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Greco R, von Hunolstein C, Orefici G, Donnarumma G, Polidoro M, Modica F, Nicoletti M, Valenti P. Protein M and Fibronectin-Binding Proteins are Not Sufficient to Promote Internalization of Group a Streptococci into Hela Cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/039463209801100306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection by group A streptococci is often associated with highly invasive diseases resulting in sepsis and shock. Recently, this species has renewed interest in the mechanism by which some strains are better able to invade mucosal epithelia and to penetrate into the bloodstream than are others. In this work we have evaluated the invasive ability of eight group A Streptococcus pyogenes strains isolated either from patients with severe invasive diseases, or with pharyngitis, or from healthy carrier. Five out of the eight strains studied were efficiently internalized within HeLa cells and, of these, four produced the M6 protein. A recombinant S.gordonii strain constitutively expressing the M6 protein failed to invade HeLa cell monolayers, suggesting that the expression of the M6 protein is not sufficient to allow the non-invasive S.gordonii to be internalized within Hela cells. As fibronectin-binding proteins have been implicated as primary adhesins in host-parasite interactions, we assayed the adhesiveness and the invasiveness of five invasive GAS strains in competition experiments where HeLa cells were infected with bacteria in the presence of purified fibronectin. The results obtained indicated that fibronectin moderately inhibits bacterial adhesion, while it does not affect internalization. These results indicate that other factors, together with fibronectin-binding proteins, participate in the adhesion of streptococci, and that fibronectin-mediated adhesion does not seem to be important in the internalization process of streptococci within HeLa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Greco
- Istituto di Microbiologia, II Università di Napoli 80138 Naples
| | - C. von Hunolstein
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, laboratorio di Batteriologia e Micologia Medica, 00185 Rome
| | - G. Orefici
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, laboratorio di Batteriologia e Micologia Medica, 00185 Rome
| | - G. Donnarumma
- Istituto di Microbiologia, II Università di Napoli 80138 Naples
| | - M. Polidoro
- Istituto di Microbiologia, Università “La Sapienza”, 00185 Rome
| | - F. Modica
- Istituto di Microbiologia, Università “La Sapienza”, 00185 Rome
| | - M. Nicoletti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università “G.D'Annunzio”, 66100 Chieti; Italy
| | - P. Valenti
- Istituto di Microbiologia, II Università di Napoli 80138 Naples
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Georgousakis MM, McMillan DJ, Batzloff MR, Sriprakash KS. Moving forward: a mucosal vaccine against group A streptococcus. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 8:747-60. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.09.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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3
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Kotloff KL. Streptococcus group A vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4557-0090-5.00061-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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Rohde M, Graham RM, Branitzki-Heinemann K, Borchers P, Preuss C, Schleicher I, Zähner D, Talay SR, Fulde M, Dinkla K, Chhatwal GS. Differences in the aromatic domain of homologous streptococcal fibronectin-binding proteins trigger different cell invasion mechanisms and survival rates. Cell Microbiol 2010; 13:450-68. [PMID: 21054741 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2010.01547.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Group A streptococci (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) and Group G streptococci (GGS, Streptococcus dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis) adhere to and invade host cells by binding to fibronectin. The fibronectin-binding protein SfbI from GAS acts as an invasin by using a caveolae-mediated mechanism. In the present study we have identified a fibronectin-binding protein, GfbA, from GGS, which functions as an adhesin and invasin. Although there is a high degree of similarity in the C-terminal sequence of SfbI and GfbA, the invasion mechanisms are different. Unlike caveolae-mediated invasion by SfbI-expressing GAS, the GfbA-expressing GGS isolate trigger cytoskeleton rearrangements. Heterologous expression of GfbA on the surface of a commensal Streptococcus gordonii and purified recombinant protein also triggered actin rearrangements. Expression of a truncated GfbA (lacking the aromatic domain) and chimeric GfbA/SfbI protein (replacing the aromatic domain of SfbI with the GfbA aromatic domain) on S. gordonii or recombinant proteins alone showed that the aromatic domain of GfbA is responsible for different invasion mechanisms. This is the first evidence for a biological function of the aromatic domain of fibronectin-binding proteins. Furthermore, we show that streptococci invading via cytoskeleton rearrangements and intracellular trafficking along the classical endocytic pathway are less persistence than streptococci entering via caveolae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Rohde
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of Medical Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany.
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Kotloff KL. The prospect of vaccination against group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2010; 10:192-9. [PMID: 18510880 DOI: 10.1007/s11908-008-0032-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Group A streptococcus is a widespread human pathogen that causes a broad spectrum of human disease. The persistent high burden and severity of illness in developing and industrialized countries speaks to the need for a safe and effective vaccine. Modern approaches to vaccine construction include M protein type-specific vaccines, vaccines utilizing conserved M antigens, and vaccines based on other conserved surface-expressed or secreted antigens. Vaccine candidates in various stages of development offer promise for prevention of Group A streptococcal infections and their sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Kotloff
- Division of Infectious Disease and Tropical Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, HSF 480, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Lee P, Faubert GM. Oral immunization of BALB/c mice by intragastric delivery of Streptococcus gordonii-expressing Giardia cyst wall protein 2 decreases cyst shedding in challenged mice. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2006; 265:225-36. [PMID: 17081198 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00490.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardia lamblia (Giardia duodenalis or Giardia intestinalis) is a protozoan parasite of vertebrates with broad host specificity. Specific antibodies directed against cyst antigens can interfere with the cyst wall-building process. In this study, we engineered Streptococcus gordonii to express a 26 kDa fragment of cyst wall protein 2 (CWP2), containing a relevant B cell epitope, on the cell surface. This is the first report of S. gordonii expressing a protein of parasite origin. As S. gordonii was intended for intestinal delivery of CWP2, it was determined that this oral commensal bacterium is able to persist in the murine intestine for 30 days. Immunization with recombinant streptococci expressing the 26 kDa fragment resulted in higher antibody levels. Specific anti-CWP2 IgA antibodies were detected in fecal samples and anti-CWP2 IgG antibodies were detected in serum demonstrating the efficacy of S. gordonii for intragastric antigen delivery. In a pilot challenge experiment, immunized mice demonstrated a significant 70% reduction in cyst output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lee
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada
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Liu JJ, Reid G, Jiang Y, Turner MS, Tsai CC. Activity of HIV entry and fusion inhibitors expressed by the human vaginal colonizing probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Cell Microbiol 2006; 9:120-30. [PMID: 16879452 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2006.00772.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Novel therapeutic approaches are needed to combat the rapid increase in HIV sexual transmission in women. The probiotic organism Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 which safely colonizes the human vagina and prevents microbial infections, has been genetically modified to produce anti-HIV proteins which were capable of blocking the three main steps of HIV entry into human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The HIV entry or fusion inhibitors were fused to the native expression and secretion signals of BspA, Mlp or Sep in L. reuteri RC-14 and the expression cassettes were stably inserted into the chromosome. L. reuteri RC-14 expressed the HIV inhibitors in cell wall-associated and secreted forms. L. reuteri RC-14 expressing CD4D1D2-antibody-like fusion proteins were able to bind single or dual tropic coreceptor-using HIV-1 primary isolates. This is the first study to show that a well-documented and proven human vaginal probiotic strain can express potent functional viral inhibitors, which may potentially lower the sexual transmission of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice J Liu
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Kotloff KL, Wasserman SS, Jones KF, Livio S, Hruby DE, Franke CA, Fischetti VA. Clinical and microbiological responses of volunteers to combined intranasal and oral inoculation with a Streptococcus gordonii carrier strain intended for future use as a group A streptococcus vaccine. Infect Immun 2005; 73:2360-6. [PMID: 15784582 PMCID: PMC1087407 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.4.2360-2366.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus gordonii shows promise as a live mucosal vaccine vector for immunization against respiratory pathogens. In preparation for clinical trials to evaluate S. gordonii engineered to express group A streptococcal M protein antigens, we characterized the responses of 150 healthy volunteers to combined nasal and oral inoculation with approximately 1.5 x 10(9) CFU of SP204(1-1), an S. gordonii strain not bearing vaccine antigens. SP204(1-1) was selected for resistance to streptomycin and 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine to distinguish it from indigenous flora. In two antibiotic treatment studies, we performed serial culturing of nose, mouth, and saliva samples from 120 subjects treated with azithromycin beginning 5 days after inoculation to determine whether SP204(1-1) could be rapidly eliminated should safety concerns arise. A natural history study was performed to assess the time until spontaneous eradication in the remaining 30 subjects, who did not receive the antibiotic and who were monitored with repeated culturing for 14 weeks after inoculation. SP204(1-1) was generally well tolerated. Symptoms reported most often within 5 days of inoculation were nasal congestion (36%), headache (30%), and sore throat (19%). The strain was detected by culturing in 98% of subjects. A single dose of azithromycin eliminated colonization in 95% of subjects; all subjects receiving a 5-day course of an antibiotic showed clearance by day 11. Without the antibiotic, 82% of subjects showed spontaneous eradication of the implanted strain within 7 days, and all showed clearance by 35 days. The results of these clinical trials provide encouragement that the use of S. gordonii as a live mucosal vaccine vector is a feasible strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Kotloff
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 685 West Baltimore St., HSF 480, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Gladstone P, Varghese G, Brahmadathan KN. Dynamics of anti-M antibody response in a mouse model following intranasal infection with group A Streptococcus M-18. J Med Microbiol 2005; 54:305-308. [PMID: 15713616 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.45555-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamics of anti-M antibody response following intranasal infection with group A Streptococcus (GAS) M-18 were investigated in a Swiss albino mouse model. Mice arranged in three groups were inoculated intranasally with 2.0x10(7) c.f.u. ml-1 of GAS M-18 on 1, 2 alternate and 3 alternate days. Plasma collected from the retro-orbital plexus was tested for antibodies by an in-house indirect ELISA. The antibody titres of the plasma samples varied from 1 : 8 to 1 : 1024 in the 1 day dose, from 1 : 4 to 1 : 256 in the 2 day dose and from 1 : 4 to 1 : 128 in the 3 day dose. Peak titres were seen on day 42 or 56 and in all cases the titres had declined by day 84. Swiss albino mouse can thus serve as a useful animal model to study different aspects of type-specific anti-M immune responses against GAS disease when designing candidate streptococcal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Gladstone
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore - 632004, Tamil Nadu, India 2Department of Microbiology, Pushpagiri Medical College, Tiruvalla - 689 101, Kerala, India
| | - George Varghese
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore - 632004, Tamil Nadu, India 2Department of Microbiology, Pushpagiri Medical College, Tiruvalla - 689 101, Kerala, India
| | - K N Brahmadathan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore - 632004, Tamil Nadu, India 2Department of Microbiology, Pushpagiri Medical College, Tiruvalla - 689 101, Kerala, India
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Provvedi R, Maggi T, Oggioni MR, Manganelli R, Pozzi G. Selection and characterization of a promoter for expression of single-copy recombinant genes in Gram-positive bacteria. BMC Biotechnol 2005; 5:3. [PMID: 15651989 PMCID: PMC548306 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-5-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2004] [Accepted: 01/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past ten years there has been a growing interest in engineering Gram-positive bacteria for biotechnological applications, including vaccine delivery and production of recombinant proteins. Usually, bacteria are manipulated using plasmid expression vectors. The major limitation of this approach is due to the fact that recombinant plasmids are often lost from the bacterial culture upon removal of antibiotic selection. We have developed a genetic system based on suicide vectors on conjugative transposons allowing stable integration of recombinant DNA into the chromosome of transformable and non-transformable Gram-positive bacteria. RESULTS The aim of this work was to select a strong chromosomal promoter from Streptococcus gordonii to improve this genetic system making it suitable for expression of single-copy recombinant genes. To achieve this task, a promoterless gene encoding a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat), was randomly integrated into the S. gordonii chromosome and transformants were selected for chloramphenicol resistance. Three out of eighteen chloramphenicol resistant transformants selected exhibited 100% stability of the phenotype and only one of them, GP215, carried the cat gene integrated as a single copy. A DNA fragment of 600 base pairs exhibiting promoter activity was isolated from GP215 and sequenced. The 5' end of its corresponding mRNA was determined by primer extention analysis and the putative -10 and a -35 regions were identified. To study the possibility of using this promoter (PP) for single copy heterologous gene expression, we created transcriptional fusions of PP with genes encoding surface recombinant proteins in a vector capable of integrating into the conjugative transposon Tn916. Surface recombinant proteins whose expression was controlled by the PP promoter were detected in Tn916-containing strains of S. gordonii and Bacillus subtilis after single copy chromosomal integration of the recombinant insertion vectors into the resident Tn916. The surface recombinant protein synthesized under the control of PP was also detected in Enterococcus faecalis after conjugal transfer of a recombinant Tn916 containing the transcriptional fusion. CONCLUSION We isolated and characterized a S. gordonii chromosomal promoter. We demonstrated that this promoter can be used to direct expression of heterologous genes in different Gram-positive bacteria, when integrated in a single copy into the chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Provvedi
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Medical School, Via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Tiziana Maggi
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
- IRIS Research Center, Chiron S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco R Oggioni
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Riccardo Manganelli
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Medical School, Via A. Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Pozzi
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Policlinico "Le Scotte", Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Magliani W, Conti S, Frazzi R, Pozzi G, Oggioni M, Polonelli L. Engineered commensal bacteria as delivery systems of anti-infective mucosal protectants. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2003; 19:139-56. [PMID: 12520876 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2002.10648027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Walter Magliani
- Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Parma, Viale Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy
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12
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Olive C, Batzloff M, Horváth A, Clair T, Yarwood P, Toth I, Good MF. Potential of lipid core peptide technology as a novel self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system for multiple different synthetic peptide immunogens. Infect Immun 2003; 71:2373-83. [PMID: 12704107 PMCID: PMC153267 DOI: 10.1128/iai.71.5.2373-2383.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2002] [Revised: 01/03/2003] [Accepted: 01/28/2003] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a novel self-adjuvanting vaccine delivery system for multiple different synthetic peptide immunogens by use of lipid core peptide (LCP) technology. An LCP formulation incorporating two different protective epitopes of the surface antiphagocytic M protein of group A streptococci (GAS)--the causative agents of rheumatic fever and subsequent rheumatic heart disease--was tested in a murine parenteral immunization and GAS challenge model. Mice were immunized with the LCP-GAS formulation, which contains an M protein amino-terminal type-specific peptide sequence (8830) in combination with a conserved non-host-cross-reactive carboxy-terminal C-region peptide sequence (J8) of the M protein. Our data demonstrated immunogenicity of the LCP-8830-J8 formulation in B10.BR mice when coadministered in complete Freund's adjuvant and in the absence of a conventional adjuvant. In both cases, immunization led to induction of high-titer GAS peptide-specific serum immunoglobulin G antibody responses and induction of highly opsonic antibodies that did not cross-react with human heart tissue proteins. Moreover, mice were completely protected from GAS infection when immunized with LCP-8830-J8 in the presence or absence of a conventional adjuvant. Mice were not protected, however, following immunization with an LCP formulation containing a control peptide from a Schistosoma sp. These data support the potential of LCP technology in the development of novel self-adjuvanting multi-antigen component vaccines and point to the potential application of this system in the development of human vaccines against infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Olive
- Cooperative Research Centre for Vaccine Technology, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia.
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Byrd CM, Bolken TC, Jones KF, Warren TK, Vella AT, McDonald J, King D, Blackwood Z, Hruby DE. Biological consequences of antigen and cytokine co-expression by recombinant Streptococcus gordonii vaccine vectors. Vaccine 2002; 20:2197-205. [PMID: 12009273 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(02)00144-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
To test the effect of co-expression of immunomodulatory molecules, together with target antigen, two recombinant Streptococcus gordonii strains were constructed which secreted either murine interleukin-2 (IL-2) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in addition to a surface anchored test antigen (the conserved C-repeat region (CRR) of the M6 protein of Streptococcus pyogenes). The secretion of functional cytokines by S. gordonii was achieved by in-frame fusion of sequences encoding mature IL-2 or IFN-gamma to the sequences encoding the leader signal of the M6 protein. Expression of the M protein CRR region from a separate chromosomal site produced double recombinants expressing a secreted cytokine and the M protein CRR region anchored to the surface. Protein expression was verified by streak blot, immunoblot, and ELISA on both the single and double recombinants. A cytokine bioassay using HT-2 cells verified biological activity of recombinant IL-2 secreted from S. gordonii. When mice were immunized subcutaneously with the different S. gordonii expression strains, cytokine co-expression apparently modulated the systemic immune response. These results show that streptococci can deliver biologically active molecules such as cytokines along with antigens to the immune system. These results demonstrate that a cytokine-secreting, noninvasive, bacterial vaccine vector can be used to modulate immune responses to a co-expressed antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea M Byrd
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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Bolken TC, Franke CA, Jones KF, Bell RH, Swanson RM, King DS, Fischetti VA, Hruby DE. Analysis of factors affecting surface expression and immunogenicity of recombinant proteins expressed by gram-positive commensal vectors. Infect Immun 2002; 70:2487-91. [PMID: 11953386 PMCID: PMC127933 DOI: 10.1128/iai.70.5.2487-2491.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Several key protein structural attributes were altered in an effort to optimize expression and immunogenicity of a foreign protein (M protein from Streptococcus pyogenes) exposed on the surface of Streptococcus gordonii commensal bacterial vectors: (i) a shorter N-terminal region, (ii) the addition of a 94-amino-acid spacer, and (iii) the addition of extra C-repeat regions (CRR) from the M6 protein. A decrease in the amount of cell surface M6 was observed upon deletion of 10 or more amino acid residues at the N terminus. On the other hand, reactivity of monoclonal antibody to surface M6 increased with the addition of the spacer adjacent to the proline- and glycine-rich region, and an increase in epitope dosage was obtained by adding another CRR immediately downstream of the original CRR. The results obtained should facilitate the design of improved vaccine candidates using this antigen delivery technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tové C Bolken
- SIGA Technologies Inc., Corvallis, Oregon 97333, USA
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Maggi T, Spinosa M, Ricci S, Medaglini D, Pozzi G, Oggioni MR. Genetic engineering of Streptococcus gordonii for the simultaneous display of two heterologous proteins at the bacterial surface. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2002; 210:135-41. [PMID: 12023090 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11172.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus gordonii has been genetically engineered to allow the simultaneous expression of two heterologous proteins at the cell surface. A family of recombinant streptococci displaying two different antigens was constructed. All the strains were genetically stable and expressed both proteins at the surface of the same bacterial cell. S. gordonii co-expressing the immunomodulating molecule LTB (B monomer of Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin) and the V3 domain of HIV-1 gp120 were inoculated subcutaneously to BALB/c mice. Animals were capable of responding to both antigens, producing LTB- and V3-specific serum IgG. The V3-specific IgG titer was four-fold higher in mice immunised with the double protein-expressing bacteria, as compared to control animals inoculated either with S. gordonii expressing the V3 domain alone or with a mixture of the two strains expressing LTB and V3, separately. Therefore, LTB was able to potentiate the antibody response towards the V3 domain, and this effect was observed only when LTB was co-expressed on the same bacterial cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Maggi
- Laboratorio di Microbiologia Molecolare e Biotecnologia (L.A.M.M.B.), Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Sezione di Microbiologia, Università di Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Viale Bracci, 53100, Italy
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Ricci S, Medaglini D, Marcotte H, Olsén A, Pozzi G, Björck L. Immunoglobulin-binding domains of peptostreptococcal protein L enhance vaginal colonization of mice by Streptococcus gordonii. Microb Pathog 2001; 30:229-35. [PMID: 11312616 DOI: 10.1006/mpat.2000.0427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Protein L, an immunoglobulin-binding protein of some strains of the anaerobic bacterium Peptostreptococcus magnus, has been hypothesized to be a virulence determinant in bacterial vaginosis. In order to investigate the role of protein L in peptostreptococcal virulence, the Ig-binding domains of protein L were expressed at the surface of the human oral commensal Streptococcus gordonii. Recombinant streptococci were used in vaginal colonization experiments, and protein L-expressing S. gordonii demonstrated enhanced ability to colonize the vaginal mucosa. Compared to the control strain, they also persisted for a longer period in the murine vagina.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ricci
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section for Molecular Pathogenesis, Lund, Sweden.
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17
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Medaglini D, Ciabattini A, Spinosa MR, Maggi T, Marcotte H, Oggioni MR, Pozzi G. Immunization with recombinant Streptococcus gordonii expressing tetanus toxin fragment C confers protection from lethal challenge in mice. Vaccine 2001; 19:1931-9. [PMID: 11228363 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(00)00434-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Tetanus toxin fragment C (TTFC) was expressed on the surface of the vaccine vector Streptococcus gordonii, a Gram-positive commensal bacterium of the human oral cavity. The immunogenicity of recombinant S. gordonii expressing TTFC was assayed in mice immunized by the parenteral and mucosal routes. High serum TTFC-specific IgG responses were induced in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice immunized subcutaneously. A total of 82% of vaccinated BALB/c mice were protected from the lethal challenge with 50 LD(50) of tetanus toxin (TT) and a direct correlation between the serum TTFC-specific IgG concentration and survival time of unprotected animals was observed. Intranasal immunization of BALB/c mice was also effective in inducing TTFC-specific serum IgG and local IgA in lung washes. Furthermore, 38% of animals immunized intranasally were protected from the lethal challenge with 10 LD(50) of TT while all control animals died within 24 h. Analysis of the serum IgG subclasses showed that the IgG1 subclass was predominant after parenteral immunization in BALB/c mice (IgG1/IgG2a ratio congruent with6) while following mucosal immunization a mixed IgG1 and IgG2a pattern (IgG1/IgG2a ratio congruent with1) was observed. These data show that TTFC expressed on the surface of S. gordonii is immunogenic by the subcutaneous and mucosal routes and the immune response induced is capable of conferring protection from the lethal challenge with TT.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Intranasal
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial/biosynthesis
- Bacterial Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Bacterial Vaccines/genetics
- Bacterial Vaccines/immunology
- Base Sequence
- Clostridium tetani/genetics
- Clostridium tetani/immunology
- Clostridium tetani/pathogenicity
- DNA Primers/genetics
- Female
- Humans
- Immunity, Mucosal
- Immunization
- Immunoglobulin G/biosynthesis
- Immunoglobulin G/classification
- Injections, Subcutaneous
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Recombination, Genetic
- Streptococcus/genetics
- Streptococcus/immunology
- Tetanus/immunology
- Tetanus/prevention & control
- Tetanus Toxin/genetics
- Tetanus Toxin/immunology
- Tetanus Toxin/toxicity
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- D Medaglini
- Laboratorio di Microbiologia Molecolare e Biotecnologia (LA.M.M.B.), Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Sezione di Microbiologia, Università di Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Viale Bracci, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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18
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Myscofski DM, Dutton EK, Bolken TC, Franke CA, Hruby DE. Expression and purification of histidine-tagged proteins from the gram-positive Streptococcus gordonii SPEX system. Protein Expr Purif 2000; 20:112-23. [PMID: 11035959 DOI: 10.1006/prep.2000.1275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus gordonii (S. gordonii) has been used as a gram-positive bacterial expression vector for secreted or surface-anchored recombinant proteins. Fusion of the gram-positive bacterial N-terminal signal sequence to the target protein is all that is required for efficient export. This system is termed SPEX for Surface Protein EXpression and has been used to express proteins for a variety of uses. In this study, the SPEX system has been further developed by the construction of vectors that express polyhistidine-tagged fusion proteins. SPEX vectors were constructed with an N-terminal or C-terminal histidine tag. The C-repeat region (CRR) from Streptococcus pyogenes M6 protein and the Staphylococcus aureus nuclease A (NucA) enzyme were tested for expression. The fusion proteins were purified using metal affinity chromatography (MAC). Results show that the fusion proteins were expressed and secreted from S. gordonii with the His tag at either the N- or C-terminal position and could be purified using MAC. The M6 fusions retained immunoreactivity after expression and purification as determined by immunoblots and ELISA analyses. In addition, NucA fusions retained functional activity after MAC purification. The M6-His and NucA-His fusions were purified approximately 15- and 10-fold respectively with approximately 30% recovery of protein using MAC. This study shows that the polyhistidine tag in either the N- or C-terminal position is a viable way to purify secreted heterologous proteins from the supernatant of recombinant S. gordonii cultures. This study further illustrates the value of the SPEX system for secreted expression and purification of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Myscofski
- Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-3804, USA
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19
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Abstract
Group A streptococci are model extracellular gram-positive pathogens responsible for pharyngitis, impetigo, rheumatic fever, and acute glomerulonephritis. A resurgence of invasive streptococcal diseases and rheumatic fever has appeared in outbreaks over the past 10 years, with a predominant M1 serotype as well as others identified with the outbreaks. emm (M protein) gene sequencing has changed serotyping, and new virulence genes and new virulence regulatory networks have been defined. The emm gene superfamily has expanded to include antiphagocytic molecules and immunoglobulin-binding proteins with common structural features. At least nine superantigens have been characterized, all of which may contribute to toxic streptococcal syndrome. An emerging theme is the dichotomy between skin and throat strains in their epidemiology and genetic makeup. Eleven adhesins have been reported, and surface plasmin-binding proteins have been defined. The strong resistance of the group A streptococcus to phagocytosis is related to factor H and fibrinogen binding by M protein and to disarming complement component C5a by the C5a peptidase. Molecular mimicry appears to play a role in autoimmune mechanisms involved in rheumatic fever, while nephritis strain-associated proteins may lead to immune-mediated acute glomerulonephritis. Vaccine strategies have focused on recombinant M protein and C5a peptidase vaccines, and mucosal vaccine delivery systems are under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M W Cunningham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA
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20
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Dutton EK, Ottum SA, Bolken TC, Franke CA, Hruby DE. Expression of active monomeric and dimeric nuclease A from the gram-positive Streptococcus gordonii surface protein expression system. Protein Expr Purif 2000; 19:158-72. [PMID: 10833403 DOI: 10.1006/prep.2000.1223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We used the surface protein expression (SPEX) system to express an anchored and a secreted form of staphylococcal nuclease A (NucA) from gram-positive bacteria. NucA is a small ( approximately 18 kDa), extracellular, monomeric enzyme from Staphylococcus aureus. A deletion of amino acids 114-119 causes monomeric NucA to form homodimers. The DNA sequence encoding either wild-type or deletion mutant NucA was cloned via homologous recombination into Streptococcus gordonii. S. gordonii strains expressing either anchored or secreted, monomeric or dimeric NucA were isolated and tested for enzymatic activity using a novel fluorescence enzyme assay. We show that active monomeric and dimeric NucA enzyme can be expressed either anchored on the cell surface or secreted into the culture medium. The activity of the dimer NucA was approximately 100-fold less than the monomer. Secreted and anchored, monomeric NucA migrated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels at approximately 18 or approximately 30 kDa, respectively. In addition, similar to S. aureus NucA, the S. gordonii recombinant NucA enzyme was dependent on CaCl(2) and was heat stable. In contrast, however, the recombinant NucA activity was maximal at pH 7.0-7.5 whereas S. aureus NucA was maximal at pH 9.0. These results show, for the first time, expression of active enzyme and polymeric protein in secreted and anchored forms using SPEX. This further demonstrates the utility of this gram-positive surface protein expression system as a potential commensal bacterial delivery system for active, therapeutic enzymes, biopharmaceuticals, or vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- E K Dutton
- SIGA Research Laboratories, Suite 230, Corvallis, Oregon 97333, USA
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21
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Ricci S, Medaglini D, Rush CM, Marcello A, Peppoloni S, Manganelli R, Palú G, Pozzi G. Immunogenicity of the B monomer of Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin expressed on the surface of Streptococcus gordonii. Infect Immun 2000; 68:760-6. [PMID: 10639444 PMCID: PMC97203 DOI: 10.1128/iai.68.2.760-766.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The B monomer of the Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin (LTB) was expressed on the surface of the human oral commensal bacterium Streptococcus gordonii. Recombinant bacteria expressing LTB were used to immunize BALB/c mice subcutaneously and intragastrically. The LTB monomer expressed on the streptococcal surface proved to be highly immunogenic, as LTB-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) serum titers of 140,000 were induced after systemic immunization. Most significantly, these antibodies were capable of neutralizing the enterotoxin in a cell neutralization assay. Following mucosal delivery, antigen-specific IgA antibodies were found in feces and antigen-specific IgG antibodies were found in sera. Analysis of serum IgG subclasses showed a clear predominance of IgG1 when recombinant bacteria were inoculated subcutaneously, while a prevalence of IgG2a was observed upon intragastric delivery, suggesting, in this case, the recruitment of a Th1 type of immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ricci
- Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Sezione di Microbiologia, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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22
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Oggioni MR, Medaglini D, Maggi T, Pozzi G. Engineering the gram-positive cell surface for construction of bacterial vaccine vectors. Methods 1999; 19:163-73. [PMID: 10525453 DOI: 10.1006/meth.1999.0842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A genetic system for surface display of heterologous proteins has been developed in Streptococcus gordonii, a gram-positive human oral commensal that is naturally competent for genetic transformation. Our approach is based on chromosomal integration downstream from a resident promoter and translational fusion to an M6 protein. Using this strategy a variety of proteins, of different origin and size, were displayed on the cell surface and were shown to be stably expressed both in vitro and in vivo. Animal models of mucosal colonization (oral and vaginal) and intragastric immunization with recombinant S. gordonii were developed and the local and systemic immune responses were studied. Here we report the techniques for the construction of recombinant bacteria, use of animal models, and analysis of the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Oggioni
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8, Siena, I-53100, Italy.
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Rocha CL, Fischetti VA. Identification and characterization of a novel fibronectin-binding protein on the surface of group A streptococci. Infect Immun 1999; 67:2720-8. [PMID: 10338474 PMCID: PMC96575 DOI: 10.1128/iai.67.6.2720-2728.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the role surface proteins play in the interaction of group A streptococci with epithelial cells is an important step toward the development of new strategies to fight infections. Fibronectin-binding proteins in streptococci and staphylococci have been described as important mediators for adherence to eukaryotic cells. In the present study we describe a new Streptococcus pyogenes fibronectin-binding protein (PFBP). The gene encoding the PFBP protein (pfbp) was identified from an M12 strain genomic library. It encodes a protein of 127.4 kDa which contains the LPXTGX motif characteristic of cell wall-associated proteins in gram-positive organisms and is among the largest surface molecules described for group A streptococci. The pfbp gene is transcribed during cell growth and was present in several class I and II streptococcal strains tested. The deduced amino acid sequence of PFBP exhibits a variable N-terminal region and a conserved C-terminal region when compared to most fibronectin-binding proteins identified from other gram-positive bacteria. The N-terminal region presents a stretch of 105 amino acids with no homology with N-terminal regions of previously described fibronectin-binding molecules, while the C-terminal region contains three repeat domains that share significant similarity with the repeat regions of fibronectin-binding proteins from S. pyogenes, S. dysgalactiae, and S. equisimilis. The PFBP repeated region, when expressed on the surface of S. gordonii, a commensal organism, binds to soluble and immobilized fibronectin. This study also shows that, in addition to pfbp, a second gene homologous with that of protein F1 (which also codes for a fibronectin-binding protein) is transcribed during cell growth in the same S. pyogenes strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Rocha
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
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24
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Oggioni MR, Medaglini D, Romano L, Peruzzi F, Maggi T, Lozzi L, Bracci L, Zazzi M, Manca F, Valensin PE, Pozzi G. Antigenicity and immunogenicity of the V3 domain of HIV type 1 glycoprotein 120 expressed on the surface of Streptococcus gordonii. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 1999; 15:451-9. [PMID: 10195755 DOI: 10.1089/088922299311204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Five different V3 domains of HIV-1 gp120 were expressed on the surface of the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus gordonii, a model live vector for vaccine delivery. Sera of HIV-1-infected individuals and human monoclonal antibodies specifically recognized the gp120 sequences on the bacterial surface. Recombinant V3 from the reference HIV-1 strain MN was also shown to retain a conformation that allowed reaction with a conformation-specific monoclonal antibody. A V3-specific serum antibody response was detected in mice immunized both by subcutaneous injection and by vaginal colonization. V3-specific IgG2a antibodies, suggestive of a Th1 response, were found in the sera of mice colonized by recombinant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Oggioni
- Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Università di Siena, Italy
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25
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Navarre WW, Schneewind O. Surface proteins of gram-positive bacteria and mechanisms of their targeting to the cell wall envelope. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 1999; 63:174-229. [PMID: 10066836 PMCID: PMC98962 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.63.1.174-229.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 925] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell wall envelope of gram-positive bacteria is a macromolecular, exoskeletal organelle that is assembled and turned over at designated sites. The cell wall also functions as a surface organelle that allows gram-positive pathogens to interact with their environment, in particular the tissues of the infected host. All of these functions require that surface proteins and enzymes be properly targeted to the cell wall envelope. Two basic mechanisms, cell wall sorting and targeting, have been identified. Cell well sorting is the covalent attachment of surface proteins to the peptidoglycan via a C-terminal sorting signal that contains a consensus LPXTG sequence. More than 100 proteins that possess cell wall-sorting signals, including the M proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes, protein A of Staphylococcus aureus, and several internalins of Listeria monocytogenes, have been identified. Cell wall targeting involves the noncovalent attachment of proteins to the cell surface via specialized binding domains. Several of these wall-binding domains appear to interact with secondary wall polymers that are associated with the peptidoglycan, for example teichoic acids and polysaccharides. Proteins that are targeted to the cell surface include muralytic enzymes such as autolysins, lysostaphin, and phage lytic enzymes. Other examples for targeted proteins are the surface S-layer proteins of bacilli and clostridia, as well as virulence factors required for the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes (internalin B) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (PspA) infections. In this review we describe the mechanisms for both sorting and targeting of proteins to the envelope of gram-positive bacteria and review the functions of known surface proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- W W Navarre
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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26
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Abstract
Despite the early success demonstrated with the hepatitis B vaccine, no other recombinant engineered vaccine has been approved for use in humans. It is unlikely that a recombinant vaccine will be developed to replace an existing licensed human vaccine with a proven record of safety and efficacy. This is due to the economic reality of making vaccines for human use. Genetically engineered subunit vaccines are more costly to manufacture than conventional vaccines, since the antigen must be purified to a higher standard than was demanded of older, conventional vaccines. Each vaccine must also be subjected to extensive testing and review by the FDA, as it would be considered a new product. This is costly to a company in terms of both time and money and is unnecessary if a licensed product is already on the market. Although recombinant subunit vaccines hold great promise, they do present some potential limitations. In addition to being less reactogenic, recombinant subunit vaccines have a tendency to be less immunogenic than their conventional counterparts. This can be attributed to these vaccines being held to a higher degree of purity than was traditionally done for an earlier generation of licensed subunit vaccines. Ironically, the contaminants often found in conventional subunit vaccines may have aided in the inflammatory process, which is essential for initiating a vigorous immune response. This potential problem may be overcome by employing one of the many new types of adjuvants that are becoming available for use in humans. Recombinant subunit vaccines may also suffer from being too well-defined, because they are composed of a single antigen. In contrast, conventional vaccines contain trace amounts of other antigens that may aid in conferring an immunity to infectious agents that is more solid than could be provided by a monovalent vaccine. This problem can be minimized, where necessary, by creating recombinant vaccines that are composed of multiple antigens from the same pathogen. These issues are less of a concern with a live attenuated vaccine, since these vaccines are less costly, require fewer steps to manufacture, and elicit long-lived immunity after only a single dose. Unfortunately, live vaccines carry a higher risk of vaccine-induced complications in recipients that make their use in highly developed, litiginous countries unlikely. In lesser developed countries, where the prevalence of disease and the need for effective vaccines outweighs the risk associated with their administration, live vaccines may play an important role in human health. This review has attempted to make the reader aware of some of the current approaches and issues that are associated with the development of these vaccines. Genetically engineered vaccines hold great promise for the future, but the potential of these vaccines to improve human and animal health has yet to be fully realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Dertzbaugh
- Toxinology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5011, USA.
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Medaglini D, Oggioni MR, Pozzi G. Vaginal immunization with recombinant gram-positive bacteria. Am J Reprod Immunol 1998; 39:199-208. [PMID: 9526609 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1998.tb00354.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Many viral and bacterial pathogens enter the body through the genital mucosa. Therefore, one of the major goals of a vaccine against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) should be to induce an immune response in the genital mucosa capable of controlling the entry of the pathogen. Our approach for the development of vaccines against STDs is based on the use of nonpathogenic Gram-positive bacteria as live vaccine vectors. METHOD OF STUDY Recombinant Gram-positive bacteria expressing vaccine antigens were constructed using genetic systems developed in our laboratory. Balb/c mice and Cynomolgus monkeys were inoculated by the vaginal route and vaginal samples were collected using absorbent wicks. Colonization was evaluated by the presence of recombinant bacteria in the vaginal samples. Local and systemic immune responses were studied. RESULTS We have developed genetic systems for the expression of heterologous antigens on the surface of the human commensals Streptococcus gordonii and Lactobacillus spp. Both S. gordonii and L. casei stably colonized the murine vagina after a single inoculum. Vaginal colonization of mice with recombinant strains of S. gordonii, expressing human papillomavirus (HPV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens, induced antigen-specific vaginal immunoglobulin A (IgA) and serum IgG. Local and systemic immune responses also were detected in monkeys immunized intravaginally with recombinant S. gordonii. CONCLUSION The results obtained indicated that the approach of using colonizing Gram-positive bacteria as live vectors has a great potential for the development of vaccines against STDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Medaglini
- Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Università di Siena, Italy
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Dale JB, Cleary PP, Fischetti VA, Kasper DL, Musser JM, Zabriskie JB. Group A and group B streptococcal vaccine development. A round table presentation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 1997; 418:863-8. [PMID: 9331789 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-1825-3_205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The data presented above provide a broad overview of ongoing work to develop vaccines against group A and group B streptococcal infections. The encouraging results of human trials with conjugate group B polysaccharide vaccines suggest that this approach will lead to a safe and effective method for preventing these devastating infections in newborn infants. The results of preclinical studies of the various strategies to develop group A streptococcal vaccines are also encouraging. Whether one approach will be more advantageous or efficacious than another will need to await clinical trials. Nevertheless, we predict that in the next decade we will make significant strides in preventing streptococcal infections and their complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Dale
- University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA
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Medaglini D, Rush CM, Sestini P, Pozzi G. Commensal bacteria as vectors for mucosal vaccines against sexually transmitted diseases: vaginal colonization with recombinant streptococci induces local and systemic antibodies in mice. Vaccine 1997; 15:1330-7. [PMID: 9302739 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(97)00026-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to develop vaccines to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Novel immunization strategies that elicit a mucosal immune response in the genital tract, may show improved protection by preventing or at least limiting entry of the pathogenic micro-organism. However, it has proven difficult to obtain a local immune response in the vaginal mucosa. Our approach is based on the use of recombinant bacteria capable of colonizing mucosal surfaces as live vaccine vectors. The human commensal Streptococcus gordonii, engineered to express the E7 protein of human papillomavirus type 16, was used for intravaginal immunization of mice. A single inoculum of recombinant bacteria was sufficient to establish colonization of the murine vagina and therefore induce papillomavirus-specific vaginal IgA and serum IgG. Evidence that mucosal colonization with recombinant commensal bacteria can induce a local immune response in the female genital tract represents a significant step toward the development of new vaccines against STDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Medaglini
- Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Università di Siena, Italy
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30
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Recombinant Gram-positive bacteria as vehicles of vaccine antigens. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.1016/s1387-2656(08)70038-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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31
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Oggioni MR, Pozzi G. A host-vector system for heterologous gene expression in Streptococcus gordonii. Gene X 1996; 169:85-90. [PMID: 8635755 DOI: 10.1016/0378-1119(95)00775-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a host-vector system for heterologous expression in Streptococcus gordonii (Sg) Challis (formerly Streptococcus sanguis), a commensal bacterium of the human oral cavity. The system is based on (i) integration of plasmid insertion vectors into the chromosome of specially engineered recipient hosts, and (ii) the use of the M6-protein-encoding gene (emm6) as a partner for construction of translational gene fusions. M6 is a streptococcal surface protein already proven useful as a fusion partner for the delivery of foreign antigens to the surface of Sg [Pozzi et al., Infect. Immun. 60 (1992) 1902-1907]. Insertion vectors carry a drug-resistance marker, different portions of emm6 and a multiple cloning site to allow construction of a variety of emm6-based fusions. Upon transformation of a recipient host with an insertion vector, 100% of transformants acquire both the drug-resistance marker and the capacity of displaying the M6 molecule on the cell surface. Chromosomal integration occurred at high frequency in recipient host GP1221. Transformation with 1 microgram of insertion vector DNA yielded 8.1 X 10(5) transformants per ml of competent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Oggioni
- Sezione di Microbiologia, Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Università di Siena, Italy
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32
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Shroff KE, Meslin K, Cebra JJ. Commensal enteric bacteria engender a self-limiting humoral mucosal immune response while permanently colonizing the gut. Infect Immun 1995; 63:3904-13. [PMID: 7558298 PMCID: PMC173549 DOI: 10.1128/iai.63.10.3904-3913.1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 303] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We have employed a germfree mouse model to study the development and persistence of a humoral mucosal immune response to a gram-negative murine commensal organism, Morganella morganii. M. morganii bacteria rapidly colonize the gut, resulting in hypertrophy of Peyer's patches (PP), including germinal center reactions (GCR), and the development of specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses detected in vitro in PP fragment cultures and by ELISPOT assays of lamina propria cells. The GCR peaks 14 days after infection and begins to wane thereafter. Upon colonization, the organisms successfully translocate to the mesenteric lymph node and spleen, but the number of translocating bacteria begins to drop with the onset of a specific IgA response. A clonal B-cell microculture technique was used to determine the frequency of specific IgA plasmablasts and IgA memory cells. The frequencies of preplasmablasts were seen to be higher in the earlier stages of germinal center development, whereas the frequencies of antigen-specific memory cells appeared to remain at a relatively constant level even after 193 days postmonoassociation. We suggest that a successful secretory IgA response can attenuate chronic stimulation of GCR even though the bacteria persist in the gut. The observed developing hyporesponsiveness to a chronically present commensal organism may be relevant to the use of bacterial vectors for mucosal immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Shroff
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6018, USA
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Medaglini D, Pozzi G, King TP, Fischetti VA. Mucosal and systemic immune responses to a recombinant protein expressed on the surface of the oral commensal bacterium Streptococcus gordonii after oral colonization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1995; 92:6868-72. [PMID: 7624334 PMCID: PMC41431 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.15.6868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
To circumvent the need to engineer pathogenic microorganisms as live vaccine-delivery vehicles, a system was developed which allowed for the stable expression of a wide range of protein antigens on the surface of Gram-positive commensal bacteria. The human oral commensal Streptococcus gordonii was engineered to surface express a 204-amino acid allergen from hornet venom (Ag5.2) as a fusion with the anchor region of the M6 protein of Streptococcus pyogenes. The immunogenicity of the M6-Ag5.2 fusion protein was assessed in mice inoculated orally and intranasally with a single dose of recombinant bacteria, resulting in the colonization of the oral/pharyngeal mucosa for 10-11 weeks. A significant increase of Ag5.2-specific IgA with relation to the total IgA was detected in saliva and lung lavages when compared with mice colonized with wild-type S. gordonii. A systemic IgG response to Ag5.2 was also induced after oral colonization. Thus, recombinant Gram-positive commensal bacteria may be a safe and effective way of inducing a local and systemic immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Medaglini
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA
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35
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Montgomery DL, Donnelly JJ, Shiver JW, Liu MA, Ulmer JB. Protein expression in vivo by injection of polynucleotides. Curr Opin Biotechnol 1994; 5:505-10. [PMID: 7765464 DOI: 10.1016/0958-1669(94)90065-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Over the past few years, intramuscular injection of non-replicating DNA expression vectors has been demonstrated to be generally applicable as an effective method of producing functional proteins in vivo. This technique has been useful in the study of growth factors, regulation of protein expression, transplantation rejection, gene therapy, immune regulation and the production of monoclonal antibodies. The most successful application of DNA injection has, however, been the generation of immune responses in animal models, with the ultimate goal of developing vaccines for humans. Therefore, this approach has the potential to be a new vaccine technology, in addition to its utility in other areas of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- D L Montgomery
- Department of Virus and Cell Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486
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Pozzi G, Oggioni MR, Manganelli R, Medaglini D, Fischetti VA, Fenoglio D, Valle MT, Kunkl A, Manca F. Human T-helper cell recognition of an immunodominant epitope of HIV-1 gp120 expressed on the surface of Streptococcus gordonii. Vaccine 1994; 12:1071-7. [PMID: 7998415 DOI: 10.1016/0264-410x(94)90175-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Our genetic system for expression of heterologous proteins on the surface of the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus gordonii was used to express a human T-helper epitope of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120. In previous work on the naive repertoire of human T-helper cells, it was shown that a 15-amino acid synthetic peptide of the HIV-1 gp120 sequence contained an immunodominant T-helper epitope. Synthetic DNA coding for this peptide was cloned in frame within the gene for the streptococcal surface protein M6, and the gene fusion was integrated by transformation into the chromosome of S. gordonii. The expected M6-gp120 fusion protein was found to be expressed on the surface of the recombinant streptococci. To test whether the T epitope could be recognized by T cells when expressed on the bacterial surface within the context of M6, recombinant bacteria were used as antigen in proliferation assays to stimulate the 15-amino acid-specific human T-helper clone, in the presence of autologous antigen-presenting cells. Bacteria expressing the T epitope were efficiently recognized by the T cells in culture. In proliferation assays, 10(6)-10(7) bacteria induced responses comparable to those obtained by standard amounts of synthetic peptide (0.02-0.2 micrograms). Recombinant S. gordonii, a candidate for a live vaccine vector, appeared suitable for delivering T epitopes to the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Italy
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Fischetti VA, Medaglini D, Oggioni M, Pozzi G. Expression of foreign proteins on gram-positive commensal bacteria for mucosal vaccine delivery. Curr Opin Biotechnol 1993; 4:603-10. [PMID: 7764213 DOI: 10.1016/0958-1669(93)90084-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Non-pathogenic Gram-positive oral commensal bacteria expressing recombinant fusion proteins on their cell surface have been successfully used to raise both a mucosal and a systemic immune response to foreign antigens while colonizing the oropharynx. In this system, fusion-protein vaccines are delivered and anchored to the surface of a commensal, which occupies the mucosal niche invaded by a particular pathogen. Surface expression of these foreign proteins is achieved by exploiting the common mechanism employed by Gram-positive bacteria for translocating and anchoring proteins to the cell surface. The process offers a safe alternative to the use of engineered pathogens as live vaccine delivery vehicles.
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