Antigenicity and immunogenicity of Zika virus envelope recombinant proteins

• Grant number: 17/17471-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: December 01, 2018 - April 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Santoro Rosa
• Grantee: Daniela Santoro Rosa
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Karina Inacio Ladislau de Carvalho ; Silvia Beatriz Boscardin

Abstract

Flaviviruses are responsible for a large number of infections and their considerable morbidity and mortality. Among the Flaviviruses transmitted in Brazil, we can highlight those that are currently responsible for a large number of infections such as Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV). The viral envelope protein (E) is responsible for binding and fusion with the host cell membrane and is the main target of the neutralizing antibodies. The E protein consists of a transmembrane region and an ectodomain which is divided into three structural/functional domains: EDI (envelope domain I) central domain, EDII (envelope domain II) responsible for dimerization and contains a highly conserved fusion loop and EDIII (envelope domain III) that is involved in the binding process with the target cell. Due to the approximately 55% similarity between the proteins encoded by the ZIKV genome with the various DENV serotypes, it is difficult to distinguish the infection caused by both viruses. Thus, this project main's goal is to produce different recombinant proteins and DNA vaccines from the ZIKV viral envelope in order to sudy in detail the humoral immune response in ZIKV-infected patients (antigenicity) and also evaluate their immunogenic potential. The knowledge generated in this context can bring relevant information about regions of the envelope protein that induce antibodies or that can be used as vaccine candidates. (AU)

Scientific publications

(10)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

AMARAL, MARCELO PIRES; APOSTOLICO, JULIANA DE SOUZA; TOMITA, NADIA; COIRADA, FERNANDA CAROLINE; SANTOS LUNARDELLI, VICTORIA ALVES; FERNANDES, EDGAR RUZ; SANTOS SOUZA, HIGO FERNANDO; ASTRAY, RENATO MANCINI; BOSCARDIN, SILVIA BEATRIZ; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO. Homologous prime-boost with Zika virus envelope protein and poly (I:C) induces robust specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Vaccine, v. 38, n. 20, p. 3653-3664, APR 29 2020. (17/17471-7)

FERNANDES, EDGAR RUZ; BARBOSA, MARCELA LUIZE; AMARAL, MARCELO PIRES; APOSTOLICO, JULIANA DE SOUZA; SULCZEWSKI, FERNANDO BANDEIRA; TUFIK, SERGIO; ANDERSEN, MONICA LEVY; BOSCARDIN, SILVIA BEATRIZ; KELLER, ALEXANDRE CASTRO; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO. Sleep Disturbance during Infection Compromises Tfh Differentiation and Impacts Host Immunity. ISCIENCE, v. 23, n. 10, OCT 23 2020. (19/11490-5, 17/17471-7)

LUNARDELLI, VICTORIA ALVES SANTOS; APOSTOLICO, JULIANA DE SOUZA; FERNANDES, EDGAR RUZ; SANTORO ROSA, DANIELA. Zika virus-an update on the current efforts for vaccine development. HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, v. 17, n. 3, AUG 2020. (17/17471-7)

SULCZEWSKI, FERNANDO BANDEIRA; MARTINO, LARISSA ALVES; SALLES, DAVI; YAMAMOTO, MARCIO MASSAO; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO; BOSCARDIN, SILVIA BEATRIZ. STAT3 signaling modulates the immune response induced after antigen targeting to conventional type 1 dendritic cells through the DEC205 receptor. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 13, p. 15-pg., 2022-10-18. (18/20821-2, 18/00145-2, 14/50890-5, 17/17471-7, 18/07142-9)

SANTOS LUNARDELLI, VICTORIA ALVES; APOSTOLICO, JULIANA DE SOUZA; SANTOS SOUZA, HIGO FERNANDO; COIRADA, FERNANDA CAROLINE; MARTINHO, JESSICA AMARAL; ASTRAY, RENATO MANCINI; BOSCARDIN, SILVIA BEATRIZ; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO. ZIKV-envelope proteins induce specific humoral and cellular immunity in distinct mice strains. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 12, n. 1, p. 13-pg., 2022-09-21. (18/05320-7, 17/17471-7, 21/13004-0)

LUNARDELLI, VICTORIA ALVES SANTOS; ALMEIDA, BIANCA DA SILVA; APOSTOLICO, JULIANA DE SOUZA; REZENDE, THAIS; YAMAMOTO, MARCIO MASSAO; PEREIRA, SAMUEL SANTOS; BUENO, MARIA FERNANDA CAMPAGNARI; PEREIRA, LENNON RAMOS; CARVALHO, KARINA INACIO; SLHESSARENKO, RENATA DEZENGRINI; et al. Diagnostic and vaccine potential of Zika virus envelope protein (E) derivates produced in bacterial and insect cells. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 14, p. 14-pg., 2023-03-16. (21/13004-0, 17/17471-7)

BOSCARDIN, SILVIA BEATRIZ; DUDZIAK, DIANA; MUENZ, CHRISTIAN; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO. Editorial: Harnessing the Participation of Dendritic Cells in Immunity and Tolerance. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 11, p. 4-pg., 2020-10-07. (18/07142-9, 17/17471-7)

SOUSA, MARIA E. P.; GONZATTI, MICHELANGELO B.; FERNANDES, EDGAR R.; FREIRE, BEATRIZ M.; GUERESCHI, MARCIA G.; BASSO, ALEXANDRE S.; ANDERSEN, MONICA L.; ROSA, DANIELA S.; KELLER, ALEXANDRE C.. Invariant Natural Killer T cells resilience to paradoxical sleep deprivation-associated stress. BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY, v. 90, p. 208-215, NOV 2020. (17/17471-7, 19/11490-5)

APOSTOLICO, JULIANA DE SOUZA; SANTOS LUNARDELLI, VICTORIA ALVES; YAMAMOTO, MARCIO MASSAO; CUNHA-NETO, EDECIO; BOSCARDIN, SILVIA BEATRIZ; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO. Poly(I:C) Potentiates T Cell Immunity to a Dendritic Cell Targeted HIV-Multiepitope Vaccine. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 10, APR 24 2019. (17/17471-7, 14/50631-0)

OCHOA, RODRIGO; LUNARDELLI, VICTORIA ALVES SANTOS; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO; LAIO, ALESSANDRO; COSSIO, PILAR. Multiple-Allele MHC Class II Epitope Engineering by a Molecular Dynamics-Based Evolution Protocol. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 13, p. 14-pg., 2022-04-27. (17/17471-7)