Biology subjects

Traversier, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Traversier, A..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

REAL-TIME AT-LINE MONITORING OF INFLUENZA VIRUS IN CELL CULTURE BY A SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE BIOSENSOR

Since the early 2000, regulation agencies have encouraged viral vaccine manufacturers to implement in-process and real-time monitoring tools in production processes. Even if more assays have been recently developed, none of the novel viral particle quantification technologies can monitor virus levels and their secretion kinetics within production vessels. Vaccine manufacturers still rely on offline cell-based infectivity assays and antigen amount quantification to monitor their processes. The present study describes the development of the first automated biosensor for at-line monitoring of influenza virus production. It involves coupling a fetuin-based SPRi quantitative biosensor with an automated sampler of culture broth and a consecutive clarification setup via an acoustic filter. The SPRi response of different viral strains produced in two distinct cell production platforms was qualified. We demonstrated that fetuin-based quantitative SPRi is a robust, potency-indicating, and universal analytical technology for quantifying bioactive influenza virus particles. It was validated with both purified and complex matrices. Finally, an influenza viral production kinetic was monitored online for three days. This novel online tool enabled the access in real-time to total bioactive viral particles from early production phases (8hpi).

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2021

A novel effective live-attenuated human metapneumovirus vaccine candidate produced in the serum-free suspension DuckCelt-T17 cell platform

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major pediatric respiratory pathogen for which there is currently no specific treatment or licensed vaccine. Different strategies have been evaluated to prevent this infection, including the use of live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs). However, further development of LAV approaches is often hampered by the lack of highly efficient and scalable cell-based production systems that support worldwide vaccine production. In this context, avian cell lines cultivated in suspension are currently competing with traditional cell platforms used for viral vaccine manufacturing. We investigated whether the DuckCelt(R)-T17 avian cell line (Vaxxel) we previously described as an efficient production system for several influenza strains could also be used to produce a new HMPV LAV candidate (Metavac(R)), an engineered SH gene-deleted mutant of the A1/C-85473 strain of HMPV. To that end, we characterized the operational parameters of multiplicity of infection (MOI), cell density, and trypsin addition to achieve optimal production of the LAV Metavac(R) in the DuckCelt(R)-T17 cell line platform. We demonstrated that the DuckCelt(R)-T17 cell line is permissive and is well adapted to the production of the wild-type A1/C-85473 HMPV and the Metavac(R) vaccine candidate. Moreover, our results confirmed that the LAV candidate produced in DuckCelt(R)-T17 cells conserves its advantageous replication properties in LLC-MK2 and 3D-reconstituted human airway epithelium models, as well as its capacity to induce efficient neutralizing antibodies in a mouse model. Our results suggest that the DuckCelt(R)-T17 avian cell line is a very promising platform for scalable in-suspension serum-free production of the HMPV-based LAV candidate Metavac(R).

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus-induced immune signature of infection revealed by transcriptome analysis of clinical pediatric nasopharyngeal swab samples

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) constitutes one the main causes of respiratory infection in neonates and infants worldwide. Transcriptome analysis of clinical samples using high-throughput technologies remains an important tool to better understand virus-host complex interactions in the real-life setting but also to identify new diagnosis/prognosis markers or therapeutics targets. A major challenge when exploiting clinical samples such as nasal swabs, washes or bronchoalveolar lavages is the poor quantity and integrity of nucleic acids. In this study, we applied a tailored transcriptomics workflow to exploit nasal wash samples from children who tested positive for HRSV. Our analysis revealed a characteristic immune signature as a direct reflection of HRSV pathogenesis and highlighted putative biomarkers of interest.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Transcriptional profiling of immune and inflammatory responses in the context of SARS-CoV-2 fungal superinfection in a human airway epithelial model

Superinfections of bacterial/fungal origin are known to affect the course and severity of respiratory viral infections. An increasing number of evidence indicate a relatively high prevalence of superinfections associated with COVID-19, including invasive aspergillosis, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be characterized. In the present study, to better understand the biological impact of superinfection we sought to determine and compare the host transcriptional response to SARS-CoV-2 versus Aspergillus superinfection, using a model of reconstituted humain airway epithelium. Our analyses reveal that both simple infection and superinfection induce a strong deregulation of core components of innate immune and inflammatory responses, with a stronger response to superinfection in the bronchial epithelial model compared to its nasal counterpart. Our results also highlight unique transcriptional footprints of SARS-CoV-2 Aspergillus superinfection, such as an imbalanced type I/type III IFN, and an induction of several monocyte- and neutrophil associated chemokines, that could be useful for the understanding of Aspergillus-associated COVID-19 and but also management of severe forms of aspergillosis in this specific context.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Characterization and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 in nasal and bronchial human airway epithelia

In the current COVID-19 pandemic context, proposing and validating effective treatments represents a major challenge. However, the lack of biologically relevant pre-clinical experimental models of SARS-CoV-2 infection as a complement of classic cell lines represents a major barrier for scientific and medical progress. Here, we advantageously used human reconstituted airway epithelial models of nasal or bronchial origin to characterize viral infection kinetics, tissue-level remodeling of the cellular ultrastructure and transcriptional immune signatures induced by SARS-CoV-2. Our results underline the relevance of this model for the preclinical evaluation of antiviral candidates. Foremost, we provide evidence on the antiviral efficacy of remdesivir and the therapeutic potential of the remdesivir-diltiazem combination as a rapidly available option to respond to the current unmet medical need imposed by COVID-19. One Sentence SummaryNew insights on SARS-CoV-2 biology and drug combination therapies against COVID-19.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Strain-dependent impact of G and SH deletions provide new insights for live-attenuated HMPV vaccine development

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major pediatric respiratory pathogen with currently no specific treatment or licensed vaccine. Different strategies to prevent this infection have been evaluated, including live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) based on SH and/or G protein deletions. This approach showed promising outcomes but has not been evaluated further using different viral strains. In that regard, we previously showed that different HMPV strains harbor distinct in vitro fusogenic and in vivo pathogenic phenotypes, possibly influencing the selection of vaccine strains. In this study, we investigated the putative contribution of the low conserved SH or G accessory proteins in such strain-dependent phenotypes and generated recombinant wild type (WT) and SH- or G-deleted viruses derived from two different patient-derived HMPV strains, A1/C-85473 and B2/CAN98-75.\n\nThe {Delta}SH and {Delta}G deletions led to different strain-specific phenotypes in both LLC-MK2 cell and reconstituted human airway epithelium models. More interestingly, the {Delta}G-85473 and especially {Delta}SH-C-85473 recombinant viruses conferred significant protection against HMPV challenge and induced immunogenicity against a heterologous strain. In conclusion, our results show that the viral genetic backbone should be considered in the design of live-attenuated HMPV vaccines, and that a SH-deleted virus based on the A1/C-85473 HMPV strain could be a promising LAV candidate as it is both attenuated and protective in mice while being efficiently produced in a cell-based system.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Repurposing of drugs as novel influenza inhibitors from clinical gene expression infection signatures

BackgroundInfluenza virus infections remain a major and recurrent public health burden. The intrinsic ever-evolving nature of this virus, the suboptimal efficacy of current influenza inactivated vaccines, as well as the emergence of resistance against a limited antiviral arsenal, highlight the critical need for novel therapeutic approaches. In this context, the aim of this study was to develop and validate an innovative strategy for drug repurposing as host-targeted inhibitors of influenza viruses and the rapid evaluation of the most promising candidates in Phase II clinical trials.\n\nMethodsWe exploited in vivo global transcriptomic signatures of infection directly obtained from a patient cohort to determine a shortlist of already marketed drugs with newly identified, host-targeted inhibitory properties against influenza virus. The antiviral potential of selected repurposing candidates was further evaluated in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo.\n\nResultsOur strategy allowed the selection of a shortlist of 35 high potential candidates out of a rationalized computational screening of 1,309 FDA-approved bioactive molecules, 31 of which were validated for their significant in vitro antiviral activity. Our in vivo and ex vivo results highlight diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker currently used in the treatment of hypertension, as a promising option for the treatment of influenza infections. Additionally, transcriptomic signature analysis further revealed the so far undescribed capacity of diltiazem to modulate the expression of specific genes related to the host antiviral response and cholesterol metabolism. Finally, combination treatment with diltiazem and virus-targeted oseltamivir neuraminidase inhibitor further increased antiviral efficacy, prompting rapid authorization for the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial.\n\nConclusionsThis original, host-targeted, drug repurposing strategy constitutes an effective and highly reactive process for the rapid identification of novel anti-infectious drugs, with potential major implications for the management of antimicrobial resistance and the rapid response to future epidemic or pandemic (re)emerging diseases for which we are still disarmed.

microbiology↗