恶性疟原虫AMA1不同类型疫苗组合免疫接种研究

目的 探索应用恶性疟原虫DNA疫苗、重组痘苗病毒疫苗和重组蛋白疫苗进行组合免疫接种，诱导针对恶性疟原虫红内期抗原AMA1的保护性抗体。方法PCR扩增云南株恶性疟原虫AMA1编码基因，构建和制备DNA免疫质粒VR1020/E（疫苗D）、重组改良安卡拉痘苗病毒rMVME（疫苗V）和重组原核表达AMAl胞外域蛋白E（疫苗P）。用疫苗D单独或与小鼠GM-CSF表达质粒共同对小鼠进行初始免疫，用疫苗V和疫苗P进行单次或先后各一次追加强化。采用疫苗D-V组合方案免疫新西兰白兔。ELISA测定小鼠血清IgG及其亚类IgG1和IgG2a的水平，用免疫动物血清进行疟原虫裂殖子体外入侵抑制实验。结果在疫苗D初始免疫的基础上，采用疫苗V或疫苗P进行强化免疫可显著提高小鼠针对AMA1的抗体应答，小鼠血清特异性IgG平均增加15至137倍，GM-CSF表达质粒对疫苗D-V组合免疫小鼠的抗体应答有显著促进作用。采用疫苗D-V组合免疫在家兔可诱导明显的抗体应答。小鼠和家兔免疫血清在体外可显著抑制疟原虫裂殖子对RBC的入侵。结论将DNA疫苗、重组改良安卡拉痘苗病毒疫苗和重组蛋白疫苗进行组合免疫接种是诱导疟疾红内期保护性抗体的有效方法。     

表达HIV-1 gag-gp120嵌合基因的DNA疫苗在小鼠体内的免疫应答

目的 :检测表达HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的DNA疫苗在小鼠体内的免疫应答效果。方法 :将真核表达质粒pVAXGE肌肉注射BALB C小鼠 ,观察免疫小鼠脾T淋巴细胞亚群的数量、特异性CTL杀伤率及小鼠免疫后不同时间点血清中IgG抗体滴度。结果 :重组质粒pVAXGE免疫组小鼠脾淋巴细胞进行了增殖 ,脾特异性CTL杀伤率显著高于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ;小鼠免疫后于第 8周血清抗体达到最高。结论 :表达HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的DNA疫苗质粒可诱导BALB C小鼠发生免疫应答     

外源质粒DNA经胃肠道途径对小鼠免疫基因的调控作用

目的:研究外源质粒DNA经胃肠道途径对小鼠免疫基因表达的调控作用。方法:给BALB/c小鼠灌胃质粒pcDNA3200μg,分别在灌胃后4h和18h分离脾脏,提取脾脏总RNA。利用Affymetrix基因表达谱芯片对灌胃质粒pcD-NA3后的BALB/c小鼠脾脏进行基因表达谱研究。采用Genmmapp和MAPPFinder软件进行功能聚类分析。结果:灌胃质粒pcDNA3后,大量与免疫应答相关的基因发生上调,这些基因包括转录因子、细胞因子和细胞因子受体、主要组织相容性基因、蛋白酶体基因、补体分子基因和细胞凋亡相关基因;下调的基因主要是免疫球蛋白基因。MAPPFinder分析结果显示大量免疫应答过程发生上调。结论:外源质粒DNA通过胃肠道途径可调控大量免疫基因的表达,对相关基因及免疫应答过程的研究有助于在分子水平上深入了解外源质粒DNA的胃肠道作用机制。     

IL-18和HIV-1 gag-gp120嵌合基因DNA疫苗联合免疫小鼠的免疫应答

目的 :探讨IL 18和HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的DNA疫苗联合免疫小鼠的免疫应答。方法 :构建含IL 18的真核表达质粒pVAXIL18,将他与表达HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的核酸疫苗质粒pVAXGE共同肌注免疫BALB/c小鼠 ,检测免疫小鼠脾特异性CTL杀伤活性和血清抗体滴度。结果 :联合免疫组小鼠脾特异性CTL杀伤活性和血清抗体水平均显著高于单独免疫组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,空白质粒对照组 (P <0 .0 1)和PBS对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :IL 18和HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的DNA疫苗联合免疫可诱导小鼠产生特异性细胞和体液免疫 ,且IL 18发挥了免疫佐剂的作用。     

布氏杆菌pCDNA3.1-L7/L12核酸疫苗的构建及其免疫学评价

目的 获得布氏杆菌保护性抗原L2／L12重组蛋白及pCDNA3．1-L7／L12重组质粒，并比较其诱导特异性免疫应答的能力。方法 PCR扩增布氏杆菌核蛋白L7／L12基因分别构建至原核表达载体PET32a( )和真核表达载体pCDNA3.1( )中；pET32a-L7／L12重组质粒转化BL21(DE3)，所表达蛋白经SDS-PAGE、免疫印迹分析、纯化后免疫小鼠；pCDNA3.1-12／L12重组质粒配以GM-CSF同时肌肉注射免疫小鼠，3次免疫后测定免疫功能进行免疫效果的评价。结果ELISA、Western blot检测到免疫鼠体内有特异性抗体产生，蛋白苗所诱导的抗体效价远远高于DNA疫苗；通过淋巴细胞增殖实验、细胞因子和CD分子测定表明DNA疫苗以诱发TH1型免疫为主。结论 所构建的布氏杆菌DNA疫苗和蛋白苗均具有诱导特异性细胞和体液免疫应答的能力，DNA疫苗诱导产生的细胞免疫反应强于蛋白苗，可作为潜在的布氏菌新型疫苗，有进一步研究的意义。     

以减毒沙门菌作为DNA疫苗载体的研究

目的 以真核表达质粒pCMVβ为报告基因，研究用芳香族氨基酸合成缺陷的沙门菌SL7207为载体以提高DNA疫苗免疫应答的可行性。方法 携带质粒pCMVβ的SL7207体外感染小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞后，用X-gal染色方法和RT-PCR方法检测巨噬细胞内β-gal的表达。小鼠口服免疫SL7207(pCMVβ)后，用RT-PCR方法检测β-gaⅠ基因在淋巴组织中的转录产物；用ELISA方法检测体液免疫；用^3H-TdR掺入法检测脾淋巴细胞增殖；用JAM试验检测杀伤性T淋巴细胞反应。结果 SL7207能有效地将质粒DNA传递到体外培养的巨噬细胞中并进行表达；小鼠口服携带有pCMVβ的SL7207后，能在脾脏、派伊尔结、肠系膜淋巴结中检测到目的基因的转录，并可诱导小鼠产生特异性体液免疫和细胞免疫。与肌内注射pCMVβ相比较，口服SL7207(pCMVβ)能更有效地诱导出细胞免疫应答。结论 减毒沙门菌SL7207作为DNA疫苗的载体，可经口服途径进行免疫，并可将质粒直接传递给抗原递呈细胞，诱导出以细胞免疫为主的免疫应答。     

弓形虫多表位DNA疫苗的构建及其免疫保护作用

目的:构建弓形虫多表位DNA疫苗并研究其免疫保护效果.方法:将编码含弓形虫多个T、B细胞表位的6段弓形虫多肽基因,以5个甘氨酸编码基因相间隔相连接,克隆入真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1( )中,构建成多表位弓形虫DNA疫苗.免疫BALB/c小鼠,测定其诱导的特异性抗体水平及T淋巴细胞增殖状况,同时进行弓形虫攻击感染保护实验.结果:成功构建了包含多个弓形虫表位的真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1/T-ME,以其作为DNA疫苗免疫小鼠,可诱导机体产生弓形虫特异性的体液及细胞免疫应答,产生有效的抗弓形虫保护性免疫应答.结论:构建的弓形虫多表位DNA疫苗能诱导机体产生有效的保护性免疫应答,在控制弓形虫感染上具有可行性.     

非洲爪蟾TGF-β5和小鼠TRP-2联合免疫诱导抗原特异性CTLs

目的 研究非洲爪蟾转化生长因子一β5(aFGF-β5)基因免疫是否能增强肿瘤治疗性DNA疫苗诱导抗原特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞的能力。方法 构建编码小鼠肿瘤抗原酪氨酸酶相关蛋白2(mTRP-2)的真核表达质粒，与aTGF-β5真核表达质粒联合免疫C56BL/6小鼠，采用标准^51Cr释放试验检测抗原特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞的诱导。结果 aTGF-β5和mTRP-2联合免疫可在体外诱导H-2K^b限制的mTRP-2aa180-188特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞产生。结论 aTGF-β5免疫能有效提高肿瘤治疗性DNA疫苗诱导特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞的能力。     

四环素诱导的基因表达系统研究进展

诱导性基因袁达系统可以从时间上调控基因的表达,是基因功能研究的重要工具之一,其中,四环素诱导的基因表达系统是应用最广泛的一种。在此基础上相继建立了双向启动子调控的转基因表达系统、与Cre／loxP系统结合的诱导性条件性基因敲除系统以及四环素控制的转录沉默系统（tTS）,它们在研究哺乳动物基因的功能及表达调控方面发挥了重要作用。本文就四环素诱导的基因表达系统的原理、改进及应用简要作一综述。     

以减毒沙门菌为载体布鲁氏菌DNA疫苗的构建及免疫原性分析

目的 构建携带布鲁氏菌BLS-L7/L12融合基因的重组减毒沙门菌并进行免疫原性分析,为口服布鲁氏菌DNA疫苗研究奠定基础.方法将BLS-7/L12融合基因克隆到真核表达载体asd -pVAX1,依次将重组质粒转化减毒沙门菌X3730、X4550得到重组沙门菌X4550(asd -pVAX1-BLS-L7/L12).以1×109CFU/只的剂量口服免疫Balb/C小鼠,3次免疫后进行免疫效果的评价.结果构建的重组减毒沙门菌质粒转染COS-7细胞经免疫组化和Western-blot试验证明BLS-L7/L12融合蛋白在细胞中得到了瞬时表达,ELISA检测到免疫小鼠血清和肠黏液中有特异性抗体IgG和sIgA产生.通过淋巴细胞增殖实验、细胞因子和CD分子测定表明DNA疫苗以诱发Th1型免疫为主.结论 所构建的以重组沙门菌为载体口服布鲁氏菌DNA疫苗具有诱导特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫应答的能力,且以细胞免疫应答为主.可作为潜在的布鲁氏菌新型疫苗.     

In vitro studies with recombinant Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1): production and activity of an AMA1 vaccine and generation of a multiallelic response

Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is regarded as a leading malaria blood-stage vaccine candidate. While the overall structure of AMA1 is conserved in Plasmodium spp., numerous AMA1 allelic variants of P. falciparum have been described. The effect of AMA1 allelic diversity on the ability of a recombinant AMA1 vaccine to protect against human infection by different P. falciparum strains is unknown. We characterize two allelic forms of AMA1 that were both produced in Pichia pastoris at a sufficient economy of scale to be usable for clinical vaccine studies. Both proteins were used to immunize rabbits, singly and in combination, in order to evaluate their immunogenicity and the ability of elicited antibodies to block the growth of different P. falciparum clones. Both antigens, when used alone, elicited high homologous anti-AMA1 titers, with reduced strain cross-reactivity. Similarly, sera from rabbits immunized with a single antigen were capable of blocking the growth of homologous parasite strains at levels theoretically sufficient to clear parasite infections. However, heterologous inhibition was significantly reduced, providing experimental evidence that AMA1 allelic diversity is a result of immune pressure. Encouragingly, rabbits immunized with a combination of both antigens exhibited titers and levels of parasite inhibition as good as those of the single-antigen-immunized rabbits for each of the homologous parasite lines, and consequently exhibited a broadening of allelic diversity coverage.     

Specificity of the protective antibody response to apical membrane antigen 1

Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is considered one of the leading candidates for inclusion in a vaccine against blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Although the ama1 gene is relatively conserved compared to those for some other potential vaccine components, numerous point mutations have resulted in amino acid substitutions at many sites in the polypeptide. The polymorphisms in AMA1 have been attributed to the diversifying selection pressure of the protective immune responses. It was therefore of interest to investigate the impact of sequence diversity in P. falciparum AMA1 on the ability of anti-AMA1 antibodies to inhibit the invasion of erythrocytes in vitro by P. falciparum merozoites. For these studies, we used antibodies to recombinant P. falciparum 3D7 AMA1 ectodomain, which was prepared for testing in early clinical trials. Antibodies were raised in rabbits to the antigen formulated in Montanide ISA720, and human antibodies to AMA1 were isolated by affinity purification from the plasma of adults living in regions of Papua New Guinea where malaria is endemic. Both rabbit and human anti-AMA1 antibodies were found to be strongly inhibitory to the invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites from both the homologous and two heterologous lines of P. falciparum. The inhibitory antibodies targeted both conserved and strain-specific epitopes within the ectodomain of AMA1; however, it appears that the majority of these antibodies reacted with strain-specific epitopes in domain I, the N-terminal disulfide-bonded domain, which is the most polymorphic region of AMA1.     

Antibodies to malaria peptide mimics inhibit Plasmodium falciparum invasion of erythrocytes

Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is expressed on the surfaces of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites and is thought to play an important role in the invasion of erythrocytes by malaria parasites. To select for peptides that mimic conformational B-cell epitopes on AMA1, we screened a phage display library of >10(8) individual peptides for peptides bound by a monoclonal anti-AMA1 antibody, 4G2dc1, known to inhibit P. falciparum invasion of erythrocytes. The most reactive peptides, J1, J3, and J7, elicited antibody responses in rabbits that recognized the peptide immunogen and both recombinant and parasite AMA1. Human antibodies in plasma samples from individuals exposed to chronic malaria reacted with J1 and J7 peptides and were isolated using immobilized peptide immunoadsorbents. Both rabbit and human antibodies specific for J1 and J7 peptides were able to inhibit the invasion of erythrocytes by P. falciparum merozoites. This is the first example of phage-derived peptides that mimic an important epitope of a blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate, inducing and isolating functional protective antibodies. Our data support the use of J1 and J7 peptide mimics as in vitro correlates of protective immunity in future AMA1 vaccine trials.     

恶性疟原虫抗原—痘苗病毒重组活疫苗株的实验室评价

以恶性疟原虫保护性抗原复合基因—痘苗病毒重组活疫苗候选株为研究对象 ,探索其免疫血清及IgG的体外抗疟原虫能力、保护性细胞免疫反应及换人血猕猴模型动物抗攻击能力试验。结果表明 ,受检免疫血清及IgG具有一定的体外抑制恶性疟原虫增殖作用。家兔及大白鼠免疫后 4～ 6周血清中可产生明显的IL 2活性 ,免疫后 6周家兔、大白鼠及小白鼠血清IFN的活性水平比免疫前明显升高。免疫后 1个月攻虫 ,免疫猴从第 3天一直到第 12天血检中均未发现疟原虫 ;而非重组痘苗病毒免疫猴第 3天后原虫感染率上升 ,第 6天原虫感染率最高达到 6 0 % ,而后原虫感染率逐渐下降 ,持续 13d ;空白对照猴第 3天后原虫感染率也上升 ,第 8天原虫感染率最高达到 2 5 % ,而后原虫感染率逐渐下降 ,持续 12d。结果初步表明该候选疫苗株具有一定的诱发体液免疫、细胞免疫反应及抗虫体攻击能力 ,值得做进一步的研究。     

Purification,characterization, and immunogenicity of the refolded ectodomain of the Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 expressed in Escherichia coli

The apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) has emerged as a promising vaccine candidate against malaria. Advanced evaluation of its protective efficacy in humans requires the production of highly purified and correctly folded protein. We describe here a process for the expression, fermentation, refolding, and purification of the recombinant ectodomain of AMA1 (amino acids 83(Gly) to 531(Glu)) of Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) produced in Escherichia coli. A synthetic gene containing an E. coli codon bias was cloned into a modified pET32 plasmid, and the recombinant protein was produced by using a redox-modified E. coli strain, Origami (DE3). A purification process was developed that included Sarkosyl extraction followed by affinity purification on a Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid column. The recombinant AMA1 was refolded in the presence of reduced and oxidized glutathione and further purified by using two ion-exchange chromatographic steps. The final product, designated AMA1/E, was homogeneous, monomeric, and >99% pure and had low endotoxin content and low host cell contamination. Analysis of AMA1/E showed that it had the predicted primary sequence, and tertiary structure analysis confirmed its compact disulfide-bonded nature. Rabbit antibodies made to the protein recognized the native parasite AMA1 and inhibited the growth of the P. falciparum homologous 3D7 clone in an in vitro assay. Reduction-sensitive epitopes on AMA1/E were shown to be necessary for the production of inhibitory anti-AMA1 antibodies. AMA1/E was recognized by a conformation-dependent, growth-inhibitory monoclonal antibody, 4G2dc1. The process described here was successfully scaled up to produce AMA1/E protein under GMP conditions, and the product was found to induce highly inhibitory antibodies in rabbits.     

Functional analysis of Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 utilizing interspecies domains

Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is a leading malaria vaccine candidate whose function has not been unequivocally defined. Partial complementation of function can be achieved by exchanging the AMA1 of P. falciparum (PfAMA1) with that of P. chabaudi (PcAMA1). In this study, parasites expressing chimeric AMA1 proteins were created to identify domains of PfAMA1 critical in erythrocyte invasion and which are important immune targets. We report that specific chimeric AMA1 proteins containing domains I to III from PfAMA1 and PcAMA1 were able to complement PfAMA1 function in erythrocyte invasion. We demonstrate that domain III does not contain dominant epitope targets of antibodies raised against Escherichia coli expressed and refolded PfAMA1 ectodomain. Furthermore, we generated a parasite line in which the N-terminal pro region of PfAMA1 does not undergo proteolytic cleavage and show that its removal is necessary for PfAMA1 function.     

Vaccination of monkeys with recombinant Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 confers protection against blood-stage malaria

A major challenge facing malaria vaccine development programs is identifying efficacious combinations of antigens. To date, merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) is regarded as the leading asexual vaccine candidate. Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) has been identified as another leading candidate for an asexual malaria vaccine, but without any direct in vivo evidence that a recombinant form of Plasmodium falciparum AMA1 would have efficacy. We evaluated the efficacy of a form of P. falciparum AMA1, produced in Pichia pastoris, by vaccinating Aotus vociferans monkeys and then challenging them with P. falciparum parasites. Significant protection from this otherwise lethal challenge with P. falciparum was observed. Five of six animals had delayed patency; two of these remained subpatent for the course of the infection, and two controlled parasite growth at <0.75% of red blood cells parasitized. The protection induced by AMA1 was superior to that obtained with a form of MSP1 used in the same trial. The protection induced by a combination vaccine of AMA1 and MSP1 was not superior to the protection obtained with AMA1 alone, although the immunity generated appeared to operate against both vaccine components.     

H-2b restriction of the immune response to the p126 Plasmodium falciparum antigen.

Inbred BALB/c (H-2d), CBA (H-2k) and C57B1/6 (H-2b) mice immunized with Plasmodium falciparum schizonts or culture supernates develop antibodies of different antigenic specificities. It has been observed that C57B1/6 mice were unable to produce detectable antibodies against the p126 antigen (native molecule and p73 or p50 processed fragments) compared with other inbred mice. Similar results were obtained using BALB congenic mice with a lack of p126 antibody response in H-2b mice, while H-2d and H-2k mice produced antibodies against the p126. Lymphocyte proliferation assays performed by incubation of spleen cells with immunopurified p126 were positive for immunized BALB/c (H-2d) and congenic H-2d or H-2k mice. On the other hand, no lymphocyte stimulation was observed with either C57B1/6 (H-2b) or congenic H-2b mice. These results suggest an MHC restriction of the immune response against the entire p126 (found in schizonts) and its p73 and p50 naturally processed fragments (found in culture supernates).     

Phase 1 clinical trial of apical membrane antigen 1: an asexual blood-stage vaccine for Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), a polymorphic merozoite surface protein, is a leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate. A phase 1 trial was conducted with 30 malaria-naive volunteers to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the AMA1-C1 malaria vaccine. AMA1-C1 contains an equal mixture of recombinant proteins based on sequences from the FVO and 3D7 clones of Plasmodium falciparum. The proteins were expressed in Pichia pastoris and adsorbed on Alhydrogel. Ten volunteers in each of three dose groups (5 mug, 20 mug, and 80 mug) were vaccinated in an open-label study at 0, 28, and 180 days. The vaccine was well tolerated, with pain at the injection site being the most commonly observed reaction. Anti-AMA1 immunoglobulin G (IgG) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 15/28 (54%) volunteers after the second immunization and in 23/25 (92%) after the third immunization, with equal reactivity to both AMA1-FVO and AMA1-3D7 vaccine components. A significant dose-response relationship between antigen dose and antibody response by ELISA was observed, and the antibodies were predominantly of the IgG1 isotype. Confocal microscopic evaluation of sera from vaccinated volunteers demonstrated reactivity with P. falciparum schizonts in a pattern similar to native parasite AMA1. Antigen-specific in vitro inhibition of both FVO and 3D7 parasites was achieved with IgG purified from sera of vaccinees, demonstrating biological activity of the antibodies. To our knowledge, this is the first AMA1 vaccine candidate to elicit functional immune responses in malaria-naive humans, and our results support the further development of this vaccine.     

Allele specificity of naturally acquired antibody responses against Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1

Antibody responses against proteins located on the surface or in the apical organelles of merozoites are presumed to be important components of naturally acquired protective immune responses against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. However, many merozoite antigens are highly polymorphic, and antibodies induced against one particular allelic form might not be effective in controlling growth of parasites expressing alternative forms. The apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is a polymorphic merozoite protein that is a target of naturally acquired invasion-inhibitory antibodies and is a leading asexual-stage vaccine candidate. We characterized the antibody responses against AMA1 in 262 individuals from Papua New Guinea exposed to malaria by using different allelic forms of the full AMA1 ectodomain and some individual subdomains. The majority of individuals had very high levels of antibodies against AMA1. The prevalence and titer of these antibodies increased with age. Although antibodies against conserved regions of the molecule were predominant in the majority of individuals, most plasma samples also contained antibodies directed against polymorphic regions of the antigen. In a few individuals, predominantly from younger age groups, the majority of antibodies against AMA1 were directed against polymorphic epitopes. The D10 allelic form of AMA1 apparently contains most if not all of the epitopes present in the other allelic forms tested, which might argue for its inclusion in future AMA1-based vaccines to be tested. Some important epitopes in AMA1 involved residues located in domain II or III but depended on more than one domain.