Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
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Repurposing NASVAC, A Hepatitis B Therapeutic Vaccine, for Pre-and Post-exposure Prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

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Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel positive-sense, single-stranded RNA beta-coronavirus, was first identified in humans in December 2019 [1]. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is termed coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). As of today (March 31st 2021), approximately 128 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, and more than 2.8 million COVID-19 patients have died. SARS-CoV-2 is basically a respiratory virus; however, the virus has the potential to infect other tissues beyond the respiratory tract and is capable of inducing complex pathological lesions in tissues other than the respiratory system [2-4]. SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus with nearly 30,000 base pairs, and mutations in the virus genome have been detected over the last 14 months. Some of its viral variants have already started spreading on a global scale. Studies, evidence, observations, and hypotheses indicate that SARS-CoV-2 is not an eradicable virus and that human beings may have to live with this virus for years or decades [5,6]. Thus, the major challenge remains to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the management of COVID-19 patients.

To contain the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, attention has been given to the rapid diagnosis and isolation of SARS-CoV-2 (denoted as 3T by the World Health Organization (WHO)-Test, Tracing and Treat) [7]. Several countries have mandated usage of a mask, washing hands, gargling, avoiding crowded places, and implementing different forms of lockdowns. In the meantime, vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been developed, and millions of people have already been immunized. The positive effects of the vaccines are yet to surface, as only a minor percentage of the population of the world has received requisite vaccinations. Additionally, the association of vaccine-induced immunity and protection against SARS-CoV-2 remains a conflicting idea due to limited protection by the vaccine to combat the emergence and re-emergence of new viral variants. To treat COVID-19, most countries have, in emergency, approved the usage of several antiviral drugs, and physicians have been using all sorts of drugs and oxygen supplementation to save the lives of COVID-19 patients. Most of these drugs, especially antiviral drugs, have been repurposed for treatment against COVID-19, as no anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug has been developed yet [8-10].

The factors related to the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 are still elusive, and it is still confusing as to why some people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 while others remain unaffected under the same or similar conditions. Again, some patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are asymptomatic, whereas a major bulk of COVID-19 patients exhibit only mild or moderate symptoms [11-13]. Finally, certain patients may experience severe forms of COVID-19, and their health may decline.

In these frustrating situations about the improper understanding of the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 and the diverse pathogenesis of COVID-19, new and novel approaches are warranted. It is now evident that viral factors (levels of virus, viral mutations, viral variants), weather (winter or summer), and the nature of the healthcare delivery system (strength and weakness) do not seem to be primarily accountable for the acquisition, pathogenesis, progression, and mortality of SARSCoV- 2 or COVID-19.

Available information and scientific evidence indicate that host immunity may be vital regarding the acquisition of infection by SARSCoV- 2 and pathogenesis of COVID-19. Host immunity can determine whether one will be infected with the virus and allow its replication, will be asymptomatic, develop mild to moderate disease, or progress to severe COVID-19. Supporting evidence regarding the critical roles of host immunity has become evident, as elderly people and people with compromised immunity, obese people with impaired immunity, and people with some comorbid conditions that affect host immunity are prone to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, develop severe forms of COVID-19, and experience a fatality [14-16].

As a general rule of the immune response system, innate immunity acts as the first line of defense against viral infections. This may be activated or induced by Pattern-Recognition Receptors (PRRs) located on the plasma membranes, endosomal membranes, and cytosol for the recognition of viral components or replication intermediates known as Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs). Complex interactions among viruses, viral receptors, PRRs, and PAMPs determine the initial step of viral infection. Cells of the innate immune system, such as natural killer cells, natural killer T cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and cells of macrophage lineage, arrest viral localization or even destroy viruses, thus restricting their attachment to specific receptors and decreasing their rate of replication. Thus, proper activation of innate immunity may be one of the best approaches to block SARS-CoV-2 localization in the nasal cavity and their further pathogenesis [17,18].

To overcome this initial defensive system, SARS-CoV-2 may adopt multiple evasive strategies that affect the natural surveillance system, and the virus may localize in the nasal and bronchial tissue [19-21]. Once SARS-CoV-2 enters the nasal mucosa, innate immunity, regulatory immunity, and adaptive immunity may have significant implications for deciding the nature of COVID-19 pathogenesis. This explains why elderly populations and immune-compromised persons are more prone to developing severe forms of COVID-19, as their immune systems are not capable of handling these critical events properly.

Based on these realities and due to the absence of specific drugs capable of inducing protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, several investigators have opted to use repurposed drugs [22-24].

We have been working regarding the induction of innate immunity, translation of innate immunity to adaptive immunity, and proper functioning of regulatory immunity via antigen-presenting dendritic cells using two antigens of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in different animal models and in humans. The resultant product of the antigen mixture is called NASVAC. NASVAC has been used in HBV transgenic mice in Japan, where it exhibited a highly potent antiviral effect but did not induce hepatitis or liver damage [25]. NASVAC was also safe in normal human volunteers in a phase I trial accomplished in Cuba [26]. A phase I/II clinical trial with NASVAC in Bangladesh in patients with chronic hepatitis B also exhibited the production of cytokines of innate immunity [27]. Finally, a phase III clinical trial with NASVAC in chronic hepatitis B patients with liver damage demonstrated that NASVAC was capable of showing antiinflammatory effects and protecting the liver from disease progression [28]. Recently, the safety and efficacy of NASVAC has been confirmed in normal individuals and patients with chronic hepatitis B in Japan [29-32].

Based on these observations, we assumed that NASVAC may induce innate immunity to block the entry and localization of SARS-CoV-2 in normal individuals. Additionally, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, NASVAC may have therapeutic efficacy in COVID-19 patients. In addition to these properties for blocking SARS-CoV-2 acquisition and the immune-mediated regulation of inflammation in COVID-19, NASVAC is a drug that can be given by the nasal route. In fact, this route is used by SARS-CoV-2 to enter the human body. This evidence led us to repurpose NASVAC for assessing its capacity to induce innate immunity and protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Materials and Methods

Formulation and antigens

NASVAC (synonym; HeberNasvac^®) is a liquid formulation comprising Hepatitis B surface Antigens (HBsAg) and the nucleocapsid (core, HBcAg) of the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), produced by recombinant DNA technology as virus-like particles (Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, CIGB, Havana, Cuba). NASVAC contains 100 μg of each antigen in a final volume of 1.0 mL in saline-phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. No other additives, preservatives, or stabilizers are included. The antigens and the formulation were produced and released under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions at the production facilities of the CIGB.

Pilot study

A pilot study was planned to assess the safety and immune stimulatory effect of NASVAC in the context of SARS-CoV-2 pre- exposure prophylaxis. Two studies were planned to obtain insights into the immunomodulatory role of NASVAC and NASVAC- induced protection against SARS-CoV-2. In the first part, 20 volunteers received NASVAC (three intranasal (IN) doses on days 0, 7, and 14 and 14 sublingual (SL) administrations on a daily basis for 14 days (Figure 1). The profile of these 20 subjects is given in Table 1. The volunteers were healthy subjects with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to professional (healthcare workers) or household contacts. The study was conducted after ethical approval by the Farabi General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.The study could not be registered in ICMJE-registry due to pandemic situation of participating countries. During selection of volunteers, patients with lung disease, pneumonia, and severe respiratory infection were excluded.

Table 1: Demographic data subjects of the pilot study to assess SARS-CoV-2 pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Figure 1: Schedule of administration of NASVAC. A total of 20 volunteers received three Intranasal (IN) doses of NASVAC on days 0, 7, and 14 and 14 Sublingual (SL) administrations on a daily basis for 14 days.

A second study was accomplished to assess the immunomodulatory capacity of NASVAC. Ten healthy volunteers were recruited, and NASVAC was administered only once through the nasal route in the supine position. All volunteers were free from any known pathological lesions, and the sample included adults of both sexes. The volunteers provided their consent to be included in the study and to assess their levels of cytokines produced in their Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) before and after NASVAC administration.

Virology, hematology and blood chemistry

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was assessed using an automatic system and PCR kits (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). Clinical laboratory hematology and hemochemistry parameters (reactive C-protein, transaminases, creatinine, glycemia and hemochemical profiles) were evaluated following hospital-validated procedures (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Subjects’ enrolment and study design in the pilot clinical trial.

Clinical progression

The patients’ clinical evolution (symptoms, X-ray, chest CT) was assessed following the hospital’s established protocols. In addition, the protocol included a deep analysis of adverse events, in terms of type, duration, intensity, and imputability, after each immunization.

Collection of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)

Blood samples were collected before and one day after the single administration of NASVAC. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were isolated and enriched by the methods previously described. Briefly, PBMCs were isolated from freshly drawn heparinized whole blood using Ficoll-Hypaque (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) density gradient centrifugation. The cells were retrieved from the interface and washed three times. Finally, the PBMCs were resuspended in RPMI 1640 (Nipro, Osaka, Japan) plus 10% autologous serum. The use of Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) was avoided to discard the immune stimulatory effect of FCS. The viability of the PBMCs was checked by trypan blue exclusion test [33]. PBMCs (1 × 106 cells/ml) were suspended, and viability was assessed. The PBMCs were cultured in the presence of lipopolysaccharides for 72 hours in an atmosphere of 95% air and 5% CO2 under humid conditions at 37°C and the culture supernatant was collected [34]. The levels of cytokines in culture supernatants were measured by respective ELISA methods, exactly as per the recommendations of the manufacturer (RD Bioscience System, Minneapolis, MN, USA) [35].

Statistics

Frequency analysis was conducted using the chi-square test. For the analysis of quantitative variables in general, the groups were compared using ANOVA or the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test. The differences were considered statistically significant (p<0.05), very significant (p<0.01), or highly significant (p<0.001).

Results

The assessment of NASVAC was accomplished in 20 volunteers over a period of six months (Figure 2). These volunteers were at the risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, as they were in close contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive patients due to professional or household contacts. At the onset of the study, the volunteers tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, as confirmed by the PCR assessment of nasopharyngeal swabs. The volunteers were allowed to lead a normal lifestyle and normally interact with COVID-19 patients.

Adverse events

The study group received all the doses as planned, and the administration of NASVAC was safe and well tolerated. Adverse events were studied in all the participants. A total of two different adverse events were detected in four volunteers. Considering the 340 (17 doses × 20 volunteers) administered doses, 1.18% were associated with an adverse event. Local adverse events consisted of nasal drops (2.14%) and sneezing (0.53%). No systemic adverse event was reported. Considering the intensity of the adverse events, all of these events were mild and disappeared within minutes after onset. None of them was considered severe. No treatment was given to any of these volunteers because of adverse events.

Clinical observation

The study was accomplished in 20 normal volunteers. The volunteers received NASVAC for 14 days. The volunteers were crucially followed up for six months and are still on the follow- up list. All the volunteers faced an increased risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on a daily basis and in a random manner. None of the volunteers were infected with SARS-CoV-2 within the first 28 days or 14 days after the end of NASVAC administration. On day 30 (starting from commencement of NASVAC administration), three volunteers (serial numbers 2, 3 and 7, Table 2) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, although they tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 when a nasal swab test was conducted before 7 days. Another person (Volunteer No 1) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 33 days after the end of the treatment with NASVAC. Thus, a total of four out of 20 volunteers tested SARS-CoV-2 positive during the observation period. Among these, three did not develop any notable symptoms except slight cough. Only one volunteer (Volunteer No 1) was admitted to a hospital and received two liters of oxygen and symptomatic treatment. He showed no symptoms five days after being admitted to the hospital. As shown in Table 2, the 3 patients who tested SARS-CoV-2-positive were comparatively elderly (50–75 years). In addition, all four volunteers had comorbidities. The 16 volunteers treated with NASVAC for 14 days remained negative for SARS-CoV-2 during the 6-month follow-up.

Table 2: Individual profiles of the patients.

Assessment of immune-modulatory capacity of NASVAC

PBMCs were collected from 10 volunteers after standard nasal administration of NASVAC. These volunteers received a single NASVAC administration, and the immune modulatory capacities of these volunteers were assessed by evaluating cytokine production. PBMCs were collected from all volunteers 1 day after the administration of NASVAC. As shown in Table 3, the levels of cytokines produced by volunteers following NASVAC administration was significantly higher than that before the administration of NASVAC.

Table 3: PBMCs’ increased production of cytokines due to administration of NASVAC.

PBMCs were collected from the 10 volunteers at two points, one before the administration of NASVAC and the second one day after NASVAC administration. The cytokine production data are shown as the median with range.

Discussion

SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 have shattered human life as well as the economy, education, social infrastructure, normal movements, and all aspects of humane values and traditions. Approximately 128 million confirmed infections with SARS-CoV-2 (by PCR confirmation) and approximately 2.8 million deaths have occurred due to this pandemic. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants is a threat to civilization. Under these realities, the prevention and propagation of SARS-CoV-2 depend on several public health measures; the implications of these measures have shown diverse effects in the global context. Recently, vaccination has started in many countries, but the outlook of the vaccination program seems to be limited due to the heterogeneous availability of vaccines, diversity about the effectiveness of different vaccines, and disinterest of a group of people to be vaccinated. In this context, all new and novel concepts regarding the prevention and management of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 deserve special attention.

In this respect, we have shown that NASVAC is an immune modulatory substance that is safe and can induce innate immunity. As NASVAC is given via the nasal route, it is expected that the administration of NASVAC will induce increased levels of immunity at the nasal and oropharyngeal localities and will thus be able to counter the localization and replication of SARS-CoV-2 at the initial state. If this can be ensured about the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 in susceptible persons, the extent of infection will decrease, and more importantly, the nature of COVID-19-related pathogenesis will become mild. This is a concept article, and we used only one regimen of NASVAC in normal volunteers; 75% of the volunteers remained SARS-CoV-2 negative during an observation period of six months. More importantly, although four persons were infected with SARS-CoV-2, three had extremely mild diseases, and only one required hospitalization. An interesting and important observation was also made. None of the persons became infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first two weeks when they were receiving daily SL administration of NASVAC. Thus, immunization protocols may be extended to obtain preventive protection by a mechanism described as trained innate immunity or be conveniently modified for direct postexposure prophylaxis/ pre-emptive therapy [36].

For innate (nonspecific) stimulation of the immune system, NASVAC is administered via the IN and SL routes. This combination of routes optimizes Waldeyer’s ring stimulation. The stimulation of mucosal immunity has been proposed as an attractive approach to confront SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory diseases [37,38]. In particular, the stimulation of agonists of local innate immunity receptors (TLRs) involved in the detection of RNA viruses, such as TLR3 and TLR7/8, has shown a dramatic survival effect in murine models of lethal infection with SARS- CoV and influenza A virus [39,40]. HBcAg has been described in the literature as being capable of stimulating TLR2 and TLR7 [41,42]. In addition, HBcAg produced at CIGB has the unique capacity to stimulate TLR3, activate MyD88-dependent and MyD88-independent pathways, and consequently increase the expression of HLA, costimulatory molecules and interferons [43]. Simultaneous stimulation of MyD88-dependent and MyD88- independent activation pathways using commercial TLR agonists induced qualitative changes in T cell responses, which are needed for antiviral protection [44-46].

No sign of disease worsening was detected through the administration of the product or after follow-up on the developing SARS-CoV-2-positive infection. The 3 SARS-CoV-02-positive patients also had no notable symptoms. Only one patient (55 years and with comorbidities such as hypertension and increased BMI) required a short time and noninvasive oxygen supplementation.

It has been explained that the evasion or impairment of innate sensing mechanisms or their activation pathways is a common mechanism of respiratory RNA viruses and may also justify their recurrence [47,48]. This pilot study confirmed the immunomodulatory role of NASVAC on cytokine production by PBMCs after only one IN administration. The increased production of an array of cytokines due to stimulation with NASVAC clearly indicates its immune modulating capacity, which is consistent with previous results in CHB patients [27]. The increased production of cytokines was not associated with reactogenicity mediated by the vaccine. The effects described in the present article, taken together with the previously reported effect of NASVAC antigens on dendritic cells as well as B and T cells, are attractive properties for the intended use in pre- and postexposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 [49,50].

From the onset of COVID-19, drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, remdesivir, favipiravir, and interferon of different grades and types and some other antiviral drugs have been used for treating COVID patients. Hydroxychloroquine was originally developed for malaria, ivermectin for parasites, remdesivir for hepatitis C and respiratory syncytial virus, favipiravir for influenza, Ebola and Nipa virus, and interferons for nonspecific antiviral infections and cancers. Some of the drugs have been widely used around the world and others mostly in resource-constrained countries. However, none of these drugs could stand the test of time for the management of COVID-19.

The main causes behind the capabilities of antiviral drugs lie in the fact that the direct pathological role of the virus in COVID-19 pathogenesis may not be so dominant, and none of these antiviral drugs can eradicate SARS-CoV-2 from different organs of the body. In fact, the immune system, either incoherent immunity or cytokine storm, is fundamentally responsible for the progression of diseases due to SARS-CoV-2. In this scenario, NASVAC can induce innate immunity, as evident by the production of multiple cytokines after the administration of NASVAC. Another notable factor is related to the immune regulatory capacity of NASVAC. We found that an inflammable liver with considerable levels of hepatitis in CHB patients was normalized after taking NASVAC [28].

Local stimulation by SL vaccination has been used before to prevent recurrent respiratory infections [51-53]. Recently, the FDA approved the start of a phase II trial of the nasal influenza vaccine candidate T-COVID (Altimmune, Gaithersburg, MD, USA), a recombinant adenovirus developed as an influenza vaccine, to be used in the setting of early SARS-CoV2 infection aimed at stimulating local innate immunity. The study was based on the capacity of the adenovirus-based influenza vaccine to prevent death in mice lethally infected with a respiratory pathogen after intranasal and not after parenteral administration further supporting the relevance of local and nonparenteral stimulation [54,55].

The plasmacytoid DCs, myeloid DCs, and CD14+ monocytes of COVID-19-infected individuals are less responsive to stimulation with a bacterial/viral ligand cocktail than those of healthy controls (comprising TLR-2, TLR-4 and TLR-5 ligands and TLR-3 and TLR-7/8, respectively). It is believed that the innate immune cells in the periphery of COVID-19-infected subjects have functional impairment [56,57]. PBMC-induced production of gamma IFN and other cytokines justifies the use of NASVAC as a pre-emptive therapy or pre/postexposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 to prevent infection and to arrest the progression to severe COVID-19.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present study indicates that the administration of NASVAC to subjects at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was safe. The pattern of cytokine PBMC responses and absence of infection or mild progression of the subjects involved in the study are preliminary evidence that this product may prevent or suppress SARS-CoV-2 infection at the initial stages of replication and deserve further exploratory trials to confirm its capacity as SARS- CoV-2 pre/post exposure prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy.

Acknowledgment

The study was supported in part by a grant-in-aid from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) to Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar (Grant number 20fk0310103h1904).

Conflict of Interest

There is no potential conflict of interest about this article.

Previous Publication

The article was published as Preprint publication in RESEARCH SQUARE (DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-438628/v1).

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