eOD-GT8 gp120 protein was synthesized as previously described (38 (
link), 80 (
link)). The eOD protein, with a free N-terminal cysteine and C-terminal PADRE universal helper T cell epitope (AKFVAAWTLKAAA), was expressed in
Expi293F human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The eOD protein was purified on a nickel affinity column followed by size exclusion chromatography on a
Superdex 75 10/300 column (GE Healthcare).
An engineered RBD protein (“RBD-L452K-F490W”) was produced in
Komagataella phaffii (
P. pastoris). This strain was cultivated in 200 ml of flask culture, and secreted protein was purified as previously described (58 (
link)). For amphiphile conjugation, the RBD was genetically modified to include an N-terminal cysteine residue.
Immunogens were administered in vivo with adjuvant. The STING agonist adjuvant
bis-(3′-5′)-cdGMP was purchased from InvivoGen. SMNP adjuvant was synthesized as previously described (81 (
link)).
Hartwell B.L., Melo M.B., Xiao P., Lemnios A.A., Li N., Chang J.Y., Yu J., Gebre M.S., Chang A., Maiorino L., Carter C., Moyer T.J., Dalvie N.C., Rodriguez-Aponte S.A., Rodrigues K.A., Silva M., Suh H., Adams J., Fontenot J., Love J.C., Barouch D.H., Villinger F., Ruprecht R.M, & Irvine D.J. (2022). Intranasal vaccination with lipid-conjugated immunogens promotes antigen transmucosal uptake to drive mucosal and systemic immunity. Science translational medicine, 14(654), eabn1413.