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Protocol for Recombinant RBD-based SARS Vaccines: Protein Preparation, Animal Vaccination and Neutralization Detection
Published on: May 2, 2011
Respiratory syncytial virus subunit vaccine based on a recombinant fusion protein expressed transiently in mammalian
Sophie Nallet1, Mario Amacker, Nicole Westerfeld
1Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Institute of Bioengineering, Laboratory of Cellular Biotechnology, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Insights
Researchers are developing a new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subunit vaccine. This novel vaccine candidate, produced using large-scale mammalian cell expression, shows promise in inducing protective antibodies against RSV.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Vaccinology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants and at-risk adults.
- Currently, no licensed vaccine is available to prevent RSV infection.
- Development of an effective RSV vaccine is a critical public health need.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the generation of a recombinant subunit vaccine for RSV.
- To evaluate the immunogenicity of a candidate RSV vaccine produced via large-scale transient gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Production of recombinant RSV fusion protein (rRSV-F) using transient gene expression (TGE) in HEK-293E cells.
- Large-scale cultivation in 4 L orbitally shaken bioreactors.
- Purification of rRSV-F and formulation with immunostimulating reconstituted influenza virosomes (IRIVs).
Main Results:
- The rRSV-F candidate vaccine successfully induced anti-RSV-F neutralizing antibodies in a mouse model.
- Preclinical challenge studies in cotton rats are currently underway to assess vaccine efficacy.
Conclusions:
- This study reports the successful production of a recombinant RSV subunit vaccine using large-scale TGE in mammalian cells.
- The candidate vaccine demonstrates immunogenicity, with ongoing studies to determine its protective potential.
- If successful, this represents a significant advancement in vaccine development for RSV.
Abstract:
Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe lower respiratory tract infection in infants and adults at risk, no RSV vaccine is currently available. In this report, efforts toward the generation of an RSV subunit vaccine using recombinant RSV fusion protein (rRSV-F) are described. The recombinant protein was produced by transient gene expression (TGE) in suspension-adapted human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293E) in 4 L orbitally shaken bioreactors. It was then purified and formulated in immunostimulating reconstituted influenza virosomes (IRIVs). The candidate vaccine induced anti-RSV-F neutralizing antibodies in mice, and challenge studies in cotton rats are ongoing. If successful in preclinical and clinical trials, this will be the first recombinant subunit vaccine produced by large-scale TGE in mammalian cells.
