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Takeishi A, Shaban AK, Kakihana T, Takihara H, Okuda S, Osada H, Suameitria Dewi DNS, Ozeki Y, Yoshida Y, Nishiyama A, Tateishi Y, Aizu Y, Chuma Y, Onishi K, Hayashi D, Yamamoto S, Mukai T, Ato M, Thai DH, Nhi HTT, Shirai T, Shibata S, Obata F, Fujii J, Yamayoshi S, Kiso M, Matsumoto S. Genetic engineering employing MPB70 and its promoter enables efficient secretion and expression of foreign antigen in bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) Tokyo. Microbiol Immunol 2024; 68:130-147. [PMID: 38294180 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.13116] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Vaccination is an important factor in public health. The recombinant bacillus Calmette Guérin (rBCG) vaccine, which expresses foreign antigens, is expected to be a superior vaccine against infectious diseases. Here, we report a new recombination platform in which the BCG Tokyo strain is transformed with nucleotide sequences encoding foreign protein fused with the MPB70 immunogenic protein precursor. By RNA-sequencing, mpb70 was found to be the most transcribed among all known genes of BCG Tokyo. Small oligopeptide, namely, polyhistidine tag, was able to be expressed in and secreted from rBCG through a process in which polyhistidine tag fused with intact MPB70 were transcribed by an mpb70 promoter. This methodology was applied to develop an rBCG expressing the receptor binding domain (RBD) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Immunoblotting images and mass spectrometry data showed that RBD was also secreted from rBCG. Sera from mice vaccinated with the rBCG showed a tendency of weak neutralizing capacity. The secretion was retained even after a freeze-drying process. The freeze-dried rBCG was administered to and recovered from mice. Recovered rBCG kept secreting RBD. Collectively, our recombination platform offers stable secretion of foreign antigens and can be applied to the development of practical rBCGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuki Takeishi
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Amina K Shaban
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Taichi Kakihana
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hayato Takihara
- Medical AI Center, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Shujiro Okuda
- Medical AI Center, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Osada
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- NIPPON ZENYAKU KOGYO CO., LTD, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Desak Nyoman Surya Suameitria Dewi
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Microbiology, Universitas Ciputra, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Yuriko Ozeki
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yoshida
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Akihito Nishiyama
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Tateishi
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yuki Aizu
- Division of Research and Development, Japan BCG Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasushi Chuma
- Division of Research and Development, Japan BCG Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuyo Onishi
- Division of Research and Development, Japan BCG Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Hayashi
- Division of Research and Development, Japan BCG Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saburo Yamamoto
- Division of Research and Development, Japan BCG Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Mycobacteriology, Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsu Mukai
- Department of Mycobacteriology, Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Manabu Ato
- Department of Mycobacteriology, Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Duong Huu Thai
- Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, Nha Trang, Vietnam
| | - Huynh Thi Thao Nhi
- Department of BCG production, Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, Nha Trang, Vietnam
| | - Tsuyoshi Shirai
- Department of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Shiga, Japan
| | - Satoshi Shibata
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Fumiko Obata
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Jun Fujii
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Seiya Yamayoshi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maki Kiso
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sohkichi Matsumoto
- Department of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Division of Research Aids, Hokkaido University Institute for Vaccine Research & Development, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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Fufaeva SR, Dovbnya DV, Ivashina TV, Shutov AA, Donova MV. Reconstruction of the Steroid 1(2)-Dehydrogenation System from Nocardioides simplex VKM Ac-2033D in Mycolicibacterium Hosts. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2720. [PMID: 38004731 PMCID: PMC10672877 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial 1(2)-dehydrogenation of 3-ketosteroids is an important basis for the production of many steroid pharmaceuticals and synthons. When using the wild-type strains for whole cell catalysis, the undesirable reduction of the 20-carbonyl group, or 1(2)-hydrogenation, was observed. In this work, the recombinant strains of Mycolicibacterium neoaurum and Mycolicibacterium smegmatis were constructed with blocked endogenous activity of 3-ketosteroid-9α-hydroxylase, 3-ketosteroid-1(2)-dehydrogenase (3-KSD), and expressing 3-KSD encoded by the gene KR76_27125 (kstD2NS) from Nocardioides simplex VKM Ac-2033D. The in vivo activity of the obtained recombinant strains against phytosterol, 6α-methyl-hydrocortisone, and hydrocortisone was studied. When using M. smegmatis as the host strain, the 1(2)-dehydrogenation activity of the constructed recombinant cells towards hydrocortisone was noticeably higher compared to those on the platform of M. neoaurum. A comparison of the strengths of inducible acetamidase and constitutive hsp60 promoters in M. smegmatis provided comparable results. Hydrocortisone biotransformation by M. smegmatis BD/pMhsp_k expressing kstD2NS resulted in 95.4% prednisolone yield, and the selectivity preferred that for N. simplex. Mycolicibacteria showed increased hydrocortisone degradation at 35 °C compared to 30 °C. The presence of endogenous steroid catabolism in Mycolicibacterium hosts does not seem to confer an advantage for the functioning of KstD2NS. The results allow for the evaluation of the prospects for the development of simple technological methods for the selective 1(2)-dehydrogenation of 3-ketosteroids by growing bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marina V. Donova
- G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.F.); (D.V.D.); (T.V.I.); (A.A.S.)
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Brown AC. Gene Switching and Essentiality Testing. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2314:285-299. [PMID: 34235659 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1460-0_13] [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: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The identification of essential genes is of major importance to mycobacterial research, and a number of essential genes have been identified in mycobacteria, however confirming essentiality is not straightforward, as deletion of essential genes results in a lethal phenotype. In this chapter, protocols are described which can be used to confirm gene essentiality using gene switching, following the construction of a strain carrying its only functional copy on an integrated plasmid (Δ'int). Since deletion mutants cannot be created for essential genes, a second gene copy is introduced via an integrating vector, which allows the chromosomal gene copy to be deleted. The integrated vector can then be replaced using the gene switching method, where no transformants are obtained, essentiality is confirmed. This technique can also be used to confirm functionality of gene homologs and to easily identify essential operon members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Claire Brown
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVDML), College Station, TX, USA.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, Kleberg Center, College Station, TX, USA.
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Sun H, Yang J, Song H. Engineering mycobacteria artificial promoters and ribosomal binding sites for enhanced sterol production. Biochem Eng J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2020.107739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Nascimento LV, Santos CC, Leite LC, Nascimento IP. Characterisation of alternative expression vectors for recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin as live bacterial delivery systems. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e190347. [PMID: 32428188 PMCID: PMC7227789 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760190347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is considered a promising live bacterial delivery system. However, several proposals for rBCG vaccines have not progressed, mainly due to the limitations of the available expression systems. OBJECTIVES To obtain a set of mycobacterial vectors using a range of promoters with different strengths based on a standard backbone, previously shown to be stable. METHODS Mycobacterial expression vectors based on the pLA71 vector as backbone, were obtained inserting different promoters (PAN, PαAg, PHsp60, PBlaF* and PL5) and the green fluorescence protein (GFP) as reporter gene, to evaluate features such as their relative strengths, and the in vitro (inside macrophages) and in vivo stability. FINDINGS The relative fluorescence observed with the different vectors showed increasing strength of the promoters: PAN was the weakest in both Mycobacterium smegmatis and BCG and PBlaF* was higher than PHsp60 in BCG. The relative fluorescence observed in a macrophage cell line showed that PBlaF* and PHsp60 were comparable. It was not possible to obtain strains transformed with the extrachromosomal expression vector containing the PL5 in either species. MAIN CONCLUSION We have obtained a set of potentially stable mycobacterial vectors with a arrange of expression levels, to be used in the development of rBCG vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa V Nascimento
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carina C Santos
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Luciana Cc Leite
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ivan P Nascimento
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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A standardized BioBrick toolbox for the assembly of sequences in mycobacteria. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2019; 119:101851. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Kilpeläinen A, Maya-Hoyos M, Saubí N, Soto CY, Joseph Munne J. Advances and challenges in recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG-based HIV vaccine development: lessons learned. Expert Rev Vaccines 2018; 17:1005-1020. [PMID: 30300040 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2018.1534588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, tuberculosis, and malaria are responsible for most human deaths produced by infectious diseases worldwide. Vaccination against HIV requires generation of memory T cells and neutralizing antibodies, mucosal immunity, and stimulation of an innate immune responses. In this context, the use of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as a live vaccine vehicle is a promising approach for T-cell induction. AREAS COVERED In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the literature regarding immunogenicity studies in animal models performed since 2005. Furthermore, we provide expert commentary and 5-year view on how the development of potential recombinant BCG-based HIV vaccines involves careful selection of the HIV antigen, expression vectors, promoters, BCG strain, preclinical animal models, influence of preexisting immunity, and safety issues, for the rational design of recombinant BCG:HIV vaccines to prevent HIV transmission in the general population. EXPERT COMMENTARY The three critical issues to be considered when developing a rBCG:HIV vaccine are codon optimization, antigen localization, and plasmid stability in vivo. The use of integrative expression vectors are likely to improve the mycobacterial vaccine stability and immunogenicity to develop not only recombinant BCG-based vaccines expressing second generation of HIV-1 immunogens but also other major pediatric pathogens to prime protective responses shortly following birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athina Kilpeläinen
- a Catalan Center for HIV Vaccine Research and Development, AIDS Research Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Clínic/IDIBAPS, School of Medicine , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Milena Maya-Hoyos
- b Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences , Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ciudad Universitaria , Bogotá , Colombia
| | - Narcís Saubí
- a Catalan Center for HIV Vaccine Research and Development, AIDS Research Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Clínic/IDIBAPS, School of Medicine , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Carlos Y Soto
- b Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences , Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ciudad Universitaria , Bogotá , Colombia
| | - Joan Joseph Munne
- a Catalan Center for HIV Vaccine Research and Development, AIDS Research Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Clínic/IDIBAPS, School of Medicine , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain
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Trousil J, Ulmann V, Hrubý M. Fluorescence & bioluminescence in the quest for imaging, probing & analysis of mycobacterial infections. Future Microbiol 2018; 13:933-951. [PMID: 29893148 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterioses represent a global health problem and rapid diagnostic improvements are urgently required. Mycobacteria-specific fluorescence and bioluminescence phenomena have been found to be useful for a wide range of mycobacteria-focused research. Here, we present a critical survey of the most promising techniques in this field and the potential of new methods under investigation. These approaches include acid-fast staining, intrinsic fluorescence of the coenzyme F420, fluorogenic substrates (e.g., β-lactamase-sensitive coumpounds) and recombination of mycobacteria or mycobacteriophages. Probably the most interesting and emerging host-inspecting approach is in vivo imaging. Detection of fluorescence in vivo, however, is complicated by light scattering, light absorption, and autofluorescence, caused by the tissues. Despite this, many of these systems show promise as the foundations for improved rapid analysis and imaging of mycobacterial infections, both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Trousil
- Department of Supramolecular Polymer Systems, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovského náměstí 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic.,Department of Analytical Chemistry, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Hlavova 8, 128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Vít Ulmann
- Laboratory for Mycobacterial Diagnostics and Tuberculosis, Regional Institute of Public Health in Ostrava, Partyzánské náměstí 7, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Hrubý
- Department of Supramolecular Polymer Systems, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovského náměstí 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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Li X, Mei H, Chen F, Tang Q, Yu Z, Cao X, Andongma BT, Chou SH, He J. Transcriptome Landscape of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2505. [PMID: 29326668 PMCID: PMC5741613 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The non-pathogenic bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 has been widely used as a model organism in mycobacterial research, yet a detailed study about its transcription landscape remains to be established. Here we report the transcriptome, expression profiles and transcriptional structures through growth-phase-dependent RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) as well as other related experiments. We found: (1) 2,139 transcriptional start sites (TSSs) in the genome-wide scale, of which eight samples were randomly selected and further verified by 5′-RACE; (2) 2,233 independent monocistronic or polycistronic mRNAs in the transcriptome within the operon/sub-operon structures which are classified into five groups; (3) 47.50% (1016/2139) genes were transcribed into leaderless mRNAs, with the TSSs of 41.3% (883/2139) mRNAs overlapping with the first base of the annotated start codon. Initial amino acids of MSMEG_4921 and MSMEG_6422 proteins were identified by Edman degradation, indicating the presence of distinctive widespread leaderless features in M. smegmatis mc2155. (4) 150 genes with potentially wrong structural annotation, of which 124 proposed genes have been corrected; (5) eight highly active promoters, with their activities further determined by β-galactosidase assays. These data integrated the transcriptional landscape to genome information of model organism mc2155 and lay a solid foundation for further works in Mycobacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Han Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhaoqing Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojian Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Binda T Andongma
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shan-Ho Chou
- Institute of Biochemistry and NCHU Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jin He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Oliveira TL, Rizzi C, Dellagostin OA. Recombinant BCG vaccines: molecular features and their influence in the expression of foreign genes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:6865-6877. [PMID: 28779291 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8439-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccines (rBCG) were first developed in the 1990s as a means of expressing antigens from multiple pathogens. This review examines the key structural factors of recombinant M. bovis that influence the expression of the heterologous antigens and the generation of genetic and functional stability in rBCG, which are crucial for inducing strong and lasting immune responses. The fundamental aim of this paper is to provide an overview of factors that affect the expression of recombinant proteins in BCG and the generation of the immune response against the target antigens, including mycobacterial promoters, location of foreign antigens, and stability of the vectors. The reporter systems that have been employed for evaluation of these molecular features in BCG are also reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Larré Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Caroline Rizzi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Odir Antônio Dellagostin
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. .,Unidade de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário, Caixa Postal 354, Pelotas, RS, CEP 96010-900, Brazil.
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Rizzi C, Peiter AC, Oliveira TL, Seixas ACP, Leal KS, Hartwig DD, Seixas FK, Borsuk S, Dellagostin OA. Stable expression of Mycobacterium bovis antigen 85B in auxotrophic M. bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017; 112:123-130. [PMID: 28177046 PMCID: PMC5293121 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760160360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium
bovis, responsible for causing major losses in livestock. A cost
effective alternative to control the disease could be herd vaccination. The
bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has a limited efficacy against bovine TB,
but can improved by over-expression of protective antigens. The M.
bovis antigen 85B demonstrates ability to induce protective immune
response against bovine TB in animal models. However, current systems for the
construction of recombinant BCG expressing multiple copies of the gene result in
strains of low genetic stability that rapidly lose the plasmid in vivo. Employing
antibiotic resistance as selective markers, these systems also compromise vaccine
safety. We previously reported the construction of a stable BCG expression system
using auxotrophic complementation as a selectable marker. OBJECTIVES The fundamental aim of this study was to construct strains of M.
bovis BCG Pasteur and the auxotrophic M. bovis BCG
ΔleuD expressing Ag85B and determine their stability in
vivo. METHODS Employing the auxotrophic system, we constructed rBCG strains that expressed
M. bovis Ag85B and compared their stability with a
conventional BCG strain in mice. Stability was measured in terms of bacterial
growth on the selective medium and retention of antigen expression. FINDINGS The auxotrophic complementation system was highly stable after 18 weeks, even
during in vivo growth, as the selective pressure and expression of antigen were
maintained comparing to the conventional vector. MAIN CONCLUSION The Ag85B continuous expression within the host may generate a stronger and
long-lasting immune response compared to conventional systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Rizzi
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Ana Carolina Peiter
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Thaís Larré Oliveira
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Amilton Clair Pinto Seixas
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Karen Silva Leal
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Daiane Drawanz Hartwig
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, RS, Brasil
| | - Fabiana Kommling Seixas
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Sibele Borsuk
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Odir Antônio Dellagostin
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
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Lau A, Singh V, Soualhine H, Hmama Z. Expression of Cathepsin S in BCG converts it into a pro-apoptotic and highly immunogenic strain. Vaccine 2017; 35:2060-2068. [PMID: 28318770 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.02.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND BCG vaccine, introduced almost 100years ago, is the only option to prevent TB disease. It effectively protects newborns from meningeal TB but fails to prevent adult pulmonary TB. TB kills 1.3million people annually in areas where BCG vaccination is widely practiced. Thus, more effective TB vaccines are urgently needed. Others and we have shown that BCG mimics features of virulent M. tuberculosis, in particular attenuation of essential macrophage functions such as phagosome maturation and antigen presentation. One of these studies revealed that defect in antigen presentation is largely due to down-regulation of the cysteine protease Cathepsin S (CatS), which prevents MHC II molecule maturation and proper antigen peptide loading. Recent studies also suggested a potential role for cysteine proteases in the regulation of apoptosis, a key cellular process used by the macrophage to (i) contain and process ingested bacteria and (ii) facilitate cross-talk antigen presentation between the macrophage and dendritic cells. METHOD To reverse the phenotype of vaccine-mediated macrophage attenuation, we engineered a novel BCG strain that expresses and secretes active CatS (rBCG-CatS) to examine its pro-apoptotic properties in vitro, and subsequently, immunogenicity in mice. RESULTS Transcriptomic profiling of macrophages infected with rBCG-CatS, but not BCG, revealed upregulation of key pro-apoptotic genes and downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes, which were further confirmed by RT-qPCR analyses of expression of selected genes. Macrophages infected with rBCG-CatS undergo apoptosis as indicated by increased levels of annexin V staining and intracellular caspase-3 cleavage. Consistent with these findings, mice vaccinated with rBCG-CatS showed increased antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell responses, as well as enhanced cytokine production and proliferation in CD4+ upon ex vivo re-stimulation. CONCLUSION Collectively, this study shows that a pro-apoptotic BCG strain alleviates adverse traits of the wild-type strain, resulting in a highly immunogenic TB vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Lau
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Vijender Singh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Hafid Soualhine
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
| | - Zakaria Hmama
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada.
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Jongwe TI, Chapman R, Douglass N, Chetty S, Chege G, Williamson AL. HIV-1 Subtype C Mosaic Gag Expressed by BCG and MVA Elicits Persistent Effector T Cell Responses in a Prime-Boost Regimen in Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159141. [PMID: 27427967 PMCID: PMC4948879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Over 90% of HIV/AIDS positive individuals in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with highly heterogeneous HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) viruses. One of the best ways to reduce the burden of this disease is the development of an affordable and effective prophylactic vaccine. Mosaic immunogens are computationally designed to overcome the hurdle of HIV diversity by maximizing the expression of potential T cell epitopes. Mycobacterium bovis BCG ΔpanCD auxotroph and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccines expressing HIV-1C mosaic Gag (GagM) were tested in a prime-boost regimen to demonstrate immunogenicity in a mouse study. The BCG-GagM vaccine was stable and persisted 11.5 weeks post vaccination in BALB/c mice. Priming with BCG-GagM and boosting with MVA-GagM elicited higher Gag-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT responses than the BCG-GagM only and MVA-GagM only homologous vaccination regimens. The heterologous vaccination also generated a more balanced and persistent CD4+ and CD8+ T cell Gag-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT response with a predominant effector memory phenotype. A Th1 bias was induced by the vaccines as determined by the predominant secretion of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2. This study shows that a low dose of MVA (104 pfu) can effectively boost a BCG prime expressing the same mosaic immunogen, generating strong, cellular immune responses against Gag in mice. Our data warrants further evaluation in non-human primates. A low dose vaccine would be an advantage in the resource limited countries of sub-Saharan Africa and India (where the predominating virus is HIV-1 subtype C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsungai Ivai Jongwe
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ros Chapman
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nicola Douglass
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shivan Chetty
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gerald Chege
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Services, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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Gómez S, López-Estepa M, Fernández FJ, Vega MC. Protein Complex Production in Alternative Prokaryotic Hosts. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 896:115-33. [PMID: 27165322 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27216-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Research for multiprotein expression in nonconventional bacterial and archaeal expression systems aims to exploit particular properties of "alternative" prokaryotic hosts that might make them more efficient than E. coli for particular applications, especially in those areas where more conventional bacterial hosts traditionally do not perform well. Currently, a wide range of products with clinical or industrial application have to be isolated from their native source, often microorganisms whose growth present numerous problems owing to very slow growth phenotypes or because they are unculturable under laboratory conditions. In those cases, transfer of the gene pathway responsible for synthesizing the product of interest into a suitable recombinant host becomes an attractive alternative solution. Despite many efforts dedicated to improving E. coli systems due to low cost, ease of use, and its dominant position as a ubiquitous expression host model, many alternative prokaryotic systems have been developed for heterologous protein expression mostly for biotechnological applications. Continuous research has led to improvements in expression yield through these non-conventional models, including Pseudomonas, Streptomyces and Mycobacterium as alternative bacterial expression hosts. Advantageous properties shared by these systems include low costs, high levels of secreted protein products and their safety of use, with non-pathogenic strains been commercialized. In addition, the use of extremophilic and halotolerant archaea as expression hosts has to be considered as a potential tool for the production of mammalian membrane proteins such as GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gómez
- Center for Biological Research, Spanish National Research Council (CIB-CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel López-Estepa
- Center for Biological Research, Spanish National Research Council (CIB-CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco J Fernández
- Center for Biological Research, Spanish National Research Council (CIB-CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Cristina Vega
- Center for Biological Research, Spanish National Research Council (CIB-CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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Liao TYA, Lau A, Joseph S, Hytönen V, Hmama Z. Improving the Immunogenicity of the Mycobacterium bovis BCG Vaccine by Non-Genetic Bacterial Surface Decoration Using the Avidin-Biotin System. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145833. [PMID: 26716832 PMCID: PMC4696857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Current strategies to improve the current BCG vaccine attempt to over-express genes encoding specific M. tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens and/or regulators of antigen presentation function, which indeed have the potential to reshape BCG in many ways. However, these approaches often face serious difficulties, in particular the efficiency and stability of gene expression via nucleic acid complementation and safety concerns associated with the introduction of exogenous DNA. As an alternative, we developed a novel non-genetic approach for rapid and efficient display of exogenous proteins on bacterial cell surface. The technology involves expression of proteins of interest in fusion with a mutant version of monomeric avidin that has the feature of reversible binding to biotin. Fusion proteins are then used to decorate the surface of biotinylated BCG. Surface coating of BCG with recombinant proteins was highly reproducible and stable. It also resisted to the freeze-drying shock routinely used in manufacturing conventional BCG. Modifications of BCG surface did not affect its growth in culture media neither its survival within the host cell. Macrophages phagocytized coated BCG bacteria, which efficiently delivered their surface cargo of avidin fusion proteins to MHC class I and class II antigen presentation compartments. Thereafter, chimeric proteins corresponding to a surrogate antigen derived from ovalbumin and the Mtb specific ESAT6 antigen were generated and tested for immunogenicity in vaccinated mice. We found that BCG displaying ovalbumin antigen induces an immune response with a magnitude similar to that induced by BCG genetically expressing the same surrogate antigen. We also found that BCG decorated with Mtb specific antigen ESAT6 successfully induces the expansion of specific T cell responses. This novel technology, therefore, represents a practical and effective alternative to DNA-based gene expression for upgrading the current BCG vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Yu Angela Liao
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Vancouver Costal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alice Lau
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Vancouver Costal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sunil Joseph
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Vancouver Costal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Vesa Hytönen
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Zakaria Hmama
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Vancouver Costal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Stable Expression of Lentiviral Antigens by Quality-Controlled Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG Vectors. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2015; 22:726-41. [PMID: 25924766 PMCID: PMC4478521 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00075-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The well-established safety profile of the tuberculosis vaccine strain, Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), makes it an attractive vehicle for heterologous expression of antigens from clinically relevant pathogens. However, successful generation of recombinant BCG strains possessing consistent insert expression has encountered challenges in stability. Here, we describe a method for the development of large recombinant BCG accession lots which stably express the lentiviral antigens, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag, using selectable leucine auxotrophic complementation. Successful establishment of vaccine stability stems from stringent quality control criteria which not only screen for highly stable complemented BCG ΔleuCD transformants but also thoroughly characterize postproduction quality. These parameters include consistent production of correctly sized antigen, retention of sequence-pure plasmid DNA, freeze-thaw recovery, enumeration of CFU, and assessment of cellular aggregates. Importantly, these quality assurance procedures were indicative of overall vaccine stability, were predictive for successful antigen expression in subsequent passaging both in vitro and in vivo, and correlated with induction of immune responses in murine models. This study has yielded a quality-controlled BCG ΔleuCD vaccine expressing HIV gp120 that retained stable full-length expression after 10(24)-fold amplification in vitro and following 60 days of growth in mice. A second vaccine lot expressed full-length SIV Gag for >10(68)-fold amplification in vitro and induced potent antigen-specific T cell populations in vaccinated mice. Production of large, well-defined recombinant BCG ΔleuCD lots can allow confidence that vaccine materials for immunogenicity and protection studies are not negatively affected by instability or differences between freshly grown production batches.
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Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin vectors prime for strong cellular responses to simian immunodeficiency virus gag in rhesus macaques. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 21:1385-95. [PMID: 25080550 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00324-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Live attenuated nonpathogenic Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) mediates long-lasting immune responses, has been safely administered as a tuberculosis vaccine to billions of humans, and is affordable to produce as a vaccine vector. These characteristics make it very attractive as a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine vector candidate. Here, we assessed the immunogenicity of recombinant BCG (rBCG) constructs with different simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)gag expression cassettes as priming agents followed by a recombinant replication-incompetent New York vaccinia virus (NYVAC) boost in rhesus macaques. Unmutated rBCG constructs were used in comparison to mutants with gene deletions identified in an in vitro screen for augmented immunogenicity. We demonstrated that BCG-SIVgag is able to elicit robust transgene-specific priming responses, resulting in strong SIV epitope-specific cellular immune responses. While enhanced immunogenicity was sustained at moderate levels for >1 year following the heterologous boost vaccination, we were unable to demonstrate a protective effect after repeated rectal mucosal challenges with pathogenic SIVmac251. Our findings highlight the potential for rBCG vaccines to stimulate effective cross-priming and enhanced major histocompatibility complex class I presentation, suggesting that combining this approach with other immunogens may contribute to the development of effective vaccine regimens against HIV.
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18
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Verma SC, Venugopal U, Khan SR, Akhtar MS, Krishnan MY. Coupling reporter expression to respiration detects active as well as dormant mycobacteria in vitro and in mouse tissues. Int J Mycobacteriol 2014; 3:25-35. [PMID: 26786219 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmyco.2013.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/24/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mycobacterium tuberculosis is known to slow down its transcriptional activity during dormancy. Hence, while using reporter strains, it is important to couple the reporter gene to a promoter that is strong and sensitive both in active and dormant M. tuberculosis. Since respiration is an indispensable process even in dormant bacteria, validation of the promoters of respiratory chain genes - type II NADH dehydrogenase (Pndh) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase operon (Patps) - of MTB was undertaken for this purpose. METHODS Putative promoter containing sequences were cloned upstream of a red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene. Mycobacterium smegmatis or M. tuberculosis carrying episomal constructs were validated for growth, fitness and fluorescence in different models in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Either promoter can drive stable and strong expression of RFP in actively growing and dormant M. smegmatis in vitro without significantly affecting growth or viability. Fluorescence due to Pndh and Patps was significantly higher than Phsp60. The fitness of M. tuberculosis H37Rv counterparts was unaffected inside J774 macrophages. In immunocompetent mice, despite an initial attenuation in the lungs, both strains reached loads similar to wild type during chronic infection. In the spleen, the fluorescent strain counts were similar to wild type counts throughout. RFP fluorescence in tissue homogenates was more homogenous among mice due to Pndh compared with Patps. CONCLUSIONS Coupling an appropriate reporter to the promoter of ndh-2 gene of M. tuberculosis can make the reporter expression respiration sensitive and thereby reliably detect both active and dormant populations of the reporter strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subash Chand Verma
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226 031, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Umamageswaran Venugopal
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226 031, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Shaheb Raj Khan
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226 031, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Md Sohail Akhtar
- Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226 031, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226 031, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Manju Yasoda Krishnan
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226 031, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226 031, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Overexpression of the Rv0805 phosphodiesterase elicits a cAMP-independent transcriptional response. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2013; 93:492-500. [PMID: 23835087 PMCID: PMC3776917 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2013] [Revised: 05/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Rv0805 gene in Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes a metallophosphoesterase which shows cAMP-hydrolytic activity. Overexpression of Rv0805 has been used as a tool to lower intracellular cAMP levels and thereby elucidate the roles of cAMP in mycobacteria. Here we show that levels of cAMP in M. tuberculosis were lowered by only ∼30% following overexpression of Rv0805, and transcript levels of a number of genes, which include those associated with virulence and the methyl citrate cycle, were altered. The genes that showed altered expression were distinct from those differentially regulated in a strain deleted for the cAMP-receptor protein (CRP(Mt)), consistent with the relatively low dependence on cAMP of CRP(Mt) binding to DNA. Using mutants of Rv0805 we show that the transcriptional signature of Rv0805 overexpression is a combination of catalysis-dependent and independent effects, and that the structurally flexible C-terminus of Rv0805 is crucial for the catalysis-independent effects of the protein. Our study demonstrates the dissociation of Rv0805 and cAMP-regulated gene expression, and reveals alternate functions for this phosphodiesterase from M. tuberculosis.
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20
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Chapman R, Shephard E, Stutz H, Douglass N, Sambandamurthy V, Garcia I, Ryffel B, Jacobs W, Williamson AL. Priming with a recombinant pantothenate auxotroph of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and boosting with MVA elicits HIV-1 Gag specific CD8+ T cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32769. [PMID: 22479338 PMCID: PMC3315557 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A safe and effective HIV vaccine is required to significantly reduce the number of people becoming infected with HIV each year. In this study wild type Mycobacterium bovis BCG Pasteur and an attenuated pantothenate auxotroph strain (BCGΔpanCD) that is safe in SCID mice, have been compared as vaccine vectors for HIV-1 subtype C Gag. Genetically stable vaccines BCG[pHS400] (BCG-Gag) and BCGΔpanCD[pHS400] (BCGpan-Gag) were generated using the Pasteur strain of BCG, and a panothenate auxotroph of Pasteur respectively. Stability was achieved by the use of a codon optimised gag gene and deletion of the hsp60-lysA promoter-gene cassette from the episomal vector pCB119. In this vector expression of gag is driven by the mtrA promoter and the Gag protein is fused to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 19 kDa signal sequence. Both BCG-Gag and BCGpan-Gag primed the immune system of BALB/c mice for a boost with a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing Gag (MVA-Gag). After the boost high frequencies of predominantly Gag-specific CD8(+) T cells were detected when BCGpan-Gag was the prime in contrast to induction of predominantly Gag-specific CD4(+) T cells when priming with BCG-Gag. The differing Gag-specific T-cell phenotype elicited by the prime-boost regimens may be related to the reduced inflammation observed with the pantothenate auxotroph strain compared to the parent strain. These features make BCGpan-Gag a more desirable HIV vaccine candidate than BCG-Gag. Although no Gag-specific cells could be detected after vaccination of BALB/c mice with either recombinant BCG vaccine alone, BCGpan-Gag protected mice against a surrogate vaccinia virus challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosamund Chapman
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Enid Shephard
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Helen Stutz
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nicola Douglass
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Irene Garcia
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Centre Médical Universitaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Ryffel
- University of Orleans and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche, Molecular Immunology and Embryology, Orleans, France
| | - William Jacobs
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
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Hopkins R, Bridgeman A, Bourne C, Mbewe-Mvula A, Sadoff JC, Both GW, Joseph J, Fulkerson J, Hanke T. Optimizing HIV-1-specific CD8+ T-cell induction by recombinant BCG in prime-boost regimens with heterologous viral vectors. Eur J Immunol 2011; 41:3542-52. [PMID: 21932450 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201141962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Revised: 08/18/2011] [Accepted: 09/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The desire to induce HIV-1-specific responses soon after birth to prevent breast milk transmission of HIV-1 led us to propose a vaccine regimen which primes HIV-1-specific T cells using a recombinant Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (rBCG) vaccine. Because attenuated live bacterial vaccines are typically not sufficiently immunogenic as stand-alone vaccines, rBCG-primed T cells will likely require boost immunization(s). Here, we compared modified Danish (AERAS-401) and Pasteur lysine auxotroph (222) strains of BCG expressing the immunogen HIVA for their potency to prime HIV-1-specific responses in adult BALB/c mice and examined four heterologous boosting HIVA vaccines for their immunogenic synergy. We found that both BCG.HIVA(401) and BCG.HIVA(222) primed HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T-cell-mediated responses. The strongest boosts were delivered by human adenovirus-vectored HAdV5.HIVA and sheep atadenovirus-vectored OAdV7.HIVA vaccines, followed by poxvirus MVA.HIVA; the weakest was plasmid pTH.HIVA DNA. The prime-boost regimens induced T cells capable of efficient in vivo killing of sensitized target cells. We also observed that the BCG.HIVA(401) and BCG.HIVA(222) vaccines have broadly similar immunologic properties, but display a number of differences mainly detected through distinct profiles of soluble intercellular signaling molecules produced by immune splenocytes in response to both HIV-1- and BCG-specific stimuli. These results encourage further development of the rBCG prime-boost regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Hopkins
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Ly MA, Liew EF, Le NB, Coleman NV. Construction and evaluation of pMycoFos, a fosmid shuttle vector for Mycobacterium spp. with inducible gene expression and copy number control. J Microbiol Methods 2011; 86:320-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2011.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2011] [Revised: 06/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Movahedzadeh F, Frita R, Gutka HJ. A two-step strategy for the complementation of M. tuberculosis mutants. Genet Mol Biol 2011; 34:286-9. [PMID: 21734831 PMCID: PMC3115324 DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572011000200020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2010] [Accepted: 02/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, completed in 1998, facilitated both the development of genomic tools, and the creation of a number of mycobacterial mutants. These mutants have a wide range of phenotypes, from attenuated to hypervirulent strains. These phenotypes must be confirmed, to rule out possible secondary mutations that may arise during the generation of mutant strains. This may occur during the amplification of target genes or during the generation of the mutation, thus constructing a complementation strain, which expresses the wild-type copy of the gene in the mutant strain, becomes necessary. In this study we have introduced a two-step strategy to construct complementation strains using the Ag85 promoter. We have constitutively expressed dosR and have shown dosR expression is restored to wild-type level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Movahedzadeh
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
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Kong CU, Ng LG, Nambiar JK, Spratt JM, Weninger W, Triccas JA. Targeted induction of antigen expression within dendritic cells modulates antigen-specific immunity afforded by recombinant BCG. Vaccine 2011; 29:1374-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.12.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Revised: 11/24/2010] [Accepted: 12/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Abstract
Elucidating the function of mycobacterial proteins, determining their contribution to virulence, and developing new vaccine candidates has been facilitated by systems permitting the heterologous expression of genes in mycobacteria. Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) and Mycobacterium smegmatis have commonly been employed as host systems for the heterologous expression of mycobacterial genes as well as genes from other bacteria, viruses, and mammalian cells. Vectors that permit strong, constitutive expression of genes have been developed, and more recently systems that allow tightly regulated induction of gene expression have become available. In this chapter, we describe two complementary techniques relevant to the field of gene expression in mycobacteria. We first outline the methodology used for the expression and specific detection of recombinant products expressed in BCG. The expression vectors described use an epitope tag fused to the C-terminal end of the foreign protein, ablating the need for additional reagents to detect the recombinant product. Second, we describe the inducible expression of genes in recombinant M. smegmatis and the subsequent purification of gene products using affinity chromatography.
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Molecular characterization of heterologous HIV-1gp120 gene expression disruption in mycobacterium bovis BCG host strain: a critical issue for engineering mycobacterial based-vaccine vectors. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2010:357370. [PMID: 20617151 PMCID: PMC2896670 DOI: 10.1155/2010/357370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2010] [Revised: 03/26/2010] [Accepted: 04/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as a live vector of recombinant bacterial vaccine is a promising system to be used. In this study, we evaluate the disrupted expression of heterologous HIV-1gp120 gene in BCG Pasteur host strain using replicative vectors pMV261 and pJH222. pJH222 carries a lysine complementing gene in BCG lysine auxotrophs. The HIV-1 gp120 gene expression was regulated by BCG hsp60 promoter (in plasmid pMV261) and Mycobacteria spp. α-antigen promoter (in plasmid pJH222). Among 14 rBCG:HIV-1gp120 (pMV261) colonies screened, 12 showed a partial deletion and two showed a complete deletion. However, deletion was not observed in all 10 rBCG:HIV-1gp120 (pJH222) colonies screened. In this study, we demonstrated that E. coli/Mycobacterial expression vectors bearing a weak promoter and lysine complementing gene in a recombinant lysine auxotroph of BCG could prevent genetic rearrangements and disruption of HIV 1gp120 gene expression, a key issue for engineering Mycobacterial based vaccine vectors.
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Carroll P, Schreuder LJ, Muwanguzi-Karugaba J, Wiles S, Robertson BD, Ripoll J, Ward TH, Bancroft GJ, Schaible UE, Parish T. Sensitive detection of gene expression in mycobacteria under replicating and non-replicating conditions using optimized far-red reporters. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9823. [PMID: 20352111 PMCID: PMC2843721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2010] [Accepted: 03/01/2010] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent reporter proteins have proven useful for imaging techniques in many organisms. We constructed optimized expression systems for several fluorescent proteins from the far-red region of the spectrum and analyzed their utility in several mycobacterial species. Plasmids expressing variants of the Discosoma Red fluorescent protein (DsRed) from the Mycobacterium bovis hsp60 promoter were unstable; in contrast expression from the Mycobacterium smegmatis rpsA promoter was stable. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis expression of several of the far-red reporters was readily visualised by eye and three reporters (mCherry, tdTomato, and Turbo-635) fluoresced at a high intensity. Strains expressing mCherry showed no fitness defects in vitro or in macrophages. Treatment of cells with antibiotics demonstrated that mCherry could also be used as a reporter for cell death, since fluorescence decreased in the presence of a bactericidal compound, but remained stable in the presence of a bacteriostatic compound. mCherry was functional under hypoxic conditions; using mCherry we demonstrated that the P(mtbB) is expressed early in hypoxia and progressively down-regulated. mCherry and other far-red fluorescent proteins will have multiple uses in investigating the biology of mycobacteria, particularly under non-replicating, or low cell density conditions, as well as providing a novel means of detecting cell death rapidly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Carroll
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lise J. Schreuder
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian Muwanguzi-Karugaba
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siouxsie Wiles
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Jorge Ripoll
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Theresa H. Ward
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory J. Bancroft
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrich E. Schaible
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Molecular Infection Research, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
| | - Tanya Parish
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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Griffin S, Williamson AL, Chapman R. Optimisation of a mycobacterial replicon increases foreign antigen expression in mycobacteria. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2009; 89:225-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2009.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2008] [Revised: 03/31/2009] [Accepted: 03/31/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Abstract
The identification of essential genes is of major importance to mycobacterial research, and a number of essential genes have been identified in mycobacteria, however confirming essentiality is not straightforward, as deletion of essential genes results in a lethal phenotype. In this chapter, protocols are described that can be used to confirm gene essentiality using gene switching, following the construction of a delinquent strain. Because deletion mutants cannot be created for essential genes, a second gene copy is introduced via an integrating vector, which allows the chromosomal gene copy to be deleted. The integrated vector can then be replaced using the gene switching method; where no transformants are obtained, essentiality is confirmed. This technique can also be used to confirm functionality of gene homologues and to easily identify essential operon members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Claire Brown
- Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, 4 Newark Street, Whitechapel, London E1 2AA, UK.
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Abstract
The importance of plasmids for molecular research cannot be underestimated. These double-stranded DNA units that replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA are as valuable to bacterial geneticists as a carpenter's hammer. Fortunately, today the mycobacterial research community has a number of these genetic tools at its disposal, and the development of these tools has greatly accelerated the study of mycobacterial pathogens. However, working with mycobacterial cloning plasmids is still not always as straightforward as working with Escherichia coli plasmids, and therefore a number of precautions and potential pitfalls will be discussed in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Movahedzadeh
- Institute for Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, Rm 412, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S Wood St, Chicago, Illinois 60612-7231, USA.
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Fan XY, Ma H, Guo J, Li ZM, Cheng ZH, Guo SQ, Zhao GP. A novel differential expression system for gene modulation in Mycobacteria. Plasmid 2008; 61:39-46. [PMID: 18835406 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2008.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2008] [Revised: 08/05/2008] [Accepted: 09/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem, and successful genetic manipulation of mycobacteria is crucial for developing new approaches to study the mechanism of pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and to combat TB. In this study, a series of M.tb furA gene operator/promoter (pfurA) mutants were generated aiming at optimization of the promoter activities in mycobacterial strains. Measured by the lacZ gene-fusion reporter system, change of the initial codon GTG to the preferred ATG resulted in a double increase of beta-galactosidase activity, while a 6-bp substitution in the conserved FurA binding AT-rich region upstream of furA gene led to 4-6 folds increase of the activity. It is significant that combination of both mutations showed about 10 folds of beta-galactosidase activity higher than that of the prototype pfurA. Furthermore, all of the furA promoters were expressed continuously in vivo during intracellular growth of Mycobacterium bovis BCG, and were induced early upon infection in macrophages. Employing the series of pfurA-based differential expression vectors, M.tb chimeric antigen Ag856A2 known for its excellent immunogenicity, was shown to be expressed at different levels in the recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis and BCG strains. These results indicated that this differential expression system is feasible to express any target antigen of interest in a modular fashion for the study of gene regulation in mycobacterial strains, and also for the development of different recombinant BCG vaccine candidates against TB or other infectious diseases, which would be beneficial for elicitation of optimal immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yong Fan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Seixas FK, da Silva EF, Hartwig DD, Cerqueira GM, Amaral M, Fagundes MQ, Dossa RG, Dellagostin OA. Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG expressing the LipL32 antigen of Leptospira interrogans protects hamsters from challenge. Vaccine 2007; 26:88-95. [PMID: 18063449 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2007] [Revised: 10/12/2007] [Accepted: 10/18/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The bacillus Calmette--Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain is considered a promising candidate as a vector system for delivery of foreign antigens to the immune system. The gene coding for the Leptospira interrogans external membrane protein LipL32, a highly immunogenic antigen found in all pathogenic leptospira, was cloned into several mycobacterial vectors for expression in BCG. Hamsters immunized with recombinant BCG (rBCG) expressing LipL32 were protected against mortality (P<or=0.05) upon challenge with a lethal inoculum of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. Autopsy examination did not reveal macroscopic or histological evidence of disease in rBCG immunized hamsters that survived lethal challenge. The data presented here further enhance the status of LipL32 as a promising candidate antigen for use in the control of leptospirosis, when presented to the immune system by an appropriate delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Kömmling Seixas
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário, 96010-900 Pelotas - RS, Brazil
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Benabdesselem C, Barbouche MR, Jarboui MA, Dellagi K, Ho JL, Fathallah DM. High level expression of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate protein CFP32 in Pichia pastoris. Mol Biotechnol 2007; 35:41-9. [PMID: 17401148 DOI: 10.1385/mb:35:1:41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/1999] [Revised: 11/30/1999] [Accepted: 11/30/1999] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Difficulty in obtaining large quantities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) proteins remains a major obstacle in the development of subunit vaccines and diagnostic reagents for tuberculosis. A major reason is because Escherichia coli has not proven to be an optimal host for the expression of MTB genes. In this article, we used the yeast Pichia pastoris to express high levels of CFP32, a culture filtrate protein restricted to the MTB complex and a potential target antigen for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis in patients. Using shaker flasks, we generated a P. pastoris clone expressing CFP32 as a secreted protein fused to the myc- (His)6 tag, at a yield of 0.5 g of purified protein per liter of culture. Recombinant CFP32 (rCFP32) produced in P. pastoris has a molecular weight of 35 kDa, which is slightly higher than that of the native protein. We identified putative acylation and glycosylation sites in the CFP32 amino acid sequence that suggested posttranslational modifications may contribute to the size difference. The NH2-terminal peptide sequencing of rCFP32 showed that the signal peptide alpha factor is correctly excised. In addition, rCFP32 reacted with the sera of patients with tuberculosis. These data are the first to show that P. pastoris is a suitable host for high-yield production of good quality mycobacterium antigens, and especially culture filtrate proteins that have vaccine and diagnostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Benabdesselem
- Molecular Biotechnology Group, Laboratory of Immunology, Institute Pasteur de Tunis, BP74, 1002, Tunis, Tunisia
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Carroll P, Brown AC, Hartridge AR, Parish T. Expression ofMycobacterium tuberculosisRv1991c using an arabinose-inducible promoter demonstrates its role as a toxin. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2007; 274:73-82. [PMID: 17623030 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00842.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Conditional gene expression systems are useful tools for studying the role of essential or toxic gene products in bacterial systems. There is a paucity of such systems available for use in the mycobacteria. The utility of the Escherichia coli arabinose-inducible system was looked into, since it is tightly controlled in response to the presence of arabinose and glucose. It was demonstrated that the P(BAD) promoter can be used to express heterologous genes in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Expression of a lacZ reporter gene demonstrated that promoter activity was inducible in response to the presence of glucose, but only on solid medium. This system was utilized to study the functional consequences of expressing one member of a putative toxin-antitoxin pair (Rv1991c). Rv1991c has homology with a number of bacterial toxins, including ChpK, MazF and PemK. A potential antitoxin gene has been identified, adjacent to Rv1991c in the genome, which was coexpressed with the toxin. Expression of the toxin alone inhibited the growth of E. coli, whereas coexpression with the antitoxin did not. Expression of Rv1991c also led to a marked reduction of cell viability in M. smegmatis, confirming its role as a potent toxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Carroll
- Centre for Infectious Disease, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Whitechapel, London, UK
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35
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Joseph J, Saubi N, Pezzat E, Gatell JM. Progress towards an HIV vaccine based on recombinant bacillus Calmette-Guérin: failures and challenges. Expert Rev Vaccines 2007; 5:827-38. [PMID: 17184220 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.5.6.827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The need for an affordable, safe and effective HIV vaccine has never been greater. As the immunogenicity of all the vaccine vectors being evaluated currently in human populations is limited, novel vaccine strategies are needed to stimulate the innate immune system, to generate high levels of neutralizing antibodies and to induce strong cell-mediated and mucosal immunity. There is strong evidence for a role for cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the containment of HIV replication. Several vaccine approaches have been tested to elicit anti-HIV cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses. One promising approach is Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as a bacterial live recombinant vaccine vehicle. BCG has a long record of safety in humans and is able to induce long-lasting immunity. In this review, we describe the limitations and challenges of developing a recombinant BCG-based HIV vaccine. We also emphasize possible approaches for overcoming the plasmid instability in vivo and the low levels of gene expression and immunogenicity induction. Today, projects all over the world are focused on the development of an AIDS vaccine. Overcoming the remaining scientific, logistical and financial hurdles to the development of an effective HIV vaccine will require real imagination and firm commitment from all stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Joseph
- HIVACAT (Catalan Center for HIV Vaccine Research and Development), AIDS Research Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Clínic/IDIBAPS, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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36
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Dennehy M, Bourn W, Steele D, Williamson AL. Evaluation of recombinant BCG expressing rotavirus VP6 as an anti-rotavirus vaccine. Vaccine 2007; 25:3646-57. [PMID: 17339069 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.01.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2006] [Revised: 12/19/2006] [Accepted: 01/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant BCG expressing rotavirus VP6 was explored as an anti-rotavirus vaccine in a mouse model. Three promoters and five ribosome-binding sites were used in episomal and integrative E. coli-mycobacterium shuttle vectors to express VP6 in BCG. The VP6 gene was configured for accumulation within the BCG cytoplasm, secretion from the BCG cell or targeting to the BCG cell membrane. Vectors were assessed in terms of stability, levels of antigen production, immunogenicity and protection in mice. Gross instability occurred in episomal vectors utilizing the hsp60 promoter. However, three integrative vectors using the same expression system and two episomal vectors using inducible promoters were successfully recovered from BCG. Growth rates of the former were not detectably reduced. Growth rates of the latter were considerably reduced, implying the existence of a significant metabolic load. In the absence of selection, loss rate of these plasmids was high. VP6 production levels (0.04-1.78% of total cytoplasmic protein) were on the lower end of the range reported for other rBCG. One episomal and one integrated vaccine reduced viral shedding in intraperitoneally vaccinated mice challenged with rotavirus. Compared to controls, infection-associated faecal shedding of virus was reduced by 66% and 62%, respectively. These protective vectors differ in promoter, ribosome-binding site and antigen production level, but both link the VP6 protein to the 19kDa lipoprotein signal sequence, suggesting that transport of VP6 to the BCG membrane is important for induction of a protective immune response. Protection occurred in the absence of detectable anti-rotavirus antibody in serum or faeces, implicating cellular immunity in protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Dennehy
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Santangelo MP, McIntosh D, Bigi F, Armôa GRG, Campos ASD, Ruybal P, Dellagostin OA, McFadden J, Mendum T, Gicquel B, Winter N, Farber M, Cataldi A. Mycobacterium bovis BCG as a delivery system for the RAP-1 antigen from Babesia bovis. Vaccine 2007; 25:1104-13. [PMID: 17049681 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.09.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2006] [Revised: 09/15/2006] [Accepted: 09/15/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Babesia bovis is the causative agent of babesiosis, a tick-borne disease that is a major cause of loss to livestock production in Latin America. Vaccination against Babesia species represents a major challenge against cattle morbidity and mortality in enzootic areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) to deliver the rhoptry associated protein (RAP-1) antigen of B. bovis and to stimulate specific cellular and humoral immune responses in mice. Two of five mycobacterial expression vectors efficiently expressed the antigen. These constructs were subsequently studied in vivo following three immunization protocols. The construct with the greatest in vivo stability proved to be the one that induced the strongest immune responses. Our data support the hypothesis that specific T lymphocyte priming by rBCG can be employed as a component of a combined vaccine strategy to induce long-lasting humoral and cellular immune responsiveness towards B. bovis and encourage further work on the application of rBCG to the development of Babesia vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Santangelo
- Institute of Biotechnology, CICVyA-INTA, Los Reseros y Las Cabañas, 1712 Castelar, Argentina
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38
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Michelon A, Conceição FR, Binsfeld PC, da Cunha CW, Moreira AN, Argondizzo AP, McIntosh D, Armôa GRG, Campos AS, Farber M, McFadden J, Dellagostin OA. Immunogenicity of Mycobacterium bovis BCG expressing Anaplasma marginale MSP1a antigen. Vaccine 2006; 24:6332-9. [PMID: 16781025 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2006] [Revised: 05/11/2006] [Accepted: 05/16/2006] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Humoral and cellular immune responses of mice inoculated with recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG expressing the MSP1a antigen of Anaplasma marginale were evaluated. The msp1a gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into the mycobacterial expression vectors pUS2000 and pMIP12. Immunization of isogenic BALB/c mice with the rBCG/pUS2000-msp1a construct induced significant seroconversion to MSP1a (p<0.001), which was 26 times above pre-immunization levels at day 63 post-initial immunization and which remained stable for the duration of the experiment (6 months). In contrast, rBCG/pMIP12-msp1a induced seroconversion at a level of 6 times above pre-immunization values, which peaked at day 63. Western blot analysis showed that sera derived from mice vaccinated with either rBCG construct recognized both native and recombinant forms of A. marginale MSP1a. In contrast to the humoral response data, immunization with rBCG/pMIP12-msp1a was found to induce a markedly stronger cellular response than that recorded for BCG/pUS2000-msp1a. These observations clearly demonstrated the immunogenicity of recombinant BCG expressing the MSP1a antigen and suggested that the immune responses were influenced by the level of antigen expression. The results of this research warrant studies of recombinant M. bovis BCG expressing MSP1a in cattle to test for protective antibody production for control of bovine anaplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Michelon
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, CP 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
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Medeiros MA, Armôa GRG, Dellagostin OA, McIntosh D. Induction of humoral immunity in response to immunization with recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG expressing the S1 subunit of Bordetella pertussis toxin. Can J Microbiol 2006; 51:1015-20. [PMID: 16462859 DOI: 10.1139/w05-095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Two recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG (rBCG) vaccine strains were developed for the expression of cytoplasmically located S1 subunit of pertussis toxin, with expression driven by the hsp60 promoter of M. bovis (rBCG/pPB10) or the pAN promoter of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (rBCG/pPB12). Both strains showed stable expression of equivalent levels of recombinant S1 in vitro and induced long-term (up to 8 months) humoral immune responses in BALB/c mice, although these responses differed quantitatively and qualitatively. Specifically, rBCG/pPB12 induced markedly higher levels of IgG1 than did rBCG/pPB10, and mice immunized with the former strain developed specific long-term memory to S1, as indicated by the production of high levels of S1-specific IgG in response to a sublethal challenge with pertussis toxin 15 months after initial immunization. When considered in combination with previous studies, our data encourage further evaluation of rBCG as a potential means of developing a low-cost whooping cough vaccine based on defined antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A Medeiros
- Laboratory of Recombinant Technology, Bio-Manguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Nguyen L, Chinnapapagari S, Thompson CJ. FbpA-Dependent biosynthesis of trehalose dimycolate is required for the intrinsic multidrug resistance, cell wall structure, and colonial morphology of Mycobacterium smegmatis. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:6603-11. [PMID: 16166521 PMCID: PMC1251576 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.19.6603-6611.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2005] [Accepted: 06/10/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ligation of mycolic acids to structural components of the mycobacterial cell wall generates a hydrophobic, impermeable barrier that provides resistance to toxic compounds such as antibiotics. Secreted proteins FbpA, FbpB, and FbpC attach mycolic acids to arabinogalactan, generating mycolic acid methyl esters (MAME) or trehalose, generating alpha,alpha'-trehalose dimycolate (TDM; also called cord factor). Our studies of Mycobacterium smegmatis showed that disruption of fbpA did not affect MAME levels but resulted in a 45% reduction of TDM. The fbpA mutant displayed increased sensitivity to both front-line tuberculosis-targeted drugs as well as other broad-spectrum antibiotics widely used for antibacterial chemotherapy. The irregular, hydrophobic surface of wild-type M. smegmatis colonies became hydrophilic and smooth in the mutant. While expression of M. smegmatis fbpA restored defects of the mutant, heterologous expression of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis fbpA gene was less effective. A single mutation in the M. smegmatis FbpA esterase domain inactivated its ability to provide antibiotic resistance. These data show that production of TDM by FbpA is essential for the intrinsic antibiotic resistance and normal colonial morphology of some mycobacteria and support the concept that FbpA-specific inhibitors, alone or in combination with other antibiotics, could provide an effective treatment to tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liem Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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41
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Brown AC, Parish T. Instability of the acetamide-inducible expression vector pJAM2 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Plasmid 2005; 55:81-6. [PMID: 16125237 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2005.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2005] [Revised: 06/15/2005] [Accepted: 06/21/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Escherichia coli-mycobacterium shuttle vector pJAM2 has been used to inducibly express genes in mycobacteria. The vector carries the promoter region from the highly inducible acetamidase gene of Mycobacterium smegmatis which is used to drive expression of heterologous genes. We used pJAM2 to over-express the Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene Rv2868c, a homologue of gcpE. In M. smegmatis the plasmid was stable, but the promoter region was readily deleted when the parental vector or recombinant plasmids were transformed into M. tuberculosis. We mapped the deletion by sequencing and found that it encompassed the entire acetamidase promoter and adjacent sequence totalling approximately 7.3 kb and occurred very soon after introduction into M. tuberculosis. This is the first report of instability of a vector carrying the acetamidase promoter in M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C Brown
- Centre for Infectious Disease, Institute for Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Turner Street, London E1 2AD, UK.
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Chan Kwo Chion CK, Askew SE, Leak DJ. Cloning, expression, and site-directed mutagenesis of the propene monooxygenase genes from Mycobacterium sp. strain M156. Appl Environ Microbiol 2005; 71:1909-14. [PMID: 15812019 PMCID: PMC1082536 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.4.1909-1914.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Propene monooxygenase has been cloned from Mycobacterium sp. strain M156, based on hybridization with the amoABCD genes of Rhodococcus corallinus B276. Sequencing indicated that the mycobacterial enzyme is a member of the binuclear nonheme iron monooxygenase family and, in gene order and sequence, is most similar to that from R. corallinus B-276. Attempts were made to express the pmoABCD operon in Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155. In the former, there appeared to be a problem resolving overlapping reading frames between pmoA and -B and between pmoC and -D, while in the latter, problems were encountered with plasmid instability when the pmoABCD genes were placed under the control of the hsp60 heat shock promoter in the pNBV1 vector. Fortuitously, constructs with the opposite orientation were constitutively expressed at a level sufficient to allow preliminary mutational analysis. Two PMO active-site residues (A94 and V188) were targeted by site-directed mutagenesis to alter their stereoselectivity. The results suggest that changing the volume occupied by the side chain at V188 leads to a systematic alteration in the stereoselectivity of styrene oxidation, presumably by producing different orientations for substrate binding during catalysis. Changing the volume occupied by the side chain at A94 produced a nonsystematic change in stereoselectivity, which may be attributable to the role of this residue in expansion of the binding site during substrate binding. Neither set of mutations changed the enzyme's specificity for epoxidation.
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Rezende CAF, De Moraes MTB, De Souza Matos DC, McIntoch D, Armoa GRG. Humoral response and genetic stability of recombinant BCG expressing hepatitis B surface antigens. J Virol Methods 2005; 125:1-9. [PMID: 15737410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2004.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2004] [Revised: 11/12/2004] [Accepted: 11/15/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG), long valued for its role as a live vaccine for the prevention of tuberculosis, is being used as a recombinant delivery vehicle for foreign antigens, principally, for inducing long-lived specific humoral and cellular immunity. Hepatitis B and its sequelae are major public health problems. Although vaccines have been available for over 20 years the disease remains a significant global problem. Many factors contribute to vaccine failure to control hepatitis B, including attaining of adequate immune protection. In this study, a novel rBCG delivery system is described using non-integrative plasmids harboring hepatitis B surface antigen genes. This rBCG was able to elicit an anti-HBs response in BALB/c mice. The titres of anti-HBs response obtained using rBCG was relatively lower than that of the commercial vaccine used as positive control. In vivo or in vitro stability assays showed that the vector used to generate rBCG is stable in spite of being a non-integrative plasmid. In addition, the HBsAg proteins expression profiles were almost similar to those obtained using an Escherichia coli expression system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleide Aparecida Ferreira Rezende
- Department of Virology, Laboratory of Comparative Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), P.O. Box 926, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Spratt JM, Ryan AA, Britton WJ, Triccas JA. Epitope-tagging vectors for the expression and detection of recombinant proteins in mycobacteria. Plasmid 2005; 53:269-73. [PMID: 15848231 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2004.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2004] [Revised: 11/04/2004] [Accepted: 11/08/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
New tools are required to study the growing number of uncharacterised genes derived from genome sequence projects that are specific to bacterial pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We have developed a series of vectors that permit the specific detection of recombinant proteins expressed in mycobacterial species. Gene expression in these vectors is driven by the strong hsp60 promoter of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and detection of expressed products is facilitated by C-terminal fusion of residues 409-419 of the human c-myc proto-oncogene. Using the M. tuberculosis Ag85B as a reporter of gene expression, we demonstrate that the vectors permit the specific detection of recombinant products expressed in the host species M. bovis BCG. BCG over-expressing Ag85B was a potent inducer of Ag85B-specific T cells in immunised mice, indicating that the C-terminal c-myc tag did not alter the characteristics of the recombinant protein. The versatility of the epitope-tagging vectors was demonstrated by the efficient secretion and detection of recombinant products in BCG. The vectors described in this study will facilitate the expression of foreign proteins in mycobacterial host systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne M Spratt
- Mycobacterial Research Group, Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Locked Bag No. 6, Newtown, NSW 2042, Australia
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Dennehy M, Williamson AL. Factors influencing the immune response to foreign antigen expressed in recombinant BCG vaccines. Vaccine 2005; 23:1209-24. [PMID: 15652663 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2004] [Accepted: 08/26/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A wide range of recombinant BCG vaccine candidates containing foreign viral, bacterial, parasite or immunomodulatory genetic material have been developed and evaluated, primarily in animal models, for immune response to the foreign antigen. This review considers some of the factors that may influence the immunogenicity of these vaccines. The influence of levels and timing of expression of the foreign antigen and the use of targeting sequences are considered in the first section. Genetic and functional stability of rBCG is reviewed in the second section. In the last section, the influence of dose and route of immunization, strain of BCG and the animal model used are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Dennehy
- The Biovac Institute, Private Bag X3, Pinelands, 7430 Cape Town, South Africa.
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Sharbati-Tehrani S, Meister B, Appel B, Lewin A. The porin MspA from Mycobacterium smegmatis improves growth of Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Int J Med Microbiol 2004; 294:235-45. [PMID: 15532981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2004.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacteria are characterized by an extremely thick hydrophobic cell wall restricting the permeability for small hydrophilic compounds. Recently, a new efficient porin (MspA) has been identified in Mycobacterium smegmatis, which is lacking in slow-growing mycobacteria. Since we were interested in investigating the influence of porins on growth of slow-growing Mycobacterium bovis BCG, we inserted a 3429 bp DNA fragment from M. smegmatis carrying the mspA gene in an integrative vector and transferred it into M. bovis BCG. Expression of mspA in the BCG derivative was shown by RT-PCR and Western blot. Quantification of bacterial growth on agar plates demonstrated two- to four-fold better growth of the BCG derivative with the transferred DNA compared with the reference strain. Transposon mutagenesis proved the mspA gene to be responsible for the growth enhancement. Intracellular multiplication of the BCG derivative in the mouse macrophage cell line J774 and the human pneumocyte cell line A549 was also clearly enhanced pointing to a possible role of porins in the interaction of mycobacteria with their hosts.
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