Human antibody response to N-glycans present on plant-made influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 32; no. 46; pp. 6098 - 6106
• Main Authors: Ward, Brian J., Landry, Nathalie, Trépanier, Sonia, Mercier, Geneviève, Dargis, Michèle, Couture, Manon, D’Aoust, Marc-André, Vézina, Louis-P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 21.10.2014; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Allergens; Allergens - immunology; Allergies; Allergy; Allergy and Immunology; antennae; antibodies; Antibody Formation; Applied microbiology; avidin; Biological and medical sciences; Bromelain assay; bromelains; CCDs; Clinical trials; Cross Reactions - immunology; Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants; Double-Blind Method; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; FDA approval; Food allergies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycoproteins; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - immunology; hemagglutinins; Humans; Humoral response; Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity - immunology; IgE; IgG; Immunization; immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin E - blood; immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; influenza; Influenza A virus; Influenza Vaccines - biosynthesis; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; mannose; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Nicotiana - metabolism; Nicotiana benthamiana; Plant-made vaccines; Plant-specific glycans; polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - immunology; Proteins; Rice; transfection; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle - biosynthesis; Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle - immunology; Virology; virus-like particle vaccines; Young Adult; Zea mays - immunology; USA, California; Indonesia; PBS; Allergy; Humoral response; MMXF3; CCD; IgE; Plant-made vaccines; IgG; MMF3; IgG/E; CCDs; Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants; NA; Influenza A virus; Plant-specific glycans; Bromelain assay; MUXF3; HA; MMX; VLP; GlcNAc (Gn); hemagglutinin; virus-like particle; phosphate-buffered saline; MUXF 3; MMF 3; Manα1-6(Xylβ1-2)Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc; N-acetylglucosamine; MMXF 3; (Manα1-3)(Manα1-6Xylβ1-2)Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc; (Manα1-3)(Manα1-6Xylβ1-2)Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4GlcNAc; (Manα1-3)Manα1-6Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc; neuraminidase; immunoglobulin G or E; Orthomyxoviridae; Carbohydrate; Flulike syndrome; Humoral immunity; Human; Immunopathology; Immune response; Enzyme; Virus like particle; Antiinflammatory agent; Bromelains; Vaccine; Influenzavirus; Glycan; Virus; Influenzavirus A
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.08.079
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518

Plant-made biotherapeutics are gathering momentum and some plant glycoproteins are allergens. Glycans with core β1-2xylose and α1,3fucose motifs and antennae terminated by mannose residues (e.g.: MMXF) are found on several plant allergens and can cross-react with glyco-epitopes from other sources. To date, reactivity to these cross-reactive determinants has not been associated with clinical symptoms. We produced VLP vaccines bearing the hemagglutinin(HA) of H5(A/Indonesia/5/05) or H1(A/California/07/09) influenza viruses by transfection of Nicotiana benthamiana. Subjects enrolled in Phase I/II trials were followed for evidence of allergy/hypersensitivity and development of antibodies against plant glyco-epitopes. A total of 280/349 subjects received either one (H1) or 2 doses (H5) of vaccine (5–45μg of HA/dose) intramuscularly including 40 with pre-existing plant allergies. Subjects were monitored for 6 months. IgG and IgE to plant glyco-epitopes were measured by ELISA using corn-/egg-derived avidin and bromelain as target antigens. No subject developed allergic/hypersensitivity symptoms. Some (34%) developed transient IgG and, in some cases IgE, to plant glyco-epitopes but no subject mounted an IgE response to the MMXF motif. Antibodies returned to baseline by 6 months in most subjects. VLP vaccines bearing influenza HA glycoproteins can elicit transient IgG and, in some cases, IgE responses that are not associated with either the development or worsening of allergic/hypersensitivity symptoms.