RECOMBINANT VACCINIA VIRUS FOR PREVENTION OF DISEASE CAUSED BY FLAVIVIRUS

Abstract: A recombinant vaccinia virus contains complete coding sequence for the expression of flavivirus antigenic proteins. A vaccine against flavivirus disease is also provided.

Description: RECOMBINANT VACCINIA VIRUS FOR PREVENTION OF DISEASE CAUSED BY FLAVIVIRUS Technical Field The present invention is related to the construction of recombinant vaccinia viruses. More par¬ ticularly, the present invention is related to the con¬ struction of recombinant vaccinia viruses which are useful for the preparation of a vaccine for the preven¬ tion of diseases caused by flaviviruses, such as dengue virus, Japanese B encephalitis virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Background of the Invention Certain diseases of public health concern, such as dengue disease and encephalitis of certain types are known to be caused by viruses belonging to the flavivirus family. It has been estimated that up to 100 million illnesses occur every year in tropical areas of the world due to dengue virus alone. However, there is no effec¬ tive and specific i munoprophylactic measure to control such flavivirus diseases. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a recombinant vaccinia virus which induces an immune response against a specific flavivirus disease in a host infected with said recombinant vaccinia virus. * Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, features and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be better understood upon a reading of the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows schematic construction of a dengue virus-vaccinia virus recombinant plasmid. The intermediate cloning vector pscll contains interrupted thymidine kinase gene sequences (T R amd TK L ) and a bac¬ terial 7?-galactosidase gene (LacZ) under the transcrip¬ tion control of the Pll vaccinia virus promoter. The vector DNA was partially digested with BamHI to open the BamHI site downstream of the P7.5 promoter for insertion of the 4.1 kilobase (Kb} fragment of dengue virus DNA located at the 5' end of the viral genone. This fragment of dengue cDNA contains the coding region for the three dengue structural proteins [capsid (C), pre-membrane (pre-M) , and envelope glycoprotein (E)] plus the first two downstream non-structural proteins NS1 and NS2a. Recombinant plasmid containing the dengue virus DNA insert in the sense " transcription orientation was selected and used for construction of the recombinant vaccinia virus. Figures 2A and 2B demonstrate the identification of dengue virus proteins synthesized by the recombinant vaccinia virus. (Figure 2A: ) Immuno- precipitation of [ 35 S]-methionine-labeled lysate from recombinant vaccinia virus-infected cells (multiplicity of infection, 10 PFU per cell) was carried out with one of the following specific antibodies, monoclonal antibody 1H10, specific for the envelope glycoprotein (E); rabbit antibodies prepared against dengue virus type 2 nonstructural protein l(NSι) monoclonal antibody 5C9 specific for the membrane glycoprotein precursor (preM) ; and polyvalent antibodies (P). The labeled precipitates were analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-12% polyacryla ide gels. Also shown are the labeled dengue virus protein markers (D) obtained by immunoprecipitation with polyvalent antibodies of [ 35 S]-methionine-labeled lysate from dengue virus-infected CV-1 cells. (Figure 2B: ) Labeled immunoprecipitates prepared as described above were analyzed by digestion with endoglycosidase H (endo H) and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Numbers at the left of the gels indicate protein sizes in kilodaltons. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The above and various other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a recombinant vaccinia virus containing complete coding sequence for the expression of the major specific protec¬ tive flavivirus antigens in cells infected with said recombinant vaccinia virus, said antigens inducing pro¬ tective immunity against infection by said flavivirus in a susceptible host. Unless f defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned hereunder are incorporated herein by reference. Unless mentioned otherwise, the techniques employed herein are standard methodologies well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Like other members of the flavivirus family, extracellular dengue virus has a relatively simple structure. Virions contain only three virus-coded pro- teins, designated capsid (C) protein, membrane (M) pro¬ tein, and envelope (E) glycoprotein. Intracellular virus, which is also infectious, lacks M but contains another glycoprotein, preM, from which M is derived by cleavage. Both C and M are internal proteins. The sur- face envelope glycoprotein is the major site responsible for neutralization of infectivity by specific anti¬ bodies. The envelope glycoprotein also exhibits hemag- glutinating activity and is responsible for adsorption to the cell surface. Several nonstructural proteins have also been identified in dengue virus-infected cells. Among them is nonstructural protein NSl, which is a glycoprotein and described as a soluble complement-fixing antigen. It is believed that NSl plays an important role in mediating immunity, since the analogous NSl glycopro¬ tein of yellow fever virus has been shown to be a protec¬ tive antigen in mice and in primates. Furthermore, the NSl of dengue type 2 virus has been shown to be a protec¬ tive antigen. The dengue type 4 virus genome consists of a molecule of positive-stranded RNA 10,644 nucleotides in length. A full-length cDNA copy of the dengue type 4 virus has been prepared, and its complete nucleotide sequence determined. From such studies, it has been estimated that 96% of the dengue virus genome codes for a polyprotein which is cleaved by specific protease(s) to generate individual viral proteins. The three structural proteins, C-M-E, are located at the amino terminus, while nonstructural proteins NSl-NS2a-NS2b-NS3-NS4a-NS4b-NS5 are at the carboxy-terminus. It must be emphasized that because dengue virus gene expression involves proteolytic cleavage of the polyprotein, it cannot be assumed a_ priori that the expression of protective antigens such as E and NSl from their cloned DNA sequences, would be use¬ ful in im unoprophylaxis. Such determination can be made only through actual testing. The construction of a vaccinia flavivirus recombinant is now illustrated by employing dengue virus genes as an example. Vaccinia virus was used as a vector for con¬ struction of a live recombinant virus expressing dengue viral genes. The Bglll DNA fragment (4,041 base pairs, nucleotides 88 to 4128) from the 5' terminus of dengue type 4 virus cDNA contains the coding region for the three structural proteins as well as nonstructural pro¬ teins NSl and NS2a. This fragment was excised from the full-length dengue virus DNA copy and was inserted into the PSC11 vaccinia intermediate vector. The dengue virus DNA sequence was inserted in the BamHI site immediately downstream of the vaccinia P7.5 early-late promoter (Figure 1). In this construct, the dengue virus coding sequence was placed under the transcriptional control of the vaccinia virus P7.5 early-late promoter. The vector contained a bacterial -galactosidase gene under the control of the vaccinia virus Pll late promoter, which provided a visual selectable marker. The chimeric genes were flanked by sequences of the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase gene, which directed homologous recombination of dengue virus sequences into the vaccinia virus genome following transfection of simian CV-1 cells previously infected with wild type vaccinia virus (WR strain) . Recombinant vaccinia virus harboring the dengue virus DNA insert was isolated and plaque purified two times on thymidine kinase minus (TK) cells in selective medium. Other dengue cDNA fragments, vide infra, were inserted into a vaccinia recombinant virus by the method just described. Similarly, constructs of other flavivirus- vaccinia recombinants are made by inserting flavivirus cDNA following the procedure described herein for dengue virus. Dengue virus-specific proteins synthesized during infection with the recombinant virus were initial¬ ly detected by indirect immunofluorescence. CV-1 cells infected with the recombinant virus exhibited fluor- escent-stainable antigens in the cytoplasm when poly- valent dengue type 4 virus hyperimmune mouse antiserum was used, although the intensity of staining was less than that observed in dengue virus-infected cells. Simi¬ lar immunofluorescence was observed in CV-1 cells infected with the recombinant virus when monoclonal anti¬ body specific to the E glycoprotein was used. To further identify this and other dengue virus proteins, recombinant virus-infected cells were radio- labeled with [ JJ ]methionine and the cell lysate was pre¬ pared for immunoprecipitation by specific antibodies. Analysis of the labeled precipitate on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel (Figure 2A) showed that the polyvalent hyperimmune mouse antiserum precipitated three major bands with estimated molecular size 20, 40 to 46, and 55 to 60 kilodaltons (kDa) , respectively. Minor bands of larger molecular size that were probably non¬ specific were also observed. When an E glycoprotein- specific monoclonal antibody (1H10) was used, a 55 to 60- kDa band consistent with the molecular size of the E glycoprotein was precipitated. Similarly, dengue type 2 virus NSl-specific antiserum (obtained from Dr. J. Schlesinger) precipitated a 40- to 46-kDa band, which is the predicted size for the NSl nonstructural glycopro¬ tein. The third major band precipitated by dengue type 4 virus hyperimmune antiserum was approximately 20 kDa which is consistent with the size of the intracellular preM glycoprotein. A similar band was precipitated by preM-specific antibodies (monoclonal antibody 2H2 or 5C9, obtained from Dr. M. K. Gentry of WRAIR) . Thus, in recombinant virus-infected cells, the three glycoproteins encoded in the cloned DNA appeared to be cleaved and modified by glycosylation in a manner similar to that observed during dengue virus infection. This suggests that the dengue viral structural proteins, as well as the NSl nonstructural protein, were spe¬ cifically processed by proteolytic cleavage of the poly¬ protein in the absence of dengue virus functions provided by the distal nonstructural proteins NS2b through NS5. However, as estimated by immunoprecipitation, the amount of dengue preM, E nad NSl glycoproteins produced in recombinant virus infected cells was significantly less than in dengue type 4 virus-infected cells. The pattern of glycosylation of the glycopro¬ teins produced in recombinant virus-infected cells varied as indicated by their response to endoglycosidase H, which cleaves the mannose rich carbohydrate core. The preM protein band was completely sensitive to endo- glycosidase H treatment, yielding a band of 17 kDa, a reduction of 3 kDA in molecular size. On the other hand, a significant portion of the carbohydrate of both the E and the NSl glycoproteins appeared to be resistant to endoglycosidase H digestion. Each of the dengue virus glycoproteins, i.e., preM, E and NSl, is preceded by a stretch of hydrophobic amino acids which can serve as a signal. This indicates that cellular signalase is probably responsible for pro- teolytic cleavage. Presumably, the cleavage mechanism which generates the three glycoproteins, also yields the capsid protein, which is located amino terminal to the preM glycoprotein.' As described herein above, initially a recombinant vaccinia virus containing a 4.0 Kb sequence from the 5' terminus of cDNA that codes for the three structural proteins [capsid (C), membrane (M) , and envelope (E)] and nonstructural proteins NSl and NS2a was constructed. Subsequently, another recombinant vaccinia virus expressing only the three structural proteins was constructed by deleting the coding sequence for non¬ structural proteins. Protein analysis showed that cells infected with the first recombinant virus v(C-M-E-NSl- NS2a) produced authentic pre-membrane (preM), envelope (E), and NSl glycoproteins as detected by radioimmuno- precipitation using specific antibodies. These dengue proteins showed a glycosylation pattern similar to that found for these proteins produced during dengue virus infection. The second recombinant virus (C-M-E) produced dengue virus preM and E glycoproteins. As expected, NSl was not synthesized by the second recombinant (Table 2). The mouse model of dengue encephalitis was employed to evaluate protective immunity induced by these recombinants. Mice were inoculated by the intraperi- η toneal route with 10 plaque forming units (pfu) of recombinant vaccinia virus. Mice were reinoculated with the same dose of recombinant two weeks later. One week after the second inoculation themice were challenged with 100 LDcg of denque virus intracerebrally. The animals were then observed for signs of encephalitis and death. Ninety-one percent of mice immunized with a control vaccinia recombinant virus expressing the envelope glyco¬ protein of HIV died after challenge (Tables 1 and 2). In contrast, 96% of mice immunized with the vaccinia (C-M-E- NSl-NS2a) recombinant that expressed the three structural proteins and NSl, survived. Also, all 15 animals immunized with the vaccinia (C-M-E) recombinant virus that expressed only the three structural proteins were completely protected. These results indicate that structural proteins alone are able to induce protective immunity. Since C and M are internal proteins, it is concluded that E is the major antigen responsible for protection conferred by the v(C-M-E) recombinant. This interpretation is supported by the complete resistance to intracerebral challenge induced by immunization with faccinia recombinants that expressed only the E glyco¬ protein. Data in Table 1 provide such evidence. A recombinant that expressed E including its N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence, or a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) G glycoprotein (amino acids 1 through 70) - E fusion protein or an influenza A virus hemagglutinin N terminal signal peptide - E fusion protein induced com¬ plete protection against dengue virus challenge. The seroresponse of animals immunized with these recombinants was tested by radioimmunoprecipitation of labeled antigens. Each of the animals immunized with the v(C-M-E-NSl-NS2a) recombinant that expressed the three structural proteins and NSl, developed NSl anti¬ bodies, while the amount of antibody to E was low or not detectable. The low level of E antibody response was further confirmed by other serologic tests such as virus neutralization and ELISA. Also, mice infected with the vaccinia recombinant (C-M-E) that expressed only the three structural proteins developed little or no detect- able E antibody. The nonstructural protein NSl expressed by various vaccinia recombinant viruses was also evaluated for its antigenic properties and the most promising pro¬ ducts were evaluated for their protective effect in mice. A total of 6 NSl vaccinia recombinants were studied. These recombinants contained an insert in which: (i) NSl was preceded by the structural protein sequence (C-M-E), (ii) NSl was preceded only by its immediate upstream hydrophobic sequence or (iii) NSl was not preceded by structural genes or its immediate upstream hydrophobic sequence. Each of these inserts terminated with the complete NS2a sequence or the N terminal 15% of the NS2a sequence. The v(C-M-E-NSl-NS2a) and v(NSl-NS2a) recombinants produced authentic NSl, whereas other recoirtbinants that lacked the NSl N terminal hydrophobic signal or lacked the complete downstream NS2a sequence yielded a NSl product of different molecular size and/or were not glycosylated as indicated by gel analysis. From these studies it was concluded that the N-terminal signal sequence of NSl and the complete down¬ stream NS2a sequence are required for proper processing and proteolytic cleavage of NSl. The above mentioned NSl recombinants were then evaluated for their prophylactic potential in mouse protection studies as described above. The results indi¬ cated that all but one of 28 mice inoculated with vaccinia (C-M-E-NSl-NS2a) recombinant expressing the structural proteins and NSl survived dengue challenge (Table 1). Significantly, the recombinant which expressed authentic NSl in the absence of structural proteins, i.e., v(NSl-NS2a), induced complete resistance to lethal challenge with dengue virus (Table 2). Other vaccinia recombinants that expressed abnormal NSl induced only partial protection. Thus, vaccination with a vaccinia recombinant that expressed (i) an upstream N- terminal RSV G sequence (amino acids 1-70) fused to NSl or (ii) NSl plus 15% of NS2a, induced only partial pro¬ tection. These tests demonstrate that dengue envelope (E) glycoprotein and nonstructural protein NSl are separate protective antigens, each of which can induce complete resistance to encephalitis in the mouse model of dengue disease. These results now allow the development of vaccinia recombinants expressing E and/or NSl glyco¬ protein as vaccines for protection of humans against dengue type 4 virus. Accordingly, a vaccine comprises an immunogenic amount of the recombinant vaccinia virus which induces protective immunity against a specific flavivirus in a host infected with said recombinant vaccinia virus. Conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or vehicles such as non-toxic buffers, physio¬ logical saline and the like could be used together with adjuvants and booster inoculations, if necessary. Of course, the vaccine can be administered in a single or multiple dosages as indicated. It is important to point out here that a vaccinia-dengue type 2 virus recombinant that contained the dengue sequences for C,M, and E controlled by a Pll vaccinia virus promoter was recently reported by Deubel et al, 1988 (J. Gen. Virol. 69:1921-1929) and failed to protect monkeys against dengue. In contrast, the recombinant of the present invention was efficacious in protecting the test animals against viral infection. Since the genome organization, replication strategy and gene expression of all flaviviruses are similar, recombinant vaccinia viruses having prophylactic property against other flaviviruses are made in a manner similar to the herein illustrated vaccinia-dengue con- struct. A deposit of the recombinant virus has been made at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) , 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20852, U.S.A., on August 19, 1988 under the accession number VR 2228. The deposit shall be viably maintained, and replaced if it becomes non-viable, for a period of 30 years from the date of the deposit, or for 5 years from the last date of request for a sample of the deposit, whichever is longer, and made available to the public without restriction in accordance with the provisions of the law. The Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, upon request, shall have access to the deposit. It is understood that the examples and embodi¬ ments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light there¬ of will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and the scope of the appended claims. TSBLE 1 MICE 12-FECTED WΠH VACCINIA RECO__BINΔNIS EXPRESSING DENGDE ENVELOPE (E) GLYCOPROTEIN WITH OR WITBDOT _ I___mUCTORAL NSl GLYCOPROTEIN DEVELOP RESISTANCE TO FATAL CHA___ENGE WITH DENGUE VIRUS * 85% OF C TERMINAL SEQUENCE OF NS2 A DELETED. ** SURVIVING MICE DEVELOPED MUD SIGNS OF EN(_EIΗALITIS. EXPRESSES FUSION PROTEIN OF N TERMINUS OF RSV G (AMINO ACIDS 1- 70) PLUS E. EXPRESSES FUSION PROTEIN OF INFLUENZA A VIRUS N TERMINAL SIGNAL PEPΠDE EUS E. CONTROL VACCINIA RECOMBINFTNT EXPRESSING ENVELOPE GLYCOPROTEIN OF HIV. TABLE 2 MICE INFECTED WDTH VACCINIA RECC_fflINANT EXPRESSIN3 ONLY DENGUE NONSTRUCTURAL PROTEIN NSl DEVELOP RESISTANCE 85% OF C TERMINAL SEQUENCE OF NS2 A DELETED. + EXPRESSES FUSION PROTEIN OF RSV G (AMINO ACIDS 1-70) PLUS NSl. • H- CONTROL VACCINIA RECOMBINANT EXPRESSING ENVELOPE GLYCOPRCffilN OF HIV.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A recombinant vaccinia virus containing complete coding sequence for the expression of flavivirus antigenic proteins. 2. The virus of claim 1 wherein said flavi¬ virus is a dengue type 4 virus. 3. The virus of claim 1 wherein said flavi¬ virus is a Japanese B or tick-borne encephalitis virus. 4. The virus of claim 1 wherein said antigenic protein is selected from the group consisting of a part or whole of an envelope glycoprotein, capsid protein, pre-matrix protein, NSl, NS2 nonstructural protein and a combination thereof. 5. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising an immunogenic amount of the virus of claim 1 in a pharma¬ ceutically acceptable carrier. 6. A method for inducing protective immunity against a flavivirus disease, comprising inoculating a host susceptible to flavivirus with an immunogenic amount of the virus of claim 1 in a single or multiple dosages.

Inventors: BRAY MICHAEL P, CHANOCK ROBERT M, LAI CHING-JUH, ZHAO BANGTI, BRAY, MICHAEL, P., CHANOCK, ROBERT, M., LAI, CHING-JUH, ZHAO, BANGTI
Applicants: US HEALTH, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, REPRESENTED BY THE S
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A61K39
IPC codes: A61K39, C07K14, C12N7, C12N15, C12R1