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Uchiyama H, Kudo T, Yamaguchi T, Obana N, Watanabe K, Abe K, Miyazaki H, Toyofuku M, Nomura N, Akeda Y, Nakao R. Mucosal adjuvanticity and mucosal booster effect of colibactin-depleted probiotic Escherichia coli membrane vesicles. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2337987. [PMID: 38658133 PMCID: PMC11057659 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2337987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in development of novel vaccines against respiratory tract infections, due to COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we examined mucosal adjuvanticity and the mucosal booster effect of membrane vesicles (MVs) of a novel probiotic E. coli derivative lacking both flagella and potentially carcinogenic colibactin (ΔflhDΔclbP). ΔflhDΔclbP-derived MVs showed rather strong mucosal adjuvanticity as compared to those of a single flagellar mutant strain (ΔflhD-MVs). In addition, glycoengineered ΔflhDΔclbP-MVs displaying serotype-14 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (CPS14+MVs) were well-characterized based on biological and physicochemical parameters. Subcutaneous (SC) and intranasal (IN) booster effects of CPS14+MVs on systemic and mucosal immunity were evaluated in mice that have already been subcutaneously prime-immunized with the same MVs. With a two-dose regimen, an IN boost (SC-IN) elicited stronger IgA responses than homologous prime-boost immunization (SC-SC). With a three-dose regimen, serum IgG levels were comparable among all tested regimens. Homologous immunization (SC-SC-SC) elicited the highest IgM responses among all regimens tested, whereas SC-SC-SC failed to elicit IgA responses in blood and saliva. Furthermore, serum IgA and salivary SIgA levels were increased with an increased number of IN doses administrated. Notably, SC-IN-IN induced not only robust IgG response, but also the highest IgA response in both serum and saliva among the groups. The present findings suggest the potential of a heterologous three-dose administration for building both systemic and mucosal immunity, e.g. an SC-IN-IN vaccine regimen could be beneficial. Another important observation was abundant packaging of colibactin in MVs, suggesting increased applicability of ΔflhDΔclbP-MVs in the context of vaccine safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Uchiyama
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Kudo
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takehiro Yamaguchi
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nozomu Obana
- Tsukuba Transborder Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kenji Watanabe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kimihiro Abe
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Miyazaki
- Department of Oculoplastic, Orbital and Lacrimal Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanori Toyofuku
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Nomura
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Akeda
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoma Nakao
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Kuroda E, Koizumi Y, Piao Z, Nakayama H, Tomono K, Oishi K, Hamaguchi S, Akeda Y. Establishment of a modified opsonophagocytic killing assay for anti-pneumococcal surface protein A antibody. J Microbiol Methods 2023; 212:106804. [PMID: 37543109 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2023.106804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a pathogenic gram-positive bacterium that causes pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) induces antibodies that protect against lethal infections by pneumococci. PspA is a choline-binding protein present on the cell surface of almost all pneumococcal strains and is a non-capsular polysaccharide vaccine candidate. For research and development of PspA-based vaccines, an in-vitro test system to measure the activity of functional antibodies capable of killing pneumococci is essential. The opsonophagocytic killing (OPK) assay is used to evaluate the opsonic activity of functional antibodies induced by capsular polysaccharide (CPS)-based vaccines (standard OPK assay). Despite the potential of anti-PspA antibodies to protect against lethal infections in mice, the standard OPK assay fails to evaluate anti-PspA antibodies. Using a pneumococcal surface protein C-deficient strain and extending the incubation time of opsonized bacteria, complement, and HL-60 cells reportedly results in enhanced bactericidal activity (modified OPK assay). We aimed to measure the bactericidal activity of anti-PspA antibodies in intact pneumococcal strains. We optimized the pneumococcal culture method used in the OPK assay to increase the efficiency of anti-PspA antibody-mediated phagocytosis of HL-60 cells. As thick capsules hinder phagocytosis, we attempted to obtain pneumococci with thin capsules through an improved culture method. As pneumococci attached to cells exhibit thin capsules, pneumococci cultured in Todd Hewitt yeast extract (THY) broth were spread on blood agar plates and incubated for 4 h. cpsA mRNA transcript levels in pneumococci cultured on blood agar were lower than those in pneumococci cultured in THY broth. OPK activity against pneumococci expressing PspA of clades 1-5 was reasonably well detected using pneumococci cultured on blood agar in the modified OPK assay. The modified OPK assay for anti-PspA antibody using pneumococci cultured on blood agar represents a useful assay to determine the killing activity of functional anti-PspA antibodies against pneumococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eisuke Kuroda
- Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka University Hospital, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Department of Transformative Infection Control Development Studies, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Division of Fostering Required Medical Human Resources, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuka Koizumi
- Discovery Research Department, Innovative Vaccine Research and Development Division, The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Zhenyu Piao
- Biotechnology Section, Biomedical Science Center, The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nakayama
- Discovery Research Department, Innovative Vaccine Research and Development Division, The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazunori Tomono
- Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka University Hospital, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Shigeto Hamaguchi
- Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka University Hospital, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Division of Fostering Required Medical Human Resources, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Department of Transformative Analysis for Human Specimen, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Yukihiro Akeda
- Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka University Hospital, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Thailand-Japan Research Collaboration Centre on Emerging and Re-emerging Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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3
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Chun YY, Tan KS, Yu L, Pang M, Wong MHM, Nakamoto R, Chua WZ, Huee-Ping Wong A, Lew ZZR, Ong HH, Chow VT, Tran T, Yun Wang D, Sham LT. Influence of glycan structure on the colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae on human respiratory epithelial cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2213584120. [PMID: 36943879 PMCID: PMC10068763 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213584120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Virtually all living cells are encased in glycans. They perform key cellular functions such as immunomodulation and cell-cell recognition. Yet, how their composition and configuration affect their functions remains enigmatic. Here, we constructed isogenic capsule-switch mutants harboring 84 types of capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) in Streptococcus pneumoniae. This collection enables us to systematically measure the affinity of structurally related CPSs to primary human nasal and bronchial epithelial cells. Contrary to the paradigm, the surface charge does not appreciably affect epithelial cell binding. Factors that affect adhesion to respiratory cells include the number of rhamnose residues and the presence of human-like glycomotifs in CPS. Besides, pneumococcal colonization stimulated the production of interleukin 6 (IL-6), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and monocyte chemoattractantprotein-1 (MCP-1) in nasal epithelial cells, which also appears to be dependent on the serotype. Together, our results reveal glycomotifs of surface polysaccharides that are likely to be important for colonization and survival in the human airway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Yu Chun
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Kai Sen Tan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Otolaryngology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117597
| | - Lisa Yu
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- College of Art and Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Michelle Pang
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Ming Hui Millie Wong
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Rei Nakamoto
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Wan-Zhen Chua
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Amanda Huee-Ping Wong
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117593
| | - Zhe Zhang Ryan Lew
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Hsiao Hui Ong
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Vincent T. Chow
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Thai Tran
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117593
| | - De Yun Wang
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
| | - Lok-To Sham
- Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117545
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Minhas V, Domenech A, Synefiaridou D, Straume D, Brendel M, Cebrero G, Liu X, Costa C, Baldry M, Sirard JC, Perez C, Gisch N, Hammerschmidt S, Håvarstein LS, Veening JW. Competence remodels the pneumococcal cell wall exposing key surface virulence factors that mediate increased host adherence. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3001990. [PMID: 36716340 PMCID: PMC9910801 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Competence development in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae controls several features such as genetic transformation, biofilm formation, and virulence. Competent bacteria produce so-called "fratricins" such as CbpD that kill noncompetent siblings by cleaving peptidoglycan (PGN). CbpD is a choline-binding protein (CBP) that binds to phosphorylcholine residues found on wall and lipoteichoic acids (WTA and LTA) that together with PGN are major constituents of the pneumococcal cell wall. Competent pneumococci are protected against fratricide by producing the immunity protein ComM. How competence and fratricide contribute to virulence is unknown. Here, using a genome-wide CRISPRi-seq screen, we show that genes involved in teichoic acid (TA) biosynthesis are essential during competence. We demonstrate that LytR is the major enzyme mediating the final step in WTA formation, and that, together with ComM, is essential for immunity against CbpD. Importantly, we show that key virulence factors PspA and PspC become more surface-exposed at midcell during competence, in a CbpD-dependent manner. Together, our work supports a model in which activation of competence is crucial for host adherence by increased surface exposure of its various CBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikrant Minhas
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Arnau Domenech
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dimitra Synefiaridou
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Straume
- Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Max Brendel
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Xue Liu
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, Lausanne, Switzerland,Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Pharmacology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Charlotte Costa
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Mara Baldry
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Jean-Claude Sirard
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Camilo Perez
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Gisch
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Leiv Sigve Håvarstein
- Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway,* E-mail: (LSH); (J-WV)
| | - Jan-Willem Veening
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, Lausanne, Switzerland,* E-mail: (LSH); (J-WV)
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The Modified Surface Killing Assay Distinguishes between Protective and Nonprotective Antibodies to PspA. mSphere 2019; 4:4/6/e00589-19. [PMID: 31826968 PMCID: PMC6908419 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00589-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The most important finding of this study is that the MSKA can be used as an in vitro functional assay. Such an assay will be critical for the development of PspA-containing vaccines. The other important findings relate to the locations and nature of the protection-eliciting epitopes of PspA. There are limited prior data on the locations of protection-eliciting PspA epitopes, but those data along with the data presented here make it clear that there is not a single epitope or domain of PspA that can elicit protective antibody and there exists at least one region of the αHD which seldom elicits protective antibody. Moreover, these data, in concert with prior data, strongly make the case that protective epitopes in the αHD are highly conformational (≥100-amino-acid fragments of the αHD are required), whereas at least some protection-eliciting epitopes in the proline-rich domain are encoded by ≤15-amino-acid sequences. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) elicits antibody protective against lethal challenge by Streptococcus pneumoniae and is a candidate noncapsular antigen for inclusion in vaccines. Evaluation of immunity to PspA in human trials would be greatly facilitated by an in vitro functional assay able to distinguish protective from nonprotective antibodies to PspA. Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to PspA can mediate killing by human granulocytes in the modified surface killing assay (MSKA). To determine if the MSKA can distinguish between protective and nonprotective MAbs, we examined seven MAbs to PspA. All bound recombinant PspA, as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting; four gave strong passive protection against fatal challenge, two were nonprotective, and the seventh one only delayed death. The four that were able to provide strong passive protection were also most able to enhance killing in the MSKA, the two that were not protective in mice were not effective in the MSKA, and the MAb that was only weakly protective in mice was weakly effective in the MSKA (P < 0.001). One of the four most protective MAbs tested reacted to the proline-rich domain of PspA. Two of the other most protective MAbs and the weakly protective MAb reacted with a fragment from PspA’s α-helical domain (αHD), containing amino acids (aa) 148 to 247 from the N terminus of PspA. The fourth highly protective MAb recognized none of the overlapping 81- or 100-aa fragments of PspA. The two nonprotective MAbs recognized a more N-terminal αHD fragment (aa 48 to 147). IMPORTANCE The most important finding of this study is that the MSKA can be used as an in vitro functional assay. Such an assay will be critical for the development of PspA-containing vaccines. The other important findings relate to the locations and nature of the protection-eliciting epitopes of PspA. There are limited prior data on the locations of protection-eliciting PspA epitopes, but those data along with the data presented here make it clear that there is not a single epitope or domain of PspA that can elicit protective antibody and there exists at least one region of the αHD which seldom elicits protective antibody. Moreover, these data, in concert with prior data, strongly make the case that protective epitopes in the αHD are highly conformational (≥100-amino-acid fragments of the αHD are required), whereas at least some protection-eliciting epitopes in the proline-rich domain are encoded by ≤15-amino-acid sequences.
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Akbari E, Negahdari B, Faraji F, Behdani M, Kazemi-Lomedasht F, Habibi-Anbouhi M. Protective responses of an engineered PspA recombinant antigen against Streptococcus pneumoniae. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 24:e00385. [PMID: 31763198 PMCID: PMC6864353 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2019.e00385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In this study, two immunogenic antigens based on recombinant PspA proteins were immunized mice. The protective effects of developed anti-PspA antibodies in mice in intranasal and intraperitoneal challenges were proved. Based on the obtained results, immunization with the B-regions of PspA antigens are crucial in protection of challenged mice with S. pneumoniae strains.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major pathogen in human respiratory tract which causes significant morbidity and mortality across from the world. Currently available vaccines are not completely effective and cannot cover all pathogenic strains so there is an important need to develop an alternative cost-effective vaccine, based on conserved protein antigens. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is one of interesting candidates for development of a serotype-independent vaccine against pneumococcal infections. PspA is grouped into two major families with five clades, and broad-reacting PspA-based vaccines should contain at least one functional fragment from each of the two families. In this study, we developed two immunogenic antigens based on recombinant PspA proteins that including the different antigenic regions of PspA from both two families. The cross-reactivity of antibodies elicited against two PspA proteins PspAB1-5 and PspA4ABC and their role in complement deposition with three strains of pneumococci were tested. The protective effects of developed anti-PspA antibodies in mice in intranasal and intraperitoneal challenges were evaluated using a strain from clade 2. Sera from immunized mice with PspAB1-5 in comparison with PspA4ABC was able to deposit more C3 complement component on surface of pneumococci bearing diverse PspA from both families 1 and 2, and immunized mice with the PspAB1-5 showed a higher protection than PspA4ABC in pneumococcal challenges. The obtained results from this study indicate that a PspA-based antigen composed of B region from all clades in addition to conserved domains, can provide a significant protection against multiple strains of S. pneumoniae and may overcome the limitation of polysaccharide vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Akbari
- National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Negahdari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Faraji
- National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Behdani
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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7
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Voß F, Kohler TP, Meyer T, Abdullah MR, van Opzeeland FJ, Saleh M, Michalik S, van Selm S, Schmidt F, de Jonge MI, Hammerschmidt S. Intranasal Vaccination With Lipoproteins Confers Protection Against Pneumococcal Colonisation. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2405. [PMID: 30405609 PMCID: PMC6202950 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is endowed with a variety of surface-exposed proteins representing putative vaccine candidates. Lipoproteins are covalently anchored to the cell membrane and highly conserved among pneumococcal serotypes. Here, we evaluated these lipoproteins for their immunogenicity and protective potential against pneumococcal colonisation. A multiplex-based immunoproteomics approach revealed the immunogenicity of selected lipoproteins. High antibody titres were measured in sera from mice immunised with the lipoproteins MetQ, PnrA, PsaA, and DacB. An analysis of convalescent patient sera confirmed the immunogenicity of these lipoproteins. Examining the surface localisation and accessibility of the lipoproteins using flow cytometry indicated that PnrA and DacB were highly abundant on the surface of the bacteria. Mice were immunised intranasally with PnrA, DacB, and MetQ using cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) as an adjuvant, followed by an intranasal challenge with S. pneumoniae D39. PnrA protected the mice from pneumococcal colonisation. For the immunisation with DacB and MetQ, a trend in reducing the bacterial load could be observed, although this effect was not statistically significant. The reduction in bacterial colonisation was correlated with the increased production of antigen-specific IL-17A in the nasal cavity. Immunisation induced high systemic IgG levels with a predominance for the IgG1 isotype, except for DacB, where IgG levels were substantially lower compared to MetQ and PnrA. Our results indicate that lipoproteins are interesting targets for future vaccine strategies as they are highly conserved, abundant, and immunogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Voß
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas P Kohler
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Tanja Meyer
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Mohammed R Abdullah
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Fred J van Opzeeland
- Section Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Malek Saleh
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stephan Michalik
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Saskia van Selm
- Section Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Frank Schmidt
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,ZIK-FunGene, Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marien I de Jonge
- Section Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sven Hammerschmidt
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Infection Biology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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8
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Mukerji R, Hendrickson C, Genschmer KR, Park SS, Bouchet V, Goldstein R, Lefkowitz EJ, Briles DE. The diversity of the proline-rich domain of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA): Potential relevance to a broad-spectrum vaccine. Vaccine 2018; 36:6834-6843. [PMID: 30293761 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is a surface exposed, highly immunogenic protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Its N-terminal α-helical domain (αHD) elicits protective antibody in humans and animals that can protect mice from fatal infections with pneumococci and can be detected in vitro with opsonophagocytosis assays. The proline-rich domain (PRD) in the center of the PspA sequence can also elicit protection. This study revealed that although the sequence of PRD was diverse, PRD from different pneumococcal isolates contained many shared elements. The inferred amino acid sequences of 123 such PRDs, which were analyzed by assembly and alignment-free (AAF) approaches, formed three PRD groups. Of these sequences, 45 were classified as Group 1, 19 were classified as Group 2, and 59 were classified as Group 3. All Group 3 sequences contained a highly conserved 22-amino acid non-proline block (NPB). A significant polymorphism was observed, however, at a single amino acid position within NPB. Each of the three PRD groups had characteristic patterns of short amino acid repeats, with most of the repeats being found in more than one PRD group. One of these repeats, PKPEQP as well as the NPB were previously shown to elicit protective antibodies in mice. In this study, we found that sera from 12 healthy human adult volunteers contained antibodies to all three PRD groups. This suggested that a PspA-containing vaccine containing carefully selected PRDs and αHDs could redundantly cover the known diversity of PspA. Such an approach might reduce the chances of PspA variants escaping a PspA vaccine's immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reshmi Mukerji
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
| | - Curtis Hendrickson
- Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
| | - Kristopher R Genschmer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States; Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, United States
| | - Sang-Sang Park
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
| | - Valérie Bouchet
- Section of Molecular Genetics, Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Richard Goldstein
- Section of Molecular Genetics, Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Elliot J Lefkowitz
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States; Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
| | - David E Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States.
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9
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Lu J, Guo J, Wang D, Yu J, Gu T, Jiang C, Kong W, Wu Y. Broad protective immune responses elicited by bacterium-like particle-based intranasal pneumococcal particle vaccine displaying PspA2 and PspA4 fragments. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 15:371-380. [PMID: 30235046 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1526556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an infectious pathogen mainly infecting host bodies through the respiratory system. An effective pneumococcal vaccine would be targeted to the mucosa and provide not only protection against invasive infection but also against colonization in the respiratory system. In the present work, we applied bacterium-like particles (BLPs) as an adjuvant for the development of a PspA mucosal vaccine, in which the PspA protein was displayed on the surface of BLPs. Intranasal immunization with the PspA-BLP pneumococcal vaccine, comprised of PspA2 from pneumococcal family 1 and PspA4 from pneumococcal family 2, not only induced a high level of serum IgG antibodies but also a high level of mucosal SIgA antibodies. Analysis of binding of serum antibodies to intact bacteria showed a broad coverage of binding to pneumococcal strains expressing PspA from clade 1 to 5. Immunization with the PspA-BLP vaccine conferred protection against fatal intranasal challenge with both PspA family 1 and family 2 pneumococcal strains regardless of serotype. Therefore, the PspA-BLP pneumococcal vaccine was demonstrated to be a promising strategy for mucosal immunization to enhance both systemic and mucosal immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingcai Lu
- a National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences , Jilin University , Changchun , China.,b R&D center , Changchun BCHT Biotechnology co , Changchun , China
| | - Jieshi Guo
- c Department of Neonatology , The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China
| | - Dandan Wang
- a National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences , Jilin University , Changchun , China
| | - Jinfei Yu
- a National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences , Jilin University , Changchun , China
| | - Tiejun Gu
- a National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences , Jilin University , Changchun , China
| | - Chunlai Jiang
- a National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences , Jilin University , Changchun , China
| | - Wei Kong
- a National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences , Jilin University , Changchun , China
| | - Yongge Wu
- a National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences , Jilin University , Changchun , China
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10
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Engholm DH, Kilian M, Goodsell DS, Andersen ES, Kjærgaard RS. A visual review of the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 41:854-879. [PMID: 29029129 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fux037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Being the principal causative agent of bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis and septicemia, the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major global health problem. To highlight the molecular basis of this problem, we have portrayed essential biological processes of the pneumococcal life cycle in eight watercolor paintings. The paintings are done to a consistent nanometer scale based on currently available data from structural biology and proteomics. In this review article, the paintings are used to provide a visual review of protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall synthesis, cell division, teichoic acid synthesis, virulence, transformation and pilus synthesis based on the available scientific literature within the field of pneumococcal biology. Visualization of the molecular details of these processes reveals several scientific questions about how molecular components of the pneumococcal cell are organized to allow biological function to take place. By the presentation of this visual review, we intend to stimulate scientific discussion, aid in the generation of scientific hypotheses and increase public awareness. A narrated video describing the biological processes in the context of a whole-cell illustration accompany this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ditte Høyer Engholm
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mogens Kilian
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David S Goodsell
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.,Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Ebbe Sloth Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.,Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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11
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Mirza S, Benjamin WH, Coan PA, Hwang SA, Winslett AK, Yother J, Hollingshead SK, Fujihashi K, Briles DE. The effects of differences in pspA alleles and capsular types on the resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to killing by apolactoferrin. Microb Pathog 2016; 99:209-219. [PMID: 27569531 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is the only pneumococcal surface protein known to strongly bind lactoferrin on the bacterial surface. In the absence of PspA Streptococcus pneumoniae becomes more susceptible to killing by human apolactoferrin (apo-hLf), the iron-free form of lactoferrin. In the present study we examined diverse strains of S. pneumoniae that differed by 2 logs in their susceptibility to apo-hLf. Among these strains, the amount of apo-hLf that bound to cell surface PspA correlated directly with the resistance of the strain to killing by apo-hLf. Moreover examination of different pspA alleles on shared genetic backgrounds revealed that those PspAs that bound more lactoferrin conferred greater resistance to killing by apo-hLf. The effects of capsule on killing of pneumococci by apo-hLf were generally small, but on one genetic background, however, the lack of capsule was associated with 4-times as much apo-hLf binding and 30-times more resistance to killing by apo-hLf. Overall these finding strongly support the hypothesis that most of the variation in the ability of apo-hLf is dependent on the variation in the binding of apo-hLf to surface PspA and this binding is dependent on variation in PspA as well as variation in capsule which may enhance killing by reducing the binding of apo-hLf to PspA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaper Mirza
- Department of Biology, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan; Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Texas, Health Science Center, Brownsville Regional Campus, TX, USA.
| | - William H Benjamin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Patricia A Coan
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Shen-An Hwang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anne-Kathryn Winslett
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Janet Yother
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Susan K Hollingshead
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Kohtaro Fujihashi
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; Department of Pediatrics Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - David E Briles
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
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12
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Walker MM, Novak L, Widener R, Grubbs JA, King J, Hale JY, Ochs MM, Myers LE, Briles DE, Deshane J. PcpA Promotes Higher Levels of Infection and Modulates Recruitment of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells during Pneumococcal Pneumonia. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:2239-48. [PMID: 26829988 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We used two different infection models to investigate the kinetics of the PcpA-dependent pneumococcal disease in mice. In a bacteremic pneumonia model, we observed a PcpA-dependent increase in bacterial burden in the lungs, blood, liver, bronchoalveolar lavage, and spleens of mice at 24 h postinfection. This PcpA-dependent effect on bacterial burden appeared earlier (within 12 h) in the focal pneumonia model, which lacks bacteremia or sepsis. Histological changes show that the ability of pneumococci to make PcpA was associated with unresolved inflammation in both models of infection. Using our bacteremic pneumonia model we further investigated the effects of PcpA on recruitment of innate immune regulatory cells. The presence of PcpA was associated with increased IL-6 levels, suppressed production of TRAIL, and reduced infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. The ability of pneumococci to make PcpA negatively modulated both the infiltration and apoptosis of macrophages and the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor-like cells. The latter have been shown to facilitate the clearance and control of bacterial pneumonia. Taken together, the ability to make PcpA was strongly associated with increased bacterial burden, inflammation, and negative regulation of innate immune cell recruitment to the lung tissue during bacteremic pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M Walker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Lea Novak
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Rebecca Widener
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29203
| | - James Aaron Grubbs
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Janice King
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Joanetha Y Hale
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Martina M Ochs
- Sanofi Pasteur, Non-Clinical Product Performance, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Lisa E Myers
- Sanofi Pasteur, Non-Clinical Product Performance, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - David E Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294; Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294; Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294; and
| | - Jessy Deshane
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
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13
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Lu J, Sun T, Wang D, Dong Y, Xu M, Hou H, Kong FT, Liang C, Gu T, Chen P, Sun S, Lv X, Jiang C, Kong W, Wu Y. Protective Immune Responses Elicited by Fusion Protein Containing PsaA and PspA Fragments. Immunol Invest 2015; 44:482-96. [DOI: 10.3109/08820139.2015.1037956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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14
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Correlation between in vitro complement deposition and passive mouse protection of anti-pneumococcal surface protein A monoclonal antibodies. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 22:99-107. [PMID: 25410204 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00001-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The shortcomings of the licensed polysaccharide-based pneumococcal vaccine are driving efforts toward development of a protein-based vaccine that is serotype independent and effective in all age groups. An opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPKA) is used to evaluate the antibody response against polysaccharide-based pneumococcal vaccines. However, the OPKA is not reliable for noncapsular antigens. Thus, there is a need to develop an in vitro surrogate for protection for protein vaccine candidates like pneumococcal surface antigen A (PspA). PspA is a serologically variable cell surface virulence factor. Based on its sequence, PspA has been classified into families 1 (clade 1 and 2), 2 (clades 3, 4 and 5), and 3 (clade 6). Here, we report the characterization of 18 IgG anti-PspA monoclonal antibodies (anti-PspA(hkR36A) MAbs) generated from mice immunized with heat-killed strain R36A (clade 2). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based analysis of the reactivity of the MAbs with recombinant PspAs from the 6 clades indicated that they were family 1 specific. This was confirmed by flow cytometry using a hyperimmune serum generated against PspA from R36A. Eight MAbs that bind at least one clade 1- and clade 2-expressing strain were evaluated for complement deposition, bactericidal activity, and passive protection. The anti-PspA(hkR36A) MAb-dependent deposition of complement on pneumococci showed a positive correlation with passive protection against strain WU2 (r = 0.8783, P = 0.0041). All of our protective MAbs showed bactericidal activity; however, not all MAbs that exhibited bactericidal activity conferred protection in vivo. The protective MAbs described here can be used to identify conserved protection eliciting B cell epitopes for engineering a superior PspA-based vaccine.
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15
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Piao Z, Akeda Y, Takeuchi D, Ishii KJ, Ubukata K, Briles DE, Tomono K, Oishi K. Protective properties of a fusion pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) vaccine against pneumococcal challenge by five different PspA clades in mice. Vaccine 2014; 32:5607-13. [PMID: 25132335 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
An increase in the appearance of nonvaccine serotypes in both children and adults with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) after introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine represents a limitation of this vaccine. In this study, we generated three recombinant pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) proteins comprising PspA families 1 and 2, and we examined the reactivity of antisera raised in mice immunized with a PspA fusion protein in combination with CpG oligonucleotides plus aluminum hydroxide gel. The protective effects of immunization with PspA fusion proteins against pneumococcal challenge by strains with five different PspA clades were also examined in mice. Flow cytometry demonstrated that PspA3+2-induced antiserum showed the greatest binding of PspA-specific IgG to all five challenge strains with different clades. PspA2+4- or PspA2+5-induced antiserum showed the lowest binding of PspA-specific IgG to clade 3. Immunization with PspA3+2 afforded significant protection against pneumococcal challenge by five strains with different clades in mice, but immunization with PspA2+4 or PspA2+5 failed to protect mice from pneumococcal challenge by strains with clades 1 and 3. The binding of PspA-specific IgG in antisera raised by three PspA fusion proteins was examined in 68 clinical isolates from adult patients with IPD. Immunization of mice with PspA3+2-induced antiserum with a high binding capacity for clinical isolates expressing clades 1-4, but not clade 5. Our results suggest that the PspA3+2 vaccine has an advantage over the PspA2+4 or PspA2+5 vaccine in terms of a broad range of cross-reactivity with clinical isolates and cross-protection against pneumococcal challenge in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Piao
- Laboratory for Clinical Research on Infectious Disease, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Japan; Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Akeda
- Laboratory for Clinical Research on Infectious Disease, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Dan Takeuchi
- Laboratory for Clinical Research on Infectious Disease, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Ken J Ishii
- National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Japan; Laboratory of Vaccine Science, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Kimiko Ubukata
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Keio University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - David E Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Kazunori Tomono
- Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Kazunori Oishi
- Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan.
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16
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A modified surface killing assay (MSKA) as a functional in vitro assay for identifying protective antibodies against pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). Vaccine 2013; 32:39-47. [PMID: 24211169 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.10.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Revised: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes otitis media, meningitis and pneumonia in patients worldwide; predominantly affecting young children, the elderly, and the immune compromised. Current vaccines against invasive pneumococcal disease are based on the polysaccharide capsules of the most clinically relevant serotypes. Due to serotype replacement, non-vaccine serotypes of S. pneumoniae have become more clinically relevant and as a result pneumococcal vaccines are becoming increasingly complex. These events emphasize the need to evaluate the potential for pneumococcal cross-reactive proteins to contribute to future vaccines. Antibody elicited by the immunization of humans with pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) can passively protect mice from infection. However, robust in vitro functional assays for antibody to PspA are not available to predict the protective capacity of immune serum. For polysaccharide based vaccines, a standardized opsonophagocytosis killing assay (OPKA) is used. Antibody to PspA, however, does not work well in the standard OPKA. The present studies take advantage of past observations that phagocytosis is more efficient on tissue surfaces than in solution. In a modified surface killing assay (MSKA), monoclonal antibody to PspA, in the presence of complement, opsonized pneumococci for killing by phagocytes on an agar surface. Five monoclonal antibodies to PspA were tested; three demonstrated increased amounts of killing compared to the diluent control and protected mice by passive protection against type 3 pneumococci. The two antibodies that were not functional in the MSKA also failed to protect mice. Thus, an MSKA might be useful as a functional assay for immunity to PspA.
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17
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Modified opsonization, phagocytosis, and killing assays to measure potentially protective antibodies against pneumococcal surface protein A. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2013; 20:1549-58. [PMID: 23925886 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00371-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The standard opsonophagocytosis killing assay (OPKA) for antibodies to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide was modified to permit an evaluation of the protection-mediating antibodies to pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). We found that by increasing the incubation time with the complement and phagocytes from 45 min to 75 min, the protective activity was readily detected. In another modification, we used a capsule type 2 target strain that expressed PspA but not pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC). With these modifications separately or in combination, rabbit antisera to the recombinant α-helical or proline-rich domains of PspA mediated >50% killing of the target strain. The ability of normal human sera to mediate the killing of pneumococci in this modified OPKA correlated with their levels of antibodies to PspA and their ability to protect mice against fatal infection with a type 3 strain. Passive protection of mice against pneumococci and killing in the modified OPKA were lost when normal human sera were adsorbed with recombinant PspA (rPspA) on Sepharose, thus supporting the potential utility of the modified OPKA to detect protective antibodies to PspA. In the standard OPKA, monoclonal antibodies to PspA were strongly protective in the presence of subprotective amounts of anti-capsule. Thus, the currently established high-throughput OPKA for antibodies to capsule could be modified in one of two ways to permit an evaluation of the opsonic efficacy of antibodies to PspA.
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18
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Mukerji R, Mirza S, Roche AM, Widener RW, Croney CM, Rhee DK, Weiser JN, Szalai AJ, Briles DE. Pneumococcal surface protein A inhibits complement deposition on the pneumococcal surface by competing with the binding of C-reactive protein to cell-surface phosphocholine. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2012; 189:5327-35. [PMID: 23105137 PMCID: PMC3517878 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In the presence of normal serum, complement component C3 is deposited on pneumococci primarily via the classical pathway. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), a major virulence factor of pneumococci, effectively inhibits C3 deposition. PspA's C terminus has a choline-binding domain that anchors PspA to the phosphocholine (PC) moieties on the pneumococcal surface. C-reactive protein (CRP), another important host defense molecule, also binds to PC, and CRP binding to pneumococci enhances complement C3 deposition through the classical pathway. Using flow cytometry of PspA(+) and PspA(-) strains, we observed that the absence of PspA led to exposure of PC, enhanced the surface binding of CRP, and increased the deposition of C3. Moreover, when the PspA(-) mutant was incubated with a pneumococcal eluate containing native PspA, there was decreased deposition of CRP and C3 on the pneumococcal surface compared with incubation with an eluate from a PspA(-) strain. This inhibition was not observed when a recombinant PspA fragment, which lacks the choline-binding region of PspA, was added to the PspA(-) mutant. Also, there was much greater C3 deposition onto the PspA(-) pneumococcus when exposed to normal mouse serum from wild-type mice as compared with that from CRP knockout mice. Furthermore, when CRP knockout mouse serum was replenished with CRP, there was a dose-dependent increase in C3 deposition. The combined data reveal a novel mechanism of complement inhibition by a bacterial protein: inhibition of CRP surface binding and, thus, diminution of CRP-mediated complement deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reshmi Mukerji
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Shaper Mirza
- University of Texas School of Public Health Division of Epidemiology Brownsville regional campus Brownsville TX
| | - Aoife M. Roche
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - Dong-Kwon Rhee
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea
| | - Jeffrey N. Weiser
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Alexander J. Szalai
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Division of Immunology Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - David E. Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea
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19
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Theilacker C, Kropec A, Hammer F, Sava I, Wobser D, Sakinc T, Codée JDC, Hogendorf WFJ, van der Marel GA, Huebner J. Protection against Staphylococcus aureus by antibody to the polyglycerolphosphate backbone of heterologous lipoteichoic acid. J Infect Dis 2012; 205:1076-85. [PMID: 22362863 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jis022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 1 lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is present in many clinically important gram-positive bacteria, including enterococci, streptococci, and staphylococci, and antibodies against LTA have been shown to opsonize nonencapsulated Enterococcus faecalis strains. In the present study, we show that antibodies against E. faecalis LTA also bind to type 1 LTA from other gram-positive species and opsonized Staphylocccus epidermidis and Staphylcoccus aureus strains as well as group B streptococci. Inhibition studies using teichoic acid oligomers indicated that cross-reactive opsonic antibodies bind to the teichoic acid backbone. Passive immunization with rabbit antibodies against E. faecalis LTA promoted the clearance of bacteremia by E. faecalis and S. epidermidis in mice. Furthermore, passive protection also reduced mortality in a murine S. aureus peritonitis model. The effectiveness of rabbit antibody against LTA suggests that this conserved bacterial structure could function as a single vaccine antigen that targets multiple gram-positive pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Theilacker
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg and University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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20
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Production and purification of recombinant fragment of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) in Escherichia coli. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.provac.2011.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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21
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Identification of the targets of cross-reactive antibodies induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization. Infect Immun 2010; 78:2231-9. [PMID: 20231407 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01058-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Much of the efficacy of current pneumococcal conjugate vaccines lies in their ability to decrease carriage of vaccine serotypes in the population. Novel and more-broadly acting vaccines would also need to target carriage in order to be as effective. We have previously shown that model murine carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae can elicit antibody-dependent immunity and can protect against a virulent heterologous challenge strain. This study set out to identify S. pneumoniae surface antigens that may elicit cross-reactive antibodies following colonization. Western blot analysis using sera from colonized mice identified the previously characterized immunogens pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), putative proteinase maturation protein A (PpmA), and pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) as such antigens. Using flow cytometry, PspA was found to be the major target of surface-bound cross-reactive IgG in sera from TIGR4 Delta cps-colonized mice, with a modest contribution from PpmA and none from PsaA. In human sera, however, only mutants lacking PpmA were shown to have reduced binding of surface IgG compared to wild-type strains, suggesting that prior exposure to S. pneumoniae in humans may induce PpmA antibodies. We also investigated if cross-reactive antibodies induced by these antigens may be cross-protective against carriage. Despite the immunogenicity of PspA, PpmA, and PsaA, mice were still protected following colonization with mutants lacking these antigens, suggesting they are not necessary for cross-protection induced by carriage. Our findings suggest that a whole-organism approach may be needed to broadly diminish carriage.
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The proline-rich region of pneumococcal surface proteins A and C contains surface-accessible epitopes common to all pneumococci and elicits antibody-mediated protection against sepsis. Infect Immun 2010; 78:2163-72. [PMID: 20194601 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01199-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) and PspC of Streptococcus pneumoniae are surface virulence proteins that interfere with complement deposition and elicit protective immune responses. The C-terminal halves of PspA and PspC have some structural similarity and contain highly cross-reactive proline-rich (PR) regions. In many PR regions of PspA and PspC, there exists an almost invariant nonproline block (NPB) of about 33 amino acids. Neither the PR regions nor their NPB exhibit the alpha-helical structure characteristic of much of the protection-eliciting N-terminal portions of PspA and PspC. Prior studies of PspA and PspC as immunogens focused primarily on the alpha-helical regions of these molecules that lack the PR and NPB regions. This report shows that immunization with recombinant PR (rPR) molecules and passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies reactive with either NPB or PR epitopes are protective against infection in mice. PR regions of both PspA and PspC were antibody accessible on the pneumococcal surface. Our results indicate that while PspA could serve as a target of these protective antibodies in invasive infections, PspC might not. When antibody responses to rPR immunogens were evaluated by using flow cytometry to measure antibody binding to live pneumococci, it was observed that the mice that survived subsequent challenge produced significantly higher levels of antibodies reactive with exposed PR epitopes than the mice that became moribund. Due to their conservation and cross-reactivity, the PR regions and NPB regions represent potential vaccine targets capable of eliciting cross-protection immunity against pneumococcal infection.
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The Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule inhibits complement activity and neutrophil phagocytosis by multiple mechanisms. Infect Immun 2009; 78:704-15. [PMID: 19948837 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00881-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 301] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule is vital for virulence and may inhibit complement activity and phagocytosis. However, there are only limited data on the mechanisms by which the capsule affects complement and the consequences for S. pneumoniae interactions with phagocytes. Using unencapsulated serotype 2 and 4 S. pneumoniae mutants, we have confirmed that the capsule has several effects on complement activity. The capsule impaired bacterial opsonization with C3b/iC3b by both the alternative and classical complement pathways and also inhibited conversion of C3b bound to the bacterial surface to iC3b. There was increased binding of the classical pathway mediators immunoglobulin G (IgG) and C-reactive protein (CRP) to unencapsulated S. pneumoniae, indicating that the capsule could inhibit classical pathway complement activity by masking antibody recognition of subcapsular antigens, as well as by inhibiting CRP binding. Cleavage of serum IgG by the enzyme IdeS reduced C3b/iC3b deposition on all of the strains, but there were still marked increases in C3b/iC3b deposition on unencapsulated TIGR4 and D39 strains compared to encapsulated strains, suggesting that the capsule inhibits both IgG-mediated and IgG-independent complement activity against S. pneumoniae. Unencapsulated strains were more susceptible to neutrophil phagocytosis after incubation in normal serum, normal serum treated with IdeS, complement-deficient serum, and complement-deficient serum treated with IdeS or in buffer alone, suggesting that the capsule inhibits phagocytosis mediated by Fcgamma receptors, complement receptors, and nonopsonic receptors. Overall, these data show that the S. pneumoniae capsule affects multiple aspects of complement- and neutrophil-mediated immunity, resulting in a profound inhibition of opsonophagocytosis.
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Kolberg J, Hammerschmidt S, Frank R, Jonák J, Šanderová H, Aase A. The surface-associated elongation factor Tu is concealed for antibody binding on viable pneumococci and meningococci. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 53:222-30. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2008.00419.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Csordas FC, Perciani CT, Darrieux M, Gonçalves VM, Cabrera-Crespo J, Takagi M, Sbrogio-Almeida ME, Leite LC, Tanizaki MM. Protection induced by pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is enhanced by conjugation to a Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide. Vaccine 2008; 26:2925-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2007] [Revised: 03/18/2008] [Accepted: 03/19/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Darrieux M, Moreno AT, Ferreira DM, Pimenta FC, de Andrade ALSS, Lopes APY, Leite LCC, Miyaji EN. Recognition of pneumococcal isolates by antisera raised against PspA fragments from different clades. J Med Microbiol 2008; 57:273-278. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.47661-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is an important vaccine candidate against pneumococcal infections, capable of inducing protection in different animal models. Based on its structural diversity, it has been suggested that a PspA-based vaccine should contain at least one fragment from each of the two major families (family 1, comprising clades 1 and 2, and family 2, comprising clades 3, 4 and 5) in order to elicit broad protection. This study analysed the recognition of a panel of 35 pneumococcal isolates bearing different PspAs by antisera raised against the N-terminal regions of PspA clades 1 to 5. The antiserum to PspA clade 4 was found to show the broadest cross-reactivity, being able to recognize pneumococcal strains containing PspAs of all clades in both families. The cross-reactivity of antibodies elicited against a PspA hybrid including the N-terminal region of clade 1 fused to a shorter and more divergent fragment (clade-defining region, or CDR) of clade 4 (PspA1–4) was also tested, and revealed a strong recognition of isolates containing clades 1, 4 and 5, and weaker reactions with clades 2 and 3. The analysis of serum reactivity against different PspA regions further revealed that the complete N-terminal region rather than just the CDR should be included in an anti-pneumococcal vaccine. A PspA-based vaccine is thus proposed to be composed of the whole N-terminal region of clades 1 and 4, which could also be expressed as a hybrid protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Darrieux
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05509-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana T. Moreno
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05509-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniela M. Ferreira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05509-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabiana C. Pimenta
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saude Publica, Universidade Federal de Goias, Goiania, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre P. Y. Lopes
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05509-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana C. C. Leite
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05509-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliane N. Miyaji
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05509-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Fusion proteins containing family 1 and family 2 PspA fragments elicit protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae that correlates with antibody-mediated enhancement of complement deposition. Infect Immun 2007; 75:5930-8. [PMID: 17923518 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00940-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PspA is an important pneumococcal vaccine candidate that is capable of inducing protection in different animal models. Because of its structural diversity, a PspA-based vaccine should contain at least one fragment from each of the two major families (1 and 2) in order to elicit broader protection. In the present work, we have tested the potential of PspA hybrids containing fused portions of family 1 and 2 (PspA1ABC-4B and PspA1ABC-3AB) PspA fragments to induce protection against pneumococci bearing distinct PspA fragments. Sera from mice immunized with these hybrid PspA fragments were able to increase C3 deposition on pneumococci bearing PspA fragments from both families, in contrast with sera made against the PspA family 1 (PspA1ABC) and PspA family 2 (PspA3ABC) fragments, which were effective only within the same family. Although PspA hybrids were able to extend protection against pneumococcal infection with strains bearing diverse PspA fragments, the immunity elicited by family 2 was clade dependent, suggesting that PspA fragments from family 2 clades 3 and 4 should both be included in a comprehensive PspA vaccine. These results indicate that PspA fusion proteins constitute an efficient immunization strategy for future PspA-based antipneumococcal vaccines since they are able to extend protection provided by a protein derived from a single transcript.
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