Characterization of an Escherichia coli-derived human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 bivalent vaccine

Vaccine. 2017 Aug 16;35(35 Pt B):4637-4645. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.06.084. Epub 2017 Jul 20.

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 account for approximately 70% of cervical cancer worldwide. Neutralizing HPV prophylactic vaccines offer significant benefit, as they block HPV infection and prevent subsequent disease. However, the three licensed HPV vaccines that cover these two genotypes were produced in eukaryotic cells, which is expensive, particularly for low-income countries where HPV is highest. Here, we report a new HPV16 and -18 bivalent candidate vaccine produced from Escherichia coli. We used two strategies of N-terminal truncation of HPV L1 proteins and soluble non-fusion expression to generate HPV16 and HPV18 L1-only virus-like particles (VLPs) in a scalable process. Through comprehensive characterization of the bivalent candidate vaccine, we confirm lot consistency in a pilot scale-up of 30L, 100L and 500L. Using cryo-EM 3D reconstruction, we found that HPV16 and -18VLPs present in a T=7 icosahedral arrangement, similar in shape and size to that of the native virions. This HPV16/18 bivalent vaccine shares comparable immunogenicity with the licensed vaccines. Overall, we show that the production of a HPV16/18 bivalent vaccine from an E. coli expression system is robust and scalable, with potentially good accessibility worldwide as a population-based immunization strategy.

Keywords: Bivalent vaccine; Cervical cancers; Escherichia coli; Human papillomavirus; Virus-like particle.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / immunology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / immunology
  • Female
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / genetics
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / immunology*
  • Human papillomavirus 18 / genetics
  • Human papillomavirus 18 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunogenicity, Vaccine
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / immunology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / economics
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / genetics
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / immunology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Capsid Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle
  • L1 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • L1 protein, Human papillomavirus type 18