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Whelan AO, Flick-Smith HC, Walker NJ, Abraham A, Levitz SM, Ostroff GR, Oyston PCF. A glucan-particle based tularemia subunit vaccine induces T-cell immunity and affords partial protection in an inhalation rat infection model. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0294998. [PMID: 38713688 PMCID: PMC11075878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the facultative intracellular gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis. F. tularensis has a very low infection dose by the aerosol route which can result in an acute, and potentially lethal, infection in humans. Consequently, it is classified as a Category A bioterrorism agent by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and is a pathogen of concern for the International Biodefence community. There are currently no licenced tularemia vaccines. In this study we report on the continued assessment of a tularemia subunit vaccine utilising β-glucan particles (GPs) as a vaccine delivery platform for immunogenic F. tularensis antigens. Using a Fischer 344 rat infection model, we demonstrate that a GP based vaccine comprising the F. tularensis lipopolysaccharide antigen together with the protein antigen FTT0814 provided partial protection of F344 rats against an aerosol challenge with a high virulence strain of F. tularensis, SCHU S4. Inclusion of imiquimod as an adjuvant failed to enhance protective efficacy. Moreover, the level of protection afforded was dependant on the challenge dose. Immunological characterisation of this vaccine demonstrated that it induced strong antibody immunoglobulin responses to both polysaccharide and protein antigens. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the FTT0814 component of the GP vaccine primed CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells from immunised F344 rats to express interferon-γ, and CD4+ cells to express interleukin-17, in an antigen specific manner. These data demonstrate the development potential of this tularemia subunit vaccine and builds on a body of work highlighting GPs as a promising vaccine platform for difficult to treat pathogens including those of concern to the bio-defence community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam O. Whelan
- CBR Division, Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Ambily Abraham
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Stuart M. Levitz
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Gary R. Ostroff
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Deletion Mutants of Francisella Phagosomal Transporters FptA and FptF Are Highly Attenuated for Virulence and Are Protective Against Lethal Intranasal Francisella LVS Challenge in a Murine Model of Respiratory Tularemia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070799. [PMID: 34202420 PMCID: PMC8308642 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis (Ft) is a Gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacterium that is a Tier 1 Select Agent of concern for biodefense for which there is no licensed vaccine. A subfamily of 9 Francisella phagosomal transporter (fpt) genes belonging to the Major Facilitator Superfamily of transporters was identified as critical to pathogenesis and potential targets for attenuation and vaccine development. We evaluated the attenuation and protective capacity of LVS derivatives with deletions of the fptA and fptF genes in the C57BL/6J mouse model of respiratory tularemia. LVSΔfptA and LVSΔfptF were highly attenuated with LD50 values of >20 times that of LVS when administered intranasally and conferred 100% protection against lethal challenge. Immune responses to the fpt mutant strains in mouse lungs on day 6 post-infection were substantially modified compared to LVS and were associated with reduced organ burdens and reduced pathology. The immune responses to LVSΔfptA and LVSΔfptF were characterized by decreased levels of IL-10 and IL-1β in the BALF versus LVS, and increased numbers of B cells, αβ and γδ T cells, NK cells, and DCs versus LVS. These results support a fundamental requirement for FptA and FptF in the pathogenesis of Ft and the modulation of the host immune response.
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Differential Immune Response Following Intranasal and Intradermal Infection with Francisella tularensis: Implications for Vaccine Development. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9050973. [PMID: 33946283 PMCID: PMC8145380 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis (Ft) is a Gram-negative, facultative intracellular coccobacillus that is the etiological agent of tularemia. Interestingly, the disease tularemia has variable clinical presentations that are dependent upon the route of infection with Ft. Two of the most likely routes of Ft infection include intranasal and intradermal, which result in pneumonic and ulceroglandular tularemia, respectively. While there are several differences between these two forms of tularemia, the most notable disparity is between mortality rates: the mortality rate following pneumonic tularemia is over ten times that of the ulceroglandular disease. Understanding the differences between intradermal and intranasal Ft infections is important not only for clinical diagnoses and treatment but also for the development of a safe and effective vaccine. However, the immune correlates of protection against Ft, especially within the context of infection by disparate routes, are not yet fully understood. Recent advances in different animal models have revealed new insights in the complex interplay of innate and adaptive immune responses, indicating dissimilar patterns in both responses following infection with Ft via different routes. Further investigation of these differences will be crucial to predicting disease outcomes and inducing protective immunity via vaccination or natural infection.
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Hu R, Liu H, Wang M, Li J, Lin H, Liang M, Gao Y, Yang M. An OMV-Based Nanovaccine Confers Safety and Protection against Pathogenic Escherichia coli via Both Humoral and Predominantly Th1 Immune Responses in Poultry. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10112293. [PMID: 33233490 PMCID: PMC7699605 DOI: 10.3390/nano10112293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) infection in poultry causes enormous economic losses and public health risks. Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and nano-sized proteolipids enriched with various immunogenic molecules have gained extensive interest as novel nanovaccines against bacterial infections. In this study, after the preparation of APEC O2-derived OMVs (APEC_OMVs) using the ultracentrifugation method and characterization of them using electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analyses, we examined the safety and vaccination effect of APEC_OMVs in broiler chicks and investigated the underlying immunological mechanism of protection. The results showed that APEC_OMVs had membrane-enclosed structures with an average diameter of 89 nm. Vaccination with 50 μg of APEC_OMVs had no side effects and efficiently protected chicks against homologous infection. APEC_OMVs could be effectively taken up by chicken macrophages and activated innate immune responses in macrophages in vitro. APEC_OMV vaccination significantly improved activities of serum non-specific immune factors, enhanced the specific antibody response and promoted the proliferation of splenic and peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to mitogen. Furthermore, APEC_OMVs also elicited a predominantly IFN-γ-mediated Th1 response in splenic lymphocytes. Our data revealed the involvement of both non-specific immune responses and specific antibody and cytokine responses in the APEC_OMV-mediated protection, providing broader knowledge for the development of multivalent APEC_OMV-based nanovaccine with high safety and efficacy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rujiu Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No.22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; (R.H.); (H.L.); (M.W.); (H.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Haojing Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No.22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; (R.H.); (H.L.); (M.W.); (H.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Mimi Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No.22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; (R.H.); (H.L.); (M.W.); (H.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Animal Engineering, Yangling Vocational and Technical College, No.24 Weihui Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China;
| | - Hua Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No.22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; (R.H.); (H.L.); (M.W.); (H.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Mingyue Liang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No.22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; (R.H.); (H.L.); (M.W.); (H.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Yupeng Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No.22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; (R.H.); (H.L.); (M.W.); (H.L.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: (Y.G.); (M.Y.)
| | - Mingming Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No.22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; (R.H.); (H.L.); (M.W.); (H.L.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: (Y.G.); (M.Y.)
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Soucy AM, Hurteau GJ, Metzger DW. Live Vaccination Generates Both Disease Tolerance and Host Resistance During Chronic Pulmonary Infection With Highly Virulent Francisella tularensis SchuS4. J Infect Dis 2019; 218:1802-1812. [PMID: 29931113 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease tolerance can preserve host homeostasis and limit the negative impact of infections. We report that vaccinated mice survived pulmonary challenge with the extremely virulent SchuS4 strain of Francisella tularensis for at least 100 days, despite the persistence of large numbers (~104) of organisms. Transfer of 100 of these resident bacteria to naive animals caused 100% lethality, demonstrating that virulence was maintained. Tissue damage in the lung was limited over the course of infection and was associated with increased levels of amphiregulin. Mice depleted of CD4+ cells had reduced amphiregulin and succumbed to infection. In addition, neutralization of interferon-γ or depletion of CD8+ cells resulted in increased pathogen loads, bacteremia, and death of the host. Conversely, depletion of Ly6G+ neutrophils had no effect on survival and actually resulted in reduced bacterial levels. Understanding the interplay between host resistance and disease tolerance will provide new insights into the understanding of chronic infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M Soucy
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, New York
| | - Gregory J Hurteau
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, New York
| | - Dennis W Metzger
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, New York
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Protective effects of the Francisella tularensis ΔpdpC mutant against its virulent parental strain SCHU P9 in Cynomolgus macaques. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9193. [PMID: 31235714 PMCID: PMC6591246 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45412-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Tularemia is a severe infectious zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis. Although F. tularensis is considered to be a potential biological weapon due to its high infectivity and mortality rate, no vaccine has been currently licensed. Recently, we reported that F. tularensis SCHU P9 derived ΔpdpC strain lacking the pathogenicity determinant protein C gene conferred stable and good protection in a mouse lethal model. In this study, the protective effect of ΔpdpC was evaluated using a monkey lethal model. Two cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) intratracheally challenged with the virulent strain SCHU P9 were euthanized on 7 and 11 days post-challenge after the development of severe clinical signs. The bacterial replication in alveolar macrophages and type II epithelial cells in the lungs would cause severe pneumonia accompanied by necrosis. Conversely, two animals subcutaneously immunized with ΔpdpC survived 3 weeks after SCHU P9 challenge. Though one of the two animals developed mild symptoms of tularemia, bacterial replication was limited in the respiratory organs, which may be due to a high level of humoral and cellular immune responses against F. tularensis. These results suggest that the ΔpdpC mutant would be a safe and promising candidate as a live attenuated tularemia vaccine.
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7
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Intracellular Pathogens: Host Immunity and Microbial Persistence Strategies. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:1356540. [PMID: 31111075 PMCID: PMC6487120 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1356540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases caused by pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites are ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide by the World Health Organization. Despite tremendous improvements in global public health since 1950, a number of challenges remain to either prevent or eradicate infectious diseases. Many pathogens can cause acute infections that are effectively cleared by the host immunity, but a subcategory of these pathogens called "intracellular pathogens" can establish persistent and sometimes lifelong infections. Several of these intracellular pathogens manage to evade the host immune monitoring and cause disease by replicating inside the host cells. These pathogens have evolved diverse immune escape strategies and overcome immune responses by residing and multiplying inside host immune cells, primarily macrophages. While these intracellular pathogens that cause persistent infections are phylogenetically diverse and engage in diverse immune evasion and persistence strategies, they share common pathogen type-specific mechanisms during host-pathogen interaction inside host cells. Likewise, the host immune system is also equipped with a diverse range of effector functions to fight against the establishment of pathogen persistence and subsequent host damage. This article provides an overview of the immune effector functions used by the host to counter pathogens and various persistence strategies used by intracellular pathogens to counter host immunity, which enables their extended period of colonization in the host. The improved understanding of persistent intracellular pathogen-derived infections will contribute to develop improved disease diagnostics, therapeutics, and prophylactics.
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Sunagar R, Kumar S, Namjoshi P, Rosa SJ, Hazlett KRO, Gosselin EJ. Evaluation of an outbred mouse model for Francisella tularensis vaccine development and testing. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207587. [PMID: 30533047 PMCID: PMC6289435 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis (Ft) is a biothreat agent for which there is no FDA-approved human vaccine. Currently, there are substantial efforts underway to develop both vaccines and the tools to assess these vaccines. Tularemia laboratory research has historically relied primarily upon a small number of inbred mouse strains, but the utility of such findings to outbred animals may be limited. Specifically, C57BL/6 mice are more susceptible than BALB/c mice to Ft infection and less easily protected against challenge with highly virulent type A Ft. Thus, depending on the inbred mouse strain used, one could be misled as to which immunogen(s)/vaccine will ultimately be effective in an outbred human population. Accordingly, we evaluated an outbred Swiss Webster (SW) mouse model in direct comparison to a well-established, inbred C57BL/6 mouse model. Mucosal vaccination with the live, attenuated Ft LVS superoxide dismutase (sodB) mutant demonstrated significantly higher protection in outbred SW mice compared to inbred C57BL/6 mice against Ft SchuS4 respiratory challenge. The protection observed in vaccinated outbred mice correlated with lower bacterial density, reduced tissue inflammation, and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine production. This protection was CD4+ and CD8+ T cell-dependent and characterized by lower titers of serum antibody (Ab) that qualitatively differed from vaccinated inbred mice. Enhanced protection of vaccinated outbred mice correlated with early and robust production of IFN-γ and IL-17A. Neutralizing Ab administered at the time of challenge revealed that IFN-γ was central to this protection, while IL-17A neutralization did not alter bacterial burden or survival. The present study demonstrates the utility of the outbred mouse as an alternative vaccination model for testing tularemia vaccines. Given the limited MHC repertoire in inbred mice, this outbred model is more analogous to the human in terms of immunological diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raju Sunagar
- Department of Immunology & Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States of America
| | - Sudeep Kumar
- Department of Immunology & Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States of America
| | - Prachi Namjoshi
- Department of Immunology & Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States of America
| | - Sarah J. Rosa
- Department of Immunology & Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States of America
| | - Karsten R. O. Hazlett
- Department of Immunology & Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States of America
| | - Edmund J. Gosselin
- Department of Immunology & Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Sunagar R, Kumar S, Rosa SJ, Hazlett KRO, Gosselin EJ. Differential In Vitro Cultivation of Francisella tularensis Influences Live Vaccine Protective Efficacy by Altering the Immune Response. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1594. [PMID: 30042767 PMCID: PMC6048226 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis (Ft) is a biothreat agent for which there is no FDA-approved human vaccine. Currently, there are substantial efforts underway to develop both vaccines and improved tools to assess these vaccines. Ft expresses distinct sets of antigens (Ags) in vivo as compared to those expressed in vitro. Importantly, Ft grown in brain-heart infusion medium (BHIM) more closely mimics the antigenic profile of macrophage-grown Ft when compared to Mueller-Hinton medium (MHM)-grown Ft. Thus, we predicted that when used as a live vaccine BHIM-grown Ft (BHIM-Ft) would provide better protection, as compared to MHM-Ft. We first determined if there was a difference in growth kinetics between BHIM and MHM-Ft. We found that BHIM-Ft exhibited an initial growth advantage ex vivo that manifests as slightly hastened intracellular replication as compared to MHM-Ft. We also observed that BHIM-Ft exhibited an initial growth advantage in vivo represented by rapid bacterial expansion and systemic dissemination associated with a slightly shorter mean survival time of naive animals. Next, using two distinct strains of Ft LVS (WT and sodB), we observed that mice vaccinated with live BHIM-Ft LVS exhibited significantly better protection against Ft SchuS4 respiratory challenge compared to MHM-Ft-immunized mice. This enhanced protection correlated with lower bacterial burden, reduced tissue inflammation, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production late in infection. Splenocytes from BHIM-Ft sodB-immunized mice contained more CD4+, effector, memory T-cells, and were more effective at limiting intracellular replication of Ft LVS in vitro. Concurrent with enhanced killing of Ft LVS, BHIM-Ft sodB-immune splenocytes produced significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-17A cytokines than their MHM-Ft sodB-immunized counterparts indicating development of a more effective T cell memory response when immunizing mice with BHIM-Ft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raju Sunagar
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Sudeep Kumar
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Sarah J Rosa
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Karsten R O Hazlett
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Edmund J Gosselin
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
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Mansour AA, Banik S, Suresh RV, Kaur H, Malik M, McCormick AA, Bakshi CS. An Improved Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)-Conjugated Multiantigen Subunit Vaccine Against Respiratory Tularemia. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1195. [PMID: 29922267 PMCID: PMC5996085 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of the fatal human disease known as tularemia is classified as a Category A Select Agent by the Centers for Disease Control. No licensed vaccine is currently available for prevention of tularemia in the United States. Previously, we published that a tri-antigen tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) vaccine confers 50% protection in immunized mice against respiratory tularemia caused by F. tularensis. In this study, we refined the TMV-vaccine formulation to improve the level of protection in immunized C57BL/6 mice against respiratory tularemia. We developed a tetra-antigen vaccine by conjugating OmpA, DnaK, Tul4, and SucB proteins of Francisella to TMV. CpG was also included in the vaccine formulation as an adjuvant. Primary intranasal (i.n.) immunization followed by two booster immunizations with the tetra-antigen TMV vaccine protected 100% mice against i.n. 10LD100 challenges dose of F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS). Mice receiving three immunization doses of tetra-antigen TMV vaccine showed only transient body weight loss, cleared the infection rapidly, and showed minimal histopathological lesions in lungs, liver, and spleen following a lethal respiratory challenge with F. tularensis LVS. Mice immunized with the tetra-antigen TMV vaccine also induced strong ex vivo recall responses and were protected against a lethal challenge as late as 163 days post-primary immunization. Three immunization with the tetra-antigen TMV vaccine also induced a stronger humoral immune response predominated by IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG2c antibodies than mice receiving only a single or two immunizations. Remarkably, a single dose protected 40% of mice, while two doses protected 80% of mice from lethal pathogen challenge. Immunization of Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-deficient mice with the tetra-antigen TMV vaccine demonstrated an absolute requirement of IFN-γ for the generation of protective immune response against a lethal respiratory challenge with F. tularensis LVS. Collectively, this study further demonstrates the feasibility of TMV as an efficient platform for the delivery of multiple F. tularensis antigens and that tetra-antigen TMV vaccine formulation provides complete protection, and induces long-lasting protective and memory immune responses against respiratory tularemia caused by F. tularensis LVS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahd A Mansour
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Sukalyani Banik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Ragavan V Suresh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Hardeep Kaur
- College of Pharmacy, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, United States
| | - Meenakshi Malik
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Alison A McCormick
- College of Pharmacy, Touro University California, Vallejo, CA, United States
| | - Chandra S Bakshi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
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11
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Shubitz LF, Powell DA, Trinh HT, Lewis ML, Orbach MJ, Frelinger JA, Galgiani JN. Viable spores of Coccidioides posadasii Δcps1 are required for vaccination and provide long lasting immunity. Vaccine 2018; 36:3375-3380. [PMID: 29724507 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection for which a vaccine has been sought for over fifty years. The avirulent Coccidioides posadasii strain, Δcps1, which is missing a 6 kb gene, showed significant protection in mice. These studies explore conditions of protection in mice and elucidate the immune response. Mice were vaccinated with different doses and viability states of Δcps1 spores, challenged with virulent C. posadasii, and sacrificed at various endpoints, dependent on experimental objectives. Tissues from vaccinated mice were harvested for in vitro elucidation of immune response. Vaccination with viable Δcps1 spores was required for protection from lethal challenge. Viable spore vaccination produced durable immunity, lasting at least 6 months, and prolonged survival (≥6 months). The C. posadasii vaccine strain also protected mice against C. immitis (survival ≥ 6 months). Cytokines from infected lungs of vaccinated mice in the first four days after Cp challenge showed significant increases of IFN-γ, as did stimulated CD4+ spleen cells from vaccinated mice. Transfer of CD4+ cells, but not CD8+ or B cells, reduced fungal burdens following challenge. IFN-γ from CD4+ cells in vaccinated mice indicates a Th1 response, which is critical for host control of coccidioidomycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa F Shubitz
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States.
| | - Daniel A Powell
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States; Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245221, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Hien T Trinh
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - M Lourdes Lewis
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - Marc J Orbach
- School of Plant Sciences, P.O. Box 210036, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | - Jeffrey A Frelinger
- Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245221, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
| | - John N Galgiani
- Valley Fever Center for Excellence, The University of Arizona, 1656 E Mabel St, PO Box 245215, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, PO Box 245039, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States
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12
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Roberts LM, Powell DA, Frelinger JA. Adaptive Immunity to Francisella tularensis and Considerations for Vaccine Development. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:115. [PMID: 29682484 PMCID: PMC5898179 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is an intracellular bacterium that causes the disease tularemia. There are several subspecies of F. tularensis whose ability to cause disease varies in humans. The most virulent subspecies, tularensis, is a Tier One Select Agent and a potential bioweapon. Although considerable effort has made to generate efficacious tularemia vaccines, to date none have been licensed for use in the United States. Despite the lack of a tularemia vaccine, we have learned a great deal about the adaptive immune response the underlies protective immunity. Herein, we detail the animal models commonly used to study tularemia and their recapitulation of human disease, the field's current understanding of vaccine-mediated protection, and discuss the challenges associated with new vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia M Roberts
- Immunity to Pulmonary Pathogens Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Daniel A Powell
- Department of Immunobiology and Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jeffrey A Frelinger
- Department of Immunobiology and Valley Fever Center for Excellence, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Place DE, Williamson DR, Yuzefpolskiy Y, Katkere B, Sarkar S, Kalia V, Kirimanjeswara GS. Development of a novel Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain expressing ovalbumin provides insight into antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0190384. [PMID: 29284034 PMCID: PMC5746256 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Progress towards a safe and effective vaccine for the prevention of tularemia has been hindered by a lack of knowledge regarding the correlates of protective adaptive immunity and a lack of tools to generate this knowledge. CD8+ T cells are essential for protective immunity against virulent strains of Francisella tularensis, but to-date, it has not been possible to study these cells in an antigen-specific manner. Here, we report the development of a tool for expression of the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) in F. tularensis, which allows for the study of CD8+ T cell responses to the bacterium. We demonstrate that in response to intranasal infection with the F. tularensis Live Vaccine Strain, adoptively transferred OVA-specific CD8+ T cells expand after the first week and produce IFN-γ but not IL-17. Effector and central memory subsets develop with disparate kinetics in the lungs, draining lymph node and spleen. Notably, OVA-specific cells are poorly retained in the lungs after clearance of infection. We also show that intranasal vaccination leads to more antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in the lung-draining lymph node compared to scarification vaccination, but that an intranasal booster overcomes this difference. Together, our data show that this novel tool can be used to study multiple aspects of the CD8+ T cell response to F. tularensis. Use of this tool will enhance our understanding of immunity to this deadly pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Place
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - David R. Williamson
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Yevgeniy Yuzefpolskiy
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bhuvana Katkere
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Surojit Sarkar
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Vandana Kalia
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Girish S. Kirimanjeswara
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Rubin RL. Mice Housed at Elevated Vivarium Temperatures Display Enhanced T-cell Response and Survival to Francisella tularensis. Comp Med 2017; 67:491-497. [PMID: 29212580 PMCID: PMC5713163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The inability to translate findings from studies performed in mouse models to the corresponding human condition is well known, especially those involving infectious, atherosclerotic, and other inflammatory diseases. We hypothesize that mice fail to a mount robust or adequate immune response to infectious agents because of physiologic effects of cold stress due to housing temperatures below the mouse thermoneutral zone (TNZ). This hypothesis was tested by comparing the immune response to the Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain in mice housed at a typical vivarium temperature, which is below the TNZ, with that of mice housed at a temperature near their TNZ. Mice maintained at 28 °C displayed elevated antigen-specific T-cell responses compared with mice housed at 22 °C and survived intranasal challenge that was fatal to immunized mice at 22 °C. These results demonstrate that cold stress due to housing below the mouse TNZ results in a blunted immune response and may compromise their translational value a models for infectious diseases and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Rubin
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico;,
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15
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Roberts LM, Crane DD, Wehrly TD, Fletcher JR, Jones BD, Bosio CM. Inclusion of Epitopes That Expand High-Avidity CD4+ T Cells Transforms Subprotective Vaccines to Efficacious Immunogens against Virulent Francisella tularensis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:2738-47. [PMID: 27543611 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
T cells are the immunological cornerstone in host defense against infections by intracellular bacterial pathogens, such as virulent Francisella tularensis spp. tularensis (Ftt). The general paucity of novel vaccines for Ftt during the past 60 y can, in part, be attributed to the poor understanding of immune parameters required to survive infection. Thus, we developed a strategy utilizing classical immunological tools to elucidate requirements for effective adaptive immune responses directed against Ftt. Following generation of various Francisella strains expressing well-characterized lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus epitopes, we found that survival correlated with persistence of Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells. Function of these cells was confirmed in their ability to more effectively control Ftt replication in vitro. The importance of understanding the Ag-specific response was underscored by our observation that inclusion of an epitope that elicits high-avidity CD4(+) T cells converted a poorly protective vaccine to one that engenders 100% protection. Taken together, these data suggest that improved efficacy of current tularemia vaccine platforms will require targeting appropriate Ag-specific CD4(+) T cell responses and that elucidation of Francisella epitopes that elicit high-avidity CD4(+) T cell responses, specifically in humans, will be required for successful vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia M Roberts
- Immunity to Pulmonary Pathogens Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840; and
| | - Deborah D Crane
- Immunity to Pulmonary Pathogens Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840; and
| | - Tara D Wehrly
- Immunity to Pulmonary Pathogens Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840; and
| | - Joshua R Fletcher
- Department of Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Bradley D Jones
- Department of Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Catharine M Bosio
- Immunity to Pulmonary Pathogens Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840; and
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16
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Vaccination with Klebsiella pneumoniae-derived extracellular vesicles protects against bacteria-induced lethality via both humoral and cellular immunity. Exp Mol Med 2015; 47:e183. [PMID: 26358222 PMCID: PMC4650931 DOI: 10.1038/emm.2015.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae highlights the need to develop preventive measures to ameliorate Klebsiella infections. Bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are spherical nanometer-sized proteolipids enriched with outer membrane proteins. Gram-negative bacteria-derived EVs have gained interest for use as nonliving complex vaccines. In the present study, we evaluated whether K. pneumoniae-derived EVs confer protection against bacteria-induced lethality. K. pneumoniae-derived EVs isolated from in vitro bacterial culture supernatants induced innate immunity, including the upregulation of co-stimulatory molecule expression and proinflammatory mediator production. EV vaccination via the intraperitoneal route elicited EV-reactive antibodies and interferon-gamma-producing T-cell responses. Three vaccinations with the EVs prevented bacteria-induced lethality. As verified by sera and splenocytes adoptive transfer, the protective effect of EV vaccination was dependent on both humoral and cellular immunity. Taken together, these findings suggest that K. pneumoniae-derived EVs are a novel vaccine candidate against K. pneumoniae infections.
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Thiam F, Charpilienne A, Poncet D, Kohli E, Basset C. B subunits of cholera toxin and thermolabile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli have similar adjuvant effect as whole molecules on rotavirus 2/6-VLP specific antibody responses and induce a Th17-like response after intrarectal immunization. Microb Pathog 2015; 89:27-34. [PMID: 26318874 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2015.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adjuvant effect of the B subunits of cholera toxin (CT) and the thermolabile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (LT) by the intrarectal route of immunization and compare them to the whole molecules CT and LT-R192G, a non toxic mutant of LT, using 2/6-VLP as an antigen, in mice. All molecules induced similar antigen specific antibody titers in serum and feces, whereas different T cell profiles were observed. CTB and LTB, conversely to CT and LT-R192G, did not induce detectable production of IL-2 by antigen specific T cells. Moreover, CTB, conversely to LT-R192G, CT and LTB, did not induce antigen specific CD4+CD25+Foxp3- and Foxp3+ T cells, thus showing different effects between the B subunits themselves. However, all molecules induced an antigen specific Th17 response. In conclusion, B subunits are potent adjuvants on B cell responses by the intrarectal route. Although their impact on T cell responses are different, all molecules induce a 2/6-VLP-specific Th17 T cell response that may play a major role in helping B cell responses and thus in adjuvanticity and protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatou Thiam
- Centre de Recherche Inserm UMR866 'Lipides, Nutrition, Cancer', Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Annie Charpilienne
- Virologie Moléculaire et Structurale, UMR CNRS 2472 INRA 1157, Gif/Yvette, France
| | - Didier Poncet
- Virologie Moléculaire et Structurale, UMR CNRS 2472 INRA 1157, Gif/Yvette, France
| | - Evelyne Kohli
- Centre de Recherche Inserm UMR866 'Lipides, Nutrition, Cancer', Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Christelle Basset
- Centre de Recherche Inserm UMR866 'Lipides, Nutrition, Cancer', Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.
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Kubelkova K, Macela A. Putting the Jigsaw Together - A Brief Insight Into the Tularemia. Open Life Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1515/biol-2015-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractTularemia is a debilitating febrile and potentially fatal zoonotic disease of humans and other vertebrates caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis. The natural reservoirs are small rodents, hares, and possibly amoebas in water. The etiological agent, Francisella tularensis, is a non-spore forming, encapsulated, facultative intracellular bacterium, a member of the γ-Proteobacteria class of Gram-negative bacteria. Francisella tularensis is capable of invading and replicating within phagocytic as well as non-phagocytic cells and modulate inflammatory response. Infection by the pulmonary, dermal, or oral routes, respectively, results in pneumonic, ulceroglandular, or oropharyngeal tularemia. The highest mortality rates are associated with the pneumonic form of this disease. All members of Francisella tularensis species cause more or less severe disease Due to their abilities to be transmitted to humans via multiple routes and to be disseminated via biological aerosol that can cause the disease after inhalation of even an extremely low infectious dose, Francisella tularensis has been classified as a Category A bioterrorism agent. The current standard of care for tularemia is treatment with antibiotics, as this therapy is highly effective if used soon after infection, although it is not, however, absolutely effective in all cases.
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Roberts LM, Ledvina HE, Sempowski GD, Frelinger JA. TLR2 Signaling is Required for the Innate, but Not Adaptive Response to LVS clpB. Front Immunol 2014; 5:426. [PMID: 25250027 PMCID: PMC4155801 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is the best-characterized pattern-recognition receptor for the highly pathogenic intracellular bacterium, Francisella tularensis. We previously identified a mutant in the live vaccine strain (LVS) of Francisella, LVS clpB, which is attenuated, but induces a protective immune response. We sought to determine whether TLR2 signaling was required during the immune response to LVS clpB. TLR2 knock-out (TLR2 KO) mice previously infected with LVS clpB are completely protected during a lethal challenge with LVS. Furthermore, the kinetics and magnitude of the primary T-cell response in B6 and TLR2 KO mice are similar indicating that TLR2 signaling is dispensable for the adaptive immune response to LVS clpB. TLR2 signaling was important, however, for the innate immune response to LVS clpB. We identified three classes of cytokines/chemokines that differ in their dependence on TLR2 signaling for production on day 3 post-inoculation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-17, MIP-1α, and TNF-α production depended on TLR2 signaling, while GM-CSF, IFN-γ, and VEGF production were completely independent of TLR2 signaling. IL-6, IL-12, IP-10, KC, and MIG production were partially dependent on TLR2 signaling. Together our data indicate that the innate immune response to LVS clpB requires TLR2 signaling for the maximal innate response, whereas TLR2 is not required for the adaptive immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia M Roberts
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA
| | - Hannah E Ledvina
- Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA
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