Whole Yeast Vaccine Displaying ZIKV B and T Cell Epitopes Induces Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses in Murine Model

Anna Jéssica Duarte Silva; André Luiz Santos de Jesus; Lígia Rosa Sales Leal; Larissa Silva Macêdo; Bárbara Rafaela da Silva Barros; Georon Ferreira De Sousa; Simone da Paz Leôncio Alves; Lindomar José Pena; Cristiane Moutinho Lagos De Melo; Antonio Carlos de Freitas

doi:10.20944/preprints202305.1243.v1

Submitted:

15 May 2023

Posted:

17 May 2023

You are already at the latest version

Abstract

Improving antigen presentation is crucial for the success of immunization strategies. Yeasts are classically used as biofactories to produce recombinant proteins and are efficient vehicles for the delivery of vaccine antigens, besides present adjuvants properties. Despite the absence of epidemic outbreaks, several vaccine approaches continue to be developed for Zika virus infection. These prophylactic strategies are fundamental given the severity of clinical manifestations, mainly due to viral neurotropism. The present study aimed to evaluate in vivo the immune response induced by P. pastoris recombinant strains displaying epitopes of the Envelope (ENV) and NS1 ZIKV proteins. Intramuscular immunization with heat-attenuated yeast enhanced the secretion of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, besides activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, in BALB/c mice. P. pastoris displaying ENV epitopes induced a more robust immune response, increasing immunoglobulin production, especially IgG isotypes. Both proposed vaccines showed the potential to induce immune responses without adverse effects, confirming the safety of administering P. pastoris as a vaccine vehicle. Here we demonstrated, for the first time, the evaluation of a vaccine against ZIKV based on a multiepitope construct, using yeast as a vehicle, reinforcing the applicability of P. pastoris as a whole yeast cell vaccine.

Keywords:

Vaccine

;

Antigen-delivery

;

ZIKV

;

Yeast

Subject:

Biology and Life Sciences - Biology and Biotechnology

1. Introduction

Biotechnological-relevant yeast species such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, Hansenula polymorpha, and Kluyveromyces lactis are conventionally employed in the synthesis of immunobiological products [1]. These species have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status, guaranteeing safety in their application as a biofactory and as vehicles for vaccine antigens [2,3,4]. The most attractive aspects of this vaccine delivery are the ability to induce specific immune responses against the recombinant antigen and the adjuvant properties of the yeasts [5]. Whole yeast vaccines can induce higher antigen-specific responses than those promoted by inactivated virus vaccines or proteins conjugated to traditional adjuvants, such as aluminum salts [6,7,8].

Yeast-based vaccines have been tested against various infectious agents, including viruses and fungi [9,10,11]. Overall, recombinant antigens are proteins from the target pathogen or epitopes derived from these proteins that are critical for inducing the appropriate immune response [12,13]. Although immunostimulation associated with the administration of recombinant yeasts can occur regardless of the cellular location of the heterologous protein, the exposure of recombinant antigens on the yeast surface can increase the efficiency of this process [7]. In the systems of yeast surface display, the target protein is covalently linked to an anchor protein with a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) motif and displayed on the cell surface. Anchor proteins belong to the mannoprotein class and include agglutinins (Agα1p, Aga1p, and Aga2p), Flo1p, Sed1p, Cwp1p, Cwp2p, Tip1p, and Tir1p/Srp1p [14,15,16]. The α-agglutinin is the anchor most commonly used and can allow the disposition of 105 - 106 target proteins per cell [17].

Due to the dissemination potential, viral neurotropism, and capacity to induce neurological disorders in fetuses and adults, preventing the Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is considered an issue for global public health [18]. The information about seroprevalence and duration of immunity against ZIKV is still limited, and the re-emergence of outbreaks continues to be considered [19]. In fact, an increase in the number of infections has been reported in Southeast Asian countries in the last four years [20]. Prophylactic vaccination is one of the main prevention measures, but there are no licensed vaccines for ZIKV infection [21]. Fully protection against flaviviruses involves a combination of adaptive humoral and cellular responses [22]. Since many immunodominant epitopes for the induction of T cell-mediated responses are present in non-structural proteins, epitopes or domains of proteins such as NS1 and NS3 have been included in the design of vaccines targeting both ZIKV and DENV [23]. In this context, vaccines based on multiepitope sequences are promising platforms concerning immunogenicity, protection, and safety [24].

In a previous study, we evaluated, in vitro, the potential of P.pastoris as a vaccine platform, surface displaying two multi-epitope synthetic antigens derived from Envelope (ENV) and NS1 ZIKV proteins [25]. The main highlights of this study were the stimulus to CD4+ and CD8+ cell expansion and the secretion of cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α. Hence, here we decide to investigate the vaccine responses in vivo through yeast administration in immunocompetent BALB/c mice, evaluating the viability and immunogenicity of this yeast-based vaccine.

2. Materials and Methods

Vaccine antigens and yeast strains

In this study, two strains named P. pastoris:ENV and P. pastoris:ENVNS1 were generated in a previous study performed by our group [25]. The components of the expression cassettes used to transform the yeasts were: the MF-α peptide for signaling protein secretion, a His-tag that enable immunodetection; the vaccine antigen, and the α-agglutinin anchor. Two vaccine antigen versions were designed: one with B and T cell epitopes from the ENV protein and the other with epitopes from ENV and the NS1 proteins. The selected epitopes and a schematic representation of the expression cassette and the recombinant yeast are illustrated in Figure 1A–B.

To obtain the recombinant strains, the synthetic genes encoding the multi-epitope constructs were cloned into the expression vector pPGKΔ3_Agα (non-commercial vector; de Almeida et al. 2005)[26] that allows constitutive expression and anchorage of proteins on the yeast surface (Figure 1B). The P. pastoris strain transformed with the expression cassettes was GS115 (his4; Invitrogen). The expression and antigen anchorage were confirmed through RT-PCR and immunofluoresce microscopy, respectively [25]. In addition to these previous analyses, the immunoreactivity and anchoring of the yeasts were evaluated by Yeast-ELISA. For this purpose, 100 µL of 10⁷ cells were applied in 96-well plates for 2 hours. Then, the subsequent steps were blocking (5% BSA in PBS), labeling with Anti-HIS primary antibody (Sigma-Aldrich) 1:1000 diluted (1 hour), and with secondary Anti-IgG antibody conjugated to peroxidase (Sigma-Aldrich) 1:5000 diluted (45 minutes). Among the incubations, the samples were triple-washed with PBS-Tween (1%). The revelation was performed with TMB (3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine; Life Technologies) in the dark, and the reaction was interrupted with HCl (1N). The signal was detected on a plate reader with a wavelength set to 450 nm.

Yeast preparation

After 72h of cultivation in YPD medium, at 28°C under agitation (150 rpm), yeasts were collected after centrifugation (4500 rpm; 10 minutes) and washed twice with 1x PBS. Cells were resuspended in sterile 1x PBS to adjust the final concentration to OD600 10 in 50 µl. The yeasts were heat inactivated by incubation at 60°C for 1 hour and stored at 4°C until the moment of use.

Mice, ethical parameters, and immunization protocol

Female immunocompetent BALB/c mice, 6 – 8 weeks old, were raised and maintained in the bioterium of the Aggeu Magalhães Institute (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation – PE, Brazil) under sterile, pathogen-free conditions. All experiments involving mice followed strictly the standards established by the institutional Ethics Committee for the Use of Animals (protocol n. 110/2017). The immunization schedule was performed in two doses, one week apart, with intramuscular injection (Figure 1C). The mice were divided into three groups (n=5) defined as: G1 - mice inoculated with non-recombinant P. pastoris (nr); G2 - mice vaccinated with P. pastoris:ENV; and G3 - vaccinated with P. pastoris:ENVNS1. Before each immunization, all mice were anesthetized with xylazine hydrochloride (10 mg.Kg^-1) and ketamine (115 mg.Kg^-1). Each experimental group received doses of 50 µl with yeast cells in an OD₆₀₀10. Twenty-one days after the first dose, all animals were anesthetized for blood collection and subsequent euthanasia. Spleens were removed for isolation and culture of splenic lymphocytes.

In vitro culture and stimulation of isolated spleen lymphocytes

Splenocytes from vaccinated animals were isolated and the mononuclear immune cells were isolated by separation with Ficoll-Paque PLUS 1.077 g.mL^-1 (GE Healthcare Life Sciences) and distributed in 48-well plates, 10⁶ cells/well. The isolated cells were restimulated in vitro with the yeasts P. pastoris:nr (for G1), P. pastoris expressing ENV epitopes (for G2), and ENVNS1 epitopes (for G3), at a concentration of 10⁵ cells/well. The cells were incubated in RPMI medium (Sigma-Aldrich) containing 10% FBS, at 37ºC (5% CO₂), in the experimental times of 24h, 48h, and 72h.

Immunological analysis

Lymphocytes isolated from blood and spleen were characterized for the presence of surface markers CD4, CD8 and CD16, by labeling the cells with the corresponding antibodies (anti-CD4-FITC, anti-CD8-PE, and anti-CD16/32-FITC; BD^TM Bioscience). Serum and culture supernatant were analyzed for cytokine dosage of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A using the BD CBA Mouse Th1/ Th2/Th17 Kit (BD^TM Bioscience), following the manufacturer's instructions. IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE immunoglobulins were measured in the serum of vaccinated mice using the Mouse Immunoglobulin Isotyping Kit (BD^TM Bioscience). All acquisitions for immunological assays were performed by flow cytometry (BD ACCURI C6).

Hematological and biochemical analyzes

Blood samples were collected through a cardiac puncture, placed into EDTA-K2 tubes, and centrifuged at 3600 rpm for 10 minutes to separate serum and plasma. The hematological evaluation included global counts of red blood cells, leukocytes, platelets, determination of hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentration. The values of red blood cells, hematocrit, and hemoglobin allowed the calculation of the mean corpuscular volume and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The blood cell count was performed in a Neubauer chamber, with differential counting of the slides stained by the Rapid Panoptic method [27]. The number of platelets was determined using the Fonio method [28]. Hemoglobin was measured by colorimetry using a spectrophotometer. The biochemical analyses were performed with Labtest Diagnosis kits (Brazil). The levels of glucose, urea, and creatinine were measured through end-point colorimetric enzymatic assays. Alkaline phosphatase was detected by the modified Roy's method, and the liver transaminases by the Reitman - Frankel method.

Statistical analysis

Graphs and statistical analysis were generated by GraphPad Prism version 7.04. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was the applied to assess statistical differences between groups. Results with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

3. Results

3.1. P. pastoris can surface display vaccine antigens

The recombinant yeasts were generated and characterized in a previous study [25]. A Yeast-ELISA was performed to confirm the accessibility of anchored antigens. P. pastoris:ENV and P. pastoris:ENVNS1 showed higher immunoreactivity compared to non-recombinant yeast (NR), confirming protein anchoring (Figure 2).

3.2. Recombinant P. pastoris strains induce increased secretion of serum and splenic cytokines

The vaccine constructs promoted different cytokine patterns. Regarding serum cytokines, P. pastoris:ENV caused an increase in the levels of IL-2, TNF-α, and IL-17A. On the other hand, P. pastoris:ENVNS1 increased all analyzed cytokines, overcoming both non-recombinant yeast and P. pastoris:ENV, mainly to IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-1A (Figure 3). The response elicited by both recombinant yeasts was equivalent only to the TNF-α release. The profile of cytokines secreted by splenic lymphocytes, restimulated in vitro, was more restricted than that observed in animal serum, with a greater tendency towards a Th1 pattern. P. pastoris:ENV caused an increase in IL-6 (48h) and IFN-γ at 24h and 48h (Figure 4A,B), while P. pastoris:ENVNS1 induced IL-6 and TNF-α in 72h cultures (Figure 4A–C). There was no significant production of the other cytokines (Table S1). Non-recombinant yeast did not cause a significant stimulus compared to P. pastoris expressing vaccine antigens.

3.3. P. pastoris:ENV and P. pastoris:ENVNS1 enhance antibody production

The levels of different types and isotypes of immunoglobulins were assessed to evaluate the humoral response. Overall, the P. pastoris:ENV vaccine stood out compared to ENVNS1 and non-recombinant yeast (Figure 5). P. pastoris:ENV induced production of the IgG isotypes, all of them, especially IgG3. Both vaccine constructs elicited a similar profile for IgA and IgM (Figure 5E and 5G), superior to P. pastoris:nr. The two vaccines led to an increase in IgE, mainly P. pastoris:ENV (Figure 5F). The ratio IgG2a/IgG1 indicates the response profile type (Th1 or Th2) and was similar for all three yeast strains. Although the mean for P. pastoris:nr (1.27) was higher than the recombinants (1.14 and 1.03), the difference was not statistically significant (Figure 5H). Values greater than 1 indicate a tendency towards a Th1 response pattern. However, the proximity between the averages of IgG1 and IgG2a for all groups suggested a balance between Th1 and Th2 responses.

3.4. Recombinant yeasts stimulate cellular responses

The evaluation of the cellular response induced by vaccination was based on the analysis of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and CD16⁺ T lymphocyte populations present in the blood and spleen after immunization. Regarding circulating lymphocytes, mice inoculated with non-recombinant P. pastoris promoted a higher stimulus to CD4⁺ T lymphocytes. No difference in the number of CD4⁺ T cells between the recombinant yeasts was observed (Figure 6A). On the other hand, about the number of CD8⁺ T cells, P. pastoris:nr and P. pastoris:ENVNS1 showed a similar pattern, superior to that induced by P. pastoris:ENV (Figure 6B). To Natural Killer (NK) CD16⁺ T lymphocytes, P. pastoris:ENV and P. pastoris:ENVNS1 promoted an increase in the number of cells, compared to the non-recombinant (Figure 6C).

Lymphocytes isolated from the spleen of the immunized animals were restimulated with recombinant yeasts and incubated for periods of 24h, 48h, and 72h. The most significant stimulus was observed for the CD4⁺ T lymphocyte subpopulation. The immunization with the recombinant yeasts, expressing ENV and ENVNS1, induced an increase in the amount of CD4⁺ T cells, especially when observing the 72h culture, where both were superior to non-recombinant P.pastoris (Figure 7A). The levels of CD8⁺ T cells were lower than the expression of CD4⁺ and CD16⁺ and substantially reduced throughout the culture period. The proportion of CD8⁺ T cells stimulated by P. pastoris:ENV stood out at times of 24h and 48h. After 72 hours of stimulus, the animals inoculated with P. pastoris:ENVNS1 had a higher number of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes (Figure 7B). About the CD16⁺ T cells profile, P. pastoris:ENV induced a significant increase in the first 24h however declined in 48h and 72h. Meanwhile, P. pastoris:ENVNS1 caused a more significant expansion in 48h and 72h, even though it also diminished in 72h (Figure 7C).

3.5. The whole yeast vaccines do not cause significant side effects

Animals were weighed on the first day of the immunization regimen, on the booster dose day, and 21 days after the initial dose (Table S2). Throughout the vaccine schedule, there was no weight loss or significant behavioral changes. There were no points of inflammation, swellings, neither adverse effect in the injection site. Overall, there were no biochemical alterations that would qualify clinical disturbs (Table 1). The hematological changes were relative leukocytosis and lymphopenia, besides neutrophilia in the three experimental groups.

4. Discussion

In this study, we evaluated a multiepitope vaccine based on B and T cell epitopes from Env and NS1 ZIKV proteins in a yeast surface display strategy. After a two-dose schedule, the immune response was assessed through cytokine dosage, immunophenotyping, and immunoglobulin production. BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant P. pastoris showed a serum elevation of IL-2 and TNF-α for the two tested vaccines, in addition to the induction of IL-17A. Noteworthy, besides its conventional regulatory role, IL-17A may play pro-inflammatory functions in some viral, fungal, and cancer infections [32]. Moreover, high levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 secreted by CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes are also detected in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice infected with ZIKV, exhibiting a Th1 pattern [33,34].

Despite eliciting Th1 cytokines, the P. pastoris:ENVNS1 vaccine induced an increase of IL-4 and IL-10, which may be a consequence of follicular T cells (Thf) activation. In Zika virus infection, Tfh cells enhanced production of cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-21, nevertheless also act in a Th1-like manner, producing IFN-γ. Besides, this lymphocyte subpopulation influences the development of neutralizing antibodies against ZIKV [35]. The detection of cytokines as IL-2, IL-4, and IL-17 in individuals in the acute phase of ZIKV infection suggests a polyfunctional response profile characterized by Th1, Th2, and Th17 responses [36]. Concerning the splenic immune cells, the cytokine dosage indicated a Th1 profile, where P. pastoris:ENV induced an increase in IL-6 and IFN-γ levels, while P. pastoris:ENVNS1 stimulated IL-6 and TNF-α production. These pro-inflammatory cytokines compose the anti-ZIKV immune response and were also observed in vitro assays performed with these recombinant yeasts in a previous study [25,37]. The role of IL-6 resulting of the administration of whole yeast vaccines has been linked to the generation of CD4+ T cells [38]. Furthermore, increased production of TNF-α and IFN-γ is related to the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that mediate effective responses against ZIKV-infected cells [39].

Regarding circulating lymphocytes the recombinant antigens seem to modulate the CD8⁺ T cells since there was a significant difference between the vaccines. Non-recombinant P. pastoris and expressing ENVNS1 induced a greater stimulus than P. pastoris:ENV. The NS1 epitopes may have influenced the activation of the CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, which reinforces the importance of including immunodominant epitopes present in non-structural proteins in the design of vaccines for flaviviruses [39]. In addition, both recombinant yeasts elicited the expansion on the number of CD16⁺ T lymphocytes, mainly P. pastoris: ENVNS1 construction.

Analysis of splenic lymphocytes reflects the induction of immune memory responses [40]. The stimulus promoted by recombinant yeasts was greater for the CD4⁺ T cell population than for CD8⁺ T cells overall. P. pastoris:ENV stimulated CD4⁺ (48h and 72h), CD8⁺ (24h and 48h), and CD16⁺ (24h and 72h) cells. P. pastoris:ENVNS1 elicited an increase in the number of CD4⁺ cells (24h and 72h), CD8⁺ (72h) even in low levels, and CD16⁺ (48h and 72h). The vaccine responses here reported are in line with other studies about the importance of T cells in the context of vaccine development, indicating that a coordinated balance among the action of antibodies, Tfh CD4⁺, Th1 CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T cells are essential to confer infection control and long-term protection [39,41].

Besides the cellular immune response, the recombinant yeasts induced significant production of different classes of immunoglobulins. The highest levels were observed for IgG3, IgA, and IgM. The P. pastoris:ENV vaccine promoted a significant increase in the production of all IgG isotypes. Elevations in the generation of IgG1 and IgG2a were observed in mice challenged with ZIKV PE243 [42] as well as immunized with VLPs [43]. The IgG2 isotype is predominant among neutralizing antibodies that induce protection and is important for ZIKV infection clearance [35,42]. Besides, there were elevations in IgG3 and IgM, commonly observed in the acute phase of viral infections, involved in pro-inflammatory effector mechanisms [43,44].

Both recombinant yeasts caused an increase in IgE. Antiviral functions performed by IgE have been investigated, but there is no consistent data regarding the role of this immunoglobulin in ZIKV infection [45]. Once there were no changes in eosinophil levels or signs of anaphylaxis, the contribution of IgE was possibly related to non-allergic defense mechanisms induced by the vaccine. The two vaccine constructs also promoted an increase in IgA and IgM at equivalent levels. These immunoglobulins are frequent in recent ZIKV infections, making them helpful to diagnostic assays [46].

All tested yeasts induced neutrophilia in inoculated mice. Besides acting as critical cells of innate immunity, neutrophils also contribute to adaptive immunity in the transport and presentation of antigens and the regulation of antigen-specific responses [47]. Although neutrophil activation is involved in the pathogenesis of ZIKV infection, the role of these cells in the antiviral immune response generated by vaccination is unclear [48].

Overall, the results obtained suggest the involvement of Th1 and Th2 responses, providing a polyfunctional immune response profile also observed in the ZIKV infection [33]. Similar patterns are observed in vaccine studies for ZIKV based on different platforms, such as EDIII-based subunit vaccines [49] and VLPs [50]. This study explored the biotechnological potential of P. pastoris regarding its applicability as a biofactory and antigens carrier. We observed that although previous studies show yeast immunostimulatory properties, the expression of vaccine antigens can modulate the immune response. Recombinant P. pastoris promoted an increase in immunoglobulins production and cellular immune response activation. There were no deaths, diarrhea, or weight loss in animals vaccinated with yeasts during the vaccination schedule, in agreement with previous studies using P. pastoris and other species [51].

5. Conclusions

The present work contributes with information both in the field of vaccine development for ZIKV and in the establishment of yeasts as vaccine vectors. The data presented demonstrate the development of a vaccine strategy against ZIKV based on the use of P. pastoris as a carrier of viral antigens. Despite the several immunoinformatics-based studies for predicting ZIKV epitopes, researches at the preclinical level are still scarce. The study presented here demonstrates for the first time the evaluation of a multi-epitope construct as a vaccine antigen for ZIKV, using yeast as a vehicle, through the surface display system. Together, the results point to the generation of immune responses that should be tested to verify the induction of protection against ZIKV infection. The biotechnological potential of P. pastoris was explored in different ways: as a biofactory, as an antigen carrier, and as a vaccine adjuvant, showing its versatility. The expression vector also allows the cloning of other genes for vaccine strategies aimed at other infectious agents. P. pastoris is pointed out as a cost-effective platform for vaccine production, favoring production and distribution in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. The present study brings encouraging data regarding the use of yeast as an effective and safe vehicle for the delivery of vaccine antigens.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: www.mdpi.com/xxx/s1, Table S1: Secretion of splenic cytokines after in vitro re-stimulus; Table S2: Table S2: Average weight of the mice groups throughout the immunization experiment. Values correspond to mean ± standard deviation.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: Anna J. D. Silva, André L. S. de Jesus, Cristiane M. L. de Melo, Antonio C. de Freitas; Methodology: Anna J. D. Silva, Lígia R. S. Leal, Larissa S. Macêdo, Bárbara R. da S. Barros, Georon F. de Sousa, Simone da P. L. Alves, Cristiane M. L. de Melo; Data curation: Anna J. D. Silva; Formal analysis: Anna J. D. Silva, Cristiane M. L. de Melo; Original draft preparation: Anna J. D. Silva; Writing - review & editing: Anna J. D. Silva, André L. S. de Jesus, Cristiane M. L. de Melo, Antonio C. de Freitas; Supervision: Lindomar J. Pena, Antonio C. de Freitas; Funding acquisition: Antonio C. de Freitas. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by CNPq Bolsa Produtividade, grant number 308489/2019-5; CAPES – Epidemias, grant number 88887.507421/ 2020-00; CNPq/MCTI/CT-BIOTEC Nº 31/2022, grant number 440315/2022-0 and Programa de Apoio a Fixação de Jovens Doutores em Pernambuco APQ-1482-2.02/22.

Data Availability Statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank NPT1 (Nucleo de Plataformas Tecnologicas) and bioterium from FIOCRUZ/Aggeu Magalhaes Institute for the use of its facilities; and Dr. Fabricio Souto (Federal University of Pernambuco, PE, Brazil) for assistance during the flow cytometry assays.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Experimental design. A) The first phase of the study included the selection of immunogenic epitopes from the envelope and NS1 proteins (Silva et al. 2021); B) Expression cassettes: the sets of Env and Env + NS1 epitopes were fused to the α-agglutinin anchor protein, allowing the display of the recombinant proteins on the P. pastoris surface. PGK1: promoter; MF-α: signal peptide for protein secretion; 6H: 6x His-tag for immunodetection. C) The yeasts were subjected to heat treatment for metabolic inactivation and used for vaccination of BALB/c mice. The mice received two doses of each yeast preparation and were monitored for weight and activity throughout the 21 days of the experiment. On the last day of the schedule were performed blood collection, euthanasia, and removal of the spleen..

Figure 2. Yeast-ELISA performed to evaluate the protein expression and anchorage of the yeasts utilized in the immunization assay.

Figure 3. Cytokines measured from the blood of mice 14 days after the booster dose. A) IL-2, B) IL-4, C) IL-17A, D) TNF-α, E) IFN-γ, F) IL-6, G) IL-10. Cytokine values were measured in pg.mL^-1. Asterisks represent statistical significances (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, *** p<0.001). Error bars: standard deviation.

Figure 4. Dosage cytokines in immune cells isolated from the spleens, detection obtained from the supernatant of cultures. A) IL-6, B) IFN-γ, C) TNF-α. Cytokine values were measured in pg.mL^-1. Asterisks represent statistical significances (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, *** p<0.001). Error bars: standard deviation.

Figure 5. Yeast-induced humoral response. The immunoglobulins IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3, IgA, IgM, and IgE were detected by flow cytometry. The values in MFI correspond to the mean fluorescence intensity. Asterisks represent statistical significances (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, *** p<0.001). Error bars: standard deviation.

Figure 6. Expression of surface markers in lymphocyte subpopulations present in the blood of mice after immunization. A) % of cells CD4⁺, B) % of cells CD8⁺, C) % of cells CD16⁺. Asterisks represent statistical significances (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, *** p<0.001). Error bars: standard deviation.

Figure 7. Expression profile of splenic lymphocyte surface markers. A) % of cells CD4+, B) % of cells CD8+, C) % of cells CD16+. Asterisks represent statistical significances (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, *** p<0.001). Error bars: standard deviation.

Table 1. Hematological and biochemical parameters of vaccinated mice. Values correspond to mean ± standard deviation.

Analysis	NR	ENV	ENVNS1	R.V. [29,30,31]
Hematological
Red blood cells (10⁶/mm³)	5.27 ± 0.35	5.32 ± 0.49	4.7 3± 0.41	7.3 ± 2.01
Hemoglobin (g.dL^-1)	15.18 ± 1.10	16.04 ± 1.89	14.05 ± 1.31	13.82 ± 1.07
Hematocrit (%)	47.4 ± 3.36	48.2 ± 5.67	42.25 ± 3.86	38,44 ± 3,93
MCV (fL)	89.82 ± 1.27	90.35 ± 2.43	89.24 ± 0.62	60.26 ± 18.25
MCHC (%)	33.29 ± 0.06	33.27 ± 0.05	33.27 ± 0.08	33.00 ± 2.60
Total leukocytes (10³/mm³)	9.38 ± 1.14	9.16 ± 0.58	9.2 ± 0.42	6.23 ± 2.57
Neutrophils (%)	38.8 ± 5.72	41 ± 6.20	44.25 ± 2.93	22.96 ± 5.54
Lymphocytes (%)	56 ± 3.16	56.6 ± 6.07	53.5 ± 2.52	71.76 ± 5.9
Eosinophils (%)	1.6 ± 0.89	1.2 ± 0.45	1 ± 0	2.16 ± 1.71
Monocytes (%)	1.6 ± 0.89	1.2 ± 0.45	1.25 ± 0.5	2.68 ± 1
Platelets (10³/mm³)	386 ± 39.06	459.2 ± 11.73	434 ± 37.21	560 ± 119
Biochemical tests
Glucose (mg.dL^-1)	71.9 ± 4.34	85.84 ± 5.95	80.57 ± 13.86	80.75 ± 20.25
AST (UI.L^-1)	133.52 ± 5.77	143.8 ± 0.08	103.02 ± 25.98	239.50 ± 141.20
ALT (UI.L^-1)	154.4 ± 6.57	145.32 ± 5.11	145.67 ± 17.23	156.70 ± 57.20
ALP (UI.L^-1)	215.82 ± 8.88	218.16 ± 4.52	202.6 ± 22.93	362.90 ± 226.60

RV- Reference value; MCV- Mean Corpuscular Volume; MCHC- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration; AST- Aspartate Aminotransferase; ALT- Alanine Aminotransferase; ALP- Alkaline phosphatase.

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