Capsular polysaccharide is linked to the outer surface of type 6A pneumococcal cell walls

Timing of Toll-like receptor 9 agonist administration in pneumococcal vaccination impacts both humoral and cellular immune responses as well as nasopharyngeal colonization in mice

Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG motifs, CpG ODN, are Toll-like receptor 9 agonists (TLR9a), which have been used as adjuvants in pneumococcal vaccines to improve antibody responses in immunodeficient patients. Here, we examined whether the coadministration of TLR9a with pneumococcal CRM(197)-conjugate vaccine enhances protection against pneumococcal colonization, the levels of antipolysaccharide antibodies, and the CD4(+) T-cell responses. Wild-type BALB/c mice and B-cell-deficient BALB/c Igh-J(tm1Dhu) mice were immunized twice with the following: (i) PCV alone; (ii) simultaneous PCV and TLR9a; (iii) PCV and then TLR9a, after a 48-h delay; (iv) TLR9a alone; and (v) phosphate-buffered saline. Nasopharyngeal protection, serum antibodies, CD4(+) T-cell responses, and clearance of bacteremia after intraperitoneal challenge with Streptococcus pneumoniae 6B were evaluated. We found decreased nasopharyngeal protection against S. pneumoniae 6B colonization after simultaneous immunization with PCV and TLR9a compared to immunization with PCV alone in wild-type BALB/c mice (P = 0.037). A similar trend was observed in B-cell-deficient BALB/c Igh-J(tm1Dhu) mice. Simultaneous administration did not enhance antibody levels and lowered the CRM(197)-specific cytokine release of gamma interferon, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-5 and IL-13. Immunization with PCV and then TLR9a, after a 48-h delay, significantly improved nasopharyngeal protection compared to simultaneous administration (P = 0.011). Furthermore, delaying TLR9a delivery increased antibody titers compared to both simultaneous administration (P = 0.001) and PCV immunization alone (P = 0.026). In conclusion, the immunological and clinical impact of adjuvanting a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevnar; Pfizer) with a TLR9a is highly depended on timing of the adjuvant administration. Thus, careful timing of adjuvant administration may improve novel vaccine formulations.

A functional analysis of the Streptococcus pneumoniae genes involved in the synthesis of type 1 and type 3 capsular polysaccharides

Type 3 pneumococci produce a capsule composed of cellobiuronic acid units connected in a beta (1-->3) linkage. Cellobiuronic acid is a disaccharide consisting of D-glucuronic acid (GlcA) beta (1-->4) linked to D-glucose (Glc). The genes implicated in the biosynthesis of the type 3 capsule have been cloned, expressed, and biochemically characterized. The three type 3-specific genes--designated as cap3ABC--are transcribed together. However, the two complete open reading frames located upstream of cap3A are not transcribed and, consequently, are not required for capsule formation. The promoter of the cap3 operon was localized by primer extension analysis. The products of cap3A, cap3B, and cap3C were biochemically characterized as a UDP-Glc dehydrogenase, the type 3 polysaccharide synthase, and a Glc-1-P uridyltransferase, respectively. The Cap3B synthase was expressed in Escherichia coli, and pneumococcal type 3 polysaccharide was synthesized in this heterologous system. When a recombinant plasmid (pLSE3B) containing cap3B was introduced by transformation into encapsulated pneumococci of types 1, 2, 5, or 8, the lincomycin-resistant transformants displayed a binary type of capsule, this is, they showed a type 3 capsule in addition to that of the recipient type. Unencapsulated (S2) laboratory strains of S. pneumoniae also synthesized a type 3 capsule when transformed with pLSE3B. On the other hand, we have cloned and sequenced seven type 1-specific genes (designated as cap1A-G), and their functions have been preliminarily assigned based on sequence similarities.

Current status of meningococcal group B vaccine candidates: capsular or noncapsular?

Meningococcal meningitis is a severe, life-threatening infection for which no adequate vaccine exists. Current vaccines, based on the group-specific capsular polysaccharides, provide short-term protection in adults against serogroups A and C but are ineffective in infants and do not induce protection against group B strains, the predominant cause of infection in western countries, because the purified serogroup B polysaccharide fails to elicit human bactericidal antibodies. Because of the poor immunogenicity of group B capsular polysaccharide, different noncapsular antigens have been considered for inclusion in a vaccine against this serogroup: outer membrane proteins, lipooligosaccharides, iron-regulated proteins, Lip, pili, CtrA, and the immunoglobulin A proteases. Alternatively, attempts to increase the immunogenicity of the capsular polysaccharide have been made by using noncovalent complexes with outer membrane proteins, chemical modifications, and structural analogs. Here, we review the strategies employed for the development of a vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B; the difficulties associated with the different approaches are discussed.