Jason McLellan
NationalityAmerican
Education
Scientific career
FieldsStructural Biology
InstitutionsUniversity of Texas at Austin
Websitewww.mclellanlab.org

Jason S. McLellan is a structural biologist, professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin[1] who specializes in understanding the structure and function of viral proteins, including those of coronaviruses.[2] His research focuses on applying structural information to the rational design of vaccines and other therapies for viruses,[3] including SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19,[4] and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).[5] McLellan and his team collaborated with researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Vaccine Research Center to design a stabilized version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein,[6][7][8][9] which biotechnology company Moderna used as the basis for the vaccine mRNA-1273,[10][11][12][13] the first COVID-19 vaccine candidate to enter phase I clinical trials in the U.S.[14] At least three other vaccines use this modified spike protein: those from Pfizer and BioNTech; Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals; and Novavax.[7][15]

SARS-CoV-2 research

McLellan led a team from The University of Texas at Austin and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Vaccine Research Center that produced the first molecular structure, or 3D atomic scale map, of the novel coronavirus’ spike protein, the protein that allows the virus to attach to and infect host cells.[6] The results were published online on February 19, 2020, in Science,[16] one of the world's top academic journals, and was highlighted on the cover of the 13 March 2020 print edition.[17]

The molecular structure provides a blueprint for scientists to learn to disrupt these processes through developing new treatments or vaccines.[18] Aubree Gordon, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan who was not a part of the study was quoted by LiveScience as saying: "It's a very important step forward and may help in the development of a vaccine against SARS-COV-2."[18] The achievement was also highlighted as an important step towards a vaccine by the director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins, in the NIH Director's Blog.[19]

McLellan and his team collaborated with researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Vaccine Research Center to design a stabilized version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein,[6][7][9] called S-2P or 2P, which biotechnology company Moderna used as the basis for the vaccine candidate mRNA-1273,[10][11][12][13] the first COVID-19 vaccine candidate to enter phase I clinical trials in the U.S.[14] The UT Austin and NIH teams filed a joint patent application on the mutated spike protein.[20]

Moderna's vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273, contains the genetic code for the stabilized version of the spike protein.[11] When a person is vaccinated with mRNA-1273, their own cells should theoretically produce these modified spike proteins, triggering their immune systems to develop antibodies against the actual coronavirus.[21]

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein takes on one shape before entering a cell and another shape after, known as the prefusion and postfusion conformations.[22] Antibodies that recognize spike proteins in the prefusion shape are much more effective at preventing infection than antibodies that recognize spike proteins in the postfusion shape.[22] McLellan—along with his team members Daniel Wrapp and Nianshuang Wang, plus Barney Graham and Kizzmekia Corbett at NIAID's Vaccine Research Center—engineered the spike protein to stay in its initial shape so it can be recognized.[16] This, combined with Moderna's technology that uses messenger RNA to encode information about the virus, allows mRNA-1273 to trigger an immune response in vaccinated subjects.[11]

The stabilized spike protein developed by McLellan and his colleagues forms the basis of three COVID-19 vaccines that received emergency use authorization in the U.S.[7][15]

In May, 2020, he published[23] a new version of the stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein called HexaPro that is currently being used as the basis for a new vaccine, NDV-HXP-S, which is undergoing trials in Brazil, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam. These new vaccines are using a harmless avian virus that causes Newcastle Disease. This vaccine has the benefit of being easy to grow in chicken eggs, which are the basis of existing Influenza vaccines and are easier for developing nations to produce.[24]

McLellan and his team worked with pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company to develop their monoclonal antibody treatment bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555),[25] which received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2020.[26] In April 2021, the EUA was revoked.[27]

In a separate but related project, McLellan and Daniel Wrapp worked with colleagues at the NIAID Vaccine Research Center and Ghent University to develop an antibody therapy for COVID-19 based on antibodies produced by a Winter (llama), a llama.[28] Initial tests indicate that their antibody blocks viruses that display the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from infecting cells in culture. They reported their findings in Cell on May 5, 2020.[29] As of May 2020, the team was preparing to conduct preclinical studies in animals such as hamsters or nonhuman primates, with the hopes of next testing in humans.[30]

RSV research

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common, contagious virus that causes infections of the respiratory tract. RSV is the single most common cause of respiratory hospitalization in infants, reinfection remains common throughout the lifetime, and it is an important pathogen in all age groups.[31][32]

McLellan, along with Barney S. Graham and Peter Kwong of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Vaccine Research Center, spearheaded the development of a protein subunit vaccine against RSV called DS-Cav1.[33] When the work began, McLellan was a postdoctoral researcher at VRC working in Graham's and Kwong's labs.

The antigen of this RSV vaccine, a stabilized version of the virus' F protein, was developed using structure-based vaccine design.[34][35][36] Structure-based vaccines are developed through a rational design process that uses information about the atomic structure of vulnerable parts of a pathogen to create a synthetic molecule that the human immune system recognizes as pathogenic and creates potent antibodies against.[37][38][39]

In a phase 1 clinical trial, DS-Cav1 was shown to be safe and to elicit "a robust boost in RSV F-specific antibodies and neutralising activity that was sustained above baseline for at least 44 weeks", according to a study published in April 2021 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.[40]

The first FDA-approved RSV vaccine, AREXVY (developed by GSK plc), uses a version of this antigen and was approved in May 2023 for adults aged 60 and older by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[41][42][5]

As of October 10, 2022, at least three other companies are testing candidate RSV vaccines based on stabilized prefusion F proteins in older adults in Phase 3 trials: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna.[43][44][45]

Honors and awards

In 2020, Jason McLellan was one of seven researchers honored with a Golden Goose Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of COVID-19 research.[28][46] He was the 2020 recipient of the William Prusoff Memorial Award from the International Society for Antiviral Research, which honors a young scientist who has shown excellence in antiviral research and promise for future contributions to the field.[47] Previous honors include the Norman P. Salzman Memorial Award in Virology (2012),[48] the Charles H. Hood Foundation Child Health Research Award (2015),[49] the American Crystallographic Association Etter Early Career Award (2018)[50] and the Viruses Young Investigator in Virology Prize (2019).[51]

The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas awarded McLellan its 2022 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Medicine.[52] Also in 2022, Dartmouth College awarded McLellan the inaugural McGuire Family Prize for Societal Impact,[53] and he was named a finalist for the Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists.[54] In 2023, he was chosen for the NAS Award in Molecular Biology[55] and the Welch Foundation's Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research,[56] and named a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors.[57]

References

  1. ↑ "UT CNS Directory: Jason McLellan". University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences. Retrieved 14 Aug 2020.
  2. ↑ "Jason S. McLellan". Google Scholar. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Powerful tools help scientists find a virus's weak spot". National Geographic. 1 February 2022. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved 2 Feb 2022.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Scientists Take Key Step Towards Coronavirus Vaccine". U.S. News & World Report. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 "FDA-Approved RSV Vaccine Enabled by Work of UT Molecular Biologist". University of Texas at Austin. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "How structural biologists revealed the new coronavirus's structure so quickly". Chemical & Engineering News. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "The tiny tweak behind COVID-19 vaccines". Chemical & Engineering News. 29 Sep 2020. Retrieved 30 Sep 2020.
  8. ↑ "A gamble pays off in 'spectacular success': How the leading coronavirus vaccines made it to the finish line". Washington Post. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 9 Dec 2020.
  9. 1 2 Kramer, Jillian (31 December 2020). "They spent 12 years solving a puzzle. It yielded the first COVID-19 vaccines". National Geographic. Archived from the original on February 20, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "A coronavirus vaccine rooted in a government partnership is fueling financial rewards for company executives". Washington Post. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "The First Shot: Inside the Covid Vaccine Fast Track". WIRED. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  12. 1 2 "The sprint to solve coronavirus protein structures — and disarm them with drugs". Nature. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  13. 1 2 Corbett, Kizmekia; Edwards, Darin; Leist, Sarah (5 Aug 2020). "SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Development Enabled by Prototype Pathogen Preparedness". Nature. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2622-0. PMC 7301911. PMID 32577634.
  14. 1 2 "Trial of Coronavirus Vaccine Made by Moderna Begins in Seattle". New York Times. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  15. 1 2 "A coronavirus vaccine is on the horizon, thanks to a key discovery by UT researchers". Austin American-Statesman. 10 Aug 2020. Retrieved 13 Aug 2020.
  16. 1 2 Wrapp, Daniel; Wang, Nianshuang; Corbett, Kizzmekia; Goldsmith, Jory; Hsieh, Ching-Lin; Abiona, Olubukola; Graham, Barney; McLellan, Jason (13 March 2020). "Cryo-EM Structure of the 2019-nCoV Spike in the Prefusion Conformation". Science. 367 (6483): 1260–1263. Bibcode:2020Sci...367.1260W. doi:10.1126/science.abb2507. PMC 7164637. PMID 32075877.
  17. ↑ "Science Magazine Cover". Science Magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Coronavirus 'spike' protein just mapped, leading way to vaccine". LiveScience. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  19. ↑ "Structural Biology Points Way to Coronavirus Vaccine". National Institutes of Health. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  20. ↑ "Prefusion Coronavirus Spike Proteins and Their Use". National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  21. ↑ "Trials Are Underway For a Coronavirus Vaccine — But It Could Be a While Before You Can Get It". Discover Magazine. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  22. 1 2 "What will it take to make an effective vaccine for COVID-19?". Chemical & Engineering News. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 13 Aug 2020.
  23. ↑ Hsieh, Ching-Lin; Goldsmith, Jory A.; Schaub, Jeffrey M.; DiVenere, Andrea M.; Kuo, Hung-Che; Javanmardi, Kamyab; Le, Kevin C.; Wrapp, Daniel; Lee, Alison G.; Liu, Yutong; Chou, Chia-Wei; Byrne, Patrick O.; Hjorth, Christy K.; Johnson, Nicole V.; Ludes-Meyers, John; Nguyen, Annalee W.; Park, Juyeon; Wang, Nianshuang; Amengor, Dzifa; Lavinder, Jason J.; Ippolito, Gregory C.; Maynard, Jennifer A.; Finkelstein, Ilya J.; McLellan, Jason S. (18 September 2020). "Structure-based design of prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spikes". Science. 369 (6510): 1501–1505. Bibcode:2020Sci...369.1501H. doi:10.1126/science.abd0826. PMC 7402631. PMID 32703906.
  24. ↑ Zimmer, Carl. "Researchers Are Hatching a Low-Cost Coronavirus Vaccine". Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  25. ↑ Jones, Bryan E.; et al. (1 October 2020). "LY-CoV555, a rapidly isolated potent neutralizing antibody, provides protection in a non-human primate model of SARS-CoV-2 infection". bioRxiv 10.1101/2020.09.30.318972.
  26. ↑ "Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Monoclonal Antibody for Treatment of COVID-19". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Press release). 9 Nov 2020. Retrieved 4 Jan 2021.
  27. ↑ "Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Revokes Emergency Use Authorization for Monoclonal Antibody Bamlanivimab". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Press release). 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  28. 1 2 Swenson, Haylie (December 2020). "2020 Golden Goose Award: A Llama Named Winter". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  29. ↑ Wrapp, Daniel; et al. (28 May 2020). "Structural Basis for Potent Neutralization of Betacoronaviruses by Single-Domain Camelid Antibodies". Cell. 181 (5): 1004–1015.e15. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.04.031. PMC 7199733. PMID 32375025.
  30. ↑ "Hoping Llamas Will Become Coronavirus Heroes". New York Times. 6 May 2020.
  31. ↑ Coultas JA, Smyth R, Openshaw PJ (October 2019). "Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): a scourge from infancy to old age". Thorax. 74 (10): 986–993. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212212. hdl:10044/1/73848. PMID 31383776. S2CID 199449874.
  32. ↑ Griffiths C, Drews SJ, Marchant DJ (January 2017). "Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Infection, Detection, and New Options for Prevention and Treatment". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 30 (1): 277–319. doi:10.1128/CMR.00010-16. PMC 5217795. PMID 27903593.
  33. ↑ McLellan, JS, ... Graham, BS, Kwong PD (November 1, 2013). "Structure-Based Design of a Fusion Glycoprotein Vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus". Science. 342 (6158): 592–598. Bibcode:2013Sci...342..592M. doi:10.1126/science.1243283. PMC 4461862. PMID 24179220.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ↑ Cohen, Jon (November 1, 2013). "Structural Biology Triumph Offers Hope Against a Childhood Killer". Science. 342 (6158): 546–547. Bibcode:2013Sci...342Q.546C. doi:10.1126/science.342.6158.546-a. PMID 24179197.
  35. ↑ Crank, MC, ... McLellan, JS, Ledgerwood, JE, Graham, BS, the VRC 317 Study Team (August 2, 2019). "A proof of concept for structure-based vaccine design targeting RSV in humans". Science. 365 (6452): 505–509. Bibcode:2019Sci...365..505C. doi:10.1126/science.aav9033. PMID 31371616.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ↑ "Experimental Vaccine Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Elicits Strong Immune Response" (Press release). The University of Texas at Austin. August 1, 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  37. ↑ Dormitzer, PR, Ulmer, JB, Rappuoli, R (2008). "Structure-based antigen design:a strategy for next generation vaccines" (PDF). Trends in Biotechnology. 26 (12): 659–667. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2008.08.002. PMC 7114313. PMID 18977045.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ↑ Graham, BS, Gilman, MSA, McLellan, JS (January 27, 2019). "Structure-Based Vaccine Antigen Design". Annual Review of Medicine. 70: 91–104. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-121217-094234. PMC 6936610. PMID 30691364.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ↑ Kwong, PD, DeKosky, BJ, Ulmer, JB (November 24, 2020). "Antibody-guided structure-based vaccines". Seminars in Immunology. 50: 101428. doi:10.1016/j.smim.2020.101428. PMID 33246736. S2CID 227191531.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ↑ Ruckwardt, TJ, ... Graham, BS (April 14, 2021). "Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F subunit vaccine DS-Cav1: a phase 1, randomised, open-label, dose-escalation clinical trial". Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 9 (10): 1111–1120. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00098-9. PMC 8487912. PMID 33864736.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. ↑ "FDA Approves First Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine" (Press release). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  42. ↑ "First vaccine targeting RSV wins FDA approval. More are coming". Washington Post. May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  43. ↑ "The race to make vaccines for a dangerous respiratory virus". Nature. 10 Dec 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  44. ↑ "For decades, fear and failure in the hunt for an RSV vaccine. Now, success". Washington Post. 10 Oct 2022. Retrieved 11 Oct 2022.
  45. ↑ "This UT Scientist Helped Spare Millions From COVID-19. Now He's Unmasking Other Killer Viruses". Texas Monthly. 10 Oct 2022. Retrieved 13 Oct 2022.
  46. ↑ "COVID-19 researchers recognized with 2020 Golden Goose Award for scientific contributions" (Press release). American Association for the Advancement of Science. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  47. ↑ "William Prusoff Memorial Award". International Society for Antiviral Research. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  48. ↑ "Norman P. Salzman Memorial Award and Symposium in Virology". Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  49. ↑ "Hood Foundation Alumni Directory" (PDF). Charles H. Hood Foundation. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  50. ↑ "ACA Award Descriptions". American Crystallographic Association. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  51. ↑ "Viruses Young Investigator in Virology Prize". Viruses. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  52. ↑ "TAMEST 2022 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Awards".
  53. ↑ "Creator of breakthrough coronavirus technology to receive inaugural McGuire Prize". EurekAlert. May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Recognizing America's Leading Innovative Scientists, the 2022 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Names 31 Finalists". Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. June 1, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  55. ↑ "NAS Award in Molecular Biology".
  56. ↑ ""The Welch Foundation Announces 2023 Norman Hackerman Award Recipient"". January 23, 2023.
  57. ↑ "NAI Welcomes 95 New Emerging Innovators"". February 14, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.