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Fusion of Na‐ ASP‐2 with human immunoglobulin Fcγ abrogates histamine release from basophils sensitized with anti‐ Na‐ ASP‐2 IgE
Author(s) -
ZHAN B.,
SANTIAGO H.,
KEEGAN B.,
GILLESPIE P.,
XUE J.,
BETHONY J.,
De OLIVEIRA L. M.,
JIANG D.,
DIEMERT D.,
XIAO S.H.,
JONES K.,
FENG X.,
HOTEZ P. J.,
BOTTAZZI M. E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2012.01371.x
Subject(s) - necator americanus , immunogenicity , immunoglobulin e , biology , immunology , antigen , antigenicity , antibody , fusion protein , immune system , histamine , recombinant dna , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , helminths , biochemistry , pharmacology , gene , ascaris lumbricoides
Summary Na‐ ASP‐2 is a major protein secreted by infective third‐stage larvae (L3) of the human hookworm Necator americanus upon host entry. It was chosen as a lead vaccine candidate for its ability to elicit protective immune responses. However, clinical development of this antigen as a recombinant vaccine was halted because it caused allergic reactions among some of human volunteers previously infected with N. americanus . To prevent IgE‐mediated allergic reactions induced by Na‐ ASP‐2 but keep its immunogenicity as a vaccine antigen, we designed and tested a genetically engineered fusion protein, Fcγ/ Na‐ ASP‐2, composed of full‐length Na‐ ASP‐2 and truncated human IgG Fcγ1 that targets the negative signalling receptor FcγRIIb expressed on pro‐allergic cells. The chimeric recombinant Fcγ/ Na‐ ASP‐2 protein was expressed in Pichia pastoris and shared the similar antigenicity as native Na ‐ASP‐2. Compared to Na‐ ASP‐2, the chimeric fusion protein efficiently reduced the release of histamine in human basophils sensitized with anti‐ Na‐ ASP‐2 IgE obtained from individuals living in a hookworm‐endemic area. In dogs infected with canine hookworm, Fcγ /Na‐ ASP‐2 resulted in significantly reduced immediate‐type skin reactivity when injected intradermally compared with Na‐ ASP‐2. Hamsters vaccinated with Fcγ /Na‐ ASP‐2 formulated with Alhydrogel ® produced specific IgG that recognized Na‐ ASP‐2 and elicited similar protection level against N. americanus L3 challenge as native Na‐ ASP‐2.