The adjuvant activity of alphavirus replicons is enhanced by incorporating the microbial molecule flagellin into the replicon

PLoS One. 2013 Jun 13;8(6):e65964. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065964. Print 2013.

Abstract

Ligands of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) including Toll-like receptors (TLRs) stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses and are considered as potent adjuvants. Combinations of ligands might act in synergy to induce stronger and broader immune responses compared to stand-alone ligands. Alphaviruses stimulate endosomal TLRs 3, 7 and 8 as well as the cytoplasmic PRR MDA-5, resulting in induction of a strong type I interferon (IFN) response. Bacterial flagellin stimulates TLR5 and when delivered intracellularly the cytosolic PRR NLRC4, leading to secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Both alphaviruses and flagellin have independently been shown to act as adjuvants for antigen-specific antibody responses. Here, we hypothesized that alphavirus and flagellin would act in synergy when combined. We therefore cloned the Salmonella Typhimurium flagellin (FliC) gene into an alphavirus replicon and assessed its adjuvant activity on the antibody response against co-administered antigen. In mice immunized with recombinant alphavirus, antibody responses were greatly enhanced compared to soluble FliC or control alphavirus. Both IgG1 and IgG2a/c responses were increased, indicating an enhancement of both Th1 and Th2 type responses. The adjuvant activity of FliC-expressing alphavirus was diminished but not abolished in the absence of TLR5 or type I IFN signaling, suggesting the contribution of several signaling pathways and some synergistic and redundant activity of its components. Thus, we have created a recombinant adjuvant that stimulates multiple signaling pathways of innate immunity resulting in a strong and broad antibody response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Alphavirus / genetics*
  • Alphavirus / immunology*
  • Alphavirus / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Cricetinae
  • Flagellin / genetics*
  • Flagellin / immunology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Replicon*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / genetics
  • Salmonella typhimurium / immunology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5 / metabolism

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interferon Type I
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5
  • Flagellin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council (www.vr.se) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (www.sida.se). MLK is a recipient of Karolinska Institutet Faculty Funding for Doctoral Students (www.ki.se). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.