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Goh KGK, Desai D, Thapa R, Prince D, Acharya D, Sullivan MJ, Ulett GC. An opportunistic pathogen under stress: how Group B Streptococcus responds to cytotoxic reactive species and conditions of metal ion imbalance to survive. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae009. [PMID: 38678005 PMCID: PMC11098048 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae009] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS; also known as Streptococcus agalactiae) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that causes sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and skin and soft tissue infections in neonates and healthy or immunocompromised adults. GBS is well-adapted to survive in humans due to a plethora of virulence mechanisms that afford responses to support bacterial survival in dynamic host environments. These mechanisms and responses include counteraction of cell death from exposure to excess metal ions that can cause mismetallation and cytotoxicity, and strategies to combat molecules such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are generated as part of innate host defence. Cytotoxicity from reactive molecules can stem from damage to proteins, DNA, and membrane lipids, potentially leading to bacterial cell death inside phagocytic cells or within extracellular spaces within the host. Deciphering the ways in which GBS responds to the stress of cytotoxic reactive molecules within the host will benefit the development of novel therapeutic and preventative strategies to manage the burden of GBS disease. This review summarizes knowledge of GBS carriage in humans and the mechanisms used by the bacteria to circumvent killing by these important elements of host immune defence: oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, and stress from metal ion intoxication/mismetallation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin G K Goh
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Devika Desai
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Ruby Thapa
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Darren Prince
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Dhruba Acharya
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Matthew J Sullivan
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Glen C Ulett
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
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2
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Shafaghi M, Bahadori Z, Barzi SM, Afshari E, Madanchi H, Mousavi SF, Shabani AA. A new candidate epitope-based vaccine against PspA PhtD of Streptococcus pneumoniae: a computational experimental approach. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1271143. [PMID: 38035337 PMCID: PMC10684780 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1271143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pneumococcus is an important respiratory pathogen that is associated with high rates of death in newborn children and the elderly. Given the disadvantages of current polysaccharide-based vaccines, the most promising alternative for developing improved vaccines may be to use protein antigens with different roles in pneumococcus virulence. PspA and PhtD, highly immunogenic surface proteins expressed by almost all pneumococcal strains, are capable of eliciting protective immunity against lethal infections. Methods In this study using immunoinformatics approaches, we constructed one fusion construct (called PAD) by fusing the immunodominant regions of PspA from families 1 & 2 (PA) to the immunodominant regions of PhtD (PD). The objective of this project was to test the immunogenicity of the fusion protein PAD and to compare its protective activity against S. pneumoniae infection with PA or PD alone and a combination of PA and PD. The prediction of physicochemical properties, antigenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, and 3D-structure of the constructs, as well as molecular docking with HLA receptor and immune simulation were performed using computational tools. Finally, mice were immunized and the serum levels of antibodies/cytokines and functionality of antibodies in vitro were evaluated after immunization. The mice survival rates and decrease of bacterial loads in the blood/spleen were examined following the challenge. Results The computational analyses indicated the proposed constructs could be antigenic, non-allergenic, non-toxic, soluble and able to elicit robust immune responses. The results of actual animal experiments revealed the candidate vaccines could induce the mice to produce high levels of antibodies and cytokines. The complement-mediated bactericidal activity of antibodies was confirmed and the antibodies provided favorable survival in immunized mice after bacterial challenge. In general, the experimental results verified the immunoinformatics studies. Conclusion For the first time this report presents novel peptide-based vaccine candidates consisting of immunodominant regions of PspA and PhtD antigens. The obtained findings confirmed that the fusion formulation could be relatively more efficient than the individual and combination formulations. The results propose that the fusion protein alone could be used as a serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine or as an effective partner protein for a conjugate polysaccharide vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Shafaghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Bahadori
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Elnaz Afshari
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ali Akbar Shabani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
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3
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Li S, Liang H, Zhao SH, Yang XY, Guo Z. Recent progress in pneumococcal protein vaccines. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1278346. [PMID: 37818378 PMCID: PMC10560988 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1278346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal infections continue to pose a significant global health concern, necessitating the development of effective vaccines. Despite the progress shown by pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines, their limited coverage and the emergence of non-vaccine serotypes have highlighted the need for alternative approaches. Protein-based pneumococcal vaccines, targeting conserved surface proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae, have emerged as a promising strategy. In this review, we provide an overview of the advancements made in the development of pneumococcal protein vaccines. We discuss the key protein vaccine candidates, highlight their vaccination results in animal studies, and explore the challenges and future directions in protein-based pneumococcal vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Li
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Hangeri Liang
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Shui-Hao Zhao
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Yang
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhong Guo
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
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4
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Shafaghi M, Bahadori Z, Madanchi H, Ranjbar MM, Shabani AA, Mousavi SF. Immunoinformatics-aided design of a new multi-epitope vaccine adjuvanted with domain 4 of pneumolysin against Streptococcus pneumoniae strains. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:67. [PMID: 36829109 PMCID: PMC9951839 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) has remained a leading cause of fatal infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. Moreover, this pathogen plays a major role in bacterial co-infection in patients with life-threatening respiratory virus diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. High morbidity and mortality in over one million cases, especially in very young children and the elderly, are the main motivations for pneumococcal vaccine development. Due to the limitations of the currently marketed polysaccharide-based vaccines, non-serotype-specific protein-based vaccines have received wide research interest in recent years. One step further is to identify high antigenic regions within multiple highly-conserved proteins in order to develop peptide vaccines that can affect various stages of pneumococcal infection, providing broader serotype coverage and more effective protection. In this study, immunoinformatics tools were used to design an effective multi-epitope vaccine in order to elicit neutralizing antibodies against multiple strains of pneumococcus. RESULTS The B- and T-cell epitopes from highly protective antigens PspA (clades 1-5) and PhtD were predicted and immunodominant peptides were linked to each other with proper linkers. The domain 4 of Ply, as a potential TLR4 agonist adjuvant candidate, was attached to the end of the construct to enhance the immunogenicity of the epitope vaccine. The evaluation of the physicochemical and immunological properties showed that the final construct was stable, soluble, antigenic, and non-allergenic. Furthermore, the protein was found to be acidic and hydrophilic in nature. The protein 3D-structure was built and refined, and the Ramachandran plot, ProSA-web, ERRAT, and Verify3D validated the quality of the final model. Molecular docking analysis showed that the designed construct via Ply domain 4 had a strong interaction with TLR4. The structural stability of the docked complex was confirmed by molecular dynamics. Finally, codon optimization was performed for gene expression in E. coli, followed by in silico cloning in the pET28a(+) vector. CONCLUSION The computational analysis of the construct showed acceptable results, however, the suggested vaccine needs to be experimentally verified in laboratory to ensure its safety and immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Shafaghi
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Bahadori
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ranjbar
- grid.418970.3Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Shabani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. .,Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
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5
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Akbari MS, Doran KS, Burcham LR. Metal Homeostasis in Pathogenic Streptococci. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081501. [PMID: 35893559 PMCID: PMC9331361 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus spp. are an important genus of Gram-positive bacteria, many of which are opportunistic pathogens that are capable of causing invasive disease in a wide range of populations. Metals, especially transition metal ions, are an essential nutrient for all organisms. Therefore, to survive across dynamic host environments, Streptococci have evolved complex systems to withstand metal stress and maintain metal homeostasis, especially during colonization and infection. There are many different types of transport systems that are used by bacteria to import or export metals that can be highly specific or promiscuous. Focusing on the most well studied transition metals of zinc, manganese, iron, nickel, and copper, this review aims to summarize the current knowledge of metal homeostasis in pathogenic Streptococci, and their role in virulence.
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6
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Aceil J, Avci FY. Pneumococcal Surface Proteins as Virulence Factors, Immunogens, and Conserved Vaccine Targets. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:832254. [PMID: 35646747 PMCID: PMC9133333 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.832254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that causes over 1 million deaths annually despite the availability of several multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). Due to the limitations surrounding PCVs along with an evolutionary rise in antibiotic-resistant and unencapsulated strains, conserved immunogenic proteins as vaccine targets continue to be an important field of study for pneumococcal disease prevention. In this review, we provide an overview of multiple classes of conserved surface proteins that have been studied for their contribution to pneumococcal virulence. Furthermore, we discuss the immune responses observed in response to these proteins and their promise as vaccine targets.
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7
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Arora S, Gordon J, Hook M. Collagen Binding Proteins of Gram-Positive Pathogens. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:628798. [PMID: 33613497 PMCID: PMC7893114 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.628798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Collagens are the primary structural components of mammalian extracellular matrices. In addition, collagens regulate tissue development, regeneration and host defense through interaction with specific cellular receptors. Their unique triple helix structure, which requires a glycine residue every third amino acid, is the defining structural feature of collagens. There are 28 genetically distinct collagens in humans. In addition, several other unrelated human proteins contain a collagen domain. Gram-positive bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus express cell surface proteins that bind to collagen. These proteins of Gram-positive pathogens are modular proteins that can be classified into different structural families. This review will focus on the different structural families of collagen binding proteins of Gram-positive pathogen. We will describe how these proteins interact with the triple helix in collagens and other host proteins containing a collagenous domain and discuss how these interactions can contribute to the pathogenic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srishtee Arora
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jay Gordon
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Magnus Hook
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
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8
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Ni H, Li M, Wang Q, Wang J, Liu X, Zheng F, Hu D, Yu X, Han Y, Zhang Q, Zhou T, Wang Y, Wang C, Gao J, Shao ZQ, Pan X. Inactivation of the htpsA gene affects capsule development and pathogenicity of Streptococcus suis. Virulence 2020; 11:927-940. [PMID: 32815473 PMCID: PMC7567435 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1792080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2) is an important swine pathogen and also an emerging zoonotic agent. HtpsA has been reported as an immunogenic cell surface protein on the bacterium. In the present study, we constructed an isogenic mutant strain of htpsA, namely ΔhtpsA, to study its role in the development and virulence of S. suis 2. Our results showed that the mutant strain lost its typical encapsulated structure with decreased concentrations of sialic acid. Furthermore, the survival rate in whole blood, the anti-phagocytosis by RAW264.7 murine macrophage, and the adherence ability to HEp-2 cells were all significantly affected in the ΔhtpsA. In addition, the deletion of htpsA sharply attenuated the virulence of S. suis 2 in an infection model of mouse. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 126 genes were differentially expressed between the ΔhtpsA and the wild-type strains, including 28 upregulated and 98 downregulated genes. Among the downregulated genes, many were involved in carbohydrate metabolism and synthesis of virulence-associated factors. Taken together, htpsA was demonstrated to play a role in the morphological development and pathogenesis of the highly virulent S. suis 2 05ZYH33 strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Ni
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecology of Pamirs Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Kashi University , Kashi, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China.,Clinical Laboratory Department of Changzhi, People's Hospital , Changzhi, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China.,School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Wuxi, China
| | - Xumiao Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China.,School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Hu
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China
| | - Xu Yu
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China
| | - Yifang Han
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China
| | - Tingting Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China
| | - Yiwen Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China
| | - Chunhui Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China
| | - Jimin Gao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou, China
| | - Zhu-Qing Shao
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University , Nanjing, China
| | - Xiuzhen Pan
- Department of Microbiology, Hua Dong Research Institute for Medicine and Biotechnics , Nanjing, China.,School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou, China
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9
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Makthal N, Do H, Wendel BM, Olsen RJ, Helmann JD, Musser JM, Kumaraswami M. Group A Streptococcus AdcR Regulon Participates in Bacterial Defense against Host-Mediated Zinc Sequestration and Contributes to Virulence. Infect Immun 2020; 88:e00097-20. [PMID: 32393509 PMCID: PMC7375770 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00097-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Colonization by pathogenic bacteria depends on their ability to overcome host nutritional defenses and acquire nutrients. The human pathogen group A streptococcus (GAS) encounters the host defense factor calprotectin (CP) during infection. CP inhibits GAS growth in vitro by imposing zinc (Zn) limitation. However, GAS counterstrategies to combat CP-mediated Zn limitation and the in vivo relevance of CP-GAS interactions to bacterial pathogenesis remain unknown. Here, we report that GAS upregulates the AdcR regulon in response to CP-mediated Zn limitation. The AdcR regulon includes genes encoding Zn import (adcABC), Zn sparing (rpsN.2), and Zn scavenging systems (adcAII, phtD, and phtY). Each gene in the AdcR regulon contributes to GAS Zn acquisition and CP resistance. The ΔadcC and ΔrpsN.2 mutant strains were the most susceptible to CP, whereas the ΔadcA, ΔadcAII, and ΔphtD mutant strains displayed less CP sensitivity during growth in vitro However, the ΔphtY mutant strain did not display an increased CP sensitivity. The varied sensitivity of the mutant strains to CP-mediated Zn limitation suggests distinct roles for individual AdcR regulon genes in GAS Zn acquisition. GAS upregulates the AdcR regulon during necrotizing fasciitis infection in WT mice but not in S100a9-/- mice lacking CP. This suggests that CP induces Zn deficiency in the host. Finally, consistent with the in vitro results, several of the AdcR regulon genes are critical for GAS virulence in WT mice, whereas they are dispensable for virulence in S100a9-/- mice, indicating the direct competition for Zn between CP and proteins encoded by the GAS AdcR regulon during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishanth Makthal
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hackwon Do
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Brian M Wendel
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - John D Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - James M Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Muthiah Kumaraswami
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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10
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Malekan M, Siadat SD, Aghasadeghi M, Shahrokhi N, Afrough P, Behrouzi A, Ahmadi K, Mousavi SF. Evaluation of protective immunity responses against pneumococcal PhtD and its C-terminal in combination with outer-membrane vesicles as adjuvants. J Med Microbiol 2020; 69:465-477. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
is a significant bacterial pathogen in humans. Currently, there are two types of pneumococcal vaccines, but there are concerns regarding their application.
Aim. Since many pneumococcal proteins are serotype-independent, polyhistidine triad protein D (PhtD) has been selected as a vaccine candidate.
Methodology. We prepared recombinant PhtD and its C-terminal fragment (PhtD-C) using alum and outer-membrane vesicles (OMVs) as adjuvants. The combinations were injected intraperitoneally into mice, and then total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a were measured. A serum bactericidal assay and opsonophagocytosis were also performed as complementary tests. Meningococcal OMVs were used as an adjuvant.
Results. The levels of specific IgG and IgG1 against combinations of PhtD and its C-terminal with OMVs and alum as adjuvants increased at the time of the third mouse immunization on day 35. Forty per cent and 60% of
S. pneumoniae
ATCC 6303 (serotype 3) as a virulent pneumococcal strain, respectively, were killed in the opsonophagocytosis test and these results could also be observed in the serum bactericidal assay. Mice mmunized iwith PhtD and its C-terminal with OMVs and alum as adjuvants survived after 10 days of pneumococcal challenge.
Conclusion. The combination of PhtD and PhtD-C with alum produced optimal results, but the combination of PhtD and PhtD-C with OMVs produced minimal results by comparison. The survival rates were also measured, and these corresponded with the results of the immunological assessments. Our findings showed that mice receiving PhtD and PhtD-C plus OMV and alum had higher survival rates than the mice in the other groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seyed Davar Siadat
- Microbiology Research Center (MRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Nader Shahrokhi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parviz Afrough
- Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ava Behrouzi
- Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Ahmadi
- Department of Biotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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11
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Shelyakin PV, Bochkareva OO, Karan AA, Gelfand MS. Micro-evolution of three Streptococcus species: selection, antigenic variation, and horizontal gene inflow. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:83. [PMID: 30917781 PMCID: PMC6437910 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The genus Streptococcus comprises pathogens that strongly influence the health of humans and animals. Genome sequencing of multiple Streptococcus strains demonstrated high variability in gene content and order even in closely related strains of the same species and created a newly emerged object for genomic analysis, the pan-genome. Here we analysed the genome evolution of 25 strains of Streptococcus suis, 50 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes and 28 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Results Fractions of the pan-genome, unique, periphery, and universal genes differ in size, functional composition, the level of nucleotide substitutions, and predisposition to horizontal gene transfer and genomic rearrangements. The density of substitutions in intergenic regions appears to be correlated with selection acting on adjacent genes, implying that more conserved genes tend to have more conserved regulatory regions. The total pan-genome of the genus is open, but only due to strain-specific genes, whereas other pan-genome fractions reach saturation. We have identified the set of genes with phylogenies inconsistent with species and non-conserved location in the chromosome; these genes are rare in at least one species and have likely experienced recent horizontal transfer between species. The strain-specific fraction is enriched with mobile elements and hypothetical proteins, but also contains a number of candidate virulence-related genes, so it may have a strong impact on adaptability and pathogenicity. Mapping the rearrangements to the phylogenetic tree revealed large parallel inversions in all species. A parallel inversion of length 15 kB with breakpoints formed by genes encoding surface antigen proteins PhtD and PhtB in S. pneumoniae leads to replacement of gene fragments that likely indicates the action of an antigen variation mechanism. Conclusions Members of genus Streptococcus have a highly dynamic, open pan-genome, that potentially confers them with the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, i.e. antibiotic resistance or transmission between different hosts. Hence, integrated analysis of all aspects of genome evolution is important for the identification of potential pathogens and design of drugs and vaccines. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1403-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel V Shelyakin
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, Gubkina str. 3, Moscow, 119991, Russia. .,Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, 19, Bolshoy Karetny per., Moscow, 127051, Russia. .,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Olga O Bochkareva
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, 19, Bolshoy Karetny per., Moscow, 127051, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Karan
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail S Gelfand
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, 19, Bolshoy Karetny per., Moscow, 127051, Russia.,Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Computer Science, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
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12
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Potocki S, Delgado P, Dudek D, Janicka-Kłos A, Kozłowski H, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Pneumococcal HxxHxH triad – Copper(II) interactions – How important is the ‘x’? Inorganica Chim Acta 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2019.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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13
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Luo Z, Pederick VG, Paton JC, McDevitt CA, Kobe B. Structural characterisation of the HT3 motif of the polyhistidine triad protein D from Streptococcus pneumoniae. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:2341-2350. [PMID: 29856892 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13122] [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] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a major human pathogen that requires Zn2+ for its survival and virulence in the host environment. Polyhistidine triad protein D (PhtD) has a known role in pneumococcal Zn2+ homeostasis. However, the mechanistic basis of PhtD function remains unclear, partly due to a lack of structural information. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the fragment PhtD269-339 , containing the third Zn2+ -binding histidine triad (HT) motif of the protein. Analysis of the structure suggests that Zn2+ binding occurs at the surface of the protein and that all five HT motifs in the protein bind Zn2+ and share similar structures. These new structural insights aid in our understanding of how the Pht proteins facilitate pneumococcal Zn2+ acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyao Luo
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Victoria G Pederick
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - James C Paton
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher A McDevitt
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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14
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Morozov GI, Porat N, Kushnir T, Najmuldeen H, Adawi A, Chalifa-Caspi V, Benisty R, Ohayon A, Liron O, Azriel S, Malka I, Dotan S, Portnoi M, Piotrowski AA, Kafka D, Hajaj B, Fishilevich T, Shagan M, Tal M, Ellis R, Morrison DA, Mitchell AM, Mitchell TJ, Dagan R, Yesilkaya H, Nebenzahl YM. Flavin Reductase Contributes to Pneumococcal Virulence by Protecting from Oxidative Stress and Mediating Adhesion and Elicits Protection Against Pneumococcal Challenge. Sci Rep 2018; 8:314. [PMID: 29321514 PMCID: PMC5762878 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18645-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal flavin reductase (FlaR) is known to be cell-wall associated and possess age dependent antigenicity in children. This study aimed at characterizing FlaR and elucidating its involvement in pneumococcal physiology and virulence. Bioinformatic analysis of FlaR sequence identified three-conserved cysteine residues, suggesting a transition metal-binding capacity. Recombinant FlaR (rFlaR) bound Fe2+ and exhibited FAD-dependent NADP-reductase activity, which increased in the presence of cysteine or excess Fe2+ and inhibited by divalent-chelating agents. flaR mutant was highly susceptible to H2O2 compared to its wild type (WT) and complemented strains, suggesting a role for FlaR in pneumococcal oxidative stress resistance. Additionally, flaR mutant demonstrated significantly decreased mice mortality following intraperitoneal infection. Interestingly, lack of FlaR did not affect the extent of phagocytosis by primary mouse peritoneal macrophages but reduced adhesion to A549 cells compared to the WT and complemented strains. Noteworthy are the findings that immunization with rFlaR elicited protection in mice against intraperitoneal lethal challenge and anti-FlaR antisera neutralized bacterial virulence. Taken together, FlaR's roles in pneumococcal physiology and virulence, combined with its lack of significant homology to human proteins, point towards rFlaR as a vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giora I Morozov
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nurith Porat
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Tatyana Kushnir
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Hastyar Najmuldeen
- Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
| | - Asad Adawi
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Vered Chalifa-Caspi
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Rachel Benisty
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ariel Ohayon
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Shalhevet Azriel
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Itai Malka
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | | | - Andrew A Piotrowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Barak Hajaj
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Tali Fishilevich
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Marilou Shagan
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | | | - Donald A Morrison
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Andrea M Mitchell
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy J Mitchell
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ron Dagan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Hasan Yesilkaya
- Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Yaffa Mizrachi Nebenzahl
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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15
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Miller A, Dudek D, Potocki S, Czapor-Irzabek H, Kozłowski H, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Pneumococcal histidine triads – involved not only in Zn2+, but also Ni2+ binding? Metallomics 2018; 10:1631-1637. [DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00275d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Polyhistidine triad proteins (with multiple copies of the HxxHxH sequence), which participate in Zn2+ uptake in Streptococcus pneumoniae, are also efficient Ni2+ binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Miller
- Faculty of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- F. Joliot-Curie 14
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Dorota Dudek
- Faculty of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- F. Joliot-Curie 14
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Sławomir Potocki
- Faculty of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- F. Joliot-Curie 14
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Hanna Czapor-Irzabek
- Laboratory of Elemental Analysts and Structural Research
- Wroclaw Medical University
- Wroclaw 50-556
- Poland
| | - Henryk Kozłowski
- Faculty of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- F. Joliot-Curie 14
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
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16
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Makthal N, Kumaraswami M. Zinc'ing it out: zinc homeostasis mechanisms and their impact on the pathogenesis of human pathogen group A streptococcus. Metallomics 2017; 9:1693-1702. [PMID: 29043347 DOI: 10.1039/c7mt00240h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Group A Streptococccus (GAS) is a major human pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Zinc is an essential trace element required for GAS growth, however, zinc can be toxic at excess concentrations. The bacterial strategies to maintain zinc sufficiency without incurring zinc toxicity play a crucial role in host-GAS interactions and have a significant impact on GAS pathogenesis. The host deploys nutritional immune mechanisms to retard GAS growth by causing either zinc deprivation or zinc poisoning. However, GAS overcomes the zinc-dependent host defenses and survives in the hostile environment by employing complex adaptive strategies. In this review, we describe the different host immune strategies that employ either zinc limitation or zinc toxicity in different host environments to control GAS infection. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms and machineries used by GAS to evade host nutritional defenses and establish successful infection. Emerging evidence suggests that the metal transporters are major GAS virulence factors as they compete against host nutritional immune mechanisms to acquire or expel metals and promote bacterial survival in the host. Thus, identification of GAS molecules and elucidation of the mechanisms by which GAS combats host-mediated alterations in zinc availability may lead to novel interference strategies targeting GAS metal acquisition systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishanth Makthal
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Muthiah Kumaraswami
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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17
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Biophysical Characterization and Thermal Stability of Pneumococcal Histidine Triad Protein D in the Presence of Zinc and Manganese. J Pharm Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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18
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Odutola A, Ota MOC, Antonio M, Ogundare EO, Saidu Y, Foster-Nyarko E, Owiafe PK, Ceesay F, Worwui A, Idoko OT, Owolabi O, Bojang A, Jarju S, Drammeh I, Kampmann B, Greenwood BM, Alderson M, Traskine M, Devos N, Schoonbroodt S, Swinnen K, Verlant V, Dobbelaere K, Borys D. Efficacy of a novel, protein-based pneumococcal vaccine against nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in infants: A phase 2, randomized, controlled, observer-blind study. Vaccine 2017; 35:2531-2542. [PMID: 28389097 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conserved pneumococcal proteins are potential candidates for inclusion in vaccines against pneumococcal diseases. In the first part of a two-part study, an investigational vaccine (PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30) containing 10 pneumococcal serotype-specific polysaccharide conjugates (10VT) combined with pneumolysin toxoid and pneumococcal histidine triad protein D (30μg each) was well tolerated by Gambian children. Part two, presented here, assessed the efficacy of two PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD formulations against pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage (NPC) prevalence in infants. METHODS In this phase 2, randomized, controlled, observer-blind trial, healthy infants aged 8-10weeks, recruited from a peri-urban health center, were randomized (1:1:1:1:1:1) into six groups. Four groups received PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD (10 or 30μg of each protein), PHiD-CV, or 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at ages 2-3-4months (3+0 infant schedule) and two groups PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 or PHiD-CV at 2-4-9months (2+1 infant schedule). The primary objective was impact on non-10VT NPC at ages 5-9-12months. Secondary objectives included confirmatory analysis of protein dose superiority and safety/reactogenicity. Impact on pneumococcal NPC acquisition, bacterial load, and ply and phtD gene sequencing were explored. RESULTS 1200 infants were enrolled between June 2011 and May 2012. Prevalences of pneumococcal (60-67%) and non-10VT (55-61%) NPC were high at baseline. Across all post-vaccination time points, efficacy of PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-10 and PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 against non-10VT NPC (3+0 schedule) was 1.1% (95% CI -21.5, 19.5) and 2.1% (-20.3, 20.3), respectively; efficacy of PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 (2+1 schedule) was 0.5% (-22.1, 18.9) versus PHiD-CV. No differences were observed in pneumococcal NPC acquisition, clearance, or bacterial load. Both protein-based vaccines elicited immune responses to pneumococcal proteins. CONCLUSIONS In this high carriage prevalence setting, inclusion of pneumococcal proteins in the PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD investigational vaccine had no impact on pneumococcal NPC in infants, regardless of protein dose or schedule. Future evaluations will assess its impact against pneumococcal disease endpoints. FUNDING PATH, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01262872.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aderonke Odutola
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Martin O C Ota
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Martin Antonio
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Ezra O Ogundare
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Yauba Saidu
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | | | - Patrick K Owiafe
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Fatima Ceesay
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Archibald Worwui
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Olubukola T Idoko
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Olumuyiwa Owolabi
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Abdoulie Bojang
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Sheikh Jarju
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Isatou Drammeh
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Beate Kampmann
- Medical Research Council Unit, Vaccines & Immunity Theme, Banjul, Gambia.
| | - Brian M Greenwood
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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19
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Turner AG, Ong CLY, Walker MJ, Djoko KY, McEwan AG. Transition Metal Homeostasis in Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Adv Microb Physiol 2017; 70:123-191. [PMID: 28528647 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2017.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Trace metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu are essential for various biological functions including proper innate immune function. The host immune system has complicated and coordinated mechanisms in place to either starve and/or overload invading pathogens with various metals to combat the infection. Here, we discuss the roles of Fe, Mn and Zn in terms of nutritional immunity, and also the roles of Cu and Zn in metal overload in relation to the physiology and pathogenesis of two human streptococcal species, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. S. pneumoniae is a major human pathogen that is carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx by up to 70% of the population; however, transition to internal sites can cause a range of diseases such as pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis and bacteraemia. S. pyogenes is a human pathogen responsible for diseases ranging from pharyngitis and impetigo, to severe invasive infections. Both species have overlapping capacity with respect to metal acquisition, export and regulation and how metal homeostasis relates to their virulence and ability to invade and survive within the host. It is becoming more apparent that metals have an important role to play in the control of infection, and with further investigations, it could lead to the potential use of metals in novel antimicrobial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Turner
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Cheryl-Lynn Y Ong
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark J Walker
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Karrera Y Djoko
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alastair G McEwan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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20
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Odutola A, Ota MO, Ogundare EO, Antonio M, Owiafe P, Worwui A, Greenwood B, Alderson M, Traskine M, Verlant V, Dobbelaere K, Borys D. Reactogenicity, safety and immunogenicity of a protein-based pneumococcal vaccine in Gambian children aged 2-4 years: A phase II randomized study. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 12:393-402. [PMID: 26618243 PMCID: PMC5049746 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1111496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been successful in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease but effectiveness has been challenged by replacement of vaccine serotypes with non-vaccine serotypes. Vaccines targeting common pneumococcal protein(s) found in most/all pneumococci may overcome this limitation. This phase II study assessed safety and immunogenicity of a new protein-based pneumococcal vaccine containing polysaccharide conjugates of 10 pneumococcal serotypes combined with pneumolysin toxoid(dPly) and pneumococcal histidine triad protein D(PhtD) (PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30) in African children. 120 Gambian children (2–4 years, not previously vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae) randomized (1:1) received a single dose of PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 or PCV13. Adverse events occurring over 4 d post-vaccination were reported, and blood samples obtained pre- and 1-month post-vaccination. Serious adverse events were reported for 6 months post-vaccination. Solicited local and systemic adverse events were reported at similar frequency in each group. One child (PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 group) reported a grade 3 local reaction to vaccination. Haematological and biochemical parameters seemed similar pre- and 1-month post-vaccination in each group. High pre-vaccination Ply and PhtD antibody concentrations were observed in each group, but only increased in PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 vaccinees one month post-vaccination. One month post-vaccination, for each vaccine serotype ≥96.2% of PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 vaccinees had serotype-specific polysaccharide antibody concentrations ≥0.20µg/mL except serotypes 6B (80.8%) and 23F (65.4%), and ≥94.1% had OPA titres of ≥8 except serotypes 1 (51.9%), 5 (38.5%) and 6B (78.0%), within ranges seen in PCV13-vaccinated children. A single dose of PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 vaccine, administered to Gambian children aged 2–4 y not previously vaccinated with a pneumococcal vaccine, was well-tolerated and immunogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Odutola
- a Medical Research Council Unit ; Banjul , The Gambia
| | - M O Ota
- a Medical Research Council Unit ; Banjul , The Gambia
| | - E O Ogundare
- a Medical Research Council Unit ; Banjul , The Gambia
| | - M Antonio
- a Medical Research Council Unit ; Banjul , The Gambia
| | - P Owiafe
- a Medical Research Council Unit ; Banjul , The Gambia
| | - A Worwui
- a Medical Research Council Unit ; Banjul , The Gambia
| | - B Greenwood
- b London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ; London , UK
| | | | | | | | | | - D Borys
- d GSK Vaccines ; Wavre , Belgium
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21
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Novick S, Shagan M, Blau K, Lifshitz S, Givon-Lavi N, Grossman N, Bodner L, Dagan R, Mizrachi Nebenzahl Y. Adhesion and invasion of Streptococcus pneumoniae to primary and secondary respiratory epithelial cells. Mol Med Rep 2016; 15:65-74. [PMID: 27922699 PMCID: PMC5355668 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and the mucosal epithelial cells of its host is a prerequisite for pneumococcal disease development, yet the specificity of this interaction between different respiratory cells is not fully understood. In the present study, three areas were examined: i) The capability of the encapsulated S. pneumoniae serotype 3 strain (WU2) to adhere to and invade primary nasal‑derived epithelial cells in comparison to primary oral‑derived epithelial cells, A549 adenocarcinoma cells and BEAS‑2B viral transformed bronchial cells; ii) the capability of the unencapsulated 3.8DW strain (a WU2 derivative) to adhere to and invade the same cells over time; and iii) the ability of various genetically‑unrelated encapsulated and unencapsulated S. pneumoniae strains to adhere to and invade A549 lung epithelial cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that the encapsulated WU2 strain adhesion to and invasion of primary nasal epithelial cells was greatest, followed by BEAS‑2B, A549 and primary oral epithelial cells. By contrast, the unencapsulated 3.8‑DW strain invaded oral epithelial cells significantly more efficiently when compared to the nasal epithelial cells. In addition, unencapsulated S. pneumoniae strains adhered to and invaded the A459 cells significantly more efficiently than the encapsulated strains; this is consistent with previously published data. In conclusion, the findings presented in the current study indicated that the adhesion and invasion of the WU2 strain to primary nasal epithelial cells was more efficient compared with the other cultured respiratory epithelial cells tested, which corresponds to the natural course of S. pneumoniae infection and disease development. The target cell preference of unencapsulated strains was different from that of the encapsulated strains, which may be due to the exposure of cell wall proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Novick
- Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben‑Gurion University of The Negev, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
| | - Marilous Shagan
- Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben‑Gurion University of The Negev, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
| | - Karin Blau
- Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben‑Gurion University of The Negev, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
| | - Sarit Lifshitz
- Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben‑Gurion University of The Negev, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
| | - Noga Givon-Lavi
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben‑Gurion University of The Negev, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
| | - Nili Grossman
- Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben‑Gurion University of The Negev, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
| | - Lipa Bodner
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ron Dagan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben‑Gurion University of The Negev, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
| | - Yaffa Mizrachi Nebenzahl
- Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben‑Gurion University of The Negev, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
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22
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Wątły J, Potocki S, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Zinc Homeostasis at the Bacteria/Host Interface-From Coordination Chemistry to Nutritional Immunity. Chemistry 2016; 22:15992-16010. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201602376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Wątły
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Wroclaw; F. Joliot-Curie 14 50-383 Wroclaw Poland
| | - Sławomir Potocki
- Faculty of Chemistry; University of Wroclaw; F. Joliot-Curie 14 50-383 Wroclaw Poland
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Li M, Shao ZQ, Guo Y, Wang L, Hou T, Hu D, Zheng F, Tang J, Wang C, Feng Y, Gao J, Pan X. The type II histidine triad protein HtpsC is a novel adhesion with the involvement of Streptococcus suis virulence. Virulence 2016; 6:631-41. [PMID: 26151575 PMCID: PMC4720241 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1056971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcal histidine triad proteins HTPs are widely distributed within the Streptococcus genus. Based on the phylogenetic relationship and domain composition, HTPs are classified into type I and type II subfamilies. Previous studies revealed that several pathogenic streptococci contain more than one htp gene. We found that the highly virulent strain of Streptococcus suis 2 (S. suis 2), 05ZYH33 encodes 3 HTPs, designated HtpsA (previously described as HtpS), HtpsB, and HtpsC. Among them, HtpsC is the only member that contains leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains at the C-terminal. In this study, we demonstrated that the recombinant HtpsC could bind to 2 different components of human ECM complex laminin and fibronectin in vitro, suggesting that it is a novel adhesin of S. suis 2. Having constructed an htpsC mutant, we evaluated its role in the pathogenesis of the highly virulent S. suis 2 strain 05ZYH33. Our data showed that inactivation of htpsC significantly affected adherence of S. suis 2 to Hep-2 cells and shortened the survival of the bacteria in whole blood. Furthermore, deletion of htpsC significantly attenuated the virulence of S. suis 2 in mice. These results demonstrated that htpsC was involved in the pathogenesis of the highly virulent S. suis 2 strain 05ZYH33. In line with the observation, immunization with HtpsC significantly prolonged mice's survival after S. suis 05ZYH33 challenge, indicating its potential use in the vaccine development against S. suis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- a School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science ; Wenzhou Medical University ; Wenzhou , China.,b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China
| | - Zhu-Qing Shao
- b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China.,c State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology ; School of Life Sciences ; Nanjing University ; Nanjing , China
| | - Yuqing Guo
- a School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science ; Wenzhou Medical University ; Wenzhou , China.,b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China
| | - Ling Wang
- b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China.,d School of Life Sciences ; Nanjing Normal University ; Nanjing , China
| | - Tianqing Hou
- b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China
| | - Dan Hu
- b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China
| | - Feng Zheng
- b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China
| | - Jiaqi Tang
- b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China.,e Institute of Laboratory Medicine ; Jinling Hospital ; Nanjing , China
| | - Changjun Wang
- b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China
| | - Youjun Feng
- f Center for Infection & Immunity ; Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology ; Zhejiang University School of Medicine ; Hangzhou, Zhejiang , China
| | - Jimin Gao
- a School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science ; Wenzhou Medical University ; Wenzhou , China
| | - Xiuzhen Pan
- a School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science ; Wenzhou Medical University ; Wenzhou , China.,b Department of Epidemiology ; Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command ; Nanjing , China
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24
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Tedde V, Rosini R, Galeotti CL. Zn2+ Uptake in Streptococcus pyogenes: Characterization of adcA and lmb Null Mutants. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152835. [PMID: 27031880 PMCID: PMC4816340 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
An effective regulation of metal ion homeostasis is essential for the growth of microorganisms in any environment and in pathogenic bacteria is strongly associated with their ability to invade and colonise their hosts. To gain a better insight into zinc acquisition in Group A Streptococcus (GAS) we characterized null deletion mutants of the adcA and lmb genes of Streptococcus pyogenes strain MGAS5005 encoding the orthologues of AdcA and AdcAII, the two surface lipoproteins with partly redundant roles in zinc homeostasis in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Null adcA and lmb mutants were analysed for their capability to grow in zinc-depleted conditions and were found to be more susceptible to zinc starvation, a phenotype that could be rescued by the addition of Zn2+ ions to the growth medium. Expression of AdcA, Lmb and HtpA, the polyhistidine triad protein encoded by the gene adjacent to lmb, during growth under conditions of limited zinc availability was examined by Western blot analysis in wild type and null mutant strains. In the wild type strain, AdcA was always present with little variation in expression levels between conditions of excess or limited zinc availability. In contrast, Lmb and HtpA were expressed at detectable levels only during growth in the presence of low zinc concentrations or in the null adcA mutant, when expression of lmb is required to compensate for the lack of adcA expression. In the latter case, Lmb and HtpA were overexpressed by several fold, thus indicating that also in GAS AdcA is a zinc-specific importer and, although it shares this function with Lmb, the two substrate-binding proteins do not show fully overlapping roles in zinc homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Tedde
- Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines S.r.l., Siena, Italy
| | - Roberto Rosini
- Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines S.r.l., Siena, Italy
| | - Cesira L. Galeotti
- Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines S.r.l., Siena, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- * E-mail:
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25
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Streptococcus pneumoniae Cell-Wall-Localized Phosphoenolpyruvate Protein Phosphotransferase Can Function as an Adhesin: Identification of Its Host Target Molecules and Evaluation of Its Potential as a Vaccine. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150320. [PMID: 26990554 PMCID: PMC4798226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In Streptococcus pneumonia, phosphoenolpyruvate protein phosphotransferase (PtsA) is an intracellular protein of the monosaccharide phosphotransferase systems. Biochemical and immunostaining methods were applied to show that PtsA also localizes to the bacterial cell-wall. Thus, it was suspected that PtsA has functions other than its main cytoplasmic enzymatic role. Indeed, recombinant PtsA and anti-rPtsA antiserum were shown to inhibit adhesion of S. pneumoniae to cultured human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Screening of a combinatorial peptide library expressed in a filamentous phage with rPtsA identified epitopes that were capable of inhibiting S. pneumoniae adhesion to A549 cells. The insert peptides in the phages were sequenced, and homologous sequences were found in human BMPER, multimerin1, protocadherin19, integrinβ4, epsin1 and collagen type VIIα1 proteins, all of which can be found in A549 cells except the latter. Six peptides, synthesized according to the homologous sequences in the human proteins, specifically bound rPtsA in the micromolar range and significantly inhibited pneumococcal adhesion in vitro to lung- and tracheal-derived cell lines. In addition, the tested peptides inhibited lung colonization after intranasal inoculation of mice with S. pneumoniae. Immunization with rPtsA protected the mice against a sublethal intranasal and a lethal intravenous pneumococcal challenge. In addition, mouse anti rPtsA antiserum reduced bacterial virulence in the intravenous inoculation mouse model. These findings showed that the surface-localized PtsA functions as an adhesin, PtsA binding peptides derived from its putative target molecules can be considered for future development of therapeutics, and rPtsA should be regarded as a candidate for vaccine development.
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26
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The First Histidine Triad Motif of PhtD Is Critical for Zinc Homeostasis in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Infect Immun 2015; 84:407-15. [PMID: 26573735 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01082-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the world's foremost human pathogen. Acquisition of the first row transition metal ion zinc is essential for pneumococcal colonization and disease. Zinc is acquired via the ATP-binding cassette transporter AdcCB and two zinc-binding proteins, AdcA and AdcAII. We have previously shown that AdcAII is reliant upon the polyhistidine triad (Pht) proteins to aid in zinc recruitment. Pht proteins generally contain five histidine (His) triad motifs that are believed to facilitate zinc binding and therefore play a significant role in pneumococcal metal ion homeostasis. However, the importance and potential redundancy of these motifs have not been addressed. We examined the effects of mutating each of the five His triad motifs of PhtD. The combination of in vitro growth assays, active zinc uptake, and PhtD expression studies show that the His triad closest to the protein's amino terminus is the most important for zinc acquisition. Intriguingly, in vivo competitive infection studies investigating the amino- and carboxyl-terminal His triad mutants indicate that the motifs have similar importance in colonization. Collectively, our new insights into the contributions of the individual His triad motifs of PhtD, and by extension the other Pht proteins, highlight the crucial role of the first His triad site in zinc acquisition. This study also suggests that the Pht proteins likely play a role beyond zinc acquisition in pneumococcal virulence.
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27
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Lagousi T, Routsias J, Piperi C, Tsakris A, Chrousos G, Theodoridou M, Spoulou V. Discovery of Immunodominant B Cell Epitopes within Surface Pneumococcal Virulence Proteins in Pediatric Patients with Invasive Pneumococcal Disease. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:27500-10. [PMID: 26396191 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.666818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of immunodominant B cell epitopes within surface pneumococcal virulence proteins in pediatric patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is a valuable approach to define novel vaccine candidates. To this aim, we evaluated sera from children with IPD and age-matched controls against 141 20-mer synthetic peptides covering the entire sequence of major antigenic fragments within pneumococcal virulence proteins; namely, choline-binding protein D (CbpD), pneumococcal histidine triad proteins (PhtD and PhtE), pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), plasminogen and fibronectin binding protein B (PfbB), and zinc metalloproteinase B (ZmpB). Ten immunodominant B cell epitopes were identified: CbpD-pep4 (amino acids (aa) 291-310), PhtD-pep11 (aa 88-107), PhtD-pep17 (aa 172-191), PhtD-pep19 (aa 200-219), PhtE-pep32 (aa 300-319), PhtE-pep40 (aa 79-98), PfbB-pep76 (aa 180-199), PfbB-pep79 (aa 222-241), PfbB-pep90 (aa 484-503), and ZmpB-pep125 (aa 431-450). All epitopes were highly conserved among different pneumococcal serotypes, and four of them were located within the functional zinc-binding domain of the histidine triad proteins PhtD and PhtE. Peptides CbpD-pep4, PhtD-pep19, and PhtE-pep40 were broadly recognized by IPD patient sera with prevalences of 96.4%, 92.9%, and 71.4%, respectively, whereas control sera exhibited only minor reactivities (<10.7%). Their specificities for IPD were 93.3%, 95%, and 96.7%; their sensitivities were 96.4%, 92.9%, and 71.4% and their positivity likelihood ratios for IPD were 14.5, 18.6, and 21.4, respectively. Furthermore, purified antibodies against CbpD-pep4, PhtD-pep19, and PhtE-pep40 readily bound on the surfaces of different pneumococcal serotypes, as assessed by FACS and immunofluorescence analysis. The identified immunodominant B cell epitopes provide a better understanding of immune response in IPD and are worth evaluation in additional studies as potential vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theano Lagousi
- From the First Department of Paediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Immunobiology Research Laboratory and Infectious Diseases Department "MAKKA," and Departments of Microbiology and
| | | | | | | | - George Chrousos
- From the First Department of Paediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Immunobiology Research Laboratory and Infectious Diseases Department "MAKKA," and
| | - Maria Theodoridou
- From the First Department of Paediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Immunobiology Research Laboratory and Infectious Diseases Department "MAKKA," and
| | - Vana Spoulou
- From the First Department of Paediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Immunobiology Research Laboratory and Infectious Diseases Department "MAKKA," and
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28
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Diversity of Pneumolysin and Pneumococcal Histidine Triad Protein D of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated from Invasive Diseases in Korean Children. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134055. [PMID: 26252211 PMCID: PMC4529296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumolysin (Ply) and pneumococcal histidine triad protein D (PhtD) are candidate proteins for a next-generation pneumococcal vaccine. We aimed to analyze the genetic diversity and antigenic heterogeneity of Ply and PhtD for 173 pneumococci isolated from invasive diseases in Korean children. Allele was designated based on the variation of amino acid sequence. Antigenicity was predicted by the amino acid hydrophobicity of the region. There were seven and 39 allele types for the ply and phtD genes, respectively. The nucleotide sequence identity was 97.2%-99.9% for ply and 91.4%-98.0% for phtD gene. Only minor variations in hydrophobicity were noted among the antigenicity plots of Ply and PhtD. Overall, the allele types of the ply and phtD genes were remarkably homogeneous, and the antigenic diversity of the corresponding proteins was very limited. The Ply and PhtD could be useful antigens for universal pneumococcal vaccines.
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29
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Blindauer CA. Advances in the molecular understanding of biological zinc transport. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:4544-63. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cc10174j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Recognition of the importance of zinc homeostasis for health has driven a surge in structural data on major zinc-transporting proteins.
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30
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Sanson M, Makthal N, Flores AR, Olsen RJ, Musser JM, Kumaraswami M. Adhesin competence repressor (AdcR) from Streptococcus pyogenes controls adaptive responses to zinc limitation and contributes to virulence. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 43:418-32. [PMID: 25510500 PMCID: PMC4288194 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Altering zinc bioavailability to bacterial pathogens is a key component of host innate immunity. Thus, the ability to sense and adapt to the alterations in zinc concentrations is critical for bacterial survival and pathogenesis. To understand the adaptive responses of group A Streptococcus (GAS) to zinc limitation and its regulation by AdcR, we characterized gene regulation by AdcR. AdcR regulates the expression of 70 genes involved in zinc acquisition and virulence. Zinc-bound AdcR interacts with operator sequences in the negatively regulated promoters and mediates differential regulation of target genes in response to zinc deficiency. Genes involved in zinc mobilization and conservation are derepressed during mild zinc deficiency, whereas the energy-dependent zinc importers are upregulated during severe zinc deficiency. Further, we demonstrated that transcription activation by AdcR occurs by direct binding to the promoter. However, the repression and activation by AdcR is mediated by its interactions with two distinct operator sequences. Finally, mutational analysis of the metal ligands of AdcR caused impaired DNA binding and attenuated virulence, indicating that zinc sensing by AdcR is critical for GAS pathogenesis. Together, we demonstrate that AdcR regulates GAS adaptive responses to zinc limitation and identify molecular components required for GAS survival during zinc deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misu Sanson
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, The Methodist Hospital System, Houston, TX, USA Escuela de Biotecnología y Alimentos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, NL, Mexico
| | - Nishanth Makthal
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, The Methodist Hospital System, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony R Flores
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, The Methodist Hospital System, Houston, TX, USA Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, The Methodist Hospital System, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James M Musser
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, The Methodist Hospital System, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Muthiah Kumaraswami
- Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, The Methodist Hospital System, Houston, TX, USA
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31
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Overlapping functionality of the Pht proteins in zinc homeostasis of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Infect Immun 2014; 82:4315-24. [PMID: 25069983 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02155-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a globally significant pathogen that causes a range of diseases, including pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis, and otitis media. Its ability to cause disease depends upon the acquisition of nutrients from its environment, including transition metal ions such as zinc. The pneumococcus employs a number of surface proteins to achieve this, among which are four highly similar polyhistidine triad (Pht) proteins. It has previously been established that these proteins collectively aid in the delivery of zinc to the ABC transporter substrate-binding protein AdcAII. Here we have investigated the contribution of each individual Pht protein to pneumococcal zinc homeostasis by analyzing mutant strains expressing only one of the four pht genes. Under conditions of low zinc availability, each of these mutants showed superior growth and zinc accumulation profiles relative to a mutant strain lacking all four genes, indicating that any of the four Pht proteins are able to facilitate delivery of zinc to AdcAII. However, optimal growth and zinc accumulation in vitro and pneumococcal survival and proliferation in vivo required production of all four Pht proteins, indicating that, despite their overlapping functionality, the proteins are not dispensable without incurring a fitness cost. We also show that surface-attached forms of the Pht proteins are required for zinc recruitment and that they do not contribute to defense against extracellular zinc stress.
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32
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Contributions to protection from Streptococcus pneumoniae infection using the monovalent recombinant protein vaccine candidates PcpA, PhtD, and PlyD1 in an infant murine model during challenge. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 21:1037-45. [PMID: 24850621 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00052-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
A vaccine consisting of several conserved proteins with different functions directing the pathogenesis of pneumonia and sepsis would be preferred for protection against infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Infants will be the major population targeted for next-generation pneumococcal vaccines. Here, we investigated the potential efficacy provided by three recombinant pneumococcal vaccine candidate proteins--pneumococcal histidine triad D (PhtD), detoxified pneumolysin derivative (PlyD1), and pneumococcal choline-binding protein A (PcpA)--for reducing pneumonia and sepsis in an infant mouse vaccine model. We found vaccination with PhtD and PcpA provided high IgG antibody titers after vaccination in infant mice, similar to adult mice comparators. PlyD1-specific total IgG was significantly lower in infant mice, with minimal boosting with the second and third vaccinations. Similar isotypes of IgG for PhtD and PlyD1 were generated in infant compared to adult mice. Although lower total specific IgG to all three proteins was elicited in infant than in adult mice, the infant mice were protected from bacteremic pneumonia and sepsis mortality (PlyD1) and had lower lung bacterial burdens (PcpA and PhtD) after challenge. The observed immune responses coupled with bacterial reductions elicited by each of the monovalent proteins support further testing in human infant clinical trials.
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33
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Pauksens K, Nilsson AC, Caubet M, Pascal TG, Van Belle P, Poolman JT, Vandepapelière PG, Verlant V, Vink PE. Randomized controlled study of the safety and immunogenicity of pneumococcal vaccine formulations containing PhtD and detoxified pneumolysin with alum or adjuvant system AS02V in elderly adults. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 21:651-60. [PMID: 24599529 PMCID: PMC4018883 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00807-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Six vaccine formulations containing AS02V or alum (aluminum phosphate [AlPO4]) adjuvant with pneumococcal proteins, pneumococcal histidine triad D (PhtD), and/or detoxified pneumolysin (dPly), either as a polysaccharide carrier in an 8-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (8PCV) or as free (unconjugated) proteins, were evaluated in adults -65 to 85 years of age. In this phase I observer-blind study, 167 healthy subjects were randomized to receive two doses (days 0 and 60) of 10 or 30 μg PhtD-dPly plus AS02V or alum, 8PCV plus AS02V or alum, or one dose (day 0) of 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (23PPV) as a control (placebo on day 60). The safety, reactogenicity, and antibody-specific responses to these vaccines were evaluated. No vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported. The incidences of solicited local and specific general (fatigue and myalgia) symptoms tended to be higher in the AS02V groups than in other groups. Anti-PhtD and anti-Ply antibody responses were observed in all groups except the control group. One month post-dose 2, the anti-PhtD and anti-Ply antibody geometric mean concentrations tended to be higher with AS02V than with alum, higher with a dose of 30 μg than with 10 μg for PhtD-dPly and higher with 30-μg PhtD-dPly formulations than with conjugated PhtD and dPly (8PCV) formulations. Functional antibody responses, measured by an opsonophagocytic activity assay, tended to be higher with 8PCV than with 23PPV. In conclusion, vaccine formulations containing free or conjugated PhtD and dPly had acceptable reactogenicity and safety profiles in elderly adults. Immune responses were enhanced with an AS02V-adjuvanted formulation containing free 30-μg PhtD-dPly compared to those with alum adjuvant and conjugated proteins. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT00756067.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlis Pauksens
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University Hospital, Akademiska Sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna C. Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö Infectious Disease Research Unit, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter E. Vink
- GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA
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34
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Verhoeven D, Xu Q, Pichichero ME. Vaccination with a Streptococcus pneumoniae trivalent recombinant PcpA, PhtD and PlyD1 protein vaccine candidate protects against lethal pneumonia in an infant murine model. Vaccine 2014; 32:3205-10. [PMID: 24731814 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae infections continue to cause significant worldwide morbidity and mortality despite the availability of efficacious serotype-dependent vaccines. The need to incorporate emergent strains expressing additional serotypes into pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccines has led to an identified need for a pneumococcal protein-based vaccine effective against a broad scope of serotypes. A vaccine consisting of several conserved proteins with different functions during pathogenesis would be preferred. Here, we investigated the efficacy of a trivalent recombinant protein vaccine containing pneumococcal choline-binding protein A (PcpA), pneumococcal histidine triad D (PhtD), and genetically detoxified pneumolysin (PlyD1) in an infant mouse model. We found the trivalent vaccine conferred protection from lethal pneumonia challenges using serotypes 6A and 3. The observed protection with trivalent PcpA, PhtD, and PlyD1 vaccine in infant mice supports the ongoing study of this candidate vaccine in human infant clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Verhoeven
- Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621, United States
| | - Qingfu Xu
- Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621, United States
| | - Michael E Pichichero
- Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621, United States.
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35
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Lee LH, Gu XX, Nahm MH. Towards New Broader Spectrum Pneumococcal Vaccines: The Future of Pneumococcal Disease Prevention. Vaccines (Basel) 2014; 2:112-28. [PMID: 26344470 PMCID: PMC4494192 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines2010112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 01/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) introduction and routine pediatric use has substantially reduced the burden of Streptococcus pneumoniae disease worldwide. However, a significant amount of disease burden, due to serotypes not contained in PCV7, still exists globally. A newly recognized serotype, 6C, was until recently, identified and reported as serotype 6A. This review summarizes the serotype epidemiology of pneumococcal disease pre- and post-introduction of PCV7, available post-marketing surveillance data following the introduction of higher valency pneumococcal vaccines (PCV10, PCV13) and future prospects for the development of new pneumococcal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia H Lee
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
| | - Xin-Xing Gu
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Moon H Nahm
- Departments of Microbiology and Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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Plumptre CD, Eijkelkamp BA, Morey JR, Behr F, Couñago RM, Ogunniyi AD, Kobe B, O'Mara ML, Paton JC, McDevitt CA. AdcA and AdcAII employ distinct zinc acquisition mechanisms and contribute additively to zinc homeostasis inStreptococcus pneumoniae. Mol Microbiol 2014; 91:834-51. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles D. Plumptre
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases; School of Molecular and Biomedical Science; University of Adelaide; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Bart A. Eijkelkamp
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases; School of Molecular and Biomedical Science; University of Adelaide; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Jacqueline R. Morey
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases; School of Molecular and Biomedical Science; University of Adelaide; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Felix Behr
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases; School of Molecular and Biomedical Science; University of Adelaide; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Rafael M. Couñago
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Abiodun D. Ogunniyi
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases; School of Molecular and Biomedical Science; University of Adelaide; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Megan L. O'Mara
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
- School of Mathematics and Physics; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - James C. Paton
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases; School of Molecular and Biomedical Science; University of Adelaide; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Christopher A. McDevitt
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases; School of Molecular and Biomedical Science; University of Adelaide; Adelaide South Australia Australia
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37
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Lisher JP, Giedroc DP. Manganese acquisition and homeostasis at the host-pathogen interface. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:91. [PMID: 24367765 PMCID: PMC3851752 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria acquire transition metals for cell viability and persistence of infection in competition with host nutritional defenses. The human host employs a variety of mechanisms to stress the invading pathogen with both cytotoxic metal ions and oxidative and nitrosative insults while withholding essential transition metals from the bacterium. For example, the S100 family protein calprotectin (CP) found in neutrophils is a calcium-activated chelator of extracellular Mn and Zn and is found in tissue abscesses at sites of infection by Staphylococcus aureus. In an adaptive response, bacteria have evolved systems to acquire the metals in the face of this competition while effluxing excess or toxic metals to maintain a bioavailability of transition metals that is consistent with a particular inorganic "fingerprint" under the prevailing conditions. This review highlights recent biological, chemical and structural studies focused on manganese (Mn) acquisition and homeostasis and connects this process to oxidative stress resistance and iron (Fe) availability that operates at the human host-pathogen interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P. Lisher
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Indiana UniversityBloomington, IN, USA
| | - David P. Giedroc
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Indiana UniversityBloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana UniversityBloomington, IN, USA
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38
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Wu Z, Wang W, Tang M, Shao J, Dai C, Zhang W, Fan H, Yao H, Zong J, Chen D, Wang J, Lu C. Comparative genomic analysis shows that Streptococcus suis meningitis isolate SC070731 contains a unique 105K genomic island. Gene 2013; 535:156-64. [PMID: 24316490 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.11.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2013] [Revised: 11/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus suis (SS) is an important swine pathogen worldwide that occasionally causes serious infections in humans. SS infection may result in meningitis in pigs and humans. The pathogenic mechanisms of SS are poorly understood. Here, we provide the complete genome sequence of S. suis serotype 2 (SS2) strain SC070731 isolated from a pig with meningitis. The chromosome is 2,138,568bp in length. There are 1933 predicted protein coding sequences and 96.7% (57/59) of the known virulence-associated genes are present in the genome. Strain SC070731 showed similar virulence with SS2 virulent strains HA9801 and ZY05719, but was more virulent than SS2 virulent strain P1/7 in the zebrafish infection model. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a unique 105K genomic island in strain SC070731 that is absent in seven other sequenced SS2 strains. Further analysis of the 105K genomic island indicated that it contained a complete nisin locus similar to the nisin U locus in S. uberis strain 42, a prophage similar to S. oralis phage PH10 and several antibiotic resistance genes. Several proteins in the 105K genomic island, including nisin and RelBE toxin-antitoxin system, contribute to the bacterial fitness and virulence in other pathogenic bacteria. Further investigation of newly identified gene products, including four putative new virulence-associated surface proteins, will improve our understanding of SS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongfu Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China; OIE Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Weixue Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China; OIE Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Min Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China; OIE Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jing Shao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China; OIE Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Chen Dai
- Experimental Teaching Center of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China; OIE Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hongjie Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China; OIE Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Huochun Yao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China; OIE Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jie Zong
- Novel Bioinformatics Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Dai Chen
- Novel Bioinformatics Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Chengping Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing 210095, China; OIE Reference Lab for Swine Streptococcosis, Nanjing 210095, China.
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Bersch B, Bougault C, Roux L, Favier A, Vernet T, Durmort C. New insights into histidine triad proteins: solution structure of a Streptococcus pneumoniae PhtD domain and zinc transfer to AdcAII. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81168. [PMID: 24312273 PMCID: PMC3842936 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc (Zn2+) homeostasis is critical for pathogen host colonization and invasion. Polyhistidine triad (Pht) proteins, located at the surface of various streptococci, have been proposed to be involved in Zn2+ homeostasis. The phtD gene, coding for a Zn2+-binding protein, is organized in an operon with adcAII coding for the extracellular part of a Zn2+ transporter. In the present work, we investigate the relationship between PhtD and AdcAII using biochemical and structural biology approaches. Immuno-precipitation experiments on purified membranes of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) demonstrate that native PhtD and AdcAII interact in vivo confirming our previous in vitro observations. NMR was used to demonstrate Zn2+ transfer from the Zn2+-bound form of a 137 amino acid N-terminal domain of PhtD (t-PhtD) to AdcAII. The high resolution NMR structure of t-PhtD shows that Zn2+ is bound in a tetrahedral site by histidines 83, 86, and 88 as well as by glutamate 63. Comparison of the NMR parameters measured for apo- and Zn2+-t-PhtD shows that the loss of Zn2+ leads to a diminished helical propensity at the C-terminus and increases the local dynamics and overall molecular volume. Structural comparison with the crystal structure of a 55-long fragment of PhtA suggests that Pht proteins are built from short repetitive units formed by three β-strands containing the conserved HxxHxH motif. Taken together, these results support a role for S. pneumoniae PhtD as a Zn2+ scavenger for later release to the surface transporter AdcAII, leading to Zn2+ uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Bersch
- Institut de Biologie Structurale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France ; Institut de Biologie Structurale, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Grenoble, France ; Institut de Biologie Structurale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Grenoble, France
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40
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Plumptre CD, Ogunniyi AD, Paton JC. Vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae using truncated derivatives of polyhistidine triad protein D. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78916. [PMID: 24205351 PMCID: PMC3814962 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyhistidine triad protein D (PhtD) has been described as a promising vaccine candidate for use against Streptococcus pneumoniae, but there has been a lack of examination of its structure and of which region(s) of the protein are targeted by protective immune responses. In this study, we purified recombinant truncated derivatives of PhtD and examined their secondary structural composition, as well as their capacity to bind antibodies from polyclonal murine serum generated against the full length protein. This allowed the identification of a particularly immunogenic fragment of PhtD, which was also purified and characterised. The truncated derivatives were tested as vaccine antigens in mouse models of pneumococcal sepsis and colonisation, using alum and E. coli heat labile toxin B subunit respectively as adjuvants. These experiments revealed that whilst the immunogenic region identified may be a promising candidate to protect against sepsis, the full length PhtD was ineffective at conferring significant protective immunity. These results are significant for the potential for PhtD to be used in novel vaccines, which are currently being tested in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles D. Plumptre
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Abiodun D. Ogunniyi
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - James C. Paton
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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41
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Gagne AL, Stevens KE, Cassone M, Pujari A, Abiola OE, Chang DJ, Sebert ME. Competence in Streptococcus pneumoniae is a response to an increasing mutational burden. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72613. [PMID: 23967325 PMCID: PMC3742669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Competence for genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae has previously been described as a quorum-sensing trait regulated by a secreted peptide pheromone. Recently we demonstrated that competence is also activated by reduction in the accuracy of protein biosynthesis. We have now investigated whether errors upstream of translation in the form of random genomic mutations can provide a similar stimulus. Here we show that generation of a mutator phenotype in S. pneumoniae through deletions of mutX, hexA or hexB enhanced the expression of competence. Similarly, chemical mutagenesis with the nucleotide analog dPTP promoted development of competence. To investigate the relationship between mutational load and the activation of competence, replicate lineages of the mutX strain were serially passaged under conditions of relaxed selection allowing random accumulation of secondary mutations. Competence increased with propagation in these lineages but not in control lineages having wild-type mutX. Resequencing of these derived strains revealed between 1 and 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) per lineage, which were broadly distributed across the genome and did not involve known regulators of competence. Notably, the frequency of competence development among the sequenced strains correlated significantly with the number of nonsynonymous mutations that had been acquired. Together, these observations provide support for the hypothesis that competence in S. pneumoniae is regulated in response to the accumulated burden of coding mutations in the bacterial genome. In contrast to previously described DNA damage response systems that are activated by physical lesions in the chromosome, this pneumococcal pathway may represent a unique stress response system that monitors the coding integrity of the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa L. Gagne
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kathleen E. Stevens
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Marco Cassone
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Amit Pujari
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Olufunke E. Abiola
- School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Diana J. Chang
- School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael E. Sebert
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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42
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Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen responsible for massive global morbidity and mortality. The pneumococcus attaches a variety of proteins to its cell surface, many of which contribute to virulence; one such family are the polyhistidine triad (Pht) proteins PhtA, PhtB, PhtD, and PhtE. In this study, we have examined the mechanism of Pht surface attachment using PhtD as a model. Analysis of deletion and point mutants identified a three-amino-acid region of PhtD (Q27-H28-R29) that is critical for the process. The analogous region in PhtE was also necessary for its attachment to the cell surface. Furthermore, we show that a large proportion of the total amount of each Pht protein is released into bacterial culture supernatants. Other surface proteins were also released, albeit to lesser extents, and this was not due to pneumococcal autolysis. The extent of release of surface proteins was strain dependent and was not affected by the capsule. Lastly, we compared the fitness of wild-type and ΔphtABDE pneumococci in vivo in a mouse coinfection model. Release of Pht proteins by the wild type did not complement the mutant strain, consistent with surface-attached rather than soluble forms of the Pht proteins playing the major role in virulence. The significant degree of release of Pht proteins from intact bacteria may have implications for the use of these proteins in novel vaccines.
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43
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Shafeeq S, Kuipers OP, Kloosterman TG. The role of zinc in the interplay between pathogenic streptococci and their hosts. Mol Microbiol 2013; 88:1047-57. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sulman Shafeeq
- Department of Molecular Genetics; Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute; University of Groningen; Nijenborgh 7; 9747 AG; Groningen; the Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics; Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute; University of Groningen; Nijenborgh 7; 9747 AG; Groningen; the Netherlands
| | - Tomas G. Kloosterman
- Department of Molecular Genetics; Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute; University of Groningen; Nijenborgh 7; 9747 AG; Groningen; the Netherlands
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44
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Shao ZQ, Zhang YM, Pan XZ, Wang B, Chen JQ. Insight into the evolution of the histidine triad protein (HTP) family in Streptococcus. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60116. [PMID: 23527301 PMCID: PMC3603884 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Histidine Triad Proteins (HTPs), also known as Pht proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae, constitute a family of surface-exposed proteins that exist in many pathogenic streptococcal species. Although many studies have revealed the importance of HTPs in streptococcal physiology and pathogenicity, little is known about their origin and evolution. In this study, after identifying all htp homologs from 105 streptococcal genomes representing 38 different species/subspecies, we analyzed their domain structures, positions in genome, and most importantly, their evolutionary histories. By further projecting this information onto the streptococcal phylogeny, we made several major findings. First, htp genes originated earlier than the Streptococcus genus and gene-loss events have occurred among three streptococcal groups, resulting in the absence of the htp gene in the Bovis, Mutans and Salivarius groups. Second, the copy number of htp genes in other groups of Streptococcus is variable, ranging from one to four functional copies. Third, both phylogenetic evidence and domain structure analyses support the division of two htp subfamilies, designated as htp I and htp II. Although present mainly in the pyogenic group and in Streptococcus suis, htp II members are distinct from htp I due to the presence of an additional leucine-rich-repeat domain at the C-terminus. Finally, htp genes exhibit a faster nucleotide substitution rate than do housekeeping genes. Specifically, the regions outside the HTP domains are under strong positive selection. This distinct evolutionary pattern likely helped Streptococcus to easily escape from recognition by host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu-Qing Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan-Mei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiu-Zhen Pan
- Department of Epidemiology, Research Institute for Medicine of Nanjing Command, Nanjing, China
| | - Bin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- * E-mail: (BW); (JQC)
| | - Jian-Qun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- * E-mail: (BW); (JQC)
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