Evaluation of the efficacy of the Zika Virus chimeric DNA vaccine and the lysosomal-associated membrane protein in mice

• Grant number: 18/18230-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2018
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Notomi Sato
• Grantee: Franciane Mouradian Emidio Teixeira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/12476-6 - Polymer brushes as a delivery tool to increase the immunogenicity of a Zika Virus DNA vaccine model, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The epidemic promoted by Zika Virus (ZIKV) infection had an overall extension, mainly associated to the occurrence of microcephaly, representing an aggravating factor of global public health. Despite the reduction in the number of cases, the development of protective vaccine strategies is a priority. Immunization of mice with complete pre-membrane, membrane and envelope (prM/M-E) viral proteins were described as being able to promote the production of neutralizing antibodies against ZIKV. It has already been established that vaccine strategies that combine the association of viral antigens conjugated to the Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein (LAMP), induce a greater amplitude of cellular and humoral response, due to the targeting of the antigens for MHC class II (major histocompatibility complex class II). Thus, it is proposed to evaluate a vaccine DNA formulation coding for ZIKV prM/M-E proteins fused to LAMP, combined with a molecular adjuvant strategy (CIITA) that enhances the expression of MHC II molecules in mice. A group of researchers from the AggeuMagalhães Institute delineated a vaccine DNA formulation encoding the complete ZIKV C-prM/M-E proteins fused to LAMP. The immunogenicity of the DNA construct will be evaluated in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, and the CIITA molecular adjuvant, for magnitude of cellular and humoral response and long-term response, including generation of T follicular helper cells, germinal center B cells and cytotoxic T response to ZIKV, as well as by the analysis of the antibodies for neutralization capacity and affinity maturation. In addition, vaccine efficacy against viral challenge with ZIKV, for protection against infection, will be validated. These findings will contribute to the studies of effective vaccines against ZIKV. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(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)

ALBERCA, RICARDO WESLEY; DE SOUZA ANDRADE, MILENA MARY; CALVIELLI CASTELO BRANCO, ANNA CLAUDIA; PIETROBON, ANNA JULIA; PEREIRA, NATALLI ZANETE; FERNANDES, IARA GRIGOLETTO; OLIVEIRA, LUANA DE MENDONCA; EMIDIO TEIXEIRA, FRANCIANE MOURADIAN; BESERRA, DANIELLE ROSA; DE OLIVEIRA, EMILY ARAUJO; et al. Frequencies of CD33+CD11b+HLA-DR-CD14-CD66b+and CD33+CD11b+HLA-DR-CD14+CD66b-Cells in Peripheral Blood as Severity Immune Biomarkers in COVID-19. FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE, v. 7, OCT 14 2020. (19/02679-7, 17/18199-9, 19/26928-6, 18/18230-6, 19/22448-0)

GOZZI-SILVA, SARAH CRISTINA; BENARD, GIL; ALBERCA, RICARDO WESLEY; YENDO, TATIANA MINA; EMIDIO TEIXEIRA, FRANCIANE MOURADIAN; OLIVEIRA, LUANA DE MENDONCA; BESERRA, DANIELLE ROSA; PIETROBON, ANNA JULIA; DE OLIVEIRA, EMILY ARAUJO; CALVIELLI CASTELO BRANCO, ANNA CLAUDIA; et al. SARS-CoV-2 Infection and CMV Dissemination in Transplant Recipients as a Treatment for Chagas Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report. TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE, v. 6, n. 1, MAR 2021. (18/18230-6, 17/18199-9, 19/02679-7, 19/26928-6, 19/22448-0)

ALBERCA, RICARDO WESLEY; TEIXEIRA, FRANCIANE MOURADIAN EMIDIO; BESERRA, DANIELLE ROSA; DE OLIVEIRA, EMILY ARAUJO; ANDRADE, MILENA MARY DE SOUZA; PIETROBON, ANNA JULIA; SATO, MARIA NOTOMI. Perspective: The Potential Effects of Naringenin in COVID-19. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 11, SEP 25 2020. (19/02679-7, 17/18199-9, 18/18230-6)

PIETROBON, ANNA JULIA; TEIXEIRA, FRANCIANE MOURADIAN EMIDIO; SATO, MARIA NOTOMI. I mmunosenescence and Inflammaging: Risk Factors of Severe COVID-19 in Older People. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 11, OCT 27 2020. (17/18199-9, 18/18230-6)

TEIXEIRA, FRANCIANE MOURADIAN EMIDIO; OLIVEIRA, LUANA DE MENDONCA; PIETROBON, ANNA JULIA; DE SALLES, ERIKA MACHADO; D'IMPERIO LIMA, MARIA REGINA; VIANA, ISABELLE FREIRE TABOSA; LINS, ROBERTO DIAS; RIGATO, PAULA ORDONHEZ; MARQUES, ERNESTO TORRES DE AZEVEDO; DA SILVA DUARTE, ALBERTO JOSE; et al. LAMP-1 Chimeric to HIV-1 p55Gag in the Immunization of Neonate Mice Induces an Early Germinal Center Formation and AID Expression. VACCINES, v. 10, n. 8, p. 14-pg., 2022-08-01. (19/25119-7, 18/18230-6, 17/18199-9)

TEIXEIRA, FRANCIANE MOURADIAN EMIDIO; PIETROBON, ANNA JULIA; OLIVEIRA, LUANA DE MENDONCA; OLIVEIRA, LUANDA MARA DA SILVA; SATO, MARIA NOTOMI. Maternal-Fetal Interplay in Zika Virus Infection and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 11, FEB 14 2020. (17/18199-9, 18/18230-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

TEIXEIRA, Franciane Mouradian Emidio. Design and efficacy evaluation of a DNA vaccine against zika virus in mice. 2023. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.