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Fantoni G, Boccadifuoco G, Verdirosa F, Molesti E, Manenti A, Montomoli E. Current challenges and improvements in assessing the immunogenicity of bacterial vaccines. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1404637. [PMID: 39044946 PMCID: PMC11263209 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1404637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The increase in antimicrobial-resistant bacterial strains has highlighted the need for a new vaccine strategy. The primary goal of a candidate vaccine is to prevent disease, by inducing a persistent immunologic memory, through the activation of pathogen-specific immune response. Antibody titer is the main parameter used to assess the immunogenicity of bacterial vaccine candidates and it is the most widely used as a correlate of protection. On the other hand, the antibody titer alone cannot provide complete information on all the activity mediated by antibodies which can only be assessed by functional assays, like the serum bactericidal assay and the opsonophagocytosis assay. However, due to the involvement of many biological factors, these assays are difficult to standardize. Some improvements have been achieved in recent years, but further optimizations are needed to minimize inter- and intra-laboratories variability and to allow the applicability of these functional assays for the vaccine immunogenicity assessment on a larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fantoni
- VisMederi S.r.l., Siena, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Emanuele Montomoli
- VisMederi S.r.l., Siena, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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2
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Detection of capsular genotypes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and clonal distribution of the cap5 and cap8 genes in clinical isolates. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:186. [PMID: 35192046 PMCID: PMC8861481 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02793-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Up until now, the capsular polysaccharides of Staphylococcus aureus have been classified into 11 types, of which only 2 types 5 and 8; (encoded by the genes cap5 and cap8, respectively) are present in 80–90% of clinically significant strains. The aim of the present study was to detect the capsular genotypes of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates and determined their clonal distribution. A total of 262 MRSA clinical isolates from different hospitals in Mexico were analyzed by PCR to determine the genetic characteristics of their capsule expression. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing were used to characterize the isolates. The analysis of the capsular genotypes among MRSA isolates showed that 245 isolates (93.5%) contained the cap5 gene, and that the remaining 17 (6.5%) encoded the cap8 gene. The MRSA isolates were grouped into four clonal groups. The identification of the capsular genotypes of clinical isolates of MRSA is important information because potential vaccine formulations against S. aureus involve capsular polysaccharides.
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3
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Jahantigh HR, Faezi S, Habibi M, Mahdavi M, Stufano A, Lovreglio P, Ahmadi K. The Candidate Antigens to Achieving an Effective Vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020199. [PMID: 35214658 PMCID: PMC8876328 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an opportunistic pathogen that causes various inflammatory local infections, from those of the skin to postinfectious glomerulonephritis. These infections could result in serious threats, putting the life of the patient in danger. Antibiotic-resistant S. aureus could lead to dramatic increases in human mortality. Antibiotic resistance would explicate the failure of current antibiotic therapies. So, it is obvious that an effective vaccine against S. aureus infections would significantly reduce costs related to care in hospitals. Bacterial vaccines have important impacts on morbidity and mortality caused by several common pathogens, however, a prophylactic vaccine against staphylococci has not yet been produced. During the last decades, the efforts to develop an S. aureus vaccine have faced two major failures in clinical trials. New strategies for vaccine development against S. aureus has supported the use of multiple antigens, the inclusion of adjuvants, and the focus on various virulence mechanisms. We aimed to present a compressive review of different antigens of S. aureus and also to introduce vaccine candidates undergoing clinical trials, from which can help us to choose a suitable and effective candidate for vaccine development against S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Reza Jahantigh
- Animal Health and Zoonosis, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy;
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy;
- Correspondence: (H.R.J.); (K.A.); Tel.: +39-3773827669 (H.R.J.)
| | - Sobhan Faezi
- Medical Biotechnology Research Center, School of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht 41937, Iran;
| | - Mehri Habibi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Ave., Tehran 13164, Iran;
| | - Mehdi Mahdavi
- Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran 1517964311, Iran
- Recombinant Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 13164, Iran;
| | - Angela Stufano
- Animal Health and Zoonosis, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy;
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy;
| | - Piero Lovreglio
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy;
| | - Khadijeh Ahmadi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas 79391, Iran
- Correspondence: (H.R.J.); (K.A.); Tel.: +39-3773827669 (H.R.J.)
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4
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Clegg J, Soldaini E, McLoughlin RM, Rittenhouse S, Bagnoli F, Phogat S. Staphylococcus aureus Vaccine Research and Development: The Past, Present and Future, Including Novel Therapeutic Strategies. Front Immunol 2021; 12:705360. [PMID: 34305945 PMCID: PMC8294057 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.705360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens worldwide. Its high antibiotic resistance profile reinforces the need for new interventions like vaccines in addition to new antibiotics. Vaccine development efforts against S. aureus have failed so far however, the findings from these human clinical and non-clinical studies provide potential insight for such failures. Currently, research is focusing on identifying novel vaccine formulations able to elicit potent humoral and cellular immune responses. Translational science studies are attempting to discover correlates of protection using animal models as well as in vitro and ex vivo models assessing efficacy of vaccine candidates. Several new vaccine candidates are being tested in human clinical trials in a variety of target populations. In addition to vaccines, bacteriophages, monoclonal antibodies, centyrins and new classes of antibiotics are being developed. Some of these have been tested in humans with encouraging results. The complexity of the diseases and the range of the target populations affected by this pathogen will require a multipronged approach using different interventions, which will be discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonah Clegg
- GSK, Siena, Italy
- Host Pathogen Interactions Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Rachel M. McLoughlin
- Host Pathogen Interactions Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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5
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Karauzum H, Venkatasubramaniam A, Adhikari RP, Kort T, Holtsberg FW, Mukherjee I, Mednikov M, Ortines R, Nguyen NTQ, Doan TMN, Diep BA, Lee JC, Aman MJ. IBT-V02: A Multicomponent Toxoid Vaccine Protects Against Primary and Secondary Skin Infections Caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Front Immunol 2021; 12:624310. [PMID: 33777005 PMCID: PMC7987673 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.624310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus causes a wide range of diseases from skin infections to life threatening invasive diseases such as bacteremia, endocarditis, pneumonia, surgical site infections, and osteomyelitis. Skin infections such as furuncles, carbuncles, folliculitis, erysipelas, and cellulitis constitute a large majority of infections caused by S. aureus (SA). These infections cause significant morbidity, healthcare costs, and represent a breeding ground for antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, skin infection with SA is a major risk factor for invasive disease. Here we describe the pre-clinical efficacy of a multicomponent toxoid vaccine (IBT-V02) for prevention of S. aureus acute skin infections and recurrence. IBT-V02 targets six SA toxins including the pore-forming toxins alpha hemolysin (Hla), Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), leukocidin AB (LukAB), and the superantigens toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B. Immunization of mice and rabbits with IBT-V02 generated antibodies with strong neutralizing activity against toxins included in the vaccine, as well as cross-neutralizing activity against multiple related toxins, and protected against skin infections by several clinically relevant SA strains of USA100, USA300, and USA1000 clones. Efficacy of the vaccine was also shown in non-naïve mice pre-exposed to S. aureus. Furthermore, vaccination with IBT-V02 not only protected mice from a primary infection but also demonstrated lasting efficacy against a secondary infection, while prior challenge with the bacteria alone was unable to protect against recurrence. Serum transfer studies in a primary infection model showed that antibodies are primarily responsible for the protective response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tom Kort
- Integrated BioTherapeutics, Rockville, MD, United States
| | | | | | - Mark Mednikov
- Integrated BioTherapeutics, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Roger Ortines
- Integrated BioTherapeutics, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Nhu T. Q. Nguyen
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Thien M. N. Doan
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Binh An Diep
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jean C. Lee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - M. Javad Aman
- Integrated BioTherapeutics, Rockville, MD, United States
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6
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Chai P, Pu X, Ge J, Ren S, Xia X, Luo A, Wang S, Wang X, Li J. The recombinant protein combined vaccine based on the fragment C of tetanus toxin and the cross-reacting material 197. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:1683-1692. [PMID: 33511443 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11139-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines were widely used since 1940s. The exceptional success of childhood vaccination is undisputed. However, the anti-diphtheria and tetanus antibody will decrease with the increase of age in human body. A boosting vaccine for tetanus and diphtheria in adult is recommended by WHO. Recombinant protein vaccine has the advantages of single component and high safety, which is one of the directions to develop boosting vaccines. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated a recombinant TTc and CRM197 combination vaccine (RTCV) that uses the fragment C (TTc) of tetanus toxin and the cross-reacting material 197 (CRM197) of the diphtheria toxin mutant. Our results displayed that RTCV (composed of 10 μg/mL TTc, 20 μg/mL CRM197 antigens, and 500 μg/mL aluminum adjuvants) could induce high levels of IgG and IgG1 antibody in mice, which were similar as those induced by DTaP. These results will provide technical support for a novel boosting vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus. KEY POINTS: • We successfully expressed CRM197 protein in E. coli BL21 (DE3) using pET26b (+) vector. • The anti-TTc and anti-CRM197 antibody titer (IgG) of RTCV was similar with DTaP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengdi Chai
- Jiangsu Theravac Bio-pharmaceutical CO., Ltd, No.699-18 Xuanwu Street, Nanjing, 210042, China.,School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Xiuying Pu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Jun Ge
- Jiangsu Theravac Bio-pharmaceutical CO., Ltd, No.699-18 Xuanwu Street, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Sulin Ren
- Jiangsu Theravac Bio-pharmaceutical CO., Ltd, No.699-18 Xuanwu Street, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Xiaoyu Xia
- Jiangsu Theravac Bio-pharmaceutical CO., Ltd, No.699-18 Xuanwu Street, Nanjing, 210042, China.,School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Amiao Luo
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Shiwei Wang
- Jiangsu Theravac Bio-pharmaceutical CO., Ltd, No.699-18 Xuanwu Street, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Jiangsu Theravac Bio-pharmaceutical CO., Ltd, No.699-18 Xuanwu Street, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Jianqiang Li
- Jiangsu Theravac Bio-pharmaceutical CO., Ltd, No.699-18 Xuanwu Street, Nanjing, 210042, China.
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7
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Miller LS, Fowler VG, Shukla SK, Rose WE, Proctor RA. Development of a vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus invasive infections: Evidence based on human immunity, genetics and bacterial evasion mechanisms. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 44:123-153. [PMID: 31841134 PMCID: PMC7053580 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuz030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both hospital and community settings, especially with the widespread emergence of virulent and multi-drug resistant methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains. There is an urgent and unmet clinical need for non-antibiotic immune-based approaches to treat these infections as the increasing antibiotic resistance is creating a serious threat to public health. However, all vaccination attempts aimed at preventing S. aureus invasive infections have failed in human trials, especially all vaccines aimed at generating high titers of opsonic antibodies against S. aureus surface antigens to facilitate antibody-mediated bacterial clearance. In this review, we summarize the data from humans regarding the immune responses that protect against invasive S. aureus infections as well as host genetic factors and bacterial evasion mechanisms, which are important to consider for the future development of effective and successful vaccines and immunotherapies against invasive S. aureus infections in humans. The evidence presented form the basis for a hypothesis that staphylococcal toxins (including superantigens and pore-forming toxins) are important virulence factors, and targeting the neutralization of these toxins are more likely to provide a therapeutic benefit in contrast to prior vaccine attempts to generate antibodies to facilitate opsonophagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd S Miller
- Immunology, Janssen Research and Development, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA, 19477, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, Cancer Research Building 2, Suite 209, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 North Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Vance G Fowler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, 315 Trent Drive, Hanes House, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.,Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Sanjay K Shukla
- Center for Precision Medicine Research, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, 1000 North Oak Avenue, Marshfield, WI, 54449, USA.,Computation and Informatics in Biology and Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 425 Henry Mall, Room 3445, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Warren E Rose
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Avenue, 5158 Medical Foundation Centennial Building, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.,Pharmacy Practice Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, 4123 Rennebohm Hall, Madison, WI, 53705 USA
| | - Richard A Proctor
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Avenue, 5158 Medical Foundation Centennial Building, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, 1550 Linden Drive, Microbial Sciences Building, Room 1334, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
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8
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Harro JM, Achermann Y, Freiberg JA, Allison DL, Brao KJ, Marinos DP, Sanjari S, Leid JG, Shirtliff ME. Clearance of Staphylococcus aureus from In Vivo Models of Chronic Infection by Immunization Requires Both Planktonic and Biofilm Antigens. Infect Immun 2019; 88:e00586-19. [PMID: 31712267 PMCID: PMC6921670 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00586-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a causative agent of chronic biofilm-associated infections that are recalcitrant to resolution by the immune system or antibiotics. To combat these infections, an antistaphylococcal, biofilm-specific quadrivalent vaccine against an osteomyelitis model in rabbits has previously been developed and shown to be effective at eliminating biofilm-embedded bacterial populations. However, the addition of antibiotics was required to eradicate remaining planktonic populations. In this study, a planktonic upregulated antigen was combined with the quadrivalent vaccine to remove the need for antibiotic therapy. Immunization with this pentavalent vaccine followed by intraperitoneal challenge of BALB/c mice with S. aureus resulted in 16.7% and 91.7% mortality in pentavalent vaccine and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Complete bacterial elimination was found in 66.7% of the pentavalent cohort, while only 8.3% of the control animals cleared the infection (P < 0.05). Further protective efficacy was observed in immunized rabbits following intramedullary challenge with S. aureus, where 62.5% of the pentavalent cohort completely cleared the infection, versus none of the control animals (P < 0.05). Passive immunization of BALB/c mice with serum IgG against the vaccine antigens prior to intraperitoneal challenge with S. aureus prevented mortality in 100% of mice and eliminated bacteria in 33.3% of the challenged mice. These results demonstrate that targeting both the planktonic and biofilm stages with the pentavalent vaccine or the IgG elicited by immunization can effectively protect against S. aureus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janette M Harro
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yvonne Achermann
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jeffrey A Freiberg
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Graduate Program in Life Sciences, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Program, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Devon L Allison
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Graduate Program in Life Sciences, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Program, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kristen J Brao
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Graduate Program in Life Sciences, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Program, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dimitrius P Marinos
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Salar Sanjari
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeff G Leid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Mark E Shirtliff
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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