Characterization of T cell responses to co-administered hookworm vaccine candidates Na-GST-1 and Na-APR-1 in healthy adults in Gabon

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Oct 1;15(10):e0009732. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009732. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Two hookworm vaccine candidates, Na-GST-1 and Na-APR-1, formulated with Glucopyranosyl Lipid A (GLA-AF) adjuvant, have been shown to be safe, well tolerated, and to induce antibody responses in a Phase 1 clinical trial (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02126462) conducted in Gabon. Here, we characterized T cell responses in 24 Gabonese volunteers randomized to get vaccinated three times with Na-GST-1 and Na-APR-1 at doses of 30μg (n = 8) or 100μg (n = 10) and as control Hepatitis B (n = 6). Blood was collected pre- and post-vaccination on days 0, 28, and 180 as well as 2-weeks after each vaccine dose on days 14, 42, and 194 for PBMCs isolation. PBMCs were stimulated with recombinant Na-GST-1 or Na-APR-1, before (days 0, 28 and 180) and two weeks after (days 14, 42 and 194) each vaccination and used to characterize T cell responses by flow and mass cytometry. A significant increase in Na-GST-1 -specific CD4+ T cells producing IL-2 and TNF, correlated with specific IgG antibody levels, after the third vaccination (day 194) was observed. In contrast, no increase in Na-APR-1 specific T cell responses were induced by the vaccine. Mass cytometry revealed that, Na-GST-1 cytokine producing CD4+ T cells were CD161+ memory cells expressing CTLA-4 and CD40-L. Blocking CTLA-4 enhanced the cytokine response to Na-GST-1. In Gabonese volunteers, hookworm vaccine candidate, Na-GST-1, induces detectable CD4+ T cell responses that correlate with specific antibody levels. As these CD4+ T cells express CTLA-4, and blocking this inhibitory molecules resulted in enhanced cytokine production, the question arises whether this pathway can be targeted to enhance vaccine immunogenicity.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Adult
  • Ancylostomatoidea / genetics
  • Ancylostomatoidea / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / immunology
  • Antibody Formation
  • Antigens, Helminth / administration & dosage*
  • Antigens, Helminth / genetics
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / genetics
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / immunology
  • Female
  • Gabon
  • Hookworm Infections / immunology*
  • Hookworm Infections / parasitology
  • Hookworm Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines / genetics
  • Vaccines / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Vaccines

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02126462

Grants and funding

This project has received funding from: 1- The European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration (https://cordis.europa.eu/programme/id/FP7) under grant agreement no 602843 (HOOKVAC) to Remko Van Leeuwen. 2- The German Center for Infection Research DZIF CRG (https://www.dzif.de/en) 80207STRUK (TTU.03.703) to AAA. 3- Bontius Stichting (https://www.cbf.nl/organisatie/bontius-stichting--research-foundation), to MY. 4- Stichting Tabernaleporis (https://www.tabernaleporis.nl/), to MY. 5- Leiden University Medical Center Strategic Fund for Leiden Controlled Human Infection Center (L-CHIC), to MY. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.