-Moo Kang, Mohammad N. Uddin, Martin J. D'Souza
Summary: This study developed an influenza vaccine using polymeric nanoparticles delivered through dissolving microneedles. The vaccine particles effectively stimulated antigen-presenting cells, resulting in enhanced autophagy, nitric oxide, and antigen presentation. In mice, the vaccine induced the production of M2e-specific antibodies and significant expression of CD4(+) and CD8(+) populations. The study demonstrated that polymeric particulates delivered via fast-dissolving microneedles significantly enhanced the immunogenicity of a conserved influenza antigen.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Virology
E. R. Job, M. Schotsaert, L. I. Ibanez, A. Smet, T. Ysenbaert, K. Roose, M. Dai, C. A. M. de Haan, H. Kleanthous, T. U. Vogel, X. Saelens
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sandhya Bangaru, Shanshan Lang, Michael Schotsaert, Hillary A. Vanderven, Xueyong Zhu, Nurgun Kose, Robin Bombardi, Jessica A. Finn, Stephen J. Kent, Pavlo Gilchuk, Iuliia Gilchuk, Hannah L. Turner, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Sheng Li, Andrew B. Ward, Ian A. Wilson, James E. Crowe
Article
Immunology
Angela Choi, Ioanna Christopoulou, Xavier Saelens, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Michael Schotsaert
Review
Virology
Marlies Ballegeer, Xavier Saelens
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammad Amin Behzadi, Angela Choi, James Duehr, Roya Feyznezhad, Chitra Upadhyay, Michael Schotsaert, Peter Palese, Raffael Nachbagauer
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eline Soetens, Marlies Ballegeer, Xavier Saelens
Article
Immunology
Caroline Lanz, Michael Schotsaert, Carsten Magnus, Umut Karakus, Annika Hunziker, Milagros Sempere Borau, Carles Martinez-Romero, Eva E. Spieler, Sira C. Gunther, Eva Moritz, Benjamin G. Hale, Alexandra Trkola, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Silke Stertz
Summary: The severity of influenza varies greatly in humans, and the IFITM3 gene is a genetic determinant responsible for these differences. IFITM3 blocks cytosolic entry of influenza A virus by competing with viral hemagglutinin incorporation into virions. This inhibition leads to increased sensitivity of IAV to antibody-mediated neutralization and affects infection outcomes.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Nidhi Mittal, Nayanika Sengupta, Sameer Kumar Malladi, Poorvi Reddy, Madhuraj Bhat, Raju S. Rajmani, Koen Sedeyn, Xavier Saelens, Somnath Dutta, Raghavan Varadarajan
Summary: Research indicates that the genetic fusions of H1-H3 hemagglutinin ectodomains can enhance influenza vaccine efficacy while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost. These fusion immunogens induce H1 and H3-specific immune responses and offer protection. Mice immunized with these fusions show higher neutralizing antibody titers against challenging H1N1 and H3N2 viruses.
Review
Virology
Tessa Van Royen, Iebe Rossey, Koen Sedeyn, Bert Schepens, Xavier Saelens
Summary: RSV infection inhibits host's innate immune response through multiple proteins, including suppression of interferon production and signaling, reduction of immune cell recruitment and cytokine production, and negative effects on mitochondrial proteins.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shu Horiuchi, Hanchih Wu, Wen-Chun Liu, Nathalie Schmitt, Jonathan Provot, Yang Liu, Salah-Eddine Bentebibel, Randy A. Albrecht, Michael Schotsaert, Christian Forst, Bin Zhang, Hideki Ueno
Summary: Tox2 plays a vital role in maintaining T-FH cells and generating memory T-FH cells, while its overexpression can inhibit the spontaneous conversion of T-FH cells into T(H)1-like cells. Tox2 deficiency leads to impaired expansion of secondary T-FH cells upon reimmunization and secondary infection.
Article
Cell Biology
Teodora Oltean, Lorena Itati Ibanez, Tatyana Divert, Tine Ysenbaert, Hannelore Van Eeckhoutte, Vera Goossens, Michael Schotsaert, Ken Bracke, Bert Schepens, Jonathan Maelfait, Nozomi Takahashi, Xavier Saelens, Peter Vandenabeele
Summary: RIPK3 partially protects against disease caused by influenza A virus infection in mice. Active vaccination with M2e viral antigen provides protection against IAV, but this protection is lost in Ripk3(-/-) mice.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bram van den Eeckhout, Marlies Ballegeer, Jozefien De Clercq, Elianne Burg, Xavier Saelens, Linos Vandekerckhove, Sarah Gerlo
Summary: IL-1R plays an important role in CD8 T cells by regulating cell proliferation and acquisition of an effector phenotype, and its absence can impair antiviral effector and tissue-resident CD8 T cell responses. Therefore, exploiting IL-1 activity may be a potential approach in T cell vaccination strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura A. E. Van Poelvoorde, Francois E. Dufrasne, Steven Van Gucht, Xavier Saelens, Nancy H. C. Roosens
Summary: Monitoring antiviral-resistant influenza virus strains is crucial for public health due to the use of antivirals for treatment. The E119V-NA mutation in seasonal H3N2 influenza virus is associated with oseltamivir resistance. Traditional neuraminidase inhibition assay has limited sensitivity, so PCR-based genotypic assays are used to identify the prevalence of such mutant influenza viruses. In this study, a reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR assay (RT-ddPCR) was developed to detect and quantify the E119V-NA mutation.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Stephanie Tang, Ana Cassandra De Jesus, Deebly Chavez, Sayahi Suthakaran, Sarah K. L. Moore, Keshon Suthakaran, Sonya Homami, Raveen Rathnasinghe, Alison J. May, Michael Schotsaert, Clemente J. Britto, Jahar Bhattacharya, Jaime L. Hook
Summary: Influenza A virus (IAV) infection disrupts the secretion of alveolar wall liquid (AWL) and induces the absorption of airspace liquid, leading to the inability of the lungs to clear inhaled Staphylococcus aureus (SA). The inhibition of AWL secretion and stimulation of airspace liquid absorption play central roles in IAV lung pathogenesis and SA-induced lung injury.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Dorien De Vlieger, Marlies Ballegeer, Iebe Rossey, Bert Schepens, Xavier Saelens