2023
Vaccinia Virus Strain MVA Expressing a Prefusion-Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Induces Robust Protection and Prevents Brain Infection in Mouse and Hamster Models
Lorenzo M, Marín-López A, Chiem K, Jimenez-Cabello L, Ullah I, Utrilla-Trigo S, Calvo-Pinilla E, Lorenzo G, Moreno S, Ye C, Park J, Matía A, Brun A, Sánchez-Puig J, Nogales A, Mothes W, Uchil P, Kumar P, Ortego J, Fikrig E, Martinez-Sobrido L, Blasco R. Vaccinia Virus Strain MVA Expressing a Prefusion-Stabilized SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein Induces Robust Protection and Prevents Brain Infection in Mouse and Hamster Models. Vaccines 2023, 11: 1006. PMID: 37243110, PMCID: PMC10220993, DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11051006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVaccine candidatesStrong T cell responsesAngiotensin-converting enzyme 2Prime-boost regimensT cell responsesFull-length SARS-CoV-2 spike proteinEffective COVID-19 vaccineGolden Syrian hamstersSARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteinSARS-CoV-2 spike proteinCOVID-19 vaccineRecombinant MVA vaccinesSARS-CoV-2S proteinBrain infectionMVA vaccinesCell-cell fusionAmino acid substitutionsVaccine platformHamster modelEnzyme 2Recombinant MVAVaccine vectorAnimal modelsRobust immunity
2020
Repeat tick exposure elicits distinct immune responses in guinea pigs and mice
Kurokawa C, Narasimhan S, Vidyarthi A, Booth CJ, Mehta S, Meister L, Diktas H, Strank N, Lynn GE, DePonte K, Craft J, Fikrig E. Repeat tick exposure elicits distinct immune responses in guinea pigs and mice. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2020, 11: 101529. PMID: 32993942, PMCID: PMC7530331, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101529.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGuinea pigsElicit distinct immune responsesDistinct immune responsesGuinea pig modelLocal blood flowImmune animalsInflammatory pathwaysTick rejectionMechanisms of resistanceImmune responseMouse modelVaccine candidatesBite siteBlood flowPig modelCoagulation pathwayComplement activationAcquired ResistanceProtective antigenTick detachmentTick proteinsBlood mealMiceTick infestationRNA sequencingIxodes scapularis saliva components that elicit responses associated with acquired tick-resistance
Narasimhan S, Kurokawa C, Diktas H, Strank NO, Černý J, Murfin K, Cao Y, Lynn G, Trentleman J, Wu MJ, DePonte K, Kantor F, Anguita J, Hovius J, Fikrig E. Ixodes scapularis saliva components that elicit responses associated with acquired tick-resistance. Ticks And Tick-borne Diseases 2020, 11: 101369. PMID: 31924502, PMCID: PMC7382422, DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTick-borne diseasesSalivary antigensAnti-tick vaccine candidatesIxodes scapularisTick salivary antigensTransmission of pathogensTick infestationTick rejectionTick proteinsViable vaccine targetsTick feedingPathogen transmissionRise worldTicksHost immune responseUrgent public health needScapularisMammalian hostsPathogensPublic health needsVaccine candidatesImmune responseSalivary glycoproteinsFeedingVaccine targeting
2018
Immunization with AgTRIO, a Protein in Anopheles Saliva, Contributes to Protection against Plasmodium Infection in Mice
Dragovic SM, Agunbiade TA, Freudzon M, Yang J, Hastings AK, Schleicher TR, Zhou X, Craft S, Chuang YM, Gonzalez F, Li Y, Hrebikova G, Tripathi A, Mlambo G, Almeras L, Ploss A, Dimopoulos G, Fikrig E. Immunization with AgTRIO, a Protein in Anopheles Saliva, Contributes to Protection against Plasmodium Infection in Mice. Cell Host & Microbe 2018, 23: 523-535.e5. PMID: 29649443, PMCID: PMC5998332, DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.03.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPlasmodium infectionBerghei infectionMosquito salivary gland antigensPlasmodium berghei infectionPlasmodium circumsporozoite proteinSalivary gland antigensAnopheles salivaHumanized miceActive immunizationLiver burdenVaccine candidatesInfected mosquitoesCircumsporozoite proteinHost responseMurine dermisInfectionPlasmodium falciparumMiceSalivary glandsSaliva componentsImmunizationAnopheline mosquitoesMalariaAntiserumAntibodies
2011
Identification and Characterization of Ixodes scapularis Antigens That Elicit Tick Immunity Using Yeast Surface Display
Schuijt TJ, Narasimhan S, Daffre S, DePonte K, Hovius JW, Veer C, van der Poll T, Bakhtiari K, Meijers JC, Boder ET, van Dam AP, Fikrig E. Identification and Characterization of Ixodes scapularis Antigens That Elicit Tick Immunity Using Yeast Surface Display. PLOS ONE 2011, 6: e15926. PMID: 21246036, PMCID: PMC3016337, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015926.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSalivary antigensTick salivary antigensPotential vaccine candidatesAnti-coagulant activityTick biteImmunization studiesVaccine candidatesAnti-complement activityTick antigensRepeated exposureTick immunityAntigenRabbit serumHall markTicks resultsImmunitySerumYeast surface display libraryRabbitsDisplay libraryIxodes scapularisDrosophila expression systemP19Surface display libraryP8
2010
Lyme borreliosis vaccination: the facts, the challenge, the future
Schuijt TJ, Hovius JW, van der Poll T, van Dam AP, Fikrig E. Lyme borreliosis vaccination: the facts, the challenge, the future. Trends In Parasitology 2010, 27: 40-47. PMID: 20594913, DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2010.06.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato groupPrevalent arthropod-borne diseaseAnti-tick vaccinesLyme borreliosisArthropod-borne diseaseSensu lato groupTick proteinsTick vectorIxodes ticksNovel vaccination strategiesTicksMammalian hostsVaccination strategiesLyme diseaseVaccine candidatesBorreliosisBorrelia antigensVaccineAntigenDiseaseBorreliaOuter membrane proteinsWestern worldFuture candidatesSpirochetes
2008
A recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein vaccine candidate produced in Spodoptera frugiperda expresSF+ cells
Bonafé N, Rininger JA, Chubet RG, Foellmer HG, Fader S, Anderson JF, Bushmich SL, Anthony K, Ledizet M, Fikrig E, Koski RA, Kaplan P. A recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein vaccine candidate produced in Spodoptera frugiperda expresSF+ cells. Vaccine 2008, 27: 213-222. PMID: 18996430, PMCID: PMC2651515, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.10.046.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVaccine candidatesClinical adverse effectsProtein vaccine candidateRecombinant vaccine candidateWNV vaccineAntibody titersHumoral immunityProtective efficacySafe vaccineWNV infectionChallenge modelVaccine antigensAnimal modelsViral protectionHigh dosesProtein antigensAdverse effectsImmunogenicitySerum-free cultureAntigenCell linesNaïve foalsVaccineAluminum hydroxideInfection
2004
Disruption of Ixodes scapularis anticoagulation by using RNA interference
Narasimhan S, Montgomery RR, DePonte K, Tschudi C, Marcantonio N, Anderson JF, Sauer JR, Cappello M, Kantor FS, Fikrig E. Disruption of Ixodes scapularis anticoagulation by using RNA interference. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2004, 101: 1141-1146. PMID: 14745044, PMCID: PMC337020, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0307669100.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-factor Xa activityNumerous infectious diseasesIxodes scapularis ticksRNA interferenceMultiple anticoagulantsReduction of mRNAXa activityVaccine candidatesInfectious diseasesTick salivaAnticoagulantsBabesia microtiPhysiologic functionI. scapularis salivaSalivary glandsBorrelia burgdorferiTick feedingScapularis ticksAnticoagulant activityAnaplasma phagocytophilumTick engorgementSuch interventionsEngorgement weightEngorgementKey target
1998
Differential Expression of Borrelia burgdorferi Genes during Erythema Migrans and Lyme Arthritis
Fikrig E, Feng W, Aversa J, Schoen R, Flavell R. Differential Expression of Borrelia burgdorferi Genes during Erythema Migrans and Lyme Arthritis. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 1998, 178: 1198-1201. PMID: 9806060, DOI: 10.1086/515684.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLyme arthritisLyme diseaseHuman infectionsPhase III clinical trialsMurine Lyme borreliosisRNA polymerase chain reactionErythema migrans biopsiesErythema migransProtective immunityClinical trialsVaccine candidatesTissue specimensLyme borreliosisPatientsGene expressionBorrelia burgdorferiDiseaseFirst direct demonstrationB. burgdorferiChain reactionArthritisInfectionBorrelia burgdorferi genesOspAB. burgdorferi gene expression
1993
Protective immunity in lyme borreliosis
Fikrig E, Kantor FS, Barthold SW, Flavell RA. Protective immunity in lyme borreliosis. Trends In Parasitology 1993, 9: 129-131. PMID: 15463734, DOI: 10.1016/0169-4758(93)90176-g.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLyme diseaseCommon vector-borne illnessLyme borreliosisVector-borne illnessInitial diagnosisProtective immunityLate diseaseMurine modelSpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiVaccine candidatesSurface antigenEarly infectionDiseaseBorrelia burgdorferiBorreliosisTherapyVaccineIllnessInfectionAntigenDiagnosisImmunity
1992
Borrelia burgdorferi strain 25015: characterization of outer surface protein A and vaccination against infection.
Fikrig E, Barthold SW, Persing DH, Sun X, Kantor FS, Flavell RA. Borrelia burgdorferi strain 25015: characterization of outer surface protein A and vaccination against infection. The Journal Of Immunology 1992, 148: 2256-60. PMID: 1545130, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.148.7.2256.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSurface protein AOuter surface protein ABorrelia burgdorferi strain N40Vaccination of miceB. burgdorferiImmunized miceVaccination experimentsIntradermal challengeVaccine candidatesCerebrospinal fluidMiceProtein AStrain N40VaccinationStrain 297OspA geneBurgdorferiOspACD16NeuroborreliosisPatientsInfectionLong-term protection of mice from Lyme disease by vaccination with OspA
Fikrig E, Barthold SW, Kantor FS, Flavell RA. Long-term protection of mice from Lyme disease by vaccination with OspA. Infection And Immunity 1992, 60: 773-777. PMID: 1541551, PMCID: PMC257553, DOI: 10.1128/iai.60.3.773-777.1992.Peer-Reviewed Original Research