Development of antigen-delivery systems, based on the Escherichia coli hemolysin secretion pathway

The JMU-SalVac-System: A Novel, Versatile Approach to Oral Live Vaccine Development

Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Ty21a (Ty21a) is the only licensed oral vaccine against typhoid fever. Due to its excellent safety profile, it has been used as a promising vector strain for the expression of heterologous antigens for mucosal immunization. As the efficacy of any bacterial live vector vaccine correlates with its ability to express and present sufficient antigen, the genes for antigen expression are traditionally located on plasmids with antibiotic resistance genes for stabilization. However, for use in humans, antibiotic selection of plasmids is not applicable, leading to segregational loss of the antigen-producing plasmid. Therefore, we developed an oral Ty21a-based vaccine platform technology, the JMU-SalVac-system (Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg) in which the antigen delivery plasmids (pSalVac-plasmid-series) are stabilized by a ΔtyrS/tyrS+-based balanced-lethal system (BLS). The system is made up of the chromosomal knockout of the essential tyrosyl-tRNA-synthetase gene (tyrS) and the in trans complementation of tyrS on the pSalVac-plasmid. Further novel functional features of the pSalVac-plasmids are the presence of two different expression cassettes for the expression of protein antigens. In this study, we present the construction of vaccine strains with BLS plasmids for antigen expression. The expression of cytosolic and secreted mRFP and cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) proteins as model antigens is used to demonstrate the versatility of the approach. As proof of concept, we show the induction of previously described in vivo inducible promoters cloned into pSalVac-plasmids during infection of primary macrophages and demonstrate the expression of model vaccine antigens in these relevant human target cells. Therefore, antigen delivery strains developed with the JMU-SalVac technology are promising, safe and stable vaccine strains to be used against mucosal infections in humans.

Export of diverse and bioactive peptides through a type I secretion system

Microcins are peptide antibiotics secreted by Gram-negative bacteria that inhibit the growth of neighboring microbes. They are exported from the cytosol to the environment in a one-step process through a specific type I secretion system (T1SS). While the rules governing export of natural or non-native substrates have been resolved for T1SSs that secrete large proteins, relatively little is known about substrate requirements for peptides exported through T1SSs that secrete microcins. Here, we investigate the prototypic microcin V T1SS from Escherichia coli and show it can export a remarkably wide range of natural and synthetic peptides. We demonstrate that secretion through this system is not affected by peptide charge or hydrophobicity and appears only constrained by peptide length. A varied range of bioactive peptides, including an antibacterial peptide, a microbial signaling factor, a protease inhibitor, and a human hormone, can all be secreted and elicit their intended biological effect. Secretion through this system is not limited to E. coli , and we demonstrate its function in additional Gram-negative species that can inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. Our findings uncover the highly promiscuous nature of peptide export thorough the microcin V T1SS, which has implications for native cargo capacity and use of Gram-negative bacteria for peptide research and delivery.

Importance

Microcin type I secretion systems in Gram-negative bacteria transport antibacterial peptides from the cytoplasm to the extracellular environment in single step. In nature, each microcin secretion system is generally paired with a specific peptide. We know little about the export capacity of these transporters and how peptide sequence influences secretion. Here, we investigate the microcin V type I secretion system. Remarkably, our studies show this system can export diverse peptides and is only limited by peptide length. Furthermore, we demonstrate that various bioactive peptides can be secreted, and this system can be used in Gram-negative species that colonize the gastrointestinal tract. These finding expand our understanding of secretion through type I systems and their potential uses in peptide applications.

Biotechnological applications of type 1 secretion systems

Bacteria have evolved a diverse range of secretion systems to export different substrates across their cell envelope. Although secretion of proteins into the extracellular space could offer advantages for recombinant protein production, the low secretion titers of the secretion systems for some heterologous proteins remain a clear drawback of their utility at commercial scales. Therefore, a potential use of most of secretion systems as production platforms at large scales are still limited. To overcome this limitation, remarkable efforts have been made toward improving the secretion efficiency of different bacterial secretion systems in recent years. Here, we review the progress with respect to biotechnological applications of type I secretion system (T1SS) of Gram-negative bacteria. We will also focus on the applicability of T1SS for the secretion of heterologous proteins as well as vaccine development. Last but not least, we explore the employed engineering strategies that have enhanced the secretion efficiencies of T1SS. Attention is also paid to directed evolution approaches that may offer a more versatile approach to optimize secretion efficiency of T1SS.

Live-Attenuated Bacterial Vectors for Delivery of Mucosal Vaccines, DNA Vaccines, and Cancer Immunotherapy

Vaccines save millions of lives each year from various life-threatening infectious diseases, and there are more than 20 vaccines currently licensed for human use worldwide. Moreover, in recent decades immunotherapy has become the mainstream therapy, which highlights the tremendous potential of immune response mediators, including vaccines for prevention and treatment of various forms of cancer. However, despite the tremendous advances in microbiology and immunology, there are several vaccine preventable diseases which still lack effective vaccines. Classically, weakened forms (attenuated) of pathogenic microbes were used as vaccines. Although the attenuated microbes induce effective immune response, a significant risk of reversion to pathogenic forms remains. While in the twenty-first century, with the advent of genetic engineering, microbes can be tailored with desired properties.

In this review, I have focused on the use of genetically modified bacteria for the delivery of vaccine antigens. More specifically, the live-attenuated bacteria, derived from pathogenic bacteria, possess many features that make them highly suitable vectors for the delivery of vaccine antigens. Bacteria can theoretically express any heterologous gene or can deliver mammalian expression vectors harboring vaccine antigens (DNA vaccines). These properties of live-attenuated microbes are being harnessed to make vaccines against several infectious and noninfectious diseases. In this regard, I have described the desired features of live-attenuated bacterial vectors and the mechanisms of immune responses manifested by live-attenuated bacterial vectors. Interestingly anaerobic bacteria are naturally attracted to tumors, which make them suitable vehicles to deliver tumor-associated antigens thus I have discussed important studies investigating the role of bacterial vectors in immunotherapy. Finally, I have provided important discussion on novel approaches for improvement and tailoring of live-attenuated bacterial vectors for the generation of desired immune responses.

Type I Protein Secretion-Deceptively Simple yet with a Wide Range of Mechanistic Variability across the Family

A very large type I polypeptide begins to reel out from a ribosome; minutes later, the still unidentifiable polypeptide, largely lacking secondary structure, is now in some cases a thousand or more residues longer. Synthesis of the final hundred C-terminal residues commences. This includes the identity code, the secretion signal within the last 50 amino acids, designed to dock with a waiting ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter. What happens next is the subject of this review, with the main, but not the only focus on hemolysin HlyA, an RTX protein toxin secreted by the type I system. Transport substrates range from small peptides to giant proteins produced by many pathogens. These molecules, without detectable cellular chaperones, overcome enormous barriers, crossing two membranes before final folding on the cell surface, involving a unique autocatalytic process.Unfolded HlyA is extruded posttranslationally, C-terminal first. The transenvelope "tunnel" is formed by HlyB (ABC transporter), HlyD (membrane fusion protein) straddling the inner membrane and periplasm and TolC (outer membrane). We present a new evaluation of the C-terminal secretion code, and the structure function of HlyD and HlyB at the heart of this nanomachine. Surprisingly, key details of the secretion mechanism are remarkably variable in the many type I secretion system subtypes. These include alternative folding processes, an apparently distinctive secretion code for each type I subfamily, and alternative forms of the ABC transporter; most remarkably, the ABC protein probably transports peptides or polypeptides by quite different mechanisms. Finally, we suggest a putative structure for the Hly-translocon, HlyB, the multijointed HlyD, and the TolC exit.

Improving health from the inside: Use of engineered intestinal microorganisms as in situ cytokine delivery system

The anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 and its viral homologs were chosen as model proteins for the development of drug delivery systems based on probiotic carriers like E. coli Nissle 1917, E. coli G3/10, and Saccharomyces boulardii. Exterior cytokine secretion was achieved by a modified E. coli hemolysin transporter. Release of interleukin-10 transported to the periplasm via the OmpF signal peptide was enabled by a T4 phage lysis system under control of the araC PBAD activator-promoter. The yield of interleukin-10 delivered by the phage lysis system was too low for functional analysis whereas the fusion protein secreted by the hemolysin transporter proved to be biologically inactive. Moreover, partial processing of the fusion protein by the E. coli membrane protease OmpT had no effect on the protein’s functionality. Using the α-mating factor signal sequence, the yeast S. boulardii proved to be suitable for secretory expression of biologically active viral interleukin-10.

Construction and screening of attenuated ΔphoP/Q Salmonella typhimurium vectored plague vaccine candidates

Preclinical studies evaluating plague vaccine candidates have demonstrated that the F1 and V protein antigens of Yersinia pestis confer protection against challenge from virulent strains. Live-attenuated ΔphoP/Q Salmonella typhimurium recombinants were constructed expressing either F1, V antigens, F1 and V antigens, or a F1-V fusion from Asd (+) balanced-lethal plasmids. To improve antigen delivery, genes encoding plague antigens were modified in order to localize antigens to specific bacterial cellular compartments which include cytoplasmic, outer membrane, or secreted. Candidate vaccine strains were evaluated for growth characteristics, full-length lipopolysaccharide (LPS), plasmid stability, and antigen expression in vitro. Plague vaccine candidate strains with favorable in vitro profiles were evaluated in murine or rabbit preclinical oral immunogenicity studies. Attenuated S. typhimurium strains expressing cytoplasmically localized F1-V and V antigen antigens were more immunogenic than strains that secreted or localized plague antigens to the outer membrane. In particular, S. typhimurium M020 and M023, which express Asd(+)-plasmid derived soluble F1-V and soluble V antigen, respectively, at high levels in the bacterial cell cytoplasm were found to induce the highest levels of plague-specific serum antibodies. To further evaluate balanced-lethal plasmid retention capacity, ΔphoP/Q S. typhimurium PurB(+) and GlnA(+) balanced-lethal plasmid systems harboring F1-V were compared with M020 in vitro and in BALB/c mice in a immunogenicity study. Although there was no detectable difference in plague antigen expression in vitro, S. typhimurium M020 was the most immunogenic plague antigen vector strain evaluated, inducing high-titer serum IgG antibodies specific against F1, V and F1-V.

Translocation of green fluorescent protein by comparative analysis with multiple signal peptides

Type I and II secretory pathways are used for the translocation of recombinant proteins from the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. The purpose of this study was to evaluate four signal peptides (HlyA, TorA, GeneIII, and PelB), representing the most common secretion pathways in E. coli, for their ability to target green fluorescent protein (GFP) for membrane translocation. Signal peptide-GFP genetic fusions were designed in accordance with BioFusion standards (BBF RFC 10, BBF RFC 23). The HlyA signal peptide targeted GFP for secretion to the extracellular media via the type I secretory pathway, whereas TAT-dependent signal peptide TorA and Sec-dependent signal peptide GeneIII exported GFP to the periplasm. The PelB signal peptide was inefficient in translocating GFP. The use of biological technical standards simplified the design and construction of functional signal peptide-recombinant protein genetic devices for type I and II secretion in E. coli. The utility of the standardized parts model is further illustrated as constructed biological parts are available for direct application to other studies on recombinant protein translocation.

Oral delivery of the Sj23LHD-GST antigen by Salmonella typhimurium type III secretion system protects against Schistosoma japonicum infection in mice

BACKGROUND

Schistosomiasis japonica is a zoonotic parasitic disease and oral vaccine delivery system would be benefit for prevention of this disease. Although attenuated salmonella has been used as an antigen expression vector for oral vaccine development, the membrane-bound vacuoles in which bacteria reside hinders the presentation of expressed heterologous antigens to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The present work used an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strain VNP20009 to secretory expression of Sj23LHDGST bivalent antigen from Schistosoma japonicum and tested the protective efficacy against S. japonicum infection in orally immunized mice.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Promoters (nirB or pagC) were used to express the antigen (Sj23LHDGST) and the Salmonella type III or α-hemolysin secretion system was employed to secrete it. The immunoblotting analysis and fluorescent microscopy revealed that the antigen was effectively expressed and delivered to the cytosol of macrophages in vitro. Among recombinant vaccine strains, an engineered VNP20009 which expressed the antigen by nirB promoter and secreted it through type III secretion system (nirB-sopE(1-104)-Sj23LHD-GST) efficiently protected against S. japonicum infection in a mouse model. This strain elicited a predominantly IgG(2a) antibody response and a markedly increase in the production of IL-12 and IFN-γ. The flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that this strain caused T cell activation as evidenced by significantly increased expression of CD44 and CD69.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE

Oral delivery of antigen by nirB-driven Salmonella typhimurium type III secretion system is a novel, safe, inexpensive, efficient and convenient approach for schistosome vaccine development.

Iron-regulated lysis of recombinant Escherichia coli in host releases protective antigen and confers biological containment

The use of a recombinant bacterial vector vaccine is an attractive vaccination strategy to induce an immune response to a carried protective antigen. The superiorities of live bacterial vectors include mimicry of a natural infection, intrinsic adjuvant properties, and the potential for administration by mucosal routes. Escherichia coli is a simple and efficient vector system for production of exogenous proteins. In addition, many strains are nonpathogenic and avirulent, making it a good candidate for use in recombinant vaccine design. In this study, we screened 23 different iron-regulated promoters in an E. coli BL21(DE3) vector and found one, P(viuB), with characteristics suitable for our use. We fused P(viuB) with lysis gene E, establishing an in vivo inducible lysis circuit. The resulting in vivo lysis circuit was introduced into a strain also carrying an IPTG (isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside)-inducible P(T7)-controlled protein synthesis circuit, forming a novel E. coli-based protein delivery system. The recombinant E. coli produced a large amount of antigen in vitro and could deliver the antigen into zebrafish after vaccination via injection. The strain subsequently lysed in response to the iron-limiting signal in vivo, implementing antigen release and biological containment. The gapA gene, encoding the protective antigen GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) from the fish pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila LSA34, was introduced into the E. coli-based protein delivery system, and the resultant recombinant vector vaccine was evaluated in turbot (Scophtalmus maximus). Over 80% of the vaccinated fish survived challenge with A. hydrophila LSA34, suggesting that the E. coli-based antigen delivery system has great potential in bacterial vector vaccine applications.

The rate of folding dictates substrate secretion by the Escherichia coli hemolysin type 1 secretion system

Secretion of the Escherichia coli toxin hemolysin A (HlyA) is catalyzed by the membrane protein complex HlyB-HlyD-TolC and requires a secretion sequence located within the last 60 amino acids of HlyA. The Hly translocator complex exports a variety of passenger proteins when fused N-terminal to this secretion sequence. However, not all fusions are secreted efficiently. Here, we demonstrate that the maltose binding protein (MalE) lacking its natural export signal and fused to the HlyA secretion signal is poorly secreted by the Hly system. We anticipated that folding kinetics might be limiting secretion, and we therefore introduced the "folding" mutation Y283D. Indeed this mutant fusion protein was secreted at a much higher level. This level was further enhanced by the introduction of a second MalE folding mutation (V8G or A276G). Secretion did not require the molecular chaperone SecB. Folding analysis revealed that all mutations reduced the refolding rate of the substrate, whereas the unfolding rate was unaffected. Thus, the efficiency of secretion by the Hly system is dictated by the folding rate of the substrate. Moreover, we demonstrate that fusion proteins defective in export can be engineered for secretion while still retaining function.

Extracellular recombinant protein production from Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is the most commonly used host for recombinant protein production and metabolic engineering. Extracellular production of enzymes and proteins is advantageous as it could greatly reduce the complexity of a bioprocess and improve product quality. Extracellular production of proteins is necessary for metabolic engineering applications in which substrates are polymers such as lignocelluloses or xenobiotics since adequate uptake of these substrates is often an issue. The dogma that E. coli secretes no protein has been challenged by the recognition of both its natural ability to secrete protein in common laboratory strains and increased ability to secrete proteins in engineered cells. The very existence of this review dedicated to extracellular production is a testimony for outstanding achievements made collectively by the community in this regard. Four strategies have emerged to engineer E. coli cells to secrete recombinant proteins. In some cases, impressive secretion levels, several grams per liter, were reached. This secretion level is on par with other eukaryotic expression systems. Amid the optimism, it is important to recognize that significant challenges remain, especially when considering the success cannot be predicted a priori and involves much trials and errors. This review provides an overview of recent developments in engineering E. coli for extracellular production of recombinant proteins and an analysis of pros and cons of each strategy.

Veterinary vaccines: alternatives to antibiotics?

The prevention of infectious diseases of animals by vaccination has been routinely practiced for decades and has proved to be one of the most cost-effective methods of disease control. However, since the pioneering work of Pasteur in the 1880s, the composition of veterinary vaccines has changed very little from a conceptual perspective and this has, in turn, limited their application in areas such as the control of chronic infectious diseases. New technologies in the areas of vaccine formulation and delivery as well as our increased knowledge of disease pathogenesis and the host responses associated with protection from disease offer promising alternatives for vaccine formulation as well as targets for the prevention of bacterial disease. These new vaccines have the potential to lessen our reliance on antibiotics for disease control, but will only reach their full potential when used in combination with other intervention strategies.

Anthrax protective antigen delivered by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi Ty21a protects mice from a lethal anthrax spore challenge

Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax disease, is a proven weapon of bioterrorism. Currently, the only licensed vaccine against anthrax in the United States is AVA Biothrax, which, although efficacious, suffers from several limitations. This vaccine requires six injectable doses over 18 months to stimulate protective immunity, requires a cold chain for storage, and in many cases has been associated with adverse effects. In this study, we modified the B. anthracis protective antigen (PA) gene for optimal expression and stability, linked it to an inducible promoter for maximal expression in the host, and fused it to the secretion signal of the Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin protein (HlyA) on a low-copy-number plasmid. This plasmid was introduced into the licensed typhoid vaccine strain, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi strain Ty21a, and was found to be genetically stable. Immunization of mice with three vaccine doses elicited a strong PA-specific serum immunoglobulin G response with a geometric mean titer of 30,000 (range, 5,800 to 157,000) and lethal-toxin-neutralizing titers greater than 16,000. Vaccinated mice demonstrated 100% protection against a lethal intranasal challenge with aerosolized spores of B. anthracis 7702. The ultimate goal is a temperature-stable, safe, oral human vaccine against anthrax infection that can be self-administered in a few doses over a short period of time.

AttenuatedSalmonellaandShigellaas Carriers for DNA Vaccines

The discovery that genes can be functionally transferred from bacteria to mammalian cells has suggested the possible use of bacterial vectors as gene delivery vehicles for vaccines. Attenuated invasive human intestinal bacteria, such as Salmonella and Shigella, have been used as plasmid DNA vaccine carriers and their potency has been evaluated in several animal models. This delivery system allows the administration of DNA vaccines together with associated bacterial immunostimulators directly to professional antigen presenting cells via human mucosal surfaces. Various strategies have been taken to improve the use of this delivery system to achieve robust immune responses at both mucosal and systemic sites of the immunized animals.

Analysis of type II secretion of recombinant pneumococcal PspA and PspC in a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine with regulated delayed antigen synthesis

Recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines (RASVs) have been used extensively to express and deliver heterologous antigens to host mucosal tissues. Immune responses can be enhanced greatly when the antigen is secreted to the periplasm or extracellular compartment. The most common method for accomplishing this is by fusion of the antigen to a secretion signal sequence. Finding an optimal signal sequence is typically done empirically. To facilitate this process, we constructed a series of plasmid expression vectors, each containing a different type II signal sequence. We evaluated the utilities of these vectors by fusing two different antigens, the alpha-helix domains of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) and pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC), to the signal sequences of beta-lactamase (bla SS), ompA, and phoA and the signal sequence and C-terminal peptide of beta-lactamase (bla SS+CT) on Asd(+) plasmids under the control of the P(trc) promoter. Strains were characterized for level of expression, subcellular antigen location, and the capacity to elicit antigen-specific immune responses and protection against challenge with Streptococcus pneumoniae in mice. The immune responses to each protein differed depending on the signal sequence used. Strains carrying the bla SS-pspA and bla SS+CT-pspC fusions yielded the largest amounts of secreted PspA and PspC, respectively, and induced the highest serum IgG titers, although all fusion proteins tested induced some level of antigen-specific IgG response. Consistent with the serum antibody responses, RASVs expressing the bla SS-pspA and bla SS+CT-pspC fusions induced the greatest protection against S. pneumoniae challenge.

The autodisplay story, from discovery to biotechnical and biomedical applications

Among the pathways used by gram-negative bacteria for protein secretion, the autotransporter pathway represents a solution of impressive simplicity. Proteins are transported, independent of their nature as recombinant or native passengers, as long as the coding nucleotide sequence is inserted in frame between those of an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal domain, referred to as the beta-barrel of the outer membrane translocation unit. The immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) protease from Neisseria gonorrhoeae was the first identified member of the autotransporter family of secreted proteins. The IgA1 protease was employed in initial experiments investigating autotransporter-mediated surface display of recombinant proteins and to investigate structural and functional requirements. Various other autotransporter proteins have since been described, and the autodisplay system was developed on the basis of the natural Escherichia coli autotransporter protein AIDA-I (adhesin involved in diffuse adherence). Autodisplay has been used for the surface display of random peptide libraries to successfully screen for novel enzyme inhibitors. The autodisplay system was also used for the surface display of functional enzymes, including esterases, oxidoreductases, and electron transfer proteins. Whole E. coli cells displaying enzymes have been utilized to efficiently synthesize industrially important rare organic compounds with specific chirality. Autodisplay of epitopes on the surface of attenuated Salmonella carriers has also provided a novel way to induce immune protection after oral vaccination. This review summarizes the structural and functional features of the autodisplay system, illustrating its discovery and most recent applications. Autodisplay facilitates the export of more than 100,000 recombinant molecules per single cell and permits the oligomerization of subunits on the cell surface as well as the incorporation of inorganic prosthetic groups after transport of apoproteins onto the bacterial surface without disturbing bacterial integrity or viability. We discuss future biotechnical and biomedical applications in the light of these achievements.

Cancer immunotherapy based on recombinant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium aroA strains secreting prostate-specific antigen and cholera toxin subunit B

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor in men and is normally associated with increased serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Therefore, PSA is one potential target for a prostate cancer vaccine. In this study we analyzed the functionality of new bacterial PSA vaccines, expressed and secreted via the hemolysin (HlyA) secretion system of Escherichia coli, the prototype of Type I secretion systems (T1SS) using an attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium aroA strain as carrier. The data demonstrate that a bacterial live vaccine encompassing T1SS in combination with cholera toxin subunit B can be successfully used for delivery of PSA to induce cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell responses resulting in an efficient prevention of tumor growth in mice.

Exploiting cholera vaccines as a versatile antigen delivery platform

The development of safe, immunogenic and protective cholera vaccine candidates makes possible their use as a versatile antigen delivery platform. Foreign antigens can be delivered to the immune system with cholera vaccines by expressing heterologous antigens in live attenuated vectors, as fusion proteins with cholera toxin subunits combined with inactivated Vibrio cholerae whole cells or by exposing them on the surface of V. cholerae ghosts. Progress in our understanding of the genes expressed by V. cholerae during infection creates unprecedented opportunities to develop an improved generation of vaccine vectors to induce immune protection against a broad range of pathogenic organisms.

Vivotif--a 'magic shield' for protection against typhoid fever and delivery of heterologous antigens

The attenuated Salmonella typhi strain Ty21a is the main constituent of Vivotif, the only attenuated live oral vaccine against typhoid fever. In comparison with antibiotics, the 'magic bullets' which Paul Ehrlich was striving for to treat infectious diseases, this vaccine should be viewed as a 'magic shield', because rather than treating typhoid fever after the infection has started, immunisation with this vaccine strain prevents infection and disease by the induction of specific immune responses. Ty21a is also an attractive carrier for the delivery of heterologous antigens. Recently, we successfully used Ty21a for antigen delivery via the haemolysin secretion system of Escherichia coli, which allows efficient protein secretion from the carrier bacteria.

Mucosal delivery of vaccines in domestic animals

Mucosal vaccination is proving to be one of the greatest challenges in modern vaccine development. Although highly beneficial for achieving protective immunity, the induction of mucosal immunity, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract, still remains a difficult task. As a result, only very few mucosal vaccines are commercially available for domestic animals. Here, we critically review various strategies for mucosal delivery of vaccines in domestic animals. This includes live bacterial and viral vectors, particulate delivery-systems such as polymers, alginate, polyphosphazenes, immune stimulating complex and liposomes, and receptor mediated-targeting strategies to the mucosal tissues. The most commonly used routes of immunization, strategies for delivering the antigen to the mucosal surfaces, and future prospects in the development of mucosal vaccines are discussed.

Secretory expression of recombinant proteins in an attenuated Vibrio anguillarum strain for potential use in vaccines

Vibrio anguillarum is an important bacterial fish pathogen responsible for epizootics in both marine and freshwater fish worldwide. Studies on pathogenic V. anguillarum has shown that its virulence is mediated by a 65 kb endogenous pJM1-like plasmid, which encodes an efficient iron uptake system. The plasmid-free derivative of wild V. anguillarum was found to be greatly attenuated and elicited a good protection against wild V. anguillarum in fish. In this study, a plasmid-free derivative MVAV6201, an effective live vaccine candidate, was used as a carrier strain to achieve the secretory delivery of recombinant proteins in V. anguillarum. The secretion mechanism was based on the Escherichia coli alpha-haemolysin (HlyA) transport system. The recombinant proteins were fused with the alpha-haemolysin secretion signal (HlyAs) and expressed from the commonly used HlyA secretion vector pMOhly1. Two HlyAs-tagged recombinant proteins, GFP-HlyAs and AngE-HlyAs, were constructed and their secretion characters in V. anguillarum investigated. In the case of GFP-HlyAs, nearly 70% of the total fusion protein was efficiently secreted into culture supernatant, and in the case of AngE-HlyAs, the secretion efficiency was determined to be about 300 microg L(-1) by Western blotting.

Enhancement of the efficiency of secretion of heterologous lipase in Escherichia coli by directed evolution of the ABC transporter system

The ABC transporter (TliDEF) from Pseudomonas fluorescens SIK W1, which mediated the secretion of a thermostable lipase (TliA) into the extracellular space in Escherichia coli, was engineered using directed evolution (error-prone PCR) to improve its secretion efficiency. TliD mutants with increased secretion efficiency were identified by coexpressing the mutated tliD library with the wild-type tliA lipase in E. coli and by screening the library with a tributyrin-emulsified indicator plate assay and a microtiter plate-based assay. Four selected mutants from one round of error-prone PCR mutagenesis, T6, T8, T24, and T35, showed 3.2-, 2.6-, 2.9-, and 3.0-fold increases in the level of secretion of TliA lipase, respectively, but had almost the same level of expression of TliD in the membrane as the strain with the wild-type TliDEF transporter. These results indicated that the improved secretion of TliA lipase was mediated by the transporter mutations. Each mutant had a single amino acid change in the predicted cytoplasmic regions in the membrane domain of TliD, implying that the corresponding region of TliD was important for the improved and successful secretion of the target protein. We therefore concluded that the efficiency of secretion of a heterologous protein in E. coli can be enhanced by in vitro engineering of the ABC transporter.

Use of a recombinant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain expressing C-Raf for protection against C-Raf induced lung adenoma in mice

BACKGROUND

Serine-threonine kinases of the Raf family (A-Raf, B-Raf, C-Raf) are central players in cellular signal transduction, and thus often causally involved in the development of cancer when mutated or over-expressed. Therefore these proteins are potential targets for immunotherapy and a possible basis for vaccine development against tumors. In this study we analyzed the functionality of a new live C-Raf vaccine based on an attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium aroA strain in two Raf dependent lung tumor mouse models.

METHODS

The antigen C-Raf has been fused to the C-terminal secretion signal of Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin and expressed in secreted form by an attenuated aroA Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain via the alpha-hemolysin secretion pathway. The effect of the immunization with this recombinant C-Raf strain on wild-type C57BL/6 or lung tumor bearing transgenic BxB mice was analyzed using western blot and FACS analysis as well as specific tumor growth assays.

RESULTS

C-Raf antigen was successfully expressed in secreted form by an attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium aroA strain using the E. coli hemolysin secretion system. Immunization of wild-type C57BL/6 or tumor bearing mice provoked specific C-Raf antibody and T-cell responses. Most importantly, the vaccine strain significantly reduced tumor growth in two transgenic mouse models of Raf oncogene-induced lung adenomas.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of the C-Raf antigen, hemolysin secretion system and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium could form the basis for a new generation of live bacterial vaccines for the treatment of Raf dependent human malignancies.

Use of the α-hemolysin secretion system of Escherichia coli for antigen delivery in the Salmonella typhi Ty21a vaccine strain

This study examined the suitability of the hemolysin secretion system of Escherichia coli for expression and delivery of alpha-hemolysin (HlyA) by the S. typhi Ty21a strain, the only live oral Salmonella vaccine strain licensed for human use, under in vitro and in vivo conditions. For this purpose, two plasmid vectors encoding either the whole alpha-hemolysin of E. coli (pANN202-812/pMOhly2) or the hemolysin secretion signal (pMOhly1) were transferred into S. typhi Ty21a. S. typhi Ty21a carrying pANN202-812/pMOhly2 revealed efficient secretion of hemolysin in vitro. After formulation according to a process suitable for commercial production of Salmonella-based live bacterial vaccines, plasmids were shown to be stable in Ty21a and hemolysin secretion was demonstrated even after storage of the strains under real-time and stress conditions. After intranasal immunization of mice with S. typhi Ty21a/pANN202-812 plasmids are stable in vivo, and immunization induced a profound immune response against the heterologous HlyA antigen. Therefore, the combination of the hemolysin secretion system and S. typhi Ty21a could form the basis for a new generation of live bacterial vaccines.

Approaches to enhance the efficacy of DNA vaccines

DNA vaccines consist of antigen-encoding bacterial plasmids that are capable of inducing antigen-specific immune responses upon inoculation into a host. This method of immunization is advantageous in terms of simplicity, adaptability, and cost of vaccine production. However, the entry of DNA vaccines and expression of antigen are subjected to physical and biochemical barriers imposed by the host. In small animals such as mice, the host-imposed impediments have not prevented DNA vaccines from inducing long-lasting, protective humoral, and cellular immune responses. In contrast, these barriers appear to be more difficult to overcome in large animals and humans. The focus of this article is to summarize the limitations of DNA vaccines and to provide a comprehensive review on the different strategies developed to enhance the efficacy of DNA vaccines. Several of these strategies, such as altering codon bias of the encoded gene, changing the cellular localization of the expressed antigen, and optimizing delivery and formulation of the plasmid, have led to improvements in DNA vaccine efficacy in large animals. However, solutions for increasing the amount of plasmid that eventually enters the nucleus and is available for transcription of the transgene still need to be found. The overall conclusions from these studies suggest that, provided these critical improvements are made, DNA vaccines may find important clinical and practical applications in the field of vaccination.

Channel-tunnels: outer membrane components of type I secretion systems and multidrug efflux pumps of Gram-negative bacteria

For translocation across the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria, substances have to overcome two permeability barriers, the inner and outer membrane. Channel-tunnels are outer membrane proteins, which are central to two distinct export systems: the type I secretion system exporting proteins such as toxins or proteases, and efflux pumps discharging antibiotics, dyes, or heavy metals and thus mediating drug resistance. Protein secretion is driven by an inner membrane ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter while drug efflux occurs via an inner membrane proton antiporter. Both inner membrane transporters are associated with a periplasmic accessory protein that recruits an outer membrane channel-tunnel to form a functional export complex. Prototypes of these export systems are the hemolysin secretion system and the AcrAB/TolC drug efflux pump of Escherichia coli, which both employ TolC as an outer membrane component. Its remarkable conduit-like structure, protruding 100 A into the periplasmic space, reveals how both systems are capable of transporting substrates across both membranes directly from the cytosol into the external environment. Proteins of the channel-tunnel family are widespread within Gram-negative bacteria. Their involvement in drug resistance and in secretion of pathogenic factors makes them an interesting system for further studies. Understanding the mechanism of the different export apparatus could help to develop new drugs, which block the efflux pumps or the secretion system.

Secretory delivery of recombinant proteins in attenuated Salmonella strains: potential and limitations of Type I protein transporters

Live attenuated Salmonella strains have been extensively explored as oral delivery systems for recombinant vaccine antigens and effector proteins with immunoadjuvant and immunomodulatory potential. The feasibility of this approach was demonstrated in human vaccination trials for various antigens. However, immunization efficiencies with live vaccines are generally significantly lower compared to those monitored in parenteral immunizations with the same vaccine antigen. This is, at least partly, due to the lack of secretory expression systems, enabling large-scale extracellular delivery of vaccine and effector proteins by these strains. Because of their low complexity and the terminal location of the secretion signal in the secreted protein, Type I (ATP-binding cassette) secretion systems appear to be particularly suited for development of such recombinant extracellular expression systems. So far, the Escherichia coli hemolysin system is the only Type I secretion system, which has been adapted to recombinant protein secretion in Salmonella. However, this system has a number of disadvantages, including low secretion capacity, complex genetic regulation, and structural restriction to the secreted protein, which eventually hinder high-level in vivo delivery of recombinant vaccines and effector proteins. Thus, the development of more efficient recombinant protein secretion systems, based on Type I exporters can help to improve efficacies of live recombinant Salmonella vaccines. Type I secretion systems, mediating secretion of bacterial surface layer proteins, such as RsaA in Caulobacter crescentus, are discussed as promising candidates for improved secretory delivery systems.

Effect of in situ expression of human interleukin-6 on antibody responses against Salmonella typhimurium antigens

In an attempt to trigger increased mucosal secretory immune responses against bacterial surface antigens, we constructed an optimized human interleukin (hIL)-6-secreting Salmonella typhimurium strain (X4064(pCH1A+pYL3E)), utilizing the hemolysin (Hly) exporter for secretory delivery of a functional hIL-6-hemolysin fusion protein (hIL-6-HlyA(s)). Through stable introduction of a second hIL-6-HlyA(s) expression plasmid (pYL3E) in the previously described X4064(pCH1A) strain, hIL-6-HlyA(s) secretion efficiencies were increased by at least 10-fold. As pCH1A in the parental strain, pYL3E was stable in vitro in the absence of antibiotic selection and in vivo neither did plasmids interfere in their stabilities. Increased hIL-6-HlyA(s) expression did not adversely interfere with bacterial growth. Comparative immunization experiments in mice with oral application of the different hIL-6-secreting strains revealed that increased in situ hIL-6-production influenced systemic antibody responses against Salmonella antigens but had no marked effect on mucosal responses. In mice immunized with X4064(pCH1A+pYL3E) significantly higher sera IgG and IgA titers for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were found compared to mice immunized with X4064(pCH1A) and a hIL-6-negative control strain. Higher sera antibody titers were accompanied by increased numbers of IgG- and IgA-specific antibody-secreting cells in spleens and Peyer's patches, respectively. These data suggest that systemic antibody responses against Salmonella LPS are largely effected by IL-6 and, moreover, the amount and the cellular location of recombinantly expressed IL-6 appears to be crucial for enhancement of immune responses.

Immune responses dependent on antigen location in recombinant attenuated Salmonella typhimurium vaccines following oral immunization

The subcellular location of a recombinant antigen in recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines may influence immunogenicity dependent on exposure of the recombinant antigen to cells involved in systemic immune responses. It has been shown that a recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccine secreting the recombinant Streptococcus pneumoniae PspA (rPspA) antigen specified by pYA3494 induced protective anti-rPspA-specific immune responses (Kang et al. (2002) Infect. Immun. 70, 1739-1749). A recombinant plasmid pYA3496 specifying a His(6)-tagged rPspA (His(6)-rPspA) protein (no apparent signal sequence) caused the rPspA antigen to localize to the cytoplasm of Salmonella. Salmonella vaccines carrying pYA3494 or pYA3496 expressed similar amounts of rPspA. After a single oral immunization in BALB/c mice with 10(9) colony-forming units (CFU) of the recombinant Salmonella vaccines carrying pYA3494 or pYA3496, IgG antibody responses were stimulated to both rPspA and Salmonella lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens. The anti-rPspA IgG titer induced by Salmonella carrying pYA3494 (1.9 x 10(7)) was 10(4) times higher than induced by Salmonella carrying pYA3496 (<2.4 x 10(3)).

Haemolysin A and listeriolysin--two vaccine delivery tools for the induction of cell-mediated immunity

Haemolysin A of Escherichia coli and listeriolysin of Listeria monocytogenes represent important bacterial virulence factors. While such cytolysins are usually the reason for morbidity and even mortality, vaccine researchers have turned haemolysin A and listeriolysin into tools for vaccine delivery. Both cytolysins have found widespread application in vaccine research and are highly suitable for the elicitation of cell-mediated immunity. In this paper, we will review vaccine delivery mediated by the haemolysin A secretion system and listeriolysin and will highlight their use in vaccination approaches against protozoan parasites.

Cloning and hemolysin-mediated secretory expression of a codon-optimized synthetic human interleukin-6 gene in Escherichia coli

Previously, we constructed human interleukin-6 (hIL-6)-secreting Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium strains by fusion of the hIL-6 cDNA to the HlyA(s) secretional signal, utilizing the hemolysin export apparatus for extracellular delivery of a bioactive hIL-6-hemolysin (hIL-6-HlyA(s)) fusion protein. Molecular analysis of the secretion process revealed that low secretion levels were due to inefficient gene expression. To adapt the codon usage in hIL-6 cDNA to the E. coli codon bias, a synthetic hIL-6Ec gene variant was constructed from 20 overlapping oligonucleotides, yielding a 561-bp fragment, which comprises the complete hIL-6 cDNA sequence. Genetic fusion of the hIL-6Ec gene with the hlyA(s) secretional signal as an integral part of the hemolysin operon resulted in 3-fold higher hIL-6-HlyA(s) secretion levels in E. coli, compared to a strain expressing the original hIL-6-hlyA(s) fusion gene. An increase in the electrophoretic mobility of secreted hIL-6-HlyA(s) in non-reducing SDS-PAGE, similar to that found for recombinant mature hIL-6, and the absence of such a mobility shift in the intracellular hIL-6-HlyA(s) protein fraction indicated that in hIL-6-HlyA(s) most probably correct intramolecular disulfide bond formation occurred during the secretion step. To confirm the disulfide bond formation, hIL-6-HlyA(s) was purified by a single-step immunoaffinity chromatography from culture supernatant in yields of 18 microg/L culture supernatant with purity in the range of 60%. These results demonstrate that codon usage has an impact on the hemolysin-mediated secretion of hIL-6 and, furthermore, provide evidence that the hemolysin system enables secretory delivery of disulfide-bridged proteins.

Immune responses to recombinant pneumococcal PspA antigen delivered by live attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium vaccine

Attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing recombinant antigens from other pathogens elicits primarily a Th1-type dominant immune response to both recombinant and Salmonella antigens. The immunogenicity and appropriate subcellular location of the recombinant antigen in the Salmonella vaccine strain may contribute to augmenting immune responses by facilitating adequate exposure of recombinant antigen to antigen-presenting cells for processing. To allow for secretion from gram-negative bacteria and overexpression of antigen, a DNA fragment encoding a highly antigenic alpha-helical region of PspA (pneumococcal surface protein A) was subcloned downstream from the beta-lactamase signal sequence in the multicopy Asd(+) pYA3493 vector to create pYA3494. pYA3493 was derived from a class of Asd(+) vectors with reduced expression of Asd to minimize selective disadvantage and enhance immunization of expressed recombinant antigens. The S. enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine strain was constructed by the introduction of deletion mutations Delta crp-28 and Delta asdA16. Approximately 50% of the recombinant PspA (rPspA) expressed in a Salmonella strain harboring pYA3494 was detected in the combined supernatant and periplasmic fractions of broth-grown recombinant Salmonella. After a single oral immunization in BALB/c mice with 10(9) CFU of the recombinant Salmonella vaccine strain carrying pYA3494, immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses were stimulated to both the heterologous antigen rPspA and Salmonella lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins (OMPs). About half, and even more at later times after immunization, of the antibodies induced to rPspA were IgG1 (indicating a Th2-type response), whereas 60 to 70% of the antibodies to LPS and 80 to 90% of those to OMPs were IgG2a (indicating a Th1-type response). A sublethal infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae WU2 boosted PspA antibody levels and maintained IgG2a/IgG1 ratios similar to those seen before the challenge. Oral immunization with Salmonella-PspA vaccine protected 60% of immunized mice from death after intraperitoneal challenge with 50 times the 50% lethal dose of virulent S. pneumoniae WU2.

Delivery of protein antigens and DNA by attenuated intracellular bacteria

On the basis of attenuated intracellular bacteria, we have developed two delivery systems for either heterologous proteins or DNA vaccine vectors. The first system utilizes attenuated strains of Gram-negative bacteria which are engineered to secrete heterologous antigens via the alpha-hemolysin secretion system (type I) of Escherichia coli. The second system is based on attenuated suicide strains of Listeria monocytogenes, which are used for the direct delivery of eukaryotic antigen expression vectors into professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) like macrophages and dendritic cells in vitro and can be also used in animal models.

The E. coli alpha-hemolysin secretion system and its use in vaccine development

Many Gram-negative bacteria use a type I secretion system to translocate proteins, including pore-forming toxins, proteases, lipases and S-layer proteins, across both the inner and outer membranes into the extracellular surroundings. The Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin (HlyA) secretion system is the prototypical and best characterized type I secretion system. The structure and function of the components of the HlyA secretion apparatus, HlyB, HlyD and TolC, have been studied in great detail. The functional characteristics of this secretion system enable it to be used in a variety of different applications, including the presentation of heterologous antigens in live-attenuated bacterial vaccines. Such vaccines can be an effective delivery system for heterologous antigens, and the use of a type I secretion system allows the antigens to be actively exported from the cytoplasm of the bacterial carrier rather than only becoming accessible to the host immune system after bacterial disintegration.

Intracellular bacteria as targets and carriers for vaccination

In this review we discuss intracellular bacteria as targets and carriers for vaccines. For clarity and ease of comprehension, we focus on three microbes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella, with an emphasis on tuberculosis, one of the leading causes of death from infectious disease. Novel vaccination strategies against these pathogens are currently being considered. One approach favors the use of live attenuated vaccines and vaccine carrier strains thereof, either for heterologous antigen presentation or DNA vaccine delivery. This strategy includes both the improvement of attenuated vaccine strains as well as the 'de novo' generation of attenuated variants of virulent pathogens. An alternative strategy relies on the application of subunit immunizations, either as nucleic acid vaccines or protein antigens of the pathogen. Finally, we present a short summary of the vaccination strategies against tuberculosis.

Secretion of listeriolysin by Brucella suis inhibits its intramacrophagic replication

The introduction into Brucella suis 1330 of a plasmid allowing the heterologous expression of a hybrid cytolysin containing listeriolysin from Listeria monocytogenes, and its export via the Escherichia coli hemolysin secretion pathway, resulted in secretion of active listeriolysin monitored by erythrocyte lysis. In contrast to observations with the nonhemolytic control strain, the phagosomes of infected human monocytes containing the hemolytic B. suis were partially disrupted, and this strain failed to multiply in human macrophage-like cells. These results added strong evidence supporting the proposal that the phagosome of the macrophage was the predominant niche of brucellae in their mammalian hosts.

Recombinant attenuated bacteria for the delivery of subunit vaccines

Using attenuated intracellular bacteria as carriers, we have developed two different approaches for the delivery of subunit vaccines encoding heterologous antigens. The first system is based on the direct secretion of the heterologous antigens in Gram-negative bacteria via the hemolysin secretion system of Escherichia coli into either phagosome or cytosol of infected cells. The second approach is based on the transport of eukaryotic antigen expression vectors by intracellular bacteria like Listeria and Salmonella into the host cell and here, preferably, into the cytosolic compartment. After release of the plasmid DNA from the bacteria, the plasmid-encoded antigens can be expressed directly by the host cell. Finally, we combined both types of subunit vaccines in one live vector - we equipped Salmonella strains with a phagosomal escape function by utilization of the hemolysin secretion system and used this recombinant vaccine strain for the delivery of a eukaryotic antigen expression vector into the cytosol of macrophages.

Use of live bacterial vaccine vectors for antigen delivery: potential and limitations

Most infectious agents are restricted to the mucosal membranes or their transit through the mucosa constitutes a critical step in the infection process. Therefore, the elicitation of an efficient immune response, not only at systemic, but also at mucosal level, after vaccination is highly desirable, representing a significant advantage in order to prevent infection. This goal can be only achieved, when the vaccine formulation is administered by the mucosal route. However, soluble antigens given by this route are usually poorly immunogenic. Among the available approaches to stimulate efficient mucosal responses, the use of bacterial carriers to deliver vaccine antigens, probably, constitutes one of the most successful strategies. The potential and limitations of the most extensively studied bacterial carrier systems will be discussed.

Expression, extracellular secretion, and immunogenicity of the Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein 2 in Salmonella vaccine strains

Deleting transmembrane alpha-helix motifs from Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein (SSP-2) allowed its secretion from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL3261 and S. enterica serovar Typhi CVD 908-htrA by the Hly type I secretion system. In mice immunized intranasally, serovar Typhimurium constructs secreting SSP-2 stimulated greater gamma interferon splenocyte responses than did nonsecreting constructs (P = 0.04).

Secretion of different listeriolysin cognates by recombinant attenuated Salmonella typhimurium: superior efficacy of haemolytic over non-haemolytic constructs after oral vaccination

Viable antigen (Ag) delivery systems expressing defined pathogen-derived proteins represent powerful candidates for future vaccination strategies. Here, recombinant (r)Salmonella typhimurium aroA strains secreting listeriolysin (Hly) of Listeria monocytogenes in haemolytic or non-haemolytic form were constructed to direct these carriers into cytosolic or phagosomal host cell compartments, respectively. Oral and intravenous (i.v.) vaccination of mice with either construct induced 'transporter associated with antigen processing'-dependent protection against the intracellular bacterial pathogen L. monocytogenes. Comparison of oral immunization with both rSalmonella constructs revealed superior vaccine efficacy of the haemolytic rS. typhimurium Hlys construct as compared to the non-haemolytic rSalmonella Hlys(492) strain. In contrast, efficacy of i.v. vaccination with either rSalmonella strain did not significantly differ. Therefore, rSalmonella strains secreting biologically active Hly represent valuable delivery systems for heterologous rAg or DNA which should be exploited for future mucosal vaccination strategies.

Salmonella vaccines secreting measles virus epitopes induce protective immune responses against measles virus encephalitis

In the present study we describe a live vaccine against measles virus (MV) infection on the basis of attenuated Salmonella typhimurium aroA secreting MV antigens via the Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin secretion system. Two well-characterized MV epitopes, a B-cell epitope of the MV fusion protein (amino acids 404-414) and a T-cell epitope of the MV nucleocapsid protein (amino acids 79-99) were fused as single or repeating units to the C-terminal secretion signal of the E. coli hemolysin and expressed in secreted form by the attenuated S. typhimurium aroA SL7207. Immunization of MV-susceptible C3H mice revealed that S. typhimurium SL7207 secreting these antigens provoked a humoral and a cellular MV-specific immune response, respectively. Mice vaccinated orally with a combination of both recombinant S. typhimurium strains showed partial protection against a lethal MV encephalitis after intracerebral challenge with a rodent-adapted, neurotropic MV strain.

Construction and immunogenicity in mice of attenuated Salmonella typhi expressing Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) fused to tetanus toxin fragment C

One strategy to develop a multi-antigen malaria vaccine is to employ live vectors to carry putative protective Plasmodium falciparum antigens to the immune system. The 19 kDa carboxyl terminus of P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1), which is essential for erythrocyte invasion and is a leading antigen for inclusion in a multivalent malaria vaccine, was genetically fused to fragment C of tetanus toxin and expressed within attenuated Salmonella typhi CVD 908. Under conditions in the bacterial cytoplasm, the fragment C-MSP-1 fusion did not form the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains of MSP-1; monoclonal antibodies failed to recognize these conformational domains in immunoblots of non-denatured protein extracted from live vector sonicates. The MSP-1 was nevertheless immunogenic. One month following intranasal immunization of BALB/c mice with the live vector construct, four out of five mice exhibited > or =four-fold rises in anti-MSP-1 by ELISA (GMT=211); a single intranasal booster raised titers further (GMT=1280). Post-immunization sera recognized native MSP-1 on merozoites as determined by indirect immunofluorescence. These data encourage efforts to optimize MSP-1 expression in S. typhi (e.g. as a secreted protein), so that the EGF-like epitopes, presumably necessary for stimulating protective antibodies, can form.

Delivery of protein antigens and DNA by virulence-attenuated strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes

Two different plasmid-vector systems were developed which allow the efficient production and presentation of protein antigens in antigen-presenting cells (APC) by means of virulence-attenuated bacteria. The first antigen-delivery system is based on the secretion machinery of the Escherichia coli hemolysin (HlyA-type I secretion system), which transports proteins, possessing the specific HlyA secretion signal (HlyA(s)) at the C-terminus, across both membranes of gram-negative bacteria. This system functions in all gram-negative bacteria that possess the TolC-analogous protein in the outer membrane. This outer membrane protein is necessary for the stable anchoring of the type I secretion apparatus in the cell envelope. Suitable HlyA(s)-fused antigens are secreted with high efficiency by E. coli and by virulence-attenuated strains of Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae and Yersinia enterocolitica. The other vector system expresses the heterologous antigen under the control of an eukaryotic promoter in a similar fashion as in plasmids commonly used for vaccination with naked DNA. This plasmid DNA is introduced into APCs with the help of virulence-attenuated self-destructing Listeria monocytogenes mutants. After synthesis of the heterologous protein, epitopes of the antigen are presented by the APC together with MHC class I molecules. This system functions in macrophages and dendritic cells in vitro and can also be used in a modified form in animal models.