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Olsen AW, Rosenkrands I, Jacobsen CS, Cheeseman HM, Kristiansen MP, Dietrich J, Shattock RJ, Follmann F. Immune signature of Chlamydia vaccine CTH522/CAF®01 translates from mouse-to-human and induces durable protection in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1665. [PMID: 38396019 PMCID: PMC10891140 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45526-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical development of an effective Chlamydia vaccine requires in-depth understanding of how well protective pre-clinical immune signatures translate to humans. Here, we report a comparative immunological characterization of CTH522/CAF®01 in female mice and humans. We find a range of immune signatures that translate from mouse to human, including a Th1/Th17 cytokine profile and antibody functionality. We identify vaccine-induced T cell epitopes, conserved among Chlamydia serovars, and previously found in infected individuals. Using the mouse model, we show that the common immune signature protected against ascending infection in mice, and vaccine induced antibodies could delay bacterial ascension to the oviduct, as well as development of pathology, in a T cell depleted mouse model. Finally, we demonstrate long-lasting immunity and protection of mice one year after vaccination. Based on the results obtained in the present study, we propose to further investigate CTH522/CAF®01 in a phase IIb study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja W Olsen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ida Rosenkrands
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina S Jacobsen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- PharmaRelations, Virum, Denmark
| | | | - Max P Kristiansen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jes Dietrich
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robin J Shattock
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Frank Follmann
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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2
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Heterologous prime-boost vaccination based on Polymorphic protein D protects against intravaginal Chlamydia trachomatis infection in mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6664. [PMID: 35459778 PMCID: PMC9030682 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10633-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The control of the worldwide spread of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection urgently demands the development of a preventive vaccine. In this work, we designed a vaccine based on a fragment of polymorphic protein D (FPmpD) that proved to be immunogenic enough to generate a robust systemic and mucosal IgG humoral immune response in two strains of mice. We used a heterologous prime-boost strategy, including simultaneous systemic and mucosal administration routes. The high titers of anti-PmpD antibodies elicited by this immunization scheme did not affect murine fertility. We tested the vaccine in a mouse model of Ct intravaginal infection. Anti-PmpD antibodies displayed potent neutralizing activity in vitro and protective effects in uterine tissues in vivo. Notably, the humoral immune response of PmpD-vaccinated mice was faster and stronger than the primary immune response of non-vaccinated mice when exposed to Ct. FPmpD-based vaccine effectively reduced Ct shedding into cervicovaginal fluids, bacterial burden at the genitourinary tract, and overall infectivity. Hence, the FPmpD-based vaccine might constitute an efficient tool to protect against Ct intravaginal infection and decrease the infection spreading.
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Gregory AE, van Schaik EJ, Fratzke AP, Russell-Lodrigue KE, Farris CM, Samuel JE. Soluble antigens derived from Coxiella burnetii elicit protective immunity in three animal models without inducing hypersensitivity. Cell Rep Med 2021; 2:100461. [PMID: 35028605 PMCID: PMC8714860 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Q fever is caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii, for which there is no approved vaccine in the United States. A formalin-inactivated whole-cell vaccine (WCV) from virulent C. burnetii NMI provides single-dose long-lived protection, but concerns remain over vaccine reactogenicity. We therefore sought an alternate approach by purifying native C. burnetii antigens from the clonally derived avirulent NMII strain. A soluble bacterial extract, termed Sol II, elicits high-titer, high-avidity antibodies and induces a CD4 T cell response that confers protection in naive mice. In addition, Sol II protects against pulmonary C. burnetii challenge in three animal models without inducing hypersensitivity. An NMI-derived extract, Sol I, enhances protection further and outperforms the WCV gold standard. Collectively, these data represent a promising approach to design highly effective, non-reactogenic Q fever vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony E. Gregory
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Medical Research and Education Building, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Erin J. van Schaik
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Medical Research and Education Building, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Alycia P. Fratzke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Medical Research and Education Building, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Kasi E. Russell-Lodrigue
- Tulane University, School of Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA
| | - Christina M. Farris
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Medical Research and Education Building, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - James E. Samuel
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Medical Research and Education Building, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
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Lanfermann C, Kohn M, Laudeley R, Rheinheimer C, Klos A. Chlamydia trachomatis Cross-Serovar Protection during Experimental Lung Reinfection in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9080871. [PMID: 34451996 PMCID: PMC8402589 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9080871] [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: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis causes most bacterial sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. Different major outer membrane proteins (MOMPs) define various serovars of this intracellular pathogen: In women, D to L3 can cause urethritis, cervicitis, salpingitis, and oophoritis, and, thus, infertility. Protective immunity might be serovar-specific since chlamydial infection does not appear to induce an effective acquired immunity and reinfections occur. A better understanding of induced cross-serovar protection is essential for the selection of suitable antigens in vaccine development. In our mouse lung infection screening model, we evaluated the urogenital serovars D, E, and L2 in this regard. Seven weeks after primary infection or mock-infection, respectively, mice were infected a second time with the identical or one of the other serovars. Body weight and clinical score were monitored for 7 days. Near the peak of the second lung infection, bacterial load, myeloperoxidase, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in lung homogenate, as well as chlamydia-specific IgG levels in blood were determined. Surprisingly, compared with mice that were infected then for the first time, almost independent of the serovar combination used, all acquired parameters of disease were similarly diminished. Our reinfection study suggests that efficient cross-serovar protection could be achieved by a vaccine combining chlamydial antigens that do not include nonconserved MOMP regions.
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Prophylactic Multi-Subunit Vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis: In Vivo Evaluation in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9060609. [PMID: 34204170 PMCID: PMC8226540 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9060609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent sexually-transmitted disease-causing bacterium. Urogenital serovars of this intracellular pathogen lead to urethritis and cervicitis. Ascending infections result in pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, and oophoritis. One of 200 urogenital infections leads to tubal infertility. Serovars A–C cause trachoma with visual impairment. There is an urgent need for a vaccine. We characterized a new five-component subunit vaccine in a mouse vaccination-lung challenge infection model. Four recombinant Pmp family-members and Ctad1 from C. trachomatis serovar E, all of which participate in adhesion and binding of chlamydial elementary bodies to host cells, were combined with the mucosal adjuvant cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate. Intranasal application led to a high degree of cross-serovar protection against urogenital and ocular strains of C. trachomatis, which lasted at least five months. Critical evaluated parameters were body weight, clinical score, chlamydial load, a granulocyte marker and the cytokines IFN-γ/TNF-α in lung homogenate. Vaccine antigen-specific antibodies and a mixed Th1/Th2/Th17 T cell response with multi-functional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells correlate with protection. However, serum-transfer did not protect the recipients suggesting that circulating antibodies play only a minor role. In the long run, our new vaccine might help to prevent the feared consequences of human C. trachomatis infections.
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Waugh CA, Timms P. A proposed roadmap for the control of infections in wildlife using Chlamydia vaccine development in koalas Phascolarctos cinereus as a template. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A. Waugh
- C. Waugh ✉ , Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord Univ., Steinkjer, Norway
| | - Peter Timms
- P. Timms, Univ. of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
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Boddicker MA, Kaufhold RM, Cox KS, Lucas BJ, Xie J, Nahas DD, Touch S, Espeseth AS, Vora KA, Skinner JM. A Novel LNP-Based <i>Chlamydia</i> Subunit Vaccine Formulation That Induces Th1 Responses without Upregulating IL-17 Provides Equivalent Protection in Mice as Formulations That Induced IL-17 and Th1 Cytokines. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.4236/wjv.2020.104005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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8
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Hepler RW, Nahas DD, Lucas B, Kaufhold R, Flynn JA, Galli JD, Swoyer R, Wagner JM, Espeseth AS, Joyce JG, Cook JC, Durr E. Spectroscopic analysis of chlamydial major outer membrane protein in support of structure elucidation. Protein Sci 2019; 27:1923-1941. [PMID: 30144190 PMCID: PMC6201732 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) is the major protein constituent of the bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia trachomatis Serovars D–K are the leading cause of genital tract infections which can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancies. A vaccine against Chlamydia is highly desirable but currently not available. MOMP accounts for ~ 60% of the chlamydial protein mass and is considered to be one of the lead vaccine candidates against C. trachomatis. We report on the spectroscopic analysis of C. trachomatis native MOMP Serovars D, E, F, and J as well as C. muridarum MOMP by size exclusion chromatography multi angle light scattering (SEC MALS), circular dichroism (CD) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). MOMP was purified from the native bacterium grown in either adherent HeLa cells or in different suspension cell lines. Our results confirm that MOMP forms homo‐trimers in detergent micelles. The secondary structure composition of C. trachomatis MOMP was conserved across serovars, but different from composition of C. muridarum MOMP with a 13% (CD) to 18% (ATR‐FTIR) reduction in β‐sheet conformation for C. trachomatis MOMP. When Serovar E MOMP was isolated from suspension cell lines the α‐helix content increased by 7% (CD) to 13% (ATIR‐FTIR). Maintenance of a native‐like tertiary and quaternary structure in subunit vaccines is important for the generation of protective antibodies. This biophysical characterization of MOMP presented here serves, in the absence of functional assays, as a method for monitoring the structural integrity of MOMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Hepler
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Debbie D Nahas
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Bob Lucas
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Robin Kaufhold
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Jessica A Flynn
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Jennifer D Galli
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Ryan Swoyer
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - James M Wagner
- Vaccine Process Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Amy S Espeseth
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Joseph G Joyce
- Vaccine Process Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - James C Cook
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Eberhard Durr
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
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Kaufhold RM, Boddicker MA, Field JA, Lucas BJ, Antonello JM, Espeseth AS, Skinner JM, Heinrichs JH, Smith JG. Evaluating Potential Vaccine Antigens in both the <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> and <i>Chlamydia muridarum</i> Intravaginal Mouse Challenge Models. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.4236/wjv.2019.92004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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10
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Verma R, Sahu R, Dixit S, Duncan SA, Giambartolomei GH, Singh SR, Dennis VA. The Chlamydia M278 Major Outer Membrane Peptide Encapsulated in the Poly(lactic acid)-Poly(ethylene glycol) Nanoparticulate Self-Adjuvanting Delivery System Protects Mice Against a Chlamydia muridarum Genital Tract Challenge by Stimulating Robust Systemic and Local Mucosal Immune Responses. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2369. [PMID: 30374357 PMCID: PMC6196261 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we reported that our PPM chlamydial nanovaccine [a biodegradable co-polymeric PLA-PEG (poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol))-encapsulated M278 peptide (derived from the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia)] exploits the caveolin-mediated endocytosis pathway for endosomal processing and MHC class II presentation to immune-potentiate Chlamydia-specific CD4+ T-cell immune effector responses. In the present study, we employed the Chlamydia muridarum mouse infection model to evaluate the protective efficacy of PPM against a genital tract challenge. Our results show that mice immunized with PPM were significantly protected against a homologous genital tract challenge evidently by reduced vaginal bacterial loads. Protection of mice correlated with enhanced Chlamydia-specific adaptive immune responses predominated by IFN-γ along with CD4+ T-cells proliferation and their differentiation to CD4+ memory (CD44high CD62Lhigh) and effector (CD44high CD62Llow) T-cell phenotypes. We observed the elevation of M278- and MOMP-specific serum antibodies with high avidity in the ascending order IgG1 > IgG2b > IgG2a. A key finding was the elevated mucosal IgG1 and IgA antibody titers followed by an increase in MOMP-specific IgA after the challenge. The Th1/Th2 antibody titer ratios (IgG2a/IgG1 and IgG2b/IgG1) revealed that PPM evoked a Th2-directed response, which skewed to a Th1-dominated antibody response after the bacterial challenge of mice. In addition, PPM immune sera neutralized the infectivity of C. muridarum in McCoy cells, suggesting the triggering of functional neutralizing antibodies. Herein, we reveal for the first time that subcutaneous immunization with the self-adjuvanting biodegradable co-polymeric PPM nanovaccine immune-potentiated robust CD4+ T cell-mediated immune effector responses; a mixed Th1 and Th2 antibody response and local mucosal IgA to protect mice against a chlamydial genital tract challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Verma
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Rajnish Sahu
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Saurabh Dixit
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Skyla A Duncan
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Guillermo H Giambartolomei
- Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Shree R Singh
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Vida A Dennis
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
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Immunization with Chlamydia psittaci plasmid-encoded protein CPSIT_p7 induces partial protective immunity against chlamydia lung infection in mice. Immunol Res 2018; 66:471-479. [DOI: 10.1007/s12026-018-9018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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12
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Mackern-Oberti JP, Motrich RD, Damiani MT, Saka HA, Quintero CA, Sánchez LR, Moreno-Sosa T, Olivera C, Cuffini C, Rivero VE. Male genital tract immune response against Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Reproduction 2018; 154:R99-R110. [PMID: 28878094 DOI: 10.1530/rep-16-0561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most commonly reported agent of sexually transmitted bacterial infections worldwide. This pathogen frequently leads to persistent, long-term, subclinical infections, which in turn may cause severe pathology in susceptible hosts. This is in part due to the strategies that Chlamydia trachomatis uses to survive within epithelial cells and to evade the host immune response, such as subverting intracellular trafficking, interfering signaling pathways and preventing apoptosis. Innate immune receptors such as toll-like receptors expressed on epithelial and immune cells in the genital tract mediate the recognition of chlamydial molecular patterns. After bacterial recognition, a subset of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are continuously released by epithelial cells. The innate immune response is followed by the initiation of the adaptive response against Chlamydia trachomatis, which in turn may result in T helper 1-mediated protection or in T helper 2-mediated immunopathology. Understanding the molecular mechanisms developed by Chlamydia trachomatis to avoid killing and host immune response would be crucial for designing new therapeutic approaches and developing protective vaccines. In this review, we focus on chlamydial survival strategies and the elicited immune responses in male genital tract infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Mackern-Oberti
- Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo. IMBECU-CONICETMendoza, Argentina .,Instituto de Fisiología. Facultad de Ciencias MédicasUniversidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Rubén Darío Motrich
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria Teresa Damiani
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. IHEM-CONICETFacultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Héctor Alex Saka
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Leonardo Rodolfo Sánchez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Tamara Moreno-Sosa
- Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo. IMBECU-CONICETMendoza, Argentina
| | - Carolina Olivera
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Cuffini
- Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. VanellaFacultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Virginia Elena Rivero
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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Hafner LM, Timms P. Development of a Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine for urogenital infections: novel tools and new strategies point to bright future prospects. Expert Rev Vaccines 2017; 17:57-69. [PMID: 29264970 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2018.1417044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The "cloaked" bacterial pathogen that is Chlamydia trachomatis continues to cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that adversely affect the health and well-being of children, adolescents and adults globally. The reproductive disease sequelae follow unresolved or untreated chronic or recurrent asymptomatic C.trachomatis infections of the lower female genital tract (FGT) and can include pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and ectopic pregnancy. Tubal Factor Infertility (TFI) can also occur since protective and long-term natural immunity to chlamydial infection is incomplete, allowing for ascension of the organism to the upper FGT. Developing countries including the WHO African (8.3 million cases) and South-East Asian regions (7.2 million cases) bear the highest burden of chlamydial STIs. AREAS COVERED Genetic advances for Chlamydia have provided tools for transformation (including dendrimer-enabled transformation), lateral gene transfer and chemical mutagenesis. Recent progress in these areas is reviewed with a focus on vaccine development for Chlamydia infections of the female genital tract. EXPERT COMMENTARY A vaccine that can elicit immuno-protective responses whilst avoiding adverse immuno-pathologic host responses is required. The current technological advances in chlamydial genetics and proteomics, as well as novel and improved adjuvants and delivery systems, provide new hope that the elusive chlamydial vaccine is an imminent and realistic goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise M Hafner
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- b Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering , University of the Sunshine Coast , Maroochydore DC , Australia
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Update on Chlamydia trachomatis Vaccinology. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:CVI.00543-16. [PMID: 28228394 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00543-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Attempts to produce a vaccine to protect against Chlamydia trachomatis-induced trachoma were initiated more than 100 years ago and continued for several decades. Using whole organisms, protective responses were obtained. However, upon exposure to C. trachomatis, disease exacerbation developed in some immunized individuals, precluding the implementation of the vaccine. Evidence of the role of C. trachomatis as a sexually transmitted pathogen started to emerge in the 1960s, and it soon became evident that it can cause acute infections and long-term sequelae in women, men, and newborns. The main focus of this minireview is to summarize recent findings and discuss formulations, including antigens, adjuvants, routes, and delivery systems for immunization, primarily explored in the female mouse model, with the goal of implementing a vaccine against C. trachomatis genital infections.
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Chlamydial Type III Secretion System Needle Protein Induces Protective Immunity against Chlamydia muridarum Intravaginal Infection. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:3865802. [PMID: 28459057 PMCID: PMC5385227 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3865802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis imposes serious health problems and causes infertility. Because of asymptomatic onset, it often escapes antibiotic treatment. Therefore, vaccines offer a better option for the prevention of unwanted inflammatory sequelae. The existence of serologically distinct serovars of C. trachomatis suggests that a vaccine will need to provide protection against multiple serovars. Chlamydia spp. use a highly conserved type III secretion system (T3SS) composed of structural and effector proteins which is an essential virulence factor. In this study, we expressed the T3SS needle protein of Chlamydia muridarum, TC_0037, an ortholog of C. trachomatis CdsF, in a replication-defective adenoviral vector (AdTC_0037) and evaluated its protective efficacy in an intravaginal Chlamydia muridarum model. For better immune responses, we employed a heterologous prime-boost immunization protocol in which mice were intranasally primed with AdTC_0037 and subcutaneously boosted with recombinant TC_0037 and Toll-like receptor 4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A mixed in a squalene nanoscale emulsion. We found that immunization with TC_0037 antigen induced specific humoral and T cell responses, decreased Chlamydia loads in the genital tract, and abrogated pathology of upper genital organs. Together, our results suggest that TC_0037, a highly conserved chlamydial T3SS protein, is a good candidate for inclusion in a Chlamydia vaccine.
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