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Adhikari EH. Update on syphilis in pregnancy: marrying basic science advances and clinical perseverance to solve an ancient public health problem. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2024; 36:67-74. [PMID: 38205786 DOI: 10.1097/gco.0000000000000939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW While the clinical disease of syphilis, its consequences in pregnancy, and its sensitivity to penicillin treatment have remained relatively unchanged for a century or more, new technologies and basic discoveries in syphilis research have translated into tangible advances in clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The purpose of this review is to help the reader understand some of the recent relevant scientific publications on syphilis and its causative organism in a clinical obstetric context. RECENT FINDINGS Rates of adult and congenital syphilis have risen dramatically in the last decade despite public health efforts. Penicillin shortages and lack of screening or adequate treatment have all contributed to global disease burden. Advances in genomic and microbiological characterization of this spirochete have led to new developments in serologic and molecular diagnosis as well as evaluation of potential vaccine candidates. Until a syphilis vaccine is available, substance use disorders and lack of screening in pregnancy are associated with increased congenital syphilis, and these challenges will require novel solutions to fully address this public health crisis. SUMMARY Addressing the burden of congenital syphilis demands that obstetricians stay well informed of new tools and resources for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of syphilis now and in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H Adhikari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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2
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Abstract
Dermatologists are familiar with the classic aspects of syphilis. Our objective in this update is to display novel features of sexually acquired syphilis, its pathophysiology, natural history, atypical clinical variants, skin of color, clinical pearls, and prospects. Textbook knowledge, congenital syphilis, epidemiology, and historical data are excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Navarrete
- Department of Dermatology, Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile; Department of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic, Hospital Padre Hurtado, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Stephanie Saavedra-Portales
- Department of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Santiago, Chile
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3
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Wu S, Ye F, Wang Y, Li D. Neurosyphilis: insights into its pathogenesis, susceptibility, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Front Neurol 2024; 14:1340321. [PMID: 38274871 PMCID: PMC10808744 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1340321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Invasion of the central nervous system by Treponema pallidum can occur at any stage of syphilis. In the event that T. pallidum is not cleared promptly, certain individuals may experience progression to neurosyphilis, which manifests as cognitive and behavioral abnormalities, limb paralysis, and potentially fatal outcomes. Early identification or prevention of neurosyphilis is therefore crucial. The aim of this paper is to conduct a critical and narrative review of the latest information focusing exclusively to the pathogenesis and clinical management of neurosyphilis. Methodology To compile this review, we have conducted electronic literature searches from the PubMed database relating to neurosyphilis. Priority was given to studies published from the past 10 years (from 2013 to 2023) and other studies if they were of significant importance (from 1985 to 2012), including whole genome sequencing results, cell structure of T. pallidum, history of genotyping, and other related topics. These studies are classic or reflect a developmental process. Results Neurosyphilis has garnered global attention, yet susceptibility to and the pathogenesis of this condition remain under investigation. Cerebrospinal fluid examination plays an important role in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, but lacks the gold standard. Intravenous aqueous crystalline penicillin G continues to be the recommended therapeutic approach for neurosyphilis. Considering its sustained prominence, it is imperative to develop novel public health tactics in order to manage the resurgence of neurosyphilis. Conclusion This review gives an updated narrative description of neurosyphilis with special emphasis on its pathogenesis, susceptibility, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dongdong Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Xiong S, Liu Z, Zhang X, Huang S, Ding X, Zhou J, Yao J, Li W, Liu S, Zhao F. Resurgence of syphilis: focusing on emerging clinical strategies and preclinical models. J Transl Med 2023; 21:917. [PMID: 38105236 PMCID: PMC10726518 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04685-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum), has had a worldwide resurgence in recent years and remains a public health threat. As such, there has been a great deal of research into clinical strategies for the disease, including diagnostic biomarkers and possible strategies for treatment and prevention. Although serological testing remains the predominant laboratory diagnostic method for syphilis, it is worth noting that investigations pertaining to the DNA of T. pallidum, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), chemokines, and metabolites in peripheral blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and other bodily fluids have the potential to offer novel perspectives on the diagnosis of syphilis. In addition, the global spread of antibiotic resistance, such as macrolides and tetracyclines, has posed significant challenges for the treatment of syphilis. Fortunately, there is still no evidence of penicillin resistance. Hence, penicillin is the recommended course of treatment for syphilis, whereas doxycycline, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and amoxicillin are viable alternative options. In recent years, efforts to discover a vaccine for syphilis have been reignited with better knowledge of the repertoire of T. pallidum outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which are the most probable syphilis vaccine candidates. However, research on therapeutic interventions and vaccine development for human subjects is limited due to practical and ethical considerations. Thus, the preclinical model is ideal for conducting research, and it plays an important role in clinical transformation. Different preclinical models have recently emerged, such as in vitro culture and mouse models, which will lay a solid foundation for clinical treatment and prevention of syphilis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent syphilis tactics, including detection, drug resistance treatments, vaccine development, and preclinical models in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Xiong
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Zhaoping Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Shaobin Huang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xuan Ding
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Jiangchen Yao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Weiwei Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Shuangquan Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institution of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
| | - Feijun Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institution of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
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5
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Zhang X, Duan J, Wang Y, Xie B, Zhou J, Zhao S, Yin W, Liu P, Zhao F. Insight into the invasion process and immune-protective evaluation of Tp0971, a membrane lipoprotein from Treponema pallidum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0004723. [PMID: 37855609 PMCID: PMC10714829 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00047-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The past two decades have seen a worldwide resurgence in infections caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) subsp. pallidum, the syphilis spirochete. The well-recognized capacity of the syphilis spirochete for early dissemination and immune evasion has earned it the designation "the stealth pathogen." There are many hurdles to studying syphilis pathogenesis, most notably the difficulty of culturing and genetically manipulating T. pallidum, as well as the absence of an effective vaccine for T. pallidum prevention. T. pallidum infection in humans is a complex and lengthy process. In this study, we investigated the invasion process and the function of the infection-dependent antigen Tp0971 as an immunogen to inhibit the dissemination of T. pallidum in an animal infection model. This enables a better understanding of the specific pathogenic mechanism of this pathogen, syphilis pathogenesis, and vaccine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Zhang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Junxia Duan
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine Undergraduate, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Bibo Xie
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Sisi Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Weiguo Yin
- Laboratory Department, Qingyuan People’s Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Feijun Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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6
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Yang J, Zhang X, Dong J, Zhang Q, Sun E, Chen C, Miao Z, Zheng Y, Zhang N, Tao P. De novo identification of bacterial antigens of a clinical isolate by combining use of proteosurfaceomics, secretomics, and BacScan technologies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1274027. [PMID: 38098490 PMCID: PMC10720918 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1274027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Emerging infectious diseases pose a significant threat to both human and animal populations. Rapid de novo identification of protective antigens from a clinical isolate and development of an antigen-matched vaccine is a golden strategy to prevent the spread of emerging novel pathogens. Methods Here, we focused on Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, which poses a serious threat to the pig industry, and developed a general workflow by integrating proteosurfaceomics, secretomics, and BacScan technologies for the rapid de novo identification of bacterial protective proteins from a clinical isolate. Results As a proof of concept, we identified 3 novel protective proteins of A. pleuropneumoniae. Using the protective protein HBS1_14 and toxin proteins, we have developed a promising multivalent subunit vaccine against A. pleuropneumoniae. Discussion We believe that our strategy can be applied to any bacterial pathogen and has the potential to significantly accelerate the development of antigen-matched vaccines to prevent the spread of an emerging novel bacterial pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention & Control for African Swine Fever and Other Major Pig Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xueting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention & Control for African Swine Fever and Other Major Pig Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Junhua Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention & Control for African Swine Fever and Other Major Pig Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention & Control for African Swine Fever and Other Major Pig Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Erchao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention & Control for African Swine Fever and Other Major Pig Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Cen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention & Control for African Swine Fever and Other Major Pig Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhuangxia Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention & Control for African Swine Fever and Other Major Pig Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yifei Zheng
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Neixiang Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Neixiang Animal Health Supervision, Neixiang Animal Husbandry Bureau, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Pan Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention & Control for African Swine Fever and Other Major Pig Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Lab, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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7
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Jun T, Zhimin L, Xi D, Hua W, Huilong S, Jiaofeng P, Kang Z, Xie Q. Immunisation with the glycolytic enzyme enolase inhibits dissemination of Treponema pallidum in C57BL/6 mice. Microb Pathog 2023; 184:106374. [PMID: 37802159 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum), an obligate extracellular bacterium, is the causative agent of sexually transmitted bacterial diseases. In this study, the glycolytic enzyme enolase (Tp Eno) of T. pallidum were injected intramuscularly into C57BL/6 mice, resulting in higher levels of specific anti-Tp Eno antibodies and Tp Eno-specific splenocyte proliferation than those in the mice immunized with recombinant protein Tp Eno. Cytokine (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) analysis of splenocytes showed that the Tp Eno could slightly trigger the Th1-biased immune response. Furthermore, immunization of mice with Tp Eno elicited a significant production of IFN-γ by CD4+ T-cells in the spleen. Subsequently, mice were inoculated intradermally (between the scapulae), intraperitoneally, intrarectally and via the corpora cavernosa with 2.5 × 106 organisms per site (1 × 107 total organisms). The bacterial organ burden detected in the blood, spleen, liver, testes or brain of immunized mice suggested that Tp Eno enhances protective immunity to inhibit T. pallidum colonization in distal tissues. Therefore, Tp Eno vaccination enhances Tp Eno-specific immunogenicity and provides protection against T. pallidum dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tang Jun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hunan People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410000, HuNan, China
| | - Liu Zhimin
- Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital, Southern Medical University (Hengyang Central Hospital), 12# Yancheng Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Deng Xi
- Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital, Southern Medical University (Hengyang Central Hospital), 12# Yancheng Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Wu Hua
- Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital, Southern Medical University (Hengyang Central Hospital), 12# Yancheng Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Shen Huilong
- Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital, Southern Medical University (Hengyang Central Hospital), 12# Yancheng Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Peng Jiaofeng
- Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital, Southern Medical University (Hengyang Central Hospital), 12# Yancheng Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Zheng Kang
- Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital, Southern Medical University (Hengyang Central Hospital), 12# Yancheng Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
| | - Qinghua Xie
- The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, 410004, HuNan, China.
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8
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Houston S, Gomez A, Geppert A, Eshghi A, Smith DS, Waugh S, Hardie DB, Goodlett DR, Cameron CE. Deep proteome coverage advances knowledge of Treponema pallidum protein expression profiles during infection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18259. [PMID: 37880309 PMCID: PMC10600179 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45219-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive proteome-wide analysis of the syphilis spirochete, Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, is technically challenging due to high sample complexity, difficulties with obtaining sufficient quantities of bacteria for analysis, and the inherent fragility of the T. pallidum cell envelope which further complicates proteomic identification of rare T. pallidum outer membrane proteins (OMPs). The main aim of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of the T. pallidum global proteome expression profile under infection conditions. This will corroborate and extend genome annotations, identify protein modifications that are unable to be predicted at the genomic or transcriptomic levels, and provide a foundational knowledge of the T. pallidum protein expression repertoire. Here we describe the optimization of a T. pallidum-specific sample preparation workflow and mass spectrometry-based proteomics pipeline which allowed for the detection of 77% of the T. pallidum protein repertoire under infection conditions. When combined with prior studies, this brings the overall coverage of the T. pallidum proteome to almost 90%. These investigations identified 27 known/predicted OMPs, including potential vaccine candidates, and detected expression of 11 potential OMPs under infection conditions for the first time. The optimized pipeline provides a robust and reproducible workflow for investigating T. pallidum protein expression during infection. Importantly, the combined results provide the deepest coverage of the T. pallidum proteome to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Houston
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Alloysius Gomez
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Andrew Geppert
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Azad Eshghi
- University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Derek S Smith
- University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sean Waugh
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Darryl B Hardie
- University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - David R Goodlett
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Caroline E Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Aldrete S, Kroft SH, Romeis E, Lieberman NA, Greninger AL, Giacani L, Kron MA. Whole Genome Sequence of a Treponema pallidum Strain From a Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Fine Needle Aspirate of a Cervical Lymph Node. Sex Transm Dis 2023; 50:550-552. [PMID: 37165832 PMCID: PMC10524489 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT A patient with unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy suspicious for malignancy underwent a fine needle aspiration. Histology demonstrated mixed inflammatory infiltrates with abundant spirochetes. Sufficient spirochete DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue sections to obtain the near-complete genome sequence of a macrolide-resistant strain belonging to the SS14 omega strain of Treponema pallidum .
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Aldrete
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Steven H. Kroft
- Department of Pathology, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Emily Romeis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicole A.P. Lieberman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michael A. Kron
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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10
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Li S, Li W, Jin Y, Wu B, Wu Y. Advancements in the development of nucleic acid vaccines for syphilis prevention and control. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2234790. [PMID: 37538024 PMCID: PMC10405752 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2234790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis, a chronic systemic sexually transmitted disease, is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum). Currently, syphilis remains a widespread infectious disease with significant disease burden in many countries. Despite the absence of identified penicillin-resistant strains, challenges in syphilis treatment persist due to penicillin allergies, supply issues, and the emergence of macrolide-resistant strains. Vaccines represent the most cost-effective strategy to prevent and control the syphilis epidemic. In light of the ongoing global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, nucleic acid vaccines have gained prominence in the field of vaccine research and development, owing to their superior efficiency compared to traditional vaccines. This review summarizes the current state of the syphilis epidemic and the preliminary findings in T. pallidum nucleic acid vaccine research, discusses the challenges associated with the development of T. pallidum nucleic acid vaccines, and proposes strategies and measures for future T. pallidum vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Li
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Weiwei Li
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Yinqi Jin
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Bin Wu
- First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Yimou Wu
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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11
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Peeling RW, Mabey D, Chen XS, Garcia PJ. Syphilis. Lancet 2023; 402:336-346. [PMID: 37481272 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)02348-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Syphilis is a sexually and vertically transmitted bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Its prevalence is high in low-income and middle-income countries, and its incidence has increased in high-income countries in the last few decades among men who have sex with men. Syphilis is a major cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries. Clinical features include a primary chancre at the point of inoculation, followed weeks later by the rash of secondary syphilis, a latent period, and in some cases, involvement of the eyes, CNS, and cardiovascular systems. It is diagnosed serologically. A single intramuscular dose of long-acting benzathine penicillin is recommended for people who have had syphilis for less than 1 year and longer courses for people with late latent syphilis. Control strategies include screening and treatment of all pregnant women, and targeted interventions for groups at high risk. Vaccine development, research on antibiotic prophylaxis, and digital messaging as prevention strategies are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna W Peeling
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| | - David Mabey
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Xiang-Sheng Chen
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China; National Center for STD Control, Nanjing, China; Center for Global Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Patricia J Garcia
- School of Public Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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12
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Huang J, Jiang Y, Lin W, Chen R, Zhou J, Guo S, Zhao M, Xie Q, Chen X, Zhao M, Zhao Z, Yang B, Zheng J, Liao Y. Virulence and Adhesion of the Treponema pallidum Nichols Strain Simultaneously Decrease in a Continuous-Infection New Zealand White Rabbit Model. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1221-1231. [PMID: 37192527 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by T. pallidum, and the T. pallidum Nichols strain is widely used with the New Zealand white rabbit model for evaluating drug and vaccine protection. However, changes in the virulence of T. pallidum during transmission are still unknown. Herein, we explored the virulence of T. pallidum in the rabbit model of continuous infection through phenotype observation and further investigated the relationship between virulence and adhesion. During the construction of the syphilis rabbit model, the optimal dose of 104/site of T. pallidum was determined to effectively observe the depiction of syphilis lesions and immune responses for further virulence evaluation. Its virulence was gradually weakened during the interaction with host cells or the testicular passage, which was also proven using the pathological phenotype of the syphilis rabbit model. In addition, the adhesive ability of T. pallidum was reduced with increasing generation, which was verified via the co-incubation of the pathogen with Sf1Ep cells. This study provides insight into the relationship by which the virulence and adhesion of T. pallidum were decreased in a New Zealand white rabbit model of continuous infection and contributes to our knowledge regarding the development of syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Huang
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Yinbo Jiang
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Weiqiang Lin
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Rongyi Chen
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Jiajian Zhou
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Guo
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Minghai Zhao
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Qiulin Xie
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, P. R. China
| | - Meijiao Zhao
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Materials Interfaces Center, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Bin Yang
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Judun Zheng
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
| | - Yuhui Liao
- Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment Center for Infectious Diseases, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, P. R. China
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, P. R. China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, P. R. China
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13
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Ávila-Nieto C, Pedreño-López N, Mitjà O, Clotet B, Blanco J, Carrillo J. Syphilis vaccine: challenges, controversies and opportunities. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1126170. [PMID: 37090699 PMCID: PMC10118025 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1126170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis is a sexually or vertically (mother to fetus) transmitted disease caused by the infection of Treponema pallidum subspecie pallidum (TPA). The incidence of syphilis has increased over the past years despite the fact that this bacterium is an obligate human pathogen, the infection route is well known, and the disease can be successfully treated with penicillin. As complementary measures to preventive campaigns and early treatment of infected individuals, development of a syphilis vaccine may be crucial for controlling disease spread and/or severity, particularly in countries where the effectiveness of the aforementioned measures is limited. In the last century, several vaccine prototypes have been tested in preclinical studies, mainly in rabbits. While none of them provided protection against infection, some prototypes prevented bacteria from disseminating to distal organs, attenuated lesion development, and accelerated their healing. In spite of these promising results, there is still some controversy regarding the identification of vaccine candidates and the characteristics of a syphilis-protective immune response. In this review, we describe what is known about TPA immune response, and the main mechanisms used by this pathogen to evade it. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of integrating this knowledge, in conjunction with the characterization of outer membrane proteins (OMPs), to expedite the development of a syphilis vaccine that can protect against TPA infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ávila-Nieto
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Oriol Mitjà
- Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections Department, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Spain
- Fight Infections Foundation, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC), Vic, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Bonaventura Clotet
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Fight Infections Foundation, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC), Vic, Catalonia, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salut Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Julià Blanco
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC), Vic, Catalonia, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salut Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Carrillo
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salut Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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14
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He Y, Chen D, Fu Y, Huo X, Zhao F, Yao L, Zhou X, Qi P, Yin H, Cao L, Ling H, Zeng T. Immunization with Tp0954, an adhesin of Treponema pallidum, provides protective efficacy in the rabbit model of experimental syphilis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1130593. [PMID: 36993963 PMCID: PMC10042077 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1130593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis, a chronic multisystemic disease caused by spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum infection, continues to be a serious global health problem and congenital syphilis remains a major cause of adverse outcomes in pregnancy in developing countries. The development of an effective vaccine is the most cost-effective way to eliminate syphilis, but so far has been elusive. Here, we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of Tp0954, a T. pallidum placental adhesin, as a potential vaccine candidate in a New Zealand White rabbit model of experimental syphilis. Animals immunized with recombinant Tp0954 (rTp0954) produced high titers of Tp0954-specific serum IgG, high levels of IFN-γ from splenocytes and specific splenocyte proliferation response when compared to control animals immunized with PBS and Freund’s adjuvant (FA). Furthermore, rTp0954 immunization significantly delayed the development of cutaneous lesions, promoted inflammatory cellular infiltration at the primary lesion sites, as well as inhibited T. pallidum dissemination to distal tissues or organs when compared with that of the control animals. In addition, the naïve rabbits receiving popliteal lymph nodes from Tp0954-immunized, T. pallidum-challenged animals were not infected by T. pallidum, confirming sterile immunity. These findings suggest that Tp0954 is a potential vaccine candidate against syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing He
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology and Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Dejun Chen
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology and Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yue Fu
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology and Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xinzhuo Huo
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology and Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Feijun Zhao
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology and Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Ling Yao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changsha Health Vocational College, Changsha, China
| | - Xiuping Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changsha Health Vocational College, Changsha, China
| | - Pengfei Qi
- Department of Clinical Medical undergraduates, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Haoquan Yin
- Department of Clinical Medical undergraduates, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Longgu Cao
- College of Medical Imaging and Inspection, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Hui Ling
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- *Correspondence: Tiebing Zeng, ; Hui Ling,
| | - Tiebing Zeng
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology and Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- *Correspondence: Tiebing Zeng, ; Hui Ling,
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15
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Kojima N, Konda KA, Klausner JD. Notes on syphilis vaccine development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:952284. [PMID: 35967432 PMCID: PMC9365935 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.952284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The quest for a syphilis vaccine to provide protection from infection or disease began not long after the isolation of the first Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum) strain in 1912. Yet, a practical and effective vaccine formulation continues to elude scientists. Over the last few years, however, efforts toward developing a syphilis vaccine have increased thanks to an improved understanding of the repertoire of T. pallidum outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which are the most likely syphilis vaccine candidates. More has been also learned about the molecular mechanisms behind pathogen persistence and immune evasion. Published vaccine formulations based on a subset of the pathogen's OMPs have conferred only partial protection upon challenge of immunized laboratory animals, primarily rabbits. Nonetheless, those experiments have improved our approach to the choice of immunization regimens, adjuvants, and vaccine target selection, although significant knowledge gaps remain. Herein, we provide a brief overview on current technologies and approaches employed in syphilis vaccinology, and possible future directions to develop a vaccine that could be pivotal to future syphilis control and elimination initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Kojima
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kelika A. Konda
- Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Centro de Investigación Interdisciplinaria en Sexualidad Sida y Sociedad, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jeffrey D. Klausner
- Departments of Medicine and Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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16
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Chen J, Huang J, Liu Z, Xie Y. Treponema pallidum outer membrane proteins: current status and prospects. Pathog Dis 2022; 80:6649208. [PMID: 35869970 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Treponema pallidum subsp. Pallidum (T. pallidum), the etiological agent of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis, has long been a hot research topic. Despite many hurdles to studying the pathogen, especially the inability to manipulate T. pallidum in vitro genetically1, considerable progress has been made in elucidating the structure, pathogenesis, and functions of T. pallidum OMPs. In this review, we integrate this information to garner fresh insights into the role of OMPs in the diagnosis, pathogenicity, and vaccine development of T. pallidum. Collectively, the essential scientific discussions herein should provide a framework for understanding the current status and prospects of T. pallidum OMPs.
Decades ago, researchers postulated that the poor surface antigenicity of T. pallidum is the basis for its ability to cause persistent infection. Still, they believed that the mysterious properties of T. pallidum should not be attributed to the presence of the outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Subsequent studies revealed that the OM, which lacks integral membrane proteins, prevents antibody binding2. Since the advent of recombinant DNA technology, the fragility of the OM, low protein content, and the lack of sequence relatedness between T. pallidum and Gram-negative OMPs have complicated efforts to characterize molecules residing at the host-pathogen interface. These hurdles have been overcome by using the genomic sequence with computational tools to identify proteins predicted to form beta barrels, the hallmark conformation of OMPs in many organisms. Diverse methodologies have also confirmed that some candidate OMPs from amphiphilic β-barrels are surface-exposed in T. pallidum. These studies have led to a structural homology model for BamA and established the bipartite topology of the T. pallidum repeat (Tpr) family of proteins. Recent bioinformatics has identified several structural orthologs for well-characterized Gram-negative OMPs, suggesting that the T. pallidum OMPs are more Gram-negative-like than previously supposed. Lipoprotein adhesins and proteases on the spirochete surface also may contribute to disease pathogenesis and protective immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlin Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China , Hengyang 421001 , China
| | - Jielite Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China , Hengyang 421001 , China
| | - Zhuoran Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China , Hengyang 421001 , China
| | - Yafeng Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China , Hengyang 421001 , China
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17
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Gomes LGR, Rodrigues TCV, Jaiswal AK, Santos RG, Kato RB, Barh D, Alzahrani KJ, Banjer HJ, Soares SDC, Azevedo V, Tiwari S. In Silico Designed Multi-Epitope Immunogen “Tpme-VAC/LGCM-2022” May Induce Both Cellular and Humoral Immunity against Treponema pallidum Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10071019. [PMID: 35891183 PMCID: PMC9320004 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10071019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, has seen a resurgence over the past years. T. pallidum is capable of early dissemination and immune evasion, and the disease continues to be a global healthcare burden. The purpose of this study was to design a multi-epitope immunogen through an immunoinformatics-based approach. Multi-epitope immunogens constitute carefully selected epitopes belonging to conserved and essential bacterial proteins. Several physico-chemical characteristics, such as antigenicity, allergenicity, and stability, were determined. Further, molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed, ensuring binding affinity and stability between the immunogen and TLR-2. An in silico cloning was performed using the pET-28a(+) vector and codon adaptation for E. coli. Finally, an in silico immune simulation was performed. The in silico predictions obtained in this work indicate that this construct would be capable of inducing the requisite immune response to elicit protection against T. pallidum. Through this methodology we have designed a promising potential vaccine candidate for syphilis, namely Tpme-VAC/LGCM-2022. However, it is necessary to validate these findings in in vitro and in vivo assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gabriel Rodrigues Gomes
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), PG Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (L.G.R.G.); (T.C.V.R.); (A.K.J.); (R.G.S.); (R.B.K.); (D.B.)
| | - Thaís Cristina Vilela Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), PG Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (L.G.R.G.); (T.C.V.R.); (A.K.J.); (R.G.S.); (R.B.K.); (D.B.)
| | - Arun Kumar Jaiswal
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), PG Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (L.G.R.G.); (T.C.V.R.); (A.K.J.); (R.G.S.); (R.B.K.); (D.B.)
| | - Roselane Gonçalves Santos
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), PG Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (L.G.R.G.); (T.C.V.R.); (A.K.J.); (R.G.S.); (R.B.K.); (D.B.)
| | - Rodrigo Bentes Kato
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), PG Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (L.G.R.G.); (T.C.V.R.); (A.K.J.); (R.G.S.); (R.B.K.); (D.B.)
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), PG Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (L.G.R.G.); (T.C.V.R.); (A.K.J.); (R.G.S.); (R.B.K.); (D.B.)
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur 721172, West Bengal, India
| | - Khalid J. Alzahrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (K.J.A.); (H.J.B.)
| | - Hamsa Jameel Banjer
- Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (K.J.A.); (H.J.B.)
| | - Siomar de Castro Soares
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba 38025-180, Brazil;
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), PG Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (L.G.R.G.); (T.C.V.R.); (A.K.J.); (R.G.S.); (R.B.K.); (D.B.)
- Correspondence: (V.A.); (S.T.)
| | - Sandeep Tiwari
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics (LGCM), PG Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (L.G.R.G.); (T.C.V.R.); (A.K.J.); (R.G.S.); (R.B.K.); (D.B.)
- Correspondence: (V.A.); (S.T.)
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18
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Fatima F, Kumar S, Das A. Vaccines against sexually transmitted infections: an update. Clin Exp Dermatol 2022; 47:1454-1463. [DOI: 10.1111/ced.15223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Farhat Fatima
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy; Medical College & Hospital Kolkata India
| | - Satarupa Kumar
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy; Medical College & Hospital Kolkata India
| | - Anupam Das
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy; KPC Medical College & Hospital Kolkata India
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19
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Treponema pallidum Tp0751 alters the expression of tight junction proteins by promoting bEnd3 cell apoptosis and IL-6 secretion. Int J Med Microbiol 2022; 312:151553. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2022.151553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
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20
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Xu M, Xie Y, Zheng K, Luo H, Tan M, Zhao F, Zeng T, Wu Y. Two Potential Syphilis Vaccine Candidates Inhibit Dissemination of Treponema pallidum. Front Immunol 2021; 12:759474. [PMID: 34899710 PMCID: PMC8657604 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.759474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, continues to be a major public health problem worldwide. Recent increases in the number of syphilis cases, in addition to the lack of an efficient vaccine against T. pallidum for humans, highlights an urgent need for the design and development of an efficacious syphilis vaccine. Here, we assess the vaccine potential of the adhesion protein Tp0136 and the outer membrane protein Tp0663. Rabbits were subcutaneously immunized with recombinant proteins Tp0136, Tp0663, or control PBS. Immunization with Tp0136 or Tp0663 generated a strong humoral immune response with high titers of IgG, as assessed by ELISA. Moreover, animals immunized with Tp0136 or Tp0663 exhibited attenuated lesion development, increased cellular infiltration at the lesion sites, and inhibition of treponemal dissemination to distant organs compared to the unimmunized animals. These findings indicate that Tp0136 and Tp0663 are promising syphilis vaccine candidates. Furthermore, these results provide novel and important information for not only understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of spirochetes, but also the development of spirochete-specific subunit vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Xu
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yafeng Xie
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Kang Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, China
| | - Haodang Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Manyi Tan
- Department of Toxicology, Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, China
| | - Feijun Zhao
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Tiebing Zeng
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yimou Wu
- Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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21
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Abisoye-Ogunniyan A, Carrano IM, Weilhammer DR, Gilmore SF, Fischer NO, Pal S, de la Maza LM, Coleman MA, Rasley A. A Survey of Preclinical Studies Evaluating Nanoparticle-Based Vaccines Against Non-Viral Sexually Transmitted Infections. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:768461. [PMID: 34899322 PMCID: PMC8662999 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.768461] [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: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A worldwide estimate of over one million STIs are acquired daily and there is a desperate need for effective preventive as well as therapeutic measures to curtail this global health burden. Vaccines have been the most effective means for the control and potential eradication of infectious diseases; however, the development of vaccines against STIs has been a daunting task requiring extensive research for the development of safe and efficacious formulations. Nanoparticle-based vaccines represent a promising platform as they offer benefits such as targeted antigen presentation and delivery, co-localized antigen-adjuvant combinations for enhanced immunogenicity, and can be designed to be biologically inert. Here we discuss promising types of nanoparticles along with outcomes from nanoparticle-based vaccine preclinical studies against non-viral STIs including chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and recommendations for future nanoparticle-based vaccines against STIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abisola Abisoye-Ogunniyan
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Isabella M Carrano
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Dina R Weilhammer
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Sean F Gilmore
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Nicholas O Fischer
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Matthew A Coleman
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Amy Rasley
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
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Priorities for sexually transmitted infection vaccine research and development: Results from a survey of global leaders and representatives. Vaccine X 2021; 8:100107. [PMID: 34401741 PMCID: PMC8356130 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2021.100107] [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: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine the sexually transmitted infection (STI) vaccine research priorities of global leaders in STI vaccine research, development, and service provision. Methods Global representatives attending the STI Vaccines: Opportunities for Research, Development, and Implementation symposium preceding the STI & HIV World Congress in 2019 were invited to complete an electronic survey. We asked participants to rank items by importance/priority for STI vaccine development for the following areas of focus: specific STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, and trichomoniasis), broad research domains (basic science, funding, communication, program planning, and vaccine hesitancy), and specific research activities related to these domains. We calculated weighted value scores based on the ranking (e.g., first, second, third) and the total number of responses in order to produce a ranked list of the priorities. Results A total of 46 out of 97 (44%) symposium attendees responded to the survey. Gonorrhea was identified as the STI that should be prioritized for vaccine development, followed by syphilis with weighted value scores of 3.82 and 3.37, respectively, out of a maximum of five. Basic science (and vaccine development) was the domain ranked with the highest priority with a weighted value score of 4.78 out of six. Research activities related to basic science and vaccine development (including pre-clinical and clinical trials, and surveillance measures) and increased funding opportunities were the most highly ranked activities in the “STI vaccine development” and “research domains and activities” categories. Conclusion Global leaders in attendance at the STI Vaccines symposium prioritized continued scientific work in vaccine development and program planning. Gonorrhea was identified as the highest priority infection, followed by syphilis.
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Lithgow KV, Tsao E, Schovanek E, Gomez A, Swayne LA, Cameron CE. Treponema pallidum Disrupts VE-Cadherin Intercellular Junctions and Traverses Endothelial Barriers Using a Cholesterol-Dependent Mechanism. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:691731. [PMID: 34354688 PMCID: PMC8329343 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.691731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, traverses the vascular endothelium to gain access to underlying tissue sites. Herein, we investigate the mechanisms associated with T. pallidum traversal of endothelial barriers. Immunofluorescence microscopy reveals that a subpopulation of T. pallidum localizes to intercellular junctions and that viable T. pallidum, as well as a T. pallidum vascular adhesin (Tp0751), disrupts the architecture of the main endothelial junctional protein VE-cadherin. Intriguingly, in this study we show that T. pallidum traverses endothelial barriers with no disruption in barrier permeability. Furthermore, barrier traversal by T. pallidum is reduced by pretreatment of endothelial cells with filipin, an inhibitor that blocks cholesterol-mediated endocytosis. Collectively, these results suggest that T. pallidum can use a cholesterol-dependent, lipid raft-mediated endocytosis mechanism to traverse endothelial barriers. Further, treponemal localization to, and disruption of, intercellular junctions suggests that a paracellular route may also be utilized, a dual traversal strategy that has also been observed to occur for leukocytes and other invasive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen V Lithgow
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Emily Tsao
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Ethan Schovanek
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Alloysius Gomez
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Leigh Anne Swayne
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Caroline E Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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24
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Ren M, Dashwood T, Walmsley S. The Intersection of HIV and Syphilis: Update on the Key Considerations in Testing and Management. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2021; 18:280-288. [PMID: 34091858 PMCID: PMC8180186 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-021-00564-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review To highlight recent trends in the epidemiology of HIV and syphilis, the impact of the COVID epidemic, our approach to care of co-infected patients, and our views on important next steps in advancing the field. Recent Findings HIV and syphilis co-infection has been on the rise in recent years although since the COVID pandemic there is a decrease in new diagnoses—it remains unclear if this represents a true decline or inadequate testing or under-reporting. Standard HIV care should include regular syphilis serology .Treatment and serological follow-up of syphilis in HIV positive and negative patients can be conducted similarly. Challenges remain in the diagnosis and management of neurosyphilis. New models for testing and prevention will be crucial next steps in controlling co-infection. Summary The intersection of HIV and syphilis infections continues to pose new and unique challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Ren
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas Dashwood
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sharon Walmsley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Room 13EN214, Toronto, ON, M5G2C4, Canada.
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25
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Facing increased sexually transmitted infection incidence in HIV preexposure prophylaxis cohorts: what are the underlying determinants and what can be done? Curr Opin Infect Dis 2021; 33:51-58. [PMID: 31789694 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The combined incidence of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis in MSM PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis) cohorts now frequently exceeds 100 per 100 person years. The efficacy of antiretroviral PrEP in reducing HIV transmission has led to efforts to find similar biomedical ways reduce sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence. We review the recent evidence for these and other strategies. RECENT FINDINGS Doxycycline PrEP/postexposure prophylaxis has been shown to reduce the incidence of syphilis and chlamydia but not gonorrhoea. A meningococcal vaccine has been found to result in a lower incidence of gonorrhoea. Novel insights into the role of the pharynx in the transmission of gonorrhoea have led to clinical trials of oral antiseptics to reduce the spread of gonorrhoea. Intensified STI screening has been introduced in a number of clinics. Serious concerns have however been raised about the emergence of resistance to each of these strategies. This is particularly true for doxycycline PrEP which is not advocated by any guidelines we reviewed. SUMMARY Randomized controlled trials are urgently required to ascertain the benefits and risks of interventions to reduce STIs in MSM PrEP cohorts.
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26
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Lu S, Zheng K, Wang J, Xu M, Xie Y, Yuan S, Wang C, Wu Y. Characterization of Treponema pallidum Dissemination in C57BL/6 Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 11:577129. [PMID: 33488577 PMCID: PMC7819853 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.577129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The spirochetal pathogen Treponema pallidum causes 5 million new cases of venereal syphilis worldwide each year. One major obstacle to syphilis prevention and treatment is the lack of suitable experimental animal models to study its pathogenesis. Accordingly, in this study, we further evaluated the responses of mice to Treponema pallidum. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that Treponema pallidum could colonize the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and testicles of C57BL/6 mice, and the organism may be able to rapidly penetrate the blood-brain barrier in mice by 24 h after infection. In subsequent rabbit infectivity tests, we observed evident signs of the microorganism in the mouse lymph node suspension. After infection, bacterial loads were higher in the tissues than in the blood of C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, a significant Th1 immune response was recorded by cytokine assays. Flow cytometric analysis suggested an obvious increase in the proportion of CD3+ T and CD4+ T cells in the spleen cells in the infected mice. Thus, improving our understanding of the response of C57BL/6 mice for Treponema pallidum will help to comprehensive elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of this bacterium and lay the foundation for the development of a new research model of Treponema pallidum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simin Lu
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Kang Zheng
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Jianye Wang
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Man Xu
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yafeng Xie
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yimou Wu
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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27
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Mubemba B, Gogarten JF, Schuenemann VJ, Düx A, Lang A, Nowak K, Pléh K, Reiter E, Ulrich M, Agbor A, Brazzola G, Deschner T, Dieguez P, Granjon AC, Jones S, Junker J, Wessling E, Arandjelovic M, Kuehl H, Wittig RM, Leendertz FH, Calvignac-Spencer S. Geographically structured genomic diversity of non-human primate-infecting Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue. Microb Genom 2020; 6:mgen000463. [PMID: 33125317 PMCID: PMC7725339 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Many non-human primate species in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, the bacterium causing yaws in humans. In humans, yaws is often characterized by lesions of the extremities and face, while T. pallidum subsp. pallidum causes venereal syphilis and is typically characterized by primary lesions on the genital, anal or oral mucosae. It remains unclear whether other T. pallidum subspecies found in humans also occur in non-human primates and how the genomic diversity of non-human primate T. pallidum subsp. pertenue lineages is distributed across hosts and space. We observed orofacial and genital lesions in sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire and collected swabs and biopsies from symptomatic animals. We also collected non-human primate bones from 8 species in Taï National Park and 16 species from 11 other sites across sub-Saharan Africa. Samples were screened for T. pallidum DNA using polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and we used in-solution hybridization capture to sequence T. pallidum genomes. We generated three nearly complete T. pallidum genomes from biopsies and swabs and detected treponemal DNA in bones of six non-human primate species in five countries, allowing us to reconstruct three partial genomes. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that both orofacial and genital lesions in sooty mangabeys from Taï National Park were caused by T. pallidum subsp. pertenue. We showed that T. pallidum subsp. pertenue has infected non-human primates in Taï National Park for at least 28 years and has been present in two non-human primate species that had not been described as T. pallidum subsp. pertenue hosts in this ecosystem, western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and western red colobus (Piliocolobus badius), complementing clinical evidence that started accumulating in Taï National Park in 2014. More broadly, simian T. pallidum subsp. pertenue strains did not form monophyletic clades based on host species or the symptoms caused, but rather clustered based on geography. Geographical clustering of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue genomes might be compatible with cross-species transmission of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue within ecosystems or environmental exposure, leading to the acquisition of closely related strains. Finally, we found no evidence for mutations that confer antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Mubemba
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Jan F. Gogarten
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
- Viral Evolution, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena J. Schuenemann
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ariane Düx
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Lang
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kathrin Nowak
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kamilla Pléh
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ella Reiter
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Markus Ulrich
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anthony Agbor
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gregory Brazzola
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paula Dieguez
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Sorrel Jones
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jessica Junker
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Erin Wessling
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mimi Arandjelovic
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hjalmar Kuehl
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roman M. Wittig
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Fabian H. Leendertz
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
- Viral Evolution, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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28
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Gao K, Xu DM, Lin XR, Zhu XZ, Zhang HL, Tong ML. Immunization with nontreponemal antigen alters the course of experimental syphilis in the rabbit model. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 89:107100. [PMID: 33091812 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The role of nontreponemal antibodies in the Treponema pallidum infection course is unclear. We investigated the effect of immunization with nontreponemal antigen on T. pallidum-challenged rabbits. Nontreponemal antigen was injected intravenously into rabbits in the nontreponemal group (n = 12) to elicit antibodies (≥1:64), and normal saline-injected rabbits were used as controls (n = 12). Then, rabbits were challenged with 106T. pallidum per site along their back. Lesion development was observed, and the injection sites were biopsied for mRNA analysis every week. Six rabbits from both groups were euthanized at 14 d and 28 d. The popliteal lymph nodes were extracted to assess infectivity using a rabbit infectivity test. The maximum lesion diameters were not different between the two groups (12.4 ± 0.9 mm in the nontreponemal group vs. 12.5 ± 1.0 mm in the control group, P = 0.386), but the time to maximum diameter appearance was delayed by approximately 4 d in the nontreponemal group (14.4 ± 1.6 d vs. 10.8 ± 1.9 d, P = 0.000). There were no significant differences in the proportions of lesions (58/60 (96.7%) vs. 59/60 (98.3%), P = 0.500) or ulcers (55/60 (91.7%) vs. 57/60 (95.0%), P = 0.359) between the two groups. An ulcer development delay of 5 d was observed in the nontreponemal group (19.3 ± 2.0 d vs. 14.0 ± 1.8 d, P = 0.000). IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNA expression in the nontreponemal group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 7 d and 14 d post-challenge. flaA mRNA expression and the rabbit infectivity test positive rate were not different between the two groups. Immunization with nontreponemal antigen altered the syphilis course in rabbits, resulting in delayed maximal lesion diameter and ulcer development, but it could not inhibit the spread of T. pallidum from primary lesion sites to viscera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Gao
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Dong-Mei Xu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiao-Rong Lin
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China.
| | - Xiao-Zhen Zhu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Hui-Lin Zhang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Man-Li Tong
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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Abstract
Despite a national plan to eliminate syphilis by 2005, recent trends have reversed previously achieved progress in the United States. After a nadir between 2000 and 2013, rates of primary and secondary syphilis among women and congenital syphilis rose by 172% and 185% between 2014 and 2018, respectively. Screening early in pregnancy, repeat screening in the third trimester and at delivery among women at high risk, adherence to recommended treatment regimens, and prompt reporting of newly diagnosed syphilis cases to local public health authorities are strategies that obstetrician-gynecologists can employ to fight the current epidemic. In this report, clinical manifestations and management of syphilis in pregnancy are reviewed, and both traditional and reverse sequence screening algorithms are reviewed in detail in the context of clinical obstetrics.
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30
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Luthra A, Montezuma-Rusca JM, La Vake CJ, LeDoyt M, Delgado KN, Davenport TC, Fiel-Gan M, Caimano MJ, Radolf JD, Hawley KL. Evidence that immunization with TP0751, a bipartite Treponema pallidum lipoprotein with an intrinsically disordered region and lipocalin fold, fails to protect in the rabbit model of experimental syphilis. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008871. [PMID: 32936831 PMCID: PMC7521688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Deconvolution of syphilis pathogenesis and selection of candidate syphilis vaccinogens requires detailed knowledge of the molecular architecture of the Treponema pallidum outer membrane (OM). The T. pallidum OM contains a low density of integral OM proteins, while the spirochete's many lipoprotein immunogens are periplasmic. TP0751, a lipoprotein with a lipocalin fold, is reportedly a surface-exposed protease/adhesin and protective antigen. The rapid expansion of calycin/lipocalin structures in the RCSB PDB database prompted a comprehensive reassessment of TP0751. Small angle X-ray scattering analysis of full-length protein revealed a bipartite topology consisting of an N-terminal, intrinsically disordered region (IDR) and the previously characterized C-terminal lipocalin domain. A DALI server query using the lipocalin domain yielded 97 hits, 52 belonging to the calycin superfamily, including 15 bacterial lipocalins, but no Gram-negative surface proteins. Surprisingly, Tpp17 (TP0435) was identified as a structural ortholog of TP0751. In silico docking predicted that TP0751 can bind diverse ligands along the rim of its eight-stranded β-barrel; high affinity binding of one predicted ligand, heme, to the lipocalin domain was demonstrated. qRT-PCR and immunoblotting revealed very low expression of TP0751 compared to other T. pallidum lipoproteins. Immunoblot analysis of immune rabbit serum failed to detect TP0751 antibodies, while only one of five patients with secondary syphilis mounted a discernible TP0751-specific antibody response. In opsonophagocytosis assays, neither TP0751 nor Tpp17 antibodies promoted uptake of T. pallidum by rabbit peritoneal macrophages. Rabbits immunized with intact, full-length TP0751 showed no protection against local or disseminated infection following intradermal challenge with T. pallidum. Our data argue that, like other lipoprotein lipocalins in dual-membrane bacteria, TP0751 is periplasmic and binds small molecules, and we propose that its IDR facilitates ligand binding by and offloading from the lipocalin domain. The inability of TP0751 to elicit opsonic or protective antibodies is consistent with a subsurface location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Luthra
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
| | - Jairo M. Montezuma-Rusca
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
| | - Carson J. La Vake
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
| | - Morgan LeDoyt
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
| | | | | | - Mary Fiel-Gan
- Department of Pathology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, United States of America
| | - Melissa J. Caimano
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
| | - Justin D. Radolf
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
| | - Kelly L. Hawley
- Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Connecticut Children’s, Hartford, United States of America
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Duan J, Zhao Y, Zhang X, Jiang H, Xie B, Zhao T, Zhao F. Research status and perspectives for pathogenic spirochete vaccines. Clin Chim Acta 2020; 507:117-124. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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32
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Osias E, Hung P, Giacani L, Stafylis C, Konda KA, Vargas SK, Reyes-Díaz EM, Comulada WS, Haake DA, Haynes AM, Caceres CF, Klausner JD. Investigation of syphilis immunology and Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum biology to improve clinical management and design a broadly protective vaccine: study protocol. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:444. [PMID: 32576149 PMCID: PMC7309211 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05141-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The syphilis epidemic continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, despite several recent disease control initiatives. Though our understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease and the biology of the syphilis agent, Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum has improved over the last two decades, further research is necessary to improve clinical diagnosis and disease management protocols. Additionally, such research efforts could contribute to the identification of possible targets for the development of an effective vaccine to stem syphilis spread. METHODS This study will recruit two cohorts of participants with active syphilis infection, one with de novo infection, one with repeat infection. Whole blood specimens will be collected from each study participant at baseline, 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks, to track specific markers of their immunological response, as well as to compare humoral reactivity to Treponema pallidum antigens between the two groups. Additionally, we will use serum specimens to look for unique cytokine patterns in participants with early syphilis. Oral and blood samples, as well as samples from any syphilitic lesions present, will also be collected to sequence any Treponema pallidum DNA found. DISCUSSION By furthering our understanding of syphilis pathogenesis and human host immune response to Treponema pallidum, we will provide important data that will help in development of new point-of-care tests that could better identify active infection, leading to improved syphilis diagnosis and management. Findings could also contribute to vaccine development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Osias
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Phoebe Hung
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chrysovalantis Stafylis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Kelika A Konda
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Silver K Vargas
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - E Michael Reyes-Díaz
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - W Scott Comulada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - David A Haake
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Austin M Haynes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Carlos F Caceres
- Unit of Health, Sexuality and Human Development and Laboratory of Sexual Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jeffrey D Klausner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Putative β-Barrel Outer Membrane Proteins of the Bovine Digital Dermatitis-Associated Treponemes: Identification, Functional Characterization, and Immunogenicity. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00050-20. [PMID: 32122940 PMCID: PMC7171239 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00050-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD), an infectious disease of the bovine foot with a predominant treponemal etiology, is a leading cause of lameness in dairy and beef herds worldwide. BDD is poorly responsive to antimicrobial therapy and exhibits a relapsing clinical course; an effective vaccine is therefore urgently sought. Using a reverse vaccinology approach, the present study surveyed the genomes of the three BDD-associated Treponema phylogroups for putative β-barrel outer membrane proteins and considered their potential as vaccine candidates. Selection criteria included the presence of a signal peptidase I cleavage site, a predicted β-barrel fold, and cross-phylogroup homology. Four candidate genes were overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), refolded, and purified. Consistent with their classification as β-barrel OMPs, circular-dichroism spectroscopy revealed the adoption of a predominantly β-sheet secondary structure. These recombinant proteins, when screened for their ability to adhere to immobilized extracellular matrix (ECM) components, exhibited a diverse range of ligand specificities. All four proteins specifically and dose dependently adhered to bovine fibrinogen. One recombinant protein was identified as a candidate diagnostic antigen (disease specificity, 75%). Finally, when adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide and administered to BDD-naive calves using a prime-boost vaccination protocol, these proteins were immunogenic, eliciting specific IgG antibodies. In summary, we present the description of four putative treponemal β-barrel OMPs that exhibit the characteristics of multispecific adhesins. The observed interactions with fibrinogen may be critical to host colonization and it is hypothesized that vaccination-induced antibody blockade of these interactions will impede treponemal virulence and thus be of therapeutic value.
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Identification of the Neuroinvasive Pathogen Host Target, LamR, as an Endothelial Receptor for the Treponema pallidum Adhesin Tp0751. mSphere 2020; 5:5/2/e00195-20. [PMID: 32238570 PMCID: PMC7113585 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00195-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum is the causative agent of syphilis, a human-specific sexually transmitted infection that causes a multistage disease with diverse clinical manifestations. Treponema pallidum undergoes rapid vascular dissemination to penetrate tissue, placental, and blood-brain barriers and gain access to distant tissue sites. The rapidity and extent of T. pallidum dissemination are well documented, but the molecular mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. One protein that has been shown to play a role in treponemal dissemination is Tp0751, a T. pallidum adhesin that interacts with host components found within the vasculature and mediates bacterial adherence to endothelial cells under shear flow conditions. In this study, we further explore the molecular interactions of Tp0751-mediated adhesion to the vascular endothelium. We demonstrate that recombinant Tp0751 adheres to human endothelial cells of macrovascular and microvascular origin, including a cerebral brain microvascular endothelial cell line. Adhesion assays using recombinant Tp0751 N-terminal truncations reveal that endothelial binding is localized to the lipocalin fold-containing domain of the protein. We also confirm this interaction using live T. pallidum and show that spirochete attachment to endothelial monolayers is disrupted by Tp0751-specific antiserum. Further, we identify the 67-kDa laminin receptor (LamR) as an endothelial receptor for Tp0751 using affinity chromatography, coimmunoprecipitation, and plate-based binding methodologies. Notably, LamR has been identified as a receptor for adhesion of other neurotropic invasive bacterial pathogens to brain endothelial cells, including Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, suggesting the existence of a common mechanism for extravasation of invasive extracellular bacterial pathogens.IMPORTANCE Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. The continued incidence of syphilis demonstrates that screening and treatment strategies are not sufficient to curb this infectious disease, and there is currently no vaccine available. Herein we demonstrate that the T. pallidum adhesin Tp0751 interacts with endothelial cells that line the lumen of human blood vessels through the 67-kDa laminin receptor (LamR). Importantly, LamR is also a receptor for meningitis-causing neuroinvasive bacterial pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae Our findings enhance understanding of the Tp0751 adhesin and present the intriguing possibility that the molecular events of Tp0751-mediated treponemal dissemination may mimic the endothelial interaction strategies of other invasive pathogens.
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Li QL, Tong ML, Liu LL, Lin LR, Lin Y, Yang TC. Effect of anti-TP0136 antibodies on the progression of lesions in an infected rabbit model. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 83:106428. [PMID: 32217461 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The effect of anti-TP0136 antibodies on the progression of syphilis is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of anti-TP0136 antibodies on the progression of lesions in an infected rabbit model. Intramuscular injection of rTP0136 into rabbits in the immunized group (n = 4) elicited high titers of anti-TP0136 antibodies, and rabbits were then challenged with 105T. pallidum per site along their back. Lesion development was observed, and the injection sites were biopsied for tp0574 mRNA and histological analyses every week until the wound healed. The rabbits in the control group were injected with normal saline instead of rTP0136. Viable T. pallidum in the challenged rabbits was assessed with rabbit infectivity tests. The lesions in the immunized group took longer to heal than those in the control group (42 d vs. 28 d, P < 0.001) and had markedly higher levels of total cellular infiltrates. The mRNA level of tp0574 in the immunized group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Viable T. pallidum was detected in rabbit lymph nodes in both the immunized and control groups. Our study showed that high titers of anti-TP0136 antibodies promoted the infiltration of inflammatory cells into local lesions and intensified tissue damage, thus delaying wound healing, and had no protective effect on the occurrence of syphilis in the rabbit model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Ling Li
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Man-Li Tong
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Li-Li Liu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Li-Rong Lin
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yu Lin
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Tian-Ci Yang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil G Ghanem
- From the Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore (K.G.G.); and the Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester (S.R., P.A.R.)
| | - Sanjay Ram
- From the Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore (K.G.G.); and the Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester (S.R., P.A.R.)
| | - Peter A Rice
- From the Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore (K.G.G.); and the Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester (S.R., P.A.R.)
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Pradhan M, Jain S. Syphilis in Pregnancy. JOURNAL OF FETAL MEDICINE 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40556-020-00242-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Pereira LE, Katz SS, Sun Y, Mills P, Taylor W, Atkins P, Thurlow CM, Chi KH, Danavall D, Cook N, Ahmed T, Debra A, Philip S, Cohen S, Workowski KA, Kersh E, Fakile Y, Chen CY, Pillay A. Successful isolation of Treponema pallidum strains from patients' cryopreserved ulcer exudate using the rabbit model. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227769. [PMID: 31929602 PMCID: PMC6957173 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical isolates of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum) would facilitate study of prevalent strains. We describe the first successful rabbit propagation of T. pallidum from cryopreserved ulcer specimens. Fresh ulcer exudates were collected and cryopreserved with consent from syphilis-diagnosed patients (N = 8). Each of eight age-matched adult male rabbits were later inoculated with a thawed specimen, with two rabbits receiving 1.3 ml intratesticularly (IT), and six receiving 0.6 ml intravenously (IV) and IT. Monitoring of serology, blood PCR and orchitis showed that T. pallidum grew in 2/8 rabbits that were inoculated IV and IT with either a penile primary lesion specimen (CDC-SF003) or a perianal secondary lesion specimen (CDC-SF007). Rabbit CDC-SF003 was seroreactive by T. pallidum Particle Agglutination (TP-PA) and Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) testing, PCR+, and showed orchitis by week 6. Euthanasia was performed in week 7, with treponemal growth in the testes confirmed and quantified by qPCR and darkfield microscopy (DF). Serial passage of the extract in a second age-matched rabbit also yielded treponemes. Similarly, rabbit CDC-SF007 showed negligible orchitis, but was seroreactive and PCR+ by week 4 and euthanized in week 6 to yield T. pallidum, which was further propagated by second passage. Using the 4-component molecular typing system for syphilis, 3 propagated strains (CDC-SF003, CDC-SF007, CDC-SF008) were typed as 14d9f, 14d9g, and 14d10c, respectively. All 3 isolates including strain CDC-SF011, which was not successfully propagated, had the A2058G mutation associated with azithromycin resistance. Our results show that immediate cryopreservation of syphilitic ulcer exudate can maintain T. pallidum viability for rabbit propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara E. Pereira
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Samantha S. Katz
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Yongcheng Sun
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Patrick Mills
- Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Willie Taylor
- Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Patricia Atkins
- Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA, United States of America
| | - Charles M. Thurlow
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America
| | - Kai-Hua Chi
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Damien Danavall
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Cook
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America
| | - Tamanna Ahmed
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America
| | - Alyssa Debra
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America
| | - Susan Philip
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Cohen
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Kimberly A. Workowski
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- Emory University Department of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Ellen Kersh
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Yetunde Fakile
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Cheng Y. Chen
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Allan Pillay
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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Jaiswal AK, Tiwari S, Jamal SB, de Castro Oliveira L, Alves LG, Azevedo V, Ghosh P, Oliveira CJF, Soares SC. The pan-genome of Treponema pallidum reveals differences in genome plasticity between subspecies related to venereal and non-venereal syphilis. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:33. [PMID: 31924165 PMCID: PMC6953169 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6430-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spirochetal organisms of the Treponema genus are responsible for causing Treponematoses. Pathogenic treponemes is a Gram-negative, motile, spirochete pathogen that causes syphilis in human. Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN) causes endemic syphilis (bejel); T. pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) causes venereal syphilis; T. pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) causes yaws; and T. pallidum subsp. Ccarateum causes pinta. Out of these four high morbidity diseases, venereal syphilis is mediated by sexual contact; the other three diseases are transmitted by close personal contact. The global distribution of syphilis is alarming and there is an increasing need of proper treatment and preventive measures. Unfortunately, effective measures are limited. RESULTS Here, the genome sequences of 53 T. pallidum strains isolated from different parts of the world and a diverse range of hosts were comparatively analysed using pan-genomic strategy. Phylogenomic, pan-genomic, core genomic and singleton analysis disclosed the close connection among all strains of the pathogen T. pallidum, its clonal behaviour and showed increases in the sizes of the pan-genome. Based on the genome plasticity analysis of the subsets containing the subspecies T pallidum subsp. pallidum, T. pallidum subsp. endemicum and T. pallidum subsp. pertenue, we found differences in the presence/absence of pathogenicity islands (PAIs) and genomic islands (GIs) on subsp.-based study. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we identified four pathogenicity islands (PAIs), eight genomic islands (GIs) in subsp. pallidum, whereas subsp. endemicum has three PAIs and seven GIs and subsp. pertenue harbours three PAIs and eight GIs. Concerning the presence of genes in PAIs and GIs, we found some genes related to lipid and amino acid biosynthesis that were only present in the subsp. of T. pallidum, compared to T. pallidum subsp. endemicum and T. pallidum subsp. pertenue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Kumar Jaiswal
- PG Program in Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.,Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Sandeep Tiwari
- PG Program in Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Syed Babar Jamal
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Abid Majeed Road, Rawalpindi, Punjab, 46000, Pakistan
| | - Letícia de Castro Oliveira
- PG Program in Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.,Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Leandro Gomes Alves
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- PG Program in Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Preetam Ghosh
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA-23284, USA
| | - Carlo Jose Freira Oliveira
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Siomar C Soares
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
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40
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Marchese V, Dal Zoppo S, Quaresima V, Rossi B, Matteelli A. Vaccines for STIs: Present and Future Directions. Sex Transm Infect 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-02200-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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41
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Fernandez MC, Giacani L. Molecular and Immunological Strategies Against Treponema pallidum Infections. Sex Transm Infect 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-02200-6_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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42
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Gao K, Shen X, Lin Y, Zhu XZ, Lin LR, Tong ML, Xiao Y, Zhang HL, Liang XM, Niu JJ, Liu LL, Yang TC. Origin of Nontreponemal Antibodies During Treponema pallidum Infection: Evidence From a Rabbit Model. J Infect Dis 2019; 218:835-843. [PMID: 29701849 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin of nontreponemal antibodies during syphilis infection is hotly debated. Here, we analyzed the immune response in rabbits immunized with various antigens. Inactivated treponemes elicited the production of low-titer nontreponemal antibodies in some rabbits. Cardiolipin combined with bovine serum albumin also induced anticardiolipin antibody production. These findings indicate that Treponema pallidum contained a cardiolipin antigen with weak immunogenicity. However, active T. pallidum induced higher nontreponemal antibody production with strong immunogenicity at an earlier time point, and the antibody titer was consecutive, suggesting the high nontreponemal antibody titer resulted from the combined effects of both the T. pallidum cardiolipin antigen and the damaged host-cell cardiolipin antigen during syphilis infection, the latter of which plays a major role in the induction of nontreponemal antibody production. Our study provides direct animal evidence of the origin of nontreponemal antibodies during T. pallidum infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Gao
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Xu Shen
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Fujian Medical University, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yong Lin
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Xiao-Zhen Zhu
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Li-Rong Lin
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Man-Li Tong
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Yao Xiao
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian Province, China
| | - Hui-Lin Zhang
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Xian-Ming Liang
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Jian-Jun Niu
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Li-Li Liu
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
| | - Tian-Ci Yang
- Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University.,Institute of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Xiamen University
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Bradshaw WJ, Bruxelle JF, Kovacs-Simon A, Harmer NJ, Janoir C, Péchiné S, Acharya KR, Michell SL. Molecular features of lipoprotein CD0873: A potential vaccine against the human pathogen Clostridioides difficile. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:15850-15861. [PMID: 31420448 PMCID: PMC6816091 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is the primary cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis, a healthcare-associated intestinal disease resulting in a significant fatality rate. Colonization of the gut is critical for C. difficile pathogenesis. The bacterial molecules essential for efficient colonization therefore offer great potential as vaccine candidates. Here we present findings demonstrating that the C. difficile immunogenic lipoprotein CD0873 plays a critical role in pathogen success in vivo. We found that in a dixenic colonization model, a CD0873-positive strain of C. difficile significantly outcompeted a CD0873-negative strain. Immunization of mice with recombinant CD0873 prevented long-term gut colonization and was correlated with a strong secretory IgA immune response. We further present high-resolution crystal structures of CD0873, at 1.35–2.50 Å resolutions, offering a first view of the ligand-binding pocket of CD0873 and provide evidence that this lipoprotein adhesin is part of a tyrosine import system, an amino acid key in C. difficile infection. These findings suggest that CD0873 could serve as an effective component in a vaccine against C. difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Bradshaw
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-François Bruxelle
- EA4043 Unité Bactéries Pathogènes et Santé (UBaPS), University Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
| | - Andrea Kovacs-Simon
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Harmer
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom.,Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Janoir
- EA4043 Unité Bactéries Pathogènes et Santé (UBaPS), University Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
| | - Severine Péchiné
- EA4043 Unité Bactéries Pathogènes et Santé (UBaPS), University Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
| | - K Ravi Acharya
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen L Michell
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
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Lin LR, Zhu XZ, Liu D, Liu LL, Tong ML, Yang TC. Are nontreponemal tests suitable for monitoring syphilis treatment efficacy? Evidence from rabbit infection models. Clin Microbiol Infect 2019; 26:240-246. [PMID: 31212076 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to characterize kinetics of non-treponamal antibody titres during the natural course of syphilis and explore their roles in monitoring syphilis treatment efficacy. METHODS Sixty New Zealand white male rabbits were challenged with Nichols or Amoy Treponema pallidum strains, and the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test was performed to quantify non-treponemal antibody titres during the infection course. Viable T. pallidum in the challenged rabbits was assessed with rabbit infectivity tests. RESULTS The RPR titres of the Nichols or Amoy strain between no benzathine penicillin G (BPG) and BPG treatment subgroups displayed a similar trend: first ascending and then descending. Compared with baseline, the proportions of fourfold decline in RPR titres in the Nichols or Amoy group presented a similar result on days 30, 60 and 180 between the no BPG and BPG treatment subgroups (0%, 0/5; 80%, 4/5; 100%, 5/5; vs. 0%, 0/5; 80%, 4/5; 100%, 5/5; p 0.999; 0%, 0/5; 80%, 4/5; 80%, 4/5; vs. 40%, 2/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5; p 0.098, respectively). Compared with the maximum baseline titre, the proportion of fourfold decline in PRR titre also showed a similar result in the two groups on days 30, 60 and 180 between the no BPG and the BPG treatment subgroups (0%, 0/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5, vs. 40%, 2/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5; p 0.129; 0%, 0/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5, vs. 80%, 4/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5; p 0.091, respectively. Moreover, regardless of whether the RPR titres presented a fourfold decline, viable T. pallidum could be detected in untreated rabbits' lymph nodes at 30, 60 and 180 days post infection, while viable T. pallidum was not detected in any of the treated rabbits' lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS The RPR titre increased and then decreased (even became negative) during the natural course of syphilis, similar to that seen after BPG treatment. The RPR tetre is thus a questionable indicator of syphilis treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- L-R Lin
- Centre of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - X-Z Zhu
- Centre of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - D Liu
- Centre of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - L-L Liu
- Centre of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - M-L Tong
- Centre of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - T-C Yang
- Centre of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Institute of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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Abstract
The outer membrane (OM) of Treponema pallidum, the uncultivatable agent of venereal syphilis, has long been the subject of misconceptions and controversy. Decades ago, researchers postulated that T. pallidum's poor surface antigenicity is the basis for its ability to cause persistent infection, but they mistakenly attributed this enigmatic property to the presence of a protective outer coat of serum proteins and mucopolysaccharides. Subsequent studies revealed that the OM is the barrier to antibody binding, that it contains a paucity of integral membrane proteins, and that the preponderance of the spirochete's immunogenic lipoproteins is periplasmic. Since the advent of recombinant DNA technology, the fragility of the OM, its low protein content, and the lack of sequence relatedness between T. pallidum and Gram-negative outer membrane proteins (OMPs) have complicated efforts to characterize molecules residing at the host-pathogen interface. We have overcome these hurdles using the genomic sequence in concert with computational tools to identify proteins predicted to form β-barrels, the hallmark conformation of OMPs in double-membrane organisms and evolutionarily related eukaryotic organelles. We also have employed diverse methodologies to confirm that some candidate OMPs do, in fact, form amphiphilic β-barrels and are surface-exposed in T. pallidum. These studies have led to a structural homology model for BamA and established the bipartite topology of the T. pallidum repeat (Tpr) family of proteins. Recent bioinformatics has identified several structural orthologs for well-characterized Gram-negative OMPs, suggesting that the T. pallidum OMP repertoire is more Gram-negative-like than previously supposed. Lipoprotein adhesins and proteases on the spirochete surface also may contribute to disease pathogenesis and protective immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Radolf
- Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030-3715, USA.
| | - Sanjiv Kumar
- Department of Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030-3715, USA
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Zhou C, Zhang X, Zhang W, Duan J, Zhao F. PCR detection for syphilis diagnosis: Status and prospects. J Clin Lab Anal 2019; 33:e22890. [PMID: 30938474 PMCID: PMC6595358 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.22890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Syphilis, a re‐emerging public health problem worldwide caused by Treponema pallidum subsp pallidum (T. pallidum), usually induces systemic and chronic inflammation in hosts who do not receive timely therapy after exposing to high‐risk factors such as leprous sexual contact. Before the treatment, rapid and accurate detection of syphilis is essential. However, the existing detection methods, which focus on the treponemal or non‐treponemal antibody test, both have inherent limitations. For instance, both of them cannot distinguish the stage and severity of syphilis. Non‐treponemal test such as RPR, which is generally deemed to be used for assessing treatment response, is influenced by biological false positives. Therefore, it is imperative to seek out a new and effective diagnostic test. With recent advancements in molecular biology and whole‐genome sequencing, the molecular diagnosis has increased in popularity, especially the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Here, we firstly present a mini‐review on the research of PCR detection methods used for syphilis diagnosis over the past decade, and we then compare these methodologies to assess their potential and the challenges faced. This information can provide a fresh perspective to help researchers address the current challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Zhou
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for New Molecular Drug Research, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for New Molecular Drug Research, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Clinical Medical Department undergraduates, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Junxia Duan
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for New Molecular Drug Research, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Feijun Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for New Molecular Drug Research, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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Parveen N, Fernandez MC, Haynes AM, Zhang RL, Godornes BC, Centurion-Lara A, Giacani L. Non-pathogenic Borrelia burgdorferi expressing Treponema pallidum TprK and Tp0435 antigens as a novel approach to evaluate syphilis vaccine candidates. Vaccine 2019; 37:1807-1818. [PMID: 30797635 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Syphilis is resurgent in many developed countries and still prevalent in developing nations. Current and future control campaigns would benefit from the development of a vaccine, but although promising vaccine candidates were identified among the putative surface-exposed integral outer membrane proteins of the syphilis spirochete, immunization experiments in the rabbit model using recombinant antigens have failed to fully protect animals upon infectious challenge. We speculated that such recombinant immunogens, purified under denaturing conditions from Escherichia coli prior to immunization might not necessarily harbor their original structure, and hypothesized that enhanced protection would result from performing similar immunization/challenge experiments with native antigens. METHODS To test our hypothesis, we engineered non-infectious Borrelia burgdorferi strains to express the tp0897 (tprK) and tp0435 genes of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum and immunized two groups of rabbits by injecting recombinant strains intramuscularly with no adjuvant. TprK is a putative integral outer membrane protein of the syphilis agent, while tp0435 encodes the highly immunogenic T. pallidum 17-kDa lipoprotein, a periplasmic antigen that was also shown on the pathogen surface. Following development of a specific host immune response to these antigens as the result of immunization, animals were challenged by intradermal inoculation of T. pallidum. Cutaneous lesion development was monitored and treponemal burden within lesions were assessed by dark-field microscopy and RT-qPCR, in comparison to control rabbits. RESULTS Partial protection was observed in rabbits immunized with B. burgdorferi expressing TprK while immunity to Tp0435 was not protective. Analysis of the humoral response to TprK antigen suggested reactivity to conformational epitopes. CONCLUSIONS Immunization with native antigens might not be sufficient to obtain complete protection to infection. Nonetheless we showed that non-infectious B. burgdorferi can be an effective carrier to deliver and elicit a specific host response to T. pallidum antigens to assess the efficacy of syphilis vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhat Parveen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
| | - Mark C Fernandez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
| | - Austin M Haynes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
| | - Rui-Li Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104, United States; Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 214002 Wuxi, China
| | - B Charmie Godornes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
| | | | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104, United States; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, United States.
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48
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Immunogenicity and protective efficacy against Treponema pallidum in New Zealand rabbits immunized with plasmid DNA encoding flagellin. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:177. [PMID: 30405111 PMCID: PMC6220273 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0176-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Plasmid DNA encoding flagellin FlaB3 was used as a vaccination candidate for the evaluation of immunogenicity and protection against Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum dissemination. First, intramuscular injection of the flagellin encoded by the plasmid DNA into New Zealand rabbits elicited both humoral and cellular immune responses. Total IgG production increased in response to flagellin. In addition, serum IFN-γ secretion and CD8+ cells were substantially greater in the rabbits immunized with the plasmid encoding flagellin FlaB3 than those in the rabbits immunized with recombinant flagellin. The flagellin encoded by the plasmid DNA induced significant upregulation of serum IL-6 and IL-8 compared to that of the control rabbits. Subsequently, intradermal challenge of the vaccinated New Zealand rabbits with 1 × 107T. pallidum resulted in a significant reduction of the bacterial organ burden in the blood, liver, spleen, and testicles in the flagellin plasmid DNA-vaccinated rabbits. Furthermore, the histopathological analysis demonstrated that the rabbits immunized with the plasmid DNA-encoded flagellin (FlaB3) showed better immune protection. These findings provide evidence that plasmid DNA-encoded flagellin (FlaB3) may be useful as a potential immunization route for future development of a vaccine to inhibit T. pallidum dissemination in related animals.
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49
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Esteves PJ, Abrantes J, Baldauf HM, BenMohamed L, Chen Y, Christensen N, González-Gallego J, Giacani L, Hu J, Kaplan G, Keppler OT, Knight KL, Kong XP, Lanning DK, Le Pendu J, de Matos AL, Liu J, Liu S, Lopes AM, Lu S, Lukehart S, Manabe YC, Neves F, McFadden G, Pan R, Peng X, de Sousa-Pereira P, Pinheiro A, Rahman M, Ruvoën-Clouet N, Subbian S, Tuñón MJ, van der Loo W, Vaine M, Via LE, Wang S, Mage R. The wide utility of rabbits as models of human diseases. Exp Mol Med 2018; 50:1-10. [PMID: 29789565 PMCID: PMC5964082 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-018-0094-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies using the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus contributed to elucidating numerous fundamental aspects of antibody structure and diversification mechanisms and continue to be valuable for the development and testing of therapeutic humanized polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, during the last two decades, the use of the European rabbit as an animal model has been increasingly extended to many human diseases. This review documents the continuing wide utility of the rabbit as a reliable disease model for development of therapeutics and vaccines and studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying many human diseases. Examples include syphilis, tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, acute hepatic failure and diseases caused by noroviruses, ocular herpes, and papillomaviruses. The use of rabbits for vaccine development studies, which began with Louis Pasteur’s rabies vaccine in 1881, continues today with targets that include the potentially blinding HSV-1 virus infection and HIV-AIDS. Additionally, two highly fatal viral diseases, rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, affect the European rabbit and provide unique models to understand co-evolution between a vertebrate host and viral pathogens. Rabbits offer a powerful complement to rodents as a model for studying human immunology, disease pathology, and responses to infectious disease. A review from Pedro Esteves at the University of Porto, Portugal, Rose Mage of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Bethesda, USA and colleagues highlights some of the areas of research where rabbits offer an edge over rats and mice. Rabbits have a particularly sophisticated adaptive immune system, which could provide useful insights into human biology and produce valuable research and clinical reagents. They are also excellent models for studying - infectious diseases such as syphilis and tuberculosis, which produce pathology that closely resembles that of human patients. Rabbit-specific infections such as myxomatosis are giving researchers insights into how pathogens and hosts can shape each other’s evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J Esteves
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal. .,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde (CESPU), Gandra, Portugal.
| | - Joana Abrantes
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Hanna-Mari Baldauf
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute and Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, LMU München, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.,Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine School of Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Yuxing Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Neil Christensen
- Departments of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Comparative Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Javier González-Gallego
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), University of León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Departments of Medicine and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Jiafen Hu
- Departments of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Comparative Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Gilla Kaplan
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Oliver T Keppler
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute and Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, LMU München, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Katherine L Knight
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Xiang-Peng Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY10016, USA
| | - Dennis K Lanning
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Jacques Le Pendu
- CRCINA, Inserm, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Ana Lemos de Matos
- The Biodesign Institute, Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5401, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Shuying Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Ana M Lopes
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Anatomy and Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Shan Lu
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Sheila Lukehart
- Departments of Medicine and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Yukari C Manabe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fabiana Neves
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Grant McFadden
- The Biodesign Institute, Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5401, USA
| | - Ruimin Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY10016, USA
| | - Xuwen Peng
- Departments of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Comparative Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Patricia de Sousa-Pereira
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.,Max von Pettenkofer Institute and Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, LMU München, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Ana Pinheiro
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Masmudur Rahman
- The Biodesign Institute, Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5401, USA
| | | | - Selvakumar Subbian
- The Public Health Research Institute (PHRI) at New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Maria Jesús Tuñón
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), University of León, 24071, León, Spain
| | - Wessel van der Loo
- CIBIO, InBIO, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Michael Vaine
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Laura E Via
- Tubercolosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shixia Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Rose Mage
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Syphilis continues to cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. While syphilis infection is easily identifiable and treatable, rates of syphilis infection continue to increase among select populations in high-income countries and remain at endemic levels in low- and middle-income counties. RECENT FINDINGS World Health Organization recommended strategies have led to the dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis and HIV in several countries, however outbreaks among select populations need to be adequately addressed. SUMMARY Continued vigilance and investment is needed to address syphilis worldwide. The epidemiology of syphilis differs in high-income and low- and middle-income counties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Kojima
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095
| | - Jeffrey D Klausner
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024
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