Background: Dengue is a global public health problem for which no drug or vaccine is available. Currently, there is increasing interest in developing non-replicating dengue vaccines based on a discrete antigenic domain of the major structural protein of dengue viruses (DENVs), known as envelope domain III (EDIII). The use of bionanoparticles consisting of recombinant viral structural polypeptides, better known as virus-like particles (VLPs), has emerged as a potential platform technology for vaccine development. This work explores the feasibility of developing nanoparticles based on E. coli-expressed recombinant Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) designed to display EDIII moiety of DENV on the surface. Findings: We designed a synthetic gene construct encoding HBcAg containing an EDIII insert in its c/e1 loop. The fusion antigen HBcAg-EDIII-2 was expressed in E. coli, purified to near homogeneity using Ni +2 affinity chromatography and demonstrated to assemble into discrete 35–40 nm VLPs by electron microscopy. Competitive ELISA analyses showed that the EDIII-2 moieties of the VLPs are accessible to anti-EDIII-2-specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, suggesting that they are surface-displayed. The VLPs were highly immunogenic eliciting high titer anti-EDIII-2 antibodies that were able to recognize, bind and neutralize infectious DENV based on ELISA, immunofluorescence and virus-neutralization assays. Conclusion: This work demonstrates that HBcAg-derived nanoparticles can serve as a useful platform for the display of DENV EDIII. The EDIII-displaying nanoparticles may have potential applications in diagnostics/vaccines for dengue.

/pdf/chimeric-hepatitis-b-core-antigen-virus-like-particles-5gthnsegz0.pdf

Chimeric Hepatitis B core antigen virus-like particles displaying the envelope domain III of dengue virus type 2

Virus-like particles displaying envelope domain III of dengue virus type 2 induce virus-specific antibody response in mice

An alternative to surgical sterilization for fertility control of animals (wild, zoo, farm, and domestic) is needed to prevent problems related to overpopulation, including culling and relocation. A PubMed and Google Scholar database search was conducted using the keywords 'contraceptive vaccine animals,' 'immunocontraception animals,' 'non-surgical sterilization animals,' 'PZP vaccine,' and 'GnRH vaccine.' The searches from 1972 to 2015 yielded over 1500 publications. These articles were read, and 375 were selected for detailed analysis. Articles referenced in these publications were also thoroughly examined. PZP and GnRH contraceptive vaccines (CVs) have been extensively investigated for fertility control of wild, zoo, farm, and domestic animal populations. Both vaccines have shown tremendous success with PZP vaccines taking the lead. Novel technologies and targets are being developed to improve existing vaccines and generate second-generation CVs. Single-shot vaccines, which can be delivered remotely, will greatly advance the field of immunocontraception for animal use with potential human application.

Immunocontraception for Animals: Current Status and Future Perspective.

Humoral immune responses against gonadotropin releasing hormone elicited by immunization with phage-peptide constructs obtained via phage display.

Chimeric virus-like particles containing a conserved region of the G protein in combination with a single peptide of the M2 protein confer protection against respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the prime decapeptide hormone in the regulation of mammalian reproduction. Active immunization against GnRH has been a good treatment option to fight against hormone-dependent disease such as breast cancer. We designed and purified a novel protein vaccine Hsp65–GnRH6 containing heat shock protein 65 (Hsp65) and six copies of GnRH in linear alignment. Immunization with Hsp65–GnRH6 evoked strong humoral response in female mice. The generation of specific anti-GnRH antibodies was detected by ELISA and verified by western blot. In addition, anti-GnRH antibodies effectively neutralized endogenous GnRH activity in vivo, as demonstrated by the degeneration of the ovaries and uteri in the vaccinated mice. Moreover, the growth of EMT-6 mammary tumor allografts was inhibited by anti-GnRH antibodies. Histological examinations have shown that there was increased focal necrosis in tumors. Taken together, our results showed that immunization with Hsp65–GnRH6 elicited high titer of specific anti-GnRH antibodies and further led to atrophy of reproductive organs. The specific antibodies could inhibit the growth of EMT-6 murine mammary tumor probably via an indirect mechanism that includes the depletion of estrogen. In view of these results, the protein vaccine Hsp65–GnRH6 appears to be a promising candidate vaccine for hormone-dependent cancer therapy.

Immunization with a recombinant GnRH vaccine fused to heat shock protein 65 inhibits mammary tumor growth in vivo.

A novel virus-like particle based on hepatitis B core antigen and substrate-binding domain of bacterial molecular chaperone DnaK

Preparation of a peptide vaccine against GnRH by a bioprocess system based on asparaginase.

Diagnosis of many infectious, autoimmune diseases and cancers depends on the detection of specific antibodies against peptide epitope by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, small peptides are difficult to be coated on the plate surfaces. In this study, we selected GnRH as a model hapten to evaluate whether VEGF121 would be suitable as an irrelevant hapten-carrier to develop a universal platform for specific antibodies detection. Firstly, GnRH was fused to the C terminus of VEGF121 and the resultant fusion protein VEGF–GnRH expressed effectively as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. Thereafter, VEGF–GnRH was easily purified to near homogeneity with a yield of about 235 mg from 2.1 L induced culture. At last, VEGF–GnRH was used to perform ELISA and western blot, and our results suggested that VEGF–GnRH was capable of detecting anti-GnRH antibodies in sera both qualitatively and quantitatively. Indeed, previous studies of our laboratory had demonstrated that other fusion proteins such as VEGF–Aβ10, VEGF–GRP, VEGF–CETPC, and VEGF–βhCGCTP37 were able to detect their corresponding antibodies specifically. Therefore, VEGF121 may be a suitable irrelevant fusion partner of important diagnostic peptide markers. Our works would shed some light on the development of a universal platform for detection of specific antibodies.

Detection of antibodies against customized epitope: use of a coating antigen employing VEGF as fusion partner

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Immunization with a recombinant GnRH vaccine fused to heat shock protein 65 inhibits mammary tumor growth in vivo.

A novel virus-like particle based on hepatitis B core antigen and substrate-binding domain of bacterial molecular chaperone DnaK

Preparation of a peptide vaccine against GnRH by a bioprocess system based on asparaginase.

Detection of antibodies against customized epitope: use of a coating antigen employing VEGF as fusion partner