Production of Recombinant Viral Antigens Using the Baculovirus-Insect Cell Expression System

Abstract

Insect cell expression has been successfully used for the production of viral antigens as part of commercial vaccine development. As expression host, insect cells offer advantage over bacterial system by presenting the ability of performing post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as glycosylation and phosphorylation thus preserving the native functionality of the proteins especially for viral antigens. Insect cells have limitation in exactly mimicking some proteins which require complex glycosylation pattern. The recent advancement in insect cell engineering strategies could overcome this limitation to some extent. Moreover, cost efficiency, timelines, safety, and process adoptability make insect cells a preferred platform for production of subunit antigens for human and animal vaccines. In this chapter, we describe the method for producing the SARS-CoV2 spike ectodomain subunit antigen for human vaccine development and the virus like particle (VLP), based on capsid protein of porcine circovirus virus 2 (PCV2d) antigen for animal vaccine development using two different insect cell lines, SF9 & Hi5, respectively. This methodology demonstrates the flexibility and broad applicability of insect cell as expression host.

Posted: Octover 12, 2022
doi: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.2c06350

Authors: Jian Hang Lam, Devendra Shivhare, Teck Wan Chia, Suet Li Chew, Gaurav Sinsinbar, Ting Yan Aw, Siamy Wong, Shrinivas Venkataraman, Francesca Wei Inng Lim, Pierre Vandepapeliere and Madhavan Nallani

Abstract

Current parenteral coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines inadequately protect against infection of the upper respiratory tract. Additionally, antibodies generated by wild type (WT) spike-based vaccines poorly neutralize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. To address the need for a second-generation vaccine, we have initiated a preclinical program to produce and evaluate a potential candidate. Our vaccine consists of recombinant Beta spike protein coadministered with synthetic CpG adjuvant. Both components are encapsulated within artificial cell membrane (ACM) polymersomes, synthetic nanovesicles efficiently internalized by antigen presenting cells, including dendritic cells, enabling targeted delivery of cargo for enhanced immune responses. ACM vaccine is immunogenic in C57BL/6 mice and Golden Syrian hamsters, evoking high serum IgG and neutralizing responses. Compared to an ACM-WT spike vaccine that generates predominantly WT-neutralizing antibodies, the ACM-Beta spike vaccine induces antibodies that neutralize WT and Beta viruses equally. Intramuscular (IM)-immunized hamsters are strongly protected from weight loss and other clinical symptoms after the Beta challenge but show delayed viral clearance in the upper airway. With intranasal (IN) immunization, however, neutralizing antibodies are generated in the upper airway concomitant with rapid and potent reduction of viral load. Moreover, antibodies are cross-neutralizing and show good activity against Omicron. Safety is evaluated in New Zealand white rabbits in a repeated dose toxicological study under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) conditions. Three doses, IM or IN, at two-week intervals do not induce an adverse effect or systemic toxicity. Cumulatively, these results support the application for a Phase 1 clinical trial of ACM-polymersome-based Covid-19 vaccine (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05385991).

Posted: February 14, 2022
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.24.427729

Authors: Jian Hang Lam, Devendra Shivhare, Teck Wan Chia, Suet Li Chew, Gaurav Sinsinbar, Ting Yan Aw, Siamy Wong, Shrinivas Venkatraman, Francesca Wei Inng Lim, Pierre Vandepapeliere, Madhavan Nallani

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), an ongoing global public health emergency. Despite the availability of safe and efficacious vaccines, achieving herd immunity remains a challenge due in part to rapid viral evolution. Multiple variants of concern (VOCs) have emerged, the latest being the heavily mutated Omicron, which exhibits the highest resistance to neutralizing antibodies from past vaccination or infection. Currently approved vaccines generate robust systemic immunity, yet poor immunity at the respiratory tract. We have demonstrated that a polymersome-based protein subunit vaccine with wild type (WT) spike protein and CpG adjuvant induces robust systemic immunity (humoral and T cell responses) in mice. Both antigen and adjuvant are encapsulated in artificial cell membrane (ACM) polymersomes – synthetic, nanoscale vesicles that substantially enhance the immune response through efficient delivery to dendritic cells. In the present study, we have formulated a vaccine candidate with the spike protein from Beta variant and assessed its immunogenicity in golden Syrian hamsters. Two doses of ACM-Beta spike vaccine administered via intramuscular (IM) injection evoke modest serum neutralizing titers that are equally efficacious towards WT and Beta viruses. In contrast, the ACM-WT spike vaccine induces a predominantly WT-specific serum neutralizing response with pronounced reduction in potency towards the Beta variant. Remarkably, immunogenicity of the ACM-Beta spike vaccine is greatly enhanced through intranasal (IN) administration. Following IN challenge with the Beta variant, IM-immunized hamsters are fully protected from disease but not infection, displaying similar peak viral RNA loads in oral swabs as non-vaccinated controls. In contrast, hamsters IN vaccinated with ACM-Beta spike vaccine are protected from disease and infection, exhibiting a ∼100-fold drop in total and subgenomic RNA load as early as day 2 post challenge. We further demonstrate that nasal washes from IN-but not IM-immunized animals possess virus neutralizing activity that is broadly efficacious towards Delta and Omicron variants. Altogether, our results show IN administration of ACM-Beta spike vaccine to evoke systemic and mucosal antibodies that cross-neutralize multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Our work supports IN administration of ACM-Beta spike vaccine for a next-generation vaccination strategy that not only protects against disease but also an infection of the respiratory tract, thus potentially preventing asymptomatic transmission.

Competing Interest Statement

J.H.L., D.S., T.W.C., S.L.C., S.V., G.S., T.Y.A., S.W. and M.N. are employees of ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd, Singapore. P.V is acting Chief Medical Officer of ACM Biosciences AG, Basel, Singapore.

Posted: January 25, 2021
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.24.427729

Authors: Jian Hang Lam, Amit Kumar Khan, Thomas Andrew Cornell, Regine Josefine Dress, Teck Wan Chia, Wen Wang William Yeow, Nur Khairiah Mohd-Ismail, Shrinivas Venkatraman, Kim Tien Ng, Yee-Joo Tan, Danielle E. Anderson, Florent Ginhoux, Madhavan Nallani

Abstract

Multiple successful vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed to address the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In the present work, we describe a subunit vaccine based on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein co-administered with CpG adjuvant. To enhance the immunogenicity of our formulation, both antigen and adjuvant were encapsulated with our proprietary artificial cell membrane (ACM) polymersome technology. Structurally, ACM polymersomes are self-assembling nanoscale vesicles made up of an amphiphilic block copolymer comprising of polybutadiene-b-polyethylene glycol and a cationic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane. Functionally, ACM polymersomes serve as delivery vehicles that are efficiently taken up by dendritic cells, which are key initiators of the adaptive immune response. Two doses of our formulation elicit robust neutralizing titers in C57BL/6 mice that persist at least 40 days. Furthermore, we confirm the presence of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produce Th1 cytokines. This study is an important step towards the development of an efficacious vaccine in humans.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors declare the following competing financial interests: D.E.A. and Y.J.T. developed the cPass kit; J.H.L, A.K.K., T.A.C., T.W.C., W.W.W.Y., and M.N. are employees of ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd; F.G. is part of the ACM SAB. The authors declare no non-financial competing interests.

Posted: 2021 Oct 26;15(10)
doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c01243 · PMID: 34618423 · PMCIDPMC8525042

Authors: Jian Hang Lam 1, Amit K Khan 1, Thomas A Cornell 1, Teck Wan Chia 1, Regine J Dress 2, Wen Wang William Yeow 1, Nur Khairiah Mohd-Ismail 3, Shrinivas Venkataraman 1, Kim Tien Ng 3, Yee-Joo Tan 3 4, Danielle E Anderson 5, Florent Ginhoux 2 6, Madhavan Nallani 1

Abstract

Multiple successful vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are urgently needed to address the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. In the present work, we describe a subunit vaccine based on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein coadministered with CpG adjuvant. To enhance the immunogenicity of our formulation, both antigen and adjuvant were encapsulated with our proprietary artificial cell membrane (ACM) polymersome technology. Structurally, ACM polymersomes are self-assembling nanoscale vesicles made up of an amphiphilic block copolymer comprising poly(butadiene)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) and a cationic lipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane. Functionally, ACM polymersomes serve as delivery vehicles that are efficiently taken up by dendritic cells (DC1 and DC2), which are key initiators of the adaptive immune response. Two doses of our formulation elicit robust neutralizing antibody titers in C57BL/6 mice that persist at least 40 days. Furthermore, we confirm the presence of functional memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produce T helper type 1 cytokines. This study is an important step toward the development of an efficacious vaccine in humans.

Keywords: ACM; Covid-19; neutralizing antibody; polymersome; spike; vaccine.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following competing financial interest(s): D.E.A. developed the cPass kit; J.H.L, A.K.K., T.A.C., T.W.C., W.W.W.Y., S.V., and M.N. are employees of ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd; F.G. is part of the ACM SAB.

Posted: 20 jan. 2011
Citation: Chem. Commun., 2011,47, 2862-2864

Authors: Zhikang Fu,a   Mirjam Andreasson Ochsner,a   Hans-Peter M. de Hoog,b   Nikodem Tomczak*a  and  Madhavan Nallani*ab  

Abstract

Multicompartmentalized polymersomes are formed using block co-polymers PMOXA–PDMS–PMOXA and PS-PIAT, and are subsequently proven to be capable of selective encapsulation of biomacromolecules. This architecture mimics the compartmentalization found in cells and may serve as a simple, albeit robust, model system.

Posted: October 20, 2014
PLoS ONE 9(10): e110847 © 2014 de Hoog et al
doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110847

Authors: Hans-Peter M. de Hoog,Esther M. Lin JieRong,Sourabh Banerjee,Fabien M. Décaillot,Madhavan Nallani

Abstract

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a key role in physiological processes and are attractive drug targets. Their biophysical characterization is, however, highly challenging because of their innate instability outside a stabilizing membrane and the difficulty of finding a suitable expression system. We here show the cell-free expression of a GPCR, CXCR4, and its direct embedding in diblock copolymer membranes. The polymer-stabilized CXCR4 is readily immobilized onto biosensor chips for label-free binding analysis. Kinetic characterization using a conformationally sensitive antibody shows the receptor to exist in the correctly folded conformation, showing binding behaviour that is commensurate with heterologously expressed CXCR4.

Posted: 27 Feb 2014
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2733-2737
doi: DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21849J

Authors: Winna Siti,‡a   Hans-Peter M. de Hoog,‡b   Ozana Fischer,c   Wong Yee Shan,d   Nikodem Tomczak,b   Madhavan Nallani*a  and  Bo Liedberga  

Abstract

Compartmentalization, as a design principle, is a prerequisite for the functioning of eukaryotic cells. Although cell mimics in the form of single vesicular compartments such as liposomes or polymersomes have been tremendously successful, investigations of the corresponding higher-order architectures, in particular bilayer-based multicompartment vesicles, have only recently gained attention. We hereby demonstrate a multicompartment cell-mimetic nanocontainer, built-up from fully synthetic membranes, which features an inner compartment equipped with a channel protein and a semi-permeable outer compartment that allows passive diffusion of small molecules. The functionality of this multicompartment architecture is demonstrated by a cascade reaction between enzymes that are segregated in separate compartments. The unique architecture of polymersomes, which combines stability with a cell-membrane-mimetic environment, and their assembly into higher-order architectures could serve as a design principle for new generation drug-delivery vehicles, biosensors, and protocell models.

Posted: 19 November 2012
doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201204645

Authors: Sylvia May,Mirjam Andreasson-Ochsner,Zhikang Fu,Ying Xiu Low ,Dr. Darren Tan,Dr. Hans-Peter M. de Hoog,Dr. Sandra Ritz,Dr. Madhavan Nallani,Prof. Dr. Eva-Kathrin Sinner

Abstract

The dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), a G-protein coupled receptor is expressed into PBd22-PEO13 and PMOXA20-PDMS54-PMOXA20 block copolymer vesicles (see scheme). The conformational integrity of the receptor is confirmed by antibody- and ligand-binding assays. Replacement of bound dopamine is demonstrated on surface-immobilized polymersomes, thus making this a promising platform for drug screening.