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Wang J, Xiong K, Pan Q, He W, Cong Y. Application of TonB-Dependent Transporters in Vaccine Development of Gram-Negative Bacteria. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:589115. [PMID: 33585268 PMCID: PMC7873555 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.589115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple scarce nutrients, such as iron and nickel, are essential for bacterial growth. Gram-negative bacteria secrete chelators to bind these nutrients from the environment competitively. The transport of the resulting complexes into bacterial cells is mediated by TonB-dependent transporters (TBDTs) located at the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria. The characteristics of TBDTs, including surface exposure, protective immunogenicity, wide distribution, inducible expression in vivo, and essential roles in pathogenicity, make them excellent candidates for vaccine development. The possible application of a large number of TBDTs in immune control of the corresponding pathogens has been recently investigated. This paper summarizes the latest progresses and current major issues in the application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Traditional Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Kun Xiong
- Department of Cold Environmental Medicine, Institute of High Altitude Military Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqiong, China
| | - Qu Pan
- Department of Microbiology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Weifeng He
- Department of Burn, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanguang Cong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Traditional Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Precision Medicine Center, Traditional Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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Awanye AM, Chang CM, Wheeler JX, Chan H, Marsay L, Dold C, Rollier CS, Bird LE, Nettleship JE, Owens RJ, Pollard AJ, Derrick JP. Immunogenicity profiling of protein antigens from capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6843. [PMID: 31048732 PMCID: PMC6497663 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43139-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Outer membrane vesicle (OMV)- based vaccines have been used to provide strain-specific protection against capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis infections, but the full breadth of the immune response against the components of the OMV has not been established. Sera from adults vaccinated with an OMV vaccine were used to screen 91 outer membrane proteins (OMPs) incorporated in an antigen microarray panel. Antigen-specific IgG levels were quantified pre-vaccination, and after 12 and 18 weeks. These results were compared with IgG levels from mice vaccinated with the same OMV vaccine. The repertoires of highly responding antigens in humans and mice overlapped, but were not identical. The highest responding antigens to human IgG comprised four integral OMPs (PorA, PorB, OpcA and PilQ), a protein which promotes the stability of PorA and PorB (RmpM) and two lipoproteins (BamC and GNA1162). These observations will assist in evaluating the role of minor antigen components within OMVs in providing protection against meningococcal infection. In addition, the relative dominance of responses to integral OMPs in humans emphasizes the importance of this subclass and points to the value of maintaining conformational epitopes from integral membrane proteins in vaccine formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaka M Awanye
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Chun-Mien Chang
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jun X Wheeler
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Leanne Marsay
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Christina Dold
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Christine S Rollier
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Louise E Bird
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Joanne E Nettleship
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Raymond J Owens
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Jeremy P Derrick
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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Cornelissen CN. Subversion of nutritional immunity by the pathogenic Neisseriae. Pathog Dis 2018; 76:4553517. [PMID: 29045638 PMCID: PMC6251569 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftx112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic Neisseria species, including Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, are obligate human pathogens that cause significant morbidity and mortality. The success of these pathogens, with regard to causing disease in humans, is inextricably linked to their ability to acquire necessary nutrients in the hostile environment of the host. Humans deploy a significant arsenal of weaponry to defend against bacterial pathogens, not least of which are the metal-sequestering proteins that entrap and withhold transition metals, including iron, zinc and manganese, from invaders. This review will discuss the general strategies that bacteria employ to overcome these metal-sequestering attempts by the host, and then will focus on the relatively uncommon 'metal piracy' approaches utilized by the pathogenic Neisseria for this purpose. Because acquiring metals from the environment is critical to microbial survival, interfering with this process could impede growth and therefore disease initiation or progression. This review will also discuss how interfering with metal uptake by the pathogenic Neisseriae could be deployed in the development of novel or improved preventative or therapeutic measures against these important pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Nau Cornelissen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Box 980678, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA
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Sanders H, Norheim G, Chan H, Dold C, Vipond C, Derrick JP, Pollard AJ, Maiden MCJ, Feavers IM. FetA Antibodies Induced by an Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine Derived from a Serogroup B Meningococcal Isolate with Constitutive FetA Expression. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140345. [PMID: 26466091 PMCID: PMC4605655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease causes over 3500 cases each year in Europe, with particularly high incidence among young children. Among serogroup B meningococci, which cause most of the cases, high diversity in the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) is observed in endemic situations; however, comprehensive molecular epidemiological data are available for the diversity and distribution of the OMPs PorA and FetA and these can be used to rationally design a vaccine with high coverage of the case isolates. The aim of this study was to determine whether outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from an isolate with constitutive FetA expression (MenPF-1 vaccine) could be used to induce antibodies against both the PorA and FetA antigens. The immunogenicity of various dose levels and number of doses was evaluated in mice and rabbits, and IgG antibody responses tested against OMVs and recombinant PorA and FetA proteins. A panel of four isogenic mutants was generated and used to evaluate the relative ability of the vaccine to induce serum bactericidal activity (SBA) against FetA and PorA. Sera from mice were tested in SBA against the four target strains. Results demonstrated that the MenPF-1 OMVs were immunogenic against PorA and FetA in both animal models. Furthermore, the murine antibodies induced were bactericidal against isogenic mutant strains, suggesting that antibodies to both PorA and FetA were functional. The data presented indicate that the MenPF-1 vaccine is a suitable formulation for presenting PorA and FetA OMPs in order to induce bactericidal antibodies, and that proceeding to a Phase I clinical trial with this vaccine candidate is justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Sanders
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Gunnstein Norheim
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Christina Dold
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Vipond
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy P. Derrick
- Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ian M. Feavers
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
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Norheim G, Sanders H, Mellesdal JW, Sundfør I, Chan H, Brehony C, Vipond C, Dold C, Care R, Saleem M, Maiden MCJ, Derrick JP, Feavers I, Pollard AJ. An OMV Vaccine Derived from a Capsular Group B Meningococcus with Constitutive FetA Expression: Preclinical Evaluation of Immunogenicity and Toxicity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134353. [PMID: 26390123 PMCID: PMC4577077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134353] [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: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the introduction of effective protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines against capsular group C meningococcal disease in Europe, meningococci of capsular group B remain a major cause of death and can result in debilitating sequelae. The outer membrane proteins PorA and FetA have previously been shown to induce bactericidal antibodies in humans. Despite considerable antigenic variation among PorA and FetA OMPs in meningococci, systematic molecular epidemiological studies revealed this variation is highly structured so that a limited repertoire of antigenic types is congruent with the hyperinvasive meningococcal lineages that have caused most of the meningococcal disease in Europe in recent decades. Here we describe the development of a prototype vaccine against capsular group B meningococcal infection based on a N. meningitidis isolate genetically engineered to have constitutive expression of the outer membrane protein FetA. Deoxycholate outer membrane vesicles (dOMVs) extracted from cells cultivated in modified Frantz medium contained 21.8% PorA protein, 7.7% FetA protein and 0.03 μg LPS per μg protein (3%). The antibody response to the vaccine was tested in three mouse strains and the toxicological profile of the vaccine was tested in New Zealand white rabbits. Administration of the vaccine, MenPF-1, when given by intramuscular injection on 4 occasions over a 9 week period, was well tolerated in rabbits up to 50 μg/dose, with no evidence of systemic toxicity. These data indicated that the MenPF-1 vaccine had a toxicological profile suitable for testing in a phase I clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnstein Norheim
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Holly Sanders
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Carina Brehony
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Vipond
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Dold
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rory Care
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Ian Feavers
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Saleem M, Prince SM, Rigby SEJ, Imran M, Patel H, Chan H, Sanders H, Maiden MCJ, Feavers IM, Derrick JP. Use of a molecular decoy to segregate transport from antigenicity in the FrpB iron transporter from Neisseria meningitidis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56746. [PMID: 23457610 PMCID: PMC3574120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
FrpB is an outer membrane transporter from Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of meningococcal meningitis. It is a member of the TonB-dependent transporter (TBDT) family and is responsible for iron uptake into the periplasm. FrpB is subject to a high degree of antigenic variation, principally through a region of hypervariable sequence exposed at the cell surface. From the crystal structures of two FrpB antigenic variants, we identify a bound ferric ion within the structure which induces structural changes on binding which are consistent with it being the transported substrate. Binding experiments, followed by elemental analysis, verified that FrpB binds Fe3+ with high affinity. EPR spectra of the bound Fe3+ ion confirmed that its chemical environment was consistent with that observed in the crystal structure. Fe3+ binding was reduced or abolished on mutation of the Fe3+-chelating residues. FrpB orthologs were identified in other Gram-negative bacteria which showed absolute conservation of the coordinating residues, suggesting the existence of a specific TBDT sub-family dedicated to the transport of Fe3+. The region of antigenic hypervariability lies in a separate, external sub-domain, whose structure is conserved in both the F3-3 and F5-1 variants, despite their sequence divergence. We conclude that the antigenic sub-domain has arisen separately as a result of immune selection pressure to distract the immune response from the primary transport function. This would enable FrpB to function as a transporter independently of antibody binding, by using the antigenic sub-domain as a ‘molecular decoy’ to distract immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Saleem
- Michael Smith Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen M. Prince
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen E. J. Rigby
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Michael Smith Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hema Patel
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Holly Sanders
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Martin C. J. Maiden
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ian M. Feavers
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Health Protection Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy P. Derrick
- Michael Smith Building, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Schalk IJ, Mislin GLA, Brillet K. Structure, function and binding selectivity and stereoselectivity of siderophore-iron outer membrane transporters. CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2012; 69:37-66. [PMID: 23046646 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394390-3.00002-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
To get access to iron, microorganisms produce and release into their environment small organic metal chelators called siderophores. In parallel, they produce siderophore-iron outer membrane transporters (also called TonB-Dependent Transporters or TBDT) embedded in the outer membrane; these proteins actively reabsorb the siderophore loaded with iron from the extracellular medium. This active uptake requires energy in the form of the proton motive force transferred from the inner membrane to the outer membrane transporter via the inner membrane TonB complex. Siderophores produced by microorganisms are structurally very diverse with molecular weights of 150 up to 2000Da. Siderophore-iron uptake from the extracellular medium by TBDTs is a highly selective and sometimes even stereoselective process, with each siderophore having a specific TBDT. Unlike the siderophores, all TBDTs have similar structures and belong to the outer membrane β-barrel protein superfamily. The way in which the siderophore-iron complex passes through the TBDT is still unclear. In some bacteria, TBDTs are also partners of signaling cascades regulating the expression of proteins involved in siderophore biosynthesis and siderophore-iron acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle J Schalk
- UMR 7242, Université de Strasbourg-CNRS, ESBS, Boulevard Sébastien Brant, Strasbourg, France.
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