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Marked enhancement of the immunogenicity of plant-expressed IgG-Fc fusion proteins by inclusion of cholera toxin non-toxic B subunit within the single polypeptide.

Kim, M-Y; Vergara, E; Tran, A; Paul, MJ; Kwon, T-H; Ma, JKC; Jang, Y-S; Reljic, R (2024) Marked enhancement of the immunogenicity of plant-expressed IgG-Fc fusion proteins by inclusion of cholera toxin non-toxic B subunit within the single polypeptide. Plant Biotechnol J, 22 (5). pp. 1402-1416. ISSN 1467-7652 https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.14275
SGUL Authors: Ma, Julian

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Abstract

Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-based fusion proteins have been widely exploited as a potential vaccine delivery platform but in the absence of exogenous adjuvants, the lack of robust immunity remains an obstacle. Here, we report on a key modification that overcomes that obstacle. Thus, we constructed an IgG-Fc vaccine platform for dengue, termed D-PCF, which in addition to a dengue antigen incorporates the cholera toxin non-toxic B subunit (CTB) as a molecular adjuvant, with all three proteins expressed as a single polypeptide. Following expression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, the D-PCF assembled as polymeric structures of similar size to human IgM, a process driven by the pentamerization of CTB. A marked improvement of functional properties in vitro and immunogenicity in vivo over a previous iteration of the Fc-fusion protein without CTB [1] was demonstrated. These include enhanced antigen presenting cell binding, internalization and activation, complement activation, epithelial cell interactions and ganglioside binding, as well as more efficient polymerization within the expression host. Following immunization of mice with D-PCF by a combination of systemic and mucosal (intranasal) routes, we observed robust systemic and mucosal immune responses, as well as systemic T cell responses, significantly higher than those induced by a related Fc-fusion protein but without CTB. The induced antibodies could bind to the domain III of the dengue virus envelope protein from all four dengue serotypes. Finally, we also demonstrated feasibility of aerosolization of D-PCF as a prerequisite for vaccine delivery by the respiratory route.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2024 The Authors. Plant Biotechnology Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and The Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Keywords: cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), dengue, immunoglobulin Fc, molecular adjuvant, plant-based, subunit vaccine platform, 06 Biological Sciences, 10 Technology, 11 Medical and Health Sciences, Biotechnology
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: Academic Structure > Infection and Immunity Research Institute (INII)
Journal or Publication Title: Plant Biotechnol J
ISSN: 1467-7652
Language: eng
Dates:
DateEvent
17 April 2024Published
1 January 2024Published Online
9 December 2023Accepted
Publisher License: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
Projects:
Project IDFunderFunder ID
2020K1A4A7A02095058Ministry of Science and ICT, South Koreahttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100014188
UNSPECIFIEDSt. George's, University of Londonhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004337
MC-PC-18069MRC-KHIDI UK-Korea partnershipUNSPECIFIED
PubMed ID: 38163285
Go to PubMed abstract
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/115952
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.14275

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