1
|
Tendler M, Almeida MS, Vilar MM, Pinto PM, Limaverde-Sousa G. Current Status of the Sm14/GLA-SE Schistosomiasis Vaccine: Overcoming Barriers and Paradigms towards the First Anti-Parasitic Human(itarian) Vaccine. Trop Med Infect Dis 2018; 3:tropicalmed3040121. [PMID: 30469320 PMCID: PMC6306874 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed3040121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a disease historically associated with poverty, lack of sanitation and social inequality, is a chronic, debilitating parasitic infection, affecting hundreds of millions of people in endemic countries. Although chemotherapy is capable of reducing morbidity in humans, rapid re-infection demonstrates that the impact of drug treatment on transmission control or disease elimination is marginal. In addition, despite more than two decades of well-executed control activities based on large-scale chemotherapy, the disease is expanding in many areas including Brazil. The development of the Sm14/GLA-SE schistosomiasis vaccine is an emblematic, open knowledge innovation that has successfully completed phase I and phase IIa clinical trials, with Phase II/III trials underway in the African continent, to be followed by further trials in Brazil. The discovery and experimental phases of the development of this vaccine gathered a robust collection of data that strongly supports the ongoing clinical phase. This paper reviews the development of the Sm14 vaccine, formulated with glucopyranosyl lipid A (GLA-SE), from the initial experimental developments to clinical trials including the current status of phase II studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Tendler
- FIOCRUZ-Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Esquistossomose Experimental, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Marília S Almeida
- FIOCRUZ-Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Esquistossomose Experimental, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Monica M Vilar
- FIOCRUZ-Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Esquistossomose Experimental, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Patrícia M Pinto
- FIOCRUZ-Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Esquistossomose Experimental, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Gabriel Limaverde-Sousa
- FIOCRUZ-Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Esquistossomose Experimental, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Domingos RF, Fernandes LG, Romero EC, de Morais ZM, Vasconcellos SA, Nascimento ALTO. Novel Leptospira interrogans protein Lsa32 is expressed during infection and binds laminin and plasminogen. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2015; 161:851-64. [PMID: 25627443 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira is the aetiological agent of leptospirosis, a life-threatening disease of human and veterinary concern. The quest for novel antigens that could mediate host-pathogen interactions is being pursued. Owing to their location, these antigens have the potential to elicit numerous activities, including immune response and adhesion. This study focuses on a hypothetical protein of Leptospira, encoded by the gene LIC11089, and its three derived fragments: the N-terminal, intermediate and C terminus regions. The gene coding for the full-length protein and fragments was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(SI) strain by using the expression vector pAE. The recombinant protein and fragments tagged with hexahistidine at the N terminus were purified by metal affinity chromatography. The leptospiral full-length protein, named Lsa32 (leptospiral surface adhesin, 32 kDa), adheres to laminin, with the C terminus region being responsible for this interaction. Lsa32 binds to plasminogen in a dose-dependent fashion, generating plasmin when an activator is provided. Moreover, antibodies present in leptospirosis serum samples were able to recognize Lsa32. Lsa32 is most likely a new surface protein of Leptospira, as revealed by proteinase K susceptibility. Altogether, our data suggest that this multifaceted protein is expressed during infection and may play a role in host-L. interrogans interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renan F Domingos
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Programa Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luis G Fernandes
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Programa Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliete C Romero
- Divisão de Biologia Medica, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Zenaide M de Morais
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Professor Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvio A Vasconcellos
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Professor Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana L T O Nascimento
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Programa Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lsa30, a novel adhesin of Leptospira interrogans binds human plasminogen and the complement regulator C4bp. Microb Pathog 2012; 53:125-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2012.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Revised: 06/13/2012] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
4
|
Vieira ML, de Morais ZM, Gonçales AP, Romero EC, Vasconcellos SA, Nascimento AL. Lsa63, a newly identified surface protein of Leptospira interrogans binds laminin and collagen IV. J Infect 2010; 60:52-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2009.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2009] [Revised: 10/13/2009] [Accepted: 10/19/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
5
|
Longhi MT, Oliveira TR, Romero EC, Gonçales AP, de Morais ZM, Vasconcellos SA, Nascimento ALTO. A newly identified protein of Leptospira interrogans mediates binding to laminin. J Med Microbiol 2009; 58:1275-1282. [PMID: 19541787 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.011916-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic Leptospira is the aetiological agent of leptospirosis, a life-threatening disease that affects populations worldwide. The search for novel antigens that could be relevant in host-pathogen interactions is being pursued. These antigens have the potential to elicit several activities, including adhesion. This study focused on a hypothetical predicted lipoprotein of Leptospira, encoded by the gene LIC12895, thought to mediate attachment to extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 Star (DE3)pLys by using the expression vector pAE. The recombinant protein tagged with N-terminal hexahistidine was purified by metal-charged chromatography and characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The capacity of the protein to mediate attachment to ECM components was evaluated by binding assays. The leptospiral protein encoded by LIC12895, named Lsa27 (leptospiral surface adhesin, 27 kDa), bound strongly to laminin in a dose-dependent and saturable fashion. Moreover, Lsa27 was recognized by antibodies from serum samples of confirmed leptospirosis specimens in both the initial and the convalescent phases of the disease. Lsa27 is most likely a surface protein of Leptospira as revealed in liquid-phase immunofluorescence assays with living organisms. Taken together, these data indicate that this newly identified membrane protein is expressed during natural infection and may play a role in mediating adhesion of L. interrogans to its host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana T Longhi
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Tatiane R Oliveira
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliete C Romero
- Divisão de Biologia Medica, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Amane P Gonçales
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Zenaide M de Morais
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvio A Vasconcellos
- Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas do VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, USP, Avenida Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana L T O Nascimento
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, USP, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes 1730, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ramos CRR, Spisni A, Oyama S, Sforça ML, Ramos HR, Vilar MM, Alves AC, Figueredo RCR, Tendler M, Zanchin NIT, Pertinhez TA, Ho PL. Stability improvement of the fatty acid binding protein Sm14 from S. mansoni by Cys replacement: structural and functional characterization of a vaccine candidate. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2008; 1794:655-62. [PMID: 19150418 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2008.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2008] [Revised: 11/21/2008] [Accepted: 12/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Schistosoma mansoni fatty acid binding protein (FABP), Sm14, is a vaccine candidate against, S. mansoni and F. hepatica. Previously, we demonstrated the importance of a correct fold to achieve protection in immunized animals after cercariae challenge [[10]. C.R.R. Ramos, R.C.R. Figueredo, T.A. Pertinhez, M.M. Vilar, A.L.T.O. Nascimento, M. Tendler, I. Raw, A. Spisni, P.L. Ho, Gene structure and M20T polymorphism of the Schistosoma mansoni Sm14 fatty acid-binding protein: structural, functional and immunoprotection analysis. J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 12745-12751.]. Here we show that the reduction of vaccine efficacy over time is due to protein dimerization and subsequent aggregation. We produced the mutants Sm14-M20(C62S) and Sm14-M20(C62V) that, as expected, did not dimerize in SDS-PAGE. Molecular dynamics calculations and unfolding experiments highlighted a higher structural stability of these mutants with respect to the wild-type. In addition, we found that the mutated proteins, after thermal denaturation, refolded to their active native molecular architecture as proved by the recovery of the fatty acid binding ability. Sm14-M20(C62V) turned out to be the more stable form over time, providing the basis to determine the first 3D solution structure of a Sm14 protein in its apo-form. Overall, Sm14-M20(C62V) possesses an improved structural stability over time, an essential feature to preserve its immunization capability and, in experimentally immunized animals, it exhibits a protection effect against S. mansoni cercariae infections comparable to the one obtained with the wild-type protein. These facts indicate this protein as a good lead molecule for large-scale production and for developing an effective Sm14 based anti-helminthes vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celso R R Ramos
- Biotechnology Center, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Evaluation of leptospiral recombinant antigens MPL17 and MPL21 for serological diagnosis of leptospirosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2008; 15:1715-22. [PMID: 18799647 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00214-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of multisystem involvement caused by pathogenic strains of the genus Leptospira. In the last few years, intensive studies aimed at the development of a vaccine have provided important knowledge about the nature of the immunological mechanisms of the host. The purpose of this study was to analyze the immune responses to two recombinant proteins, MPL17 and MPL21 (encoded by the genes LIC10765 and LIC13131, respectively) of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni in individuals during infection. The recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli as six-His tag fusion proteins and were purified from the soluble bacterial fraction by affinity chromatography with Ni(2+)-charged resin. The recombinant proteins were used to evaluate their ability to bind to immunoglobulin G (IgG) (and IgG subclass) or IgM antibodies in serum samples from patients in the early and convalescent phases of leptospirosis (n = 52) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The prevalences of total IgG antibodies against MPL17 and MPL21 were 38.5% and 21.2%, respectively. The titers achieved with MPL17 were statistically significantly higher than those obtained by the reference microscopic agglutination test. The specificity of the assay was estimated to be 95.5% for MPL17 and 80.6% for MPL21 when serum samples from individuals with unrelated febrile diseases and control healthy donors were tested. The proteins are conserved among Leptospira strains that cause human and animal diseases. MPL17 and MPL21 are most likely new surface proteins of leptospires, as revealed by liquid-phase immunofluorescence assays with living organisms. Our results demonstrate that these recombinant proteins are highly immunogenic and, when they are used together, might be useful as a means of diagnosing leptospirosis.
Collapse
|
8
|
Cozzini P, Kellogg GE, Spyrakis F, Abraham DJ, Costantino G, Emerson A, Fanelli F, Gohlke H, Kuhn LA, Morris GM, Orozco M, Pertinhez TA, Rizzi M, Sotriffer CA. Target flexibility: an emerging consideration in drug discovery and design. J Med Chem 2008; 51:6237-55. [PMID: 18785728 DOI: 10.1021/jm800562d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Cozzini
- Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Parma, Via G.P. Usberti 17/A 43100, Parma,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gómez RM, Vieira ML, Schattner M, Malaver E, Watanabe MM, Barbosa AS, Abreu PAE, de Morais ZM, Cifuente JO, Atzingen MV, Oliveira TR, Vasconcellos SA, Nascimento ALTO. Putative outer membrane proteins of Leptospira interrogans stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECS) and express during infection. Microb Pathog 2008; 45:315-22. [PMID: 18778767 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2008.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2008] [Revised: 07/04/2008] [Accepted: 08/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are surface receptors present in eukaryotic cells that mediate cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Vascular endothelium stimulation in vitro that lead to the upregulation of CAMs was reported for the pathogenic spirochaetes, including rLIC10365 of Leptospira interrogans. In this study, we report the cloning of LIC10507, LIC10508, LIC10509 genes of L. interrogans using Escherichia coli as a host system. The rational for selecting these sequences is due to their location in L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni genome that has a potential involvement in pathogenesis. The genes encode for predicted lipoproteins with no assigned functions. The purified recombinant proteins were capable to promote the upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin on monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECS). In addition, the coding sequences are expressed in the renal tubules of animal during bacterial experimental infection. The proteins are probably located at the outer membrane of the bacteria since they are detected in detergent-phase of L. interrogans Triton X-114 extract. Altogether our data suggest a possible involvement of these proteins during bacterial infection and provide new insights into the role of this region in the pathogenesis of Leptospira.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo M Gómez
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, CCT-La Plata, CONICET-UNLP, La Plata, Argentina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Neves FO, Abreu PAE, Vasconcellos SA, de Morais ZM, Romero EC, Nascimento ALTO. Identification of a novel potential antigen for early-phase serodiagnosis of leptospirosis. Arch Microbiol 2007; 188:523-32. [PMID: 17609931 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-007-0273-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2007] [Revised: 05/23/2007] [Accepted: 06/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study examined four genes encoding for predicted membrane proteins selected from the genome sequences of Leptospira interrogans. Genes were cloned and the proteins expressed in E. coli. Immunoblotting analysis of the recombinants with sera from early and convalescent phases of a leptospirosis patient showed that two proteins, namely Lp29 and Lp49, were reactive with serum from both phases of the illness. These data were further confirmed in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using sera from both phases of seventeen confirmed leptospirosis specimens, suggesting that these proteins are presented to the host immune system during infection. In the early phase, anti-Lp29 IgM was detected in all sera when microscopic agglutination tests (MAT), the reference method for diagnosis of leptospirosis, were negative. The gene encoding Lp49 is conserved among five tested leptospiral pathogenic serovars, while Lp29 is present in serovars that are predominant in urban settings. These recombinant antigens might be valuable for serodiagnosis of both phases of leptospirosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda O Neves
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|