Immunological responses following administration of a genotype 1a/1b/2/3a quadrivalent HCV VLP vaccine

Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 24;8(1):6483. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24762-9.

Abstract

The significant public health problem of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been partially addressed with the advent of directly acting antiviral agents (DAAs). However, the development of an effective preventative vaccine would have a significant impact on HCV incidence and would represent a major advance towards controlling and possibly eradicating HCV globally. We previously reported a genotype 1a HCV viral-like particle (VLP) vaccine that produced neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and T cell responses to HCV. To advance this approach, we produced a quadrivalent genotype 1a/1b/2a/3a HCV VLP vaccine to produce broader immune responses. We show that this quadrivalent vaccine produces antibody and NAb responses together with strong T and B cell responses in vaccinated mice. Moreover, selective neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs) targeting conserved antigenic domain B and D epitopes of the E2 protein bound strongly to the HCV VLPs, suggesting that these critical epitopes are expressed on the surface of the particles. Our findings demonstrate that a quadrivalent HCV VLP based vaccine induces broad humoral and cellular immune responses that will be necessary for protection against HCV. Such a vaccine could provide a substantial addition to highly active antiviral drugs in eliminating HCV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / genetics
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / immunology
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neutralization Tests
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / immunology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Epitopes
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Hepatitis Vaccines