1
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Torres-Sangiao E, Happonen L, Heusel M, Palm F, Gueto-Tettay C, Malmström L, Shannon O, Malmström J. Quantification of Adaptive Immune Responses Against Protein-Binding Interfaces in the Streptococcal M1 Protein. Mol Cell Proteomics 2024; 23:100753. [PMID: 38527648 PMCID: PMC11059317 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2024.100753] [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] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial or viral antigens can contain subdominant protein regions that elicit weak antibody responses upon vaccination or infection although there is accumulating evidence that antibody responses against subdominant regions can enhance the protective immune response. One proposed mechanism for subdominant protein regions is the binding of host proteins that prevent antibody production against epitopes hidden within the protein binding interfaces. Here, we used affinity purification combined with quantitative mass spectrometry (AP-MS) to examine the level of competition between antigen-specific antibodies and host-pathogen protein interaction networks using the M1 protein from Streptococcus pyogenes as a model system. As most humans have circulating antibodies against the M1 protein, we first used AP-MS to show that the M1 protein interspecies protein network formed with human plasma proteins is largely conserved in naïve mice. Immunizing mice with the M1 protein generated a time-dependent increase of anti-M1 antibodies. AP-MS analysis comparing the composition of the M1-plasma protein network from naïve and immunized mice showed significant enrichment of 292 IgG peptides associated with 56 IgG chains in the immune mice. Despite the significant increase of bound IgGs, the levels of interacting plasma proteins were not significantly reduced in the immune mice. The results indicate that the antigen-specific polyclonal IgG against the M1 protein primarily targets epitopes outside the other plasma protein binding interfaces. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that AP-MS is a promising strategy to determine the relationship between antigen-specific antibodies and host-pathogen interaction networks that could be used to define subdominant protein regions of relevance for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Torres-Sangiao
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Escherichia coli Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Clinical Microbiology Lab, University Hospital Complex of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Lotta Happonen
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Morizt Heusel
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Evosep ApS, Odense, Denmark
| | - Frida Palm
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carlos Gueto-Tettay
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lars Malmström
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Onna Shannon
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Faculty of Odontology, Section for Oral Biology and Pathology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Johan Malmström
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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2
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Ratswohl C, Vázquez García C, Ahmad AUW, Gonschior H, Lebedin M, Silvis CE, Spatt L, Gerhard C, Lehmann M, Sander LE, Kurth F, Olsson S, de la Rosa K. A design strategy to generate a SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine that abrogates ACE2 binding and improves neutralizing antibody responses. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350408. [PMID: 37435628 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
The structure-based design of antigens holds promise for developing vaccines with higher efficacy and improved safety profiles. We postulate that abrogation of host receptor interaction bears potential for the improvement of vaccines by preventing antigen-induced modification of receptor function as well as the displacement or masking of the immunogen. Antigen modifications may yet destroy epitopes crucial for antibody neutralization. Here, we present a methodology that integrates deep mutational scans to identify and score SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain variants that maintain immunogenicity, but lack interaction with the widely expressed host receptor. Single point mutations were scored in silico, validated in vitro, and applied in vivo. Our top-scoring variant receptor binding domain-G502E prevented spike-induced cell-to-cell fusion, receptor internalization, and improved neutralizing antibody responses by 3.3-fold in rabbit immunizations. We name our strategy BIBAX for body-inert, B-cell-activating vaccines, which in the future may be applied beyond SARS-CoV-2 for the improvement of vaccines by design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Ratswohl
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Clara Vázquez García
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ata Ul Wakeel Ahmad
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannes Gonschior
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany
| | - Mikhail Lebedin
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Casper Ewijn Silvis
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lisa Spatt
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Cathrin Gerhard
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Lehmann
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany
| | - Leif E Sander
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Simon Olsson
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden
| | - Kathrin de la Rosa
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Dold C, Marsay L, Wang N, Silva-Reyes L, Clutterbuck E, Paterson GK, Sharkey K, Wyllie D, Beernink PT, Hill AV, Pollard AJ, Rollier CS. An adenoviral-vectored vaccine confers seroprotection against capsular group B meningococcal disease. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eade3901. [PMID: 37343082 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ade3901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Adenoviral-vectored vaccines are licensed for prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Ebola virus, but, for bacterial proteins, expression in a eukaryotic cell may affect the antigen's localization and conformation or lead to unwanted glycosylation. Here, we investigated the potential use of an adenoviral-vectored vaccine platform for capsular group B meningococcus (MenB). Vector-based candidate vaccines expressing MenB antigen factor H binding protein (fHbp) were generated, and immunogenicity was assessed in mouse models, including the functional antibody response by serum bactericidal assay (SBA) using human complement. All adenovirus-based vaccine candidates induced high antigen-specific antibody and T cell responses. A single dose induced functional serum bactericidal responses with titers superior or equal to those induced by two doses of protein-based comparators, as well as longer persistence and a similar breadth. The fHbp transgene was further optimized for human use by incorporating a mutation abrogating binding to the human complement inhibitor factor H. The resulting vaccine candidate induced high and persistent SBA responses in transgenic mice expressing human factor H. The optimized transgene was inserted into the clinically relevant ChAdOx1 backbone, and this vaccine has now progressed to clinical development. The results of this preclinical vaccine development study underline the potential of vaccines based on genetic material to induce functional antibody responses against bacterial outer membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Dold
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Leanne Marsay
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Nelson Wang
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Laura Silva-Reyes
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Elizabeth Clutterbuck
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Gavin K Paterson
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Kelsey Sharkey
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - David Wyllie
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Peter T Beernink
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Adrian V Hill
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Christine S Rollier
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, CCVTM, Churchill Lane, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
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4
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Veggi D, Malito E, Lo Surdo P, Pansegrau W, Rippa V, Wahome N, Savino S, Masignani V, Pizza M, Bottomley MJ. Structural characterization of a cross-protective natural chimera of factor H binding protein from meningococcal serogroup B strain NL096. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:2070-2081. [PMID: 35601959 PMCID: PMC9079162 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease can cause fatal sepsis and meningitis and is a global health threat. Factor H binding protein (fHbp) is a protective antigen included in the two currently available vaccines against serogroup B meningococcus (MenB). FHbp is a remarkably variable surface-exposed meningococcal virulence factor with over 1300 different amino acid sequences identified so far. Based on this variability, fHbp has been classified into three variants, two subfamilies or nine modular groups, with low degrees of cross-protective activity. Here, we report the crystal structure of a natural fHbp cross-variant chimera, named variant1-2,3.x expressed by the MenB clinical isolate NL096, at 1.2 Å resolution, the highest resolution of any fHbp structure reported to date. We combined biochemical, site-directed mutagenesis and computational biophysics studies to deeply characterize this rare chimera. We determined the structure to be composed of two adjacent domains deriving from the three variants and determined the molecular basis of its stability, ability to bind Factor H and to adopt the canonical three-dimensional fHbp structure. These studies guided the design of loss-of-function mutations with potential for even greater immunogenicity. Moreover, this study represents a further step in the understanding of the fHbp biological and immunological evolution in nature. The chimeric variant1-2,3.x fHbp protein emerges as an intriguing cross-protective immunogen and suggests that identification of such naturally occurring hybrid proteins may result in stable and cross-protective immunogens when seeking to design and develop vaccines against highly variable pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Veggi
- Corresponding author at: GSK Vaccines srl, Via Fiorentina 1, Siena 53100, Italy.
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5
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Skerka C, Pradel G, Halder LD, Zipfel PF, Zipfel SLH, Strauß O. Factor H-related protein 1: a complement regulatory protein and guardian of necrotic-type surfaces. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:2823-2831. [PMID: 33085794 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Factor H-related protein 1 (FHR-1) is a member of the factor H protein family, which is involved in regulating innate immune complement reactions. Genetic modification of the encoding gene, CFHR1 on human chromosome 1, is involved in diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, C3 glomerulopathy and atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome, indicating an important role for FHR-1 in human health. Recent research data demonstrate that FHR-1 levels increase in IgA nephropathy and anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) vasculitis and that FHR-1 induces strong inflammation in monocytes on necrotic-type surfaces, suggesting a complement-independent role. These new results increase our knowledge about the role of this complement protein in pathology and provide a new therapeutic target, particularly in the context of inflammatory diseases induced by necrosis. This review summarizes current knowledge about FHR-1 and discusses its role in complement reactions and inflammation. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Canonical and non-canonical functions of the complement system in health and disease. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.14/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Skerka
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Luke D Halder
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Peter F Zipfel
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Svante L H Zipfel
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Heart Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Olaf Strauß
- Experimental Ophthalmology, Charité University Medicine, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin, Germany
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6
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Subdominance in Antibody Responses: Implications for Vaccine Development. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2020; 85:85/1/e00078-20. [PMID: 33239435 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00078-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines work primarily by eliciting antibodies, even when recovery from natural infection depends on cellular immunity. Large efforts have therefore been made to identify microbial antigens that elicit protective antibodies, but these endeavors have encountered major difficulties, as witnessed by the lack of vaccines against many pathogens. This review summarizes accumulating evidence that subdominant protein regions, i.e., surface-exposed regions that elicit relatively weak antibody responses, are of particular interest for vaccine development. This concept may seem counterintuitive, but subdominance may represent an immune evasion mechanism, implying that the corresponding region potentially is a key target for protective immunity. Following a presentation of the concepts of immunodominance and subdominance, the review will present work on subdominant regions in several major human pathogens: the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum, two species of pathogenic streptococci, and the dengue and influenza viruses. Later sections are devoted to the molecular basis of subdominance, its potential role in immune evasion, and general implications for vaccine development. Special emphasis will be placed on the fact that a whole surface-exposed protein domain can be subdominant, as demonstrated for all of the pathogens described here. Overall, the available data indicate that subdominant protein regions are of much interest for vaccine development, not least in bacterial and protozoal systems, for which antibody subdominance remains largely unexplored.
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7
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Veggi D, Bianchi F, Santini L, Lo Surdo P, Chesterman CC, Pansegrau W, Bechi N, Huang Y, Masignani V, Pizza M, Rappuoli R, Bottomley MJ, Cozzi R, Maione D. 4CMenB vaccine induces elite cross-protective human antibodies that compete with human factor H for binding to meningococcal fHbp. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008882. [PMID: 33007046 PMCID: PMC7556464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) is the leading cause of meningococcal meningitis and sepsis in industrialized countries, with the highest incidence in infants and adolescents. Two recombinant protein vaccines that protect against MenB are now available (i.e. 4CMenB and MenB-fHbp). Both vaccines contain the Factor H Binding Protein (fHbp) antigen, which can bind the Human Factor H (fH), the main negative regulator of the alternative complement pathway, thus enabling bacterial survival in the blood. fHbp is present in meningococcal strains as three main variants which are immunologically distinct. Here we sought to obtain detailed information about the epitopes targeted by anti-fHbp antibodies induced by immunization with the 4CMenB multicomponent vaccine. Thirteen anti-fHbp human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were identified in a library of over 100 antibody fragments (Fabs) obtained from three healthy adult volunteers immunized with 4CMenB. Herein, the key cross-reactive mAbs were further characterized for antigen binding affinity, complement-mediated serum bactericidal activity (SBA) and the ability to inhibit binding of fH to live bacteria. For the first time, we identified a subset of anti-fHbp mAbs able to elicit human SBA against strains with all three variants and able to compete with human fH for fHbp binding. We present the crystal structure of fHbp v1.1 complexed with human antibody 4B3. The structure, combined with mutagenesis and binding studies, revealed the critical cross-reactive epitope. The structure also provided the molecular basis of competition for fH binding. These data suggest that the fH binding site on fHbp v1.1 can be accessible to the human immune system upon immunization, enabling elicitation of human mAbs broadly protective against MenB. The novel structural, biochemical and functional data are of great significance because the human vaccine-elicited mAbs are the first reported to inhibit the binding of fH to fHbp, and are bactericidal with human complement. Our studies provide molecular insights into the human immune response to the 4CMenB meningococcal vaccine and fuel the rationale for combined structural, immunological and functional studies when seeking deeper understanding of the mechanisms of action of human vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ying Huang
- GSK, Rockville, MD, United States of America
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8
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Principato S, Pizza M, Rappuoli R. Meningococcal factor H binding protein as immune evasion factor and vaccine antigen. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2657-2669. [PMID: 32298465 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Factor H binding protein (fHbp) is a key virulence factor of Neisseria meningitidis and a main component of the two licensed vaccines against serogroup B meningococcus (Bexsero and Trumenba). fHbp is a surface-exposed lipoprotein that enables the bacterium to survive in human blood by binding the human complement regulator factor H (fH). When used as vaccine, the protein induces antibodies with potent bactericidal activity. While the fHbp gene is present in the majority of N. meningitidis serogroup B isolates, the expression level varies up to 15 times between different strains and more than 700 different sequence variants have been described. Antigenically, the protein has been divided into three variants or two subfamilies. The 3D structure of fHbp alone, in combination with fH or in complex with bactericidal antibodies, has been key to understanding the molecular details of the protein. In this article, we will review the biochemical and immunological properties of fHbp, and its key role in meningococcal pathogenesis, complement regulation, and immune evasion.
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9
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Beernink PT. Effect of complement Factor H on antibody repertoire and protection elicited by meningococcal capsular group B vaccines containing Factor H binding protein. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2020; 16:703-712. [PMID: 31526219 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1664241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria produce surface ligands for host complement regulators including Factor H (FH), which allows the bacteria to evade immunity. Meningococcal Factor H binding protein (FHbp) is both a virulence factor and a vaccine antigen. Antibodies to FHbp can neutralize its function by inhibiting binding of FH to the bacteria and confer robust complement-mediated protection. However, in the presence of human or primate FH, antibodies to FHbp do not inhibit FH binding and the protective antibody responses are decreased. This immune suppression can be overcome by modification of the FHbp antigen to decrease FH binding, which modulates the antibody repertoire to inhibit FH binding and increase protection. When FHbp is present at sufficient density on the bacterial surface, two or more antibodies can synergize to activate the complement system. Thus, modification of FHbp antigens to decrease FH binding expands the anti-FHbp antibody repertoire and increases the potential for synergistic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter T Beernink
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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10
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Granoff DM, Giuntini S, Gowans FA, Lujan E, Sharkey K, Beernink PT. Enhanced protective antibody to a mutant meningococcal factor H-binding protein with low-factor H binding. JCI Insight 2016; 1:e88907. [PMID: 27668287 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.88907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningococcal factor H-binding protein (FHbp) is an antigen in 2 serogroup B meningococcal vaccines. FHbp specifically binds human and some nonhuman primate complement FH. To investigate the effect of binding of FH to FHbp on protective antibody responses, we immunized infant rhesus macaques with either a control recombinant FHbp antigen that bound macaque FH or a mutant antigen with 2 amino acid substitutions and >250-fold lower affinity for FH. The mutant antigen elicited 3-fold higher serum IgG anti-FHbp titers and up to 15-fold higher serum bactericidal titers than the control FHbp vaccine. When comparing sera with similar IgG anti-FHbp titers, the antibodies elicited by the mutant antigen gave greater deposition of complement component C4b on live meningococci (classical complement pathway) and inhibited binding of FH, while the anti-FHbp antibodies elicited by the control vaccine enhanced FH binding. Thus, the mutant FHbp vaccine elicited an anti-FHbp antibody repertoire directed at FHbp epitopes within the FH binding site, which resulted in greater protective activity than the antibodies elicited by the control vaccine, which targeted FHbp epitopes outside of the FH combining site. Binding of a host protein to a vaccine antigen impairs protective antibody responses, which can be overcome with low-binding mutant antigens.
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11
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Summary and Recommendations from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Workshop "Gonorrhea Vaccines: the Way Forward". CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2016; 23:656-63. [PMID: 27335384 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00230-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED There is an urgent need for the development of an antigonococcal vaccine due to the increasing drug resistance found in this pathogen. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have identified multidrug-resistant gonococci (GC) as among 3 "urgent" hazard-level threats to the U.S. POPULATION In light of this, on 29 to 30 June 2015, the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) sponsored a workshop entitled "Gonorrhea Vaccines: the Way Forward." The goal of the workshop was to gather leaders in the field to discuss several key questions on the current status of gonorrhea vaccine research and the path forward to a licensed gonorrhea vaccine. Representatives from academia, industry, U.S. Government agencies, and a state health department were in attendance. This review summarizes each of the 4 scientific sessions and a series of 4 breakout sessions that occurred during the one and a half days of the workshop. Topics raised as high priority for future development included (i) reinvigoration of basic research to understand gonococcal infection and immunity to allow intervention in processes essential for infection; (ii) clinical infection studies to establish parallels and distinctions between in vitro and animal infection models versus natural human genital and pharyngeal infection and to inform in silico modeling of vaccine impact; and (iii) development of an integrated pipeline for preclinical and early clinical evaluation and direct comparisons of potential vaccine antigens and adjuvants and routes of delivery.
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12
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Hooda Y, Lai CCL, Judd A, Buckwalter CM, Shin HE, Gray-Owen SD, Moraes TF. Slam is an outer membrane protein that is required for the surface display of lipidated virulence factors in Neisseria. Nat Microbiol 2016; 1:16009. [DOI: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Impact of Reducing Complement Inhibitor Binding on the Immunogenicity of Native Neisseria meningitidis Outer Membrane Vesicles. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148840. [PMID: 26871712 PMCID: PMC4752311 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis recruits host human complement inhibitors to its surface to down-regulate complement activation and enhance survival in blood. We have investigated whether such complement inhibitor binding occurs after vaccination with native outer membrane vesicles (nOMVs), and limits immunogenicity of such vaccines. To this end, nOMVs reactogenic lipopolysaccharide was detoxified by deletion of the lpxl1 gene (nOMVlpxl1). nOMVs unable to bind human complement factor H (hfH) were generated by additional deletions of the genes encoding factor H binding protein (fHbp) and neisserial surface protein A (NspA) (nOMVdis). Antibody responses elicited in mice with nOMVdis were compared to those elicited with nOMVlpxl1 in the presence of hfH. Results demonstrate that the administration of human fH to mice immunized with fHbp containing OMVlpxl1 decreased immunogenicity against fHbp (but not against the OMV as a whole). The majority of the OMV-induced bactericidal immune response (OMVlpxl1 or OMVdis) was versus PorA. Despite a considerable reduction of hfH binding to nOMVdis, and the absence of the vaccine antigen fHbp, immunogenicity in mice was not different from nOMVlpxl1, in the absence or presence of hfH (serum bactericidal titers of 1:64 vs 1:128 after one dose in the nOMVdis and nOMVlpxl1-immunized groups respectively). Therefore, partial inhibition of fH binding did not enhance immunity in this model.
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14
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Zhang L, Zeng Z, Hu C, Bellis SL, Yang W, Su Y, Zhang X, Wu Y. Controlled and targeted release of antigens by intelligent shell for improving applicability of oral vaccines. Biomaterials 2016; 77:307-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Pajon R, Lujan E, Granoff DM. A meningococcal NOMV-FHbp vaccine for Africa elicits broader serum bactericidal antibody responses against serogroup B and non-B strains than a licensed serogroup B vaccine. Vaccine 2015; 34:643-649. [PMID: 26709637 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meningococcal epidemics in Sub-Sahara caused by serogroup A strains are controlled by a group A polysaccharide conjugate vaccine. Strains with serogroups C, W and X continue to cause epidemics. Protein antigens in licensed serogroup B vaccines are shared among serogroup B and non-B strains. PURPOSE Compare serum bactericidal antibody responses elicited by an investigational native outer membrane vesicle vaccine with over-expressed Factor H binding protein (NOMV-FHbp) and a licensed serogroup B vaccine (MenB-4C) against African serogroup A, B, C, W and X strains. METHODS Human Factor H (FH) transgenic mice were immunized with NOMV-FHbp prepared from a mutant African meningococcal strain containing genetically attenuated endotoxin and a mutant sub-family B FHbp antigen with low FH binding, or with MenB-4C, which contains a recombinant sub-family B FHbp antigen that binds human FH, and three other antigens, NHba, NadA and PorA P1.4, capable of eliciting bactericidal antibody. RESULTS The NOMV-FHbp elicited serum bactericidal activity against 12 of 13 serogroup A, B, W or X strains from Africa, and four isogenic serogroup B mutants with sub-family B FHbp sequence variants. There was no activity against a serogroup B mutant with sub-family A FHbp, or two serogroup C isolates from a recent outbreak in Northern Nigeria, which were mismatched for both PorA and sub-family of the FHbp vaccine antigen. For MenB-4C, NHba was expressed by all 16 African isolates tested, FHbp sub-family B in 13, and NadA in five. However, MenB-4C elicited titers ≥ 1:10 against only one isolate, and against only two of four serogroup B mutant strains with sub-family B FHbp sequence variants. CONCLUSIONS NOMV-FHbp has greater potential to confer serogroup-independent protection in Africa than the licensed MenB-4C vaccine. However, the NOMV-FHbp vaccine will require inclusion of sub-family A FHbp for coverage against recent serogroup C strains causing outbreaks in Northern Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolando Pajon
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Eduardo Lujan
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Dan M Granoff
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA, USA.
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Impaired Immunogenicity of Meningococcal Neisserial Surface Protein A in Human Complement Factor H Transgenic Mice. Infect Immun 2015; 84:452-8. [PMID: 26597984 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01267-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisserial surface protein A (NspA) is a highly conserved outer membrane protein previously investigated as a meningococcal vaccine candidate. Despite eliciting serum bactericidal activity in mice, a recombinant NspA vaccine failed to elicit serum bactericidal antibodies in a phase 1 clinical trial in humans. The discordant results may be explained by the recent discovery that NspA is a human-specific ligand of the complement inhibitor factor H (FH). Therefore, in humans but not mice, NspA would be expected to form a complex with FH, which could impair human anti-NspA protective antibody responses. To investigate this question, we immunized human FH transgenic BALB/c mice with three doses of recombinant NspA expressed in Escherichia coli microvesicles, with each dose being separated by 3 weeks. Three of 12 (25%) transgenic mice and 13 of 14 wild-type mice responded with bactericidal titers of ≥1:10 in postimmunization sera (P = 0.0008, Fisher's exact test). In contrast, human FH transgenic and wild-type mice immunized with a control meningococcal native outer membrane vesicle vaccine had similar serum bactericidal antibody responses directed at PorA, which is not known to bind human FH, and a mutant factor H binding protein (FHbp) antigen with a >50-fold lower level of FH binding than wild-type FHbp antigen binding.Thus, human FH can impair anti-NspA serum bactericidal antibody responses, which may explain the poor immunogenicity of the NspA vaccine previously tested in humans. A mutant NspA vaccine engineered to have decreased binding to human FH may increase protective antibody responses in humans.
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Konar M, Beernink PT, Granoff DM. A Newly-Identified Polymorphism in Rhesus Macaque Complement Factor H Modulates Binding Affinity for Meningococcal FHbp. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135996. [PMID: 26285122 PMCID: PMC4540320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Two meningococcal serogroup B vaccines contain Factor H binding protein (FHbp). Binding of Factor H (FH) to FHbp was thought to be specific for human or chimpanzee FH. However, in a previous study an amino acid polymorphism in rhesus macaque FH domain 6, tyrosine at position 352 (Y352) was associated with high binding to FHbp, whereas histidine at position 352 (H352) was associated with low binding. Methods and Results Here we report that a second FH polymorphism at position 360 also affects macaque FH binding. Of 43 macaques, 11 had high FH binding and 32 had low binding. As in our previous study, all 11 animals with high binding had Y352, and 24 with low binding had H352. However the remaining eight with low FH binding had Y352, which was predicted to yield high binding. All eight had S360 instead of P360. Thus, three allelic variants at positions 352 and 360 affect macaque FH binding to FHbp: HP (low), YS (low), and YP (high). We measured binding affinity of each FH sequence type to FHbp by surface plasmon resonance. Two animals with high binding types (YS/YP and HP/YP) had dissociation constants (KD) of 10.4 and 18.2 nM, respectively, which were similar to human FH (19.8 nM). Two macaques with low binding (HP/HP and HP/YS) had KD values approximately five-fold higher (100.3 and 99.5 nM, respectively). A third macaque with low binding (YS/YS) had a KD value too high to be measured. Conclusions Macaques have at least three allelic variants encoding FH with different affinities for FHbp (five genotypic combinations of these variants). Since in previous studies binding of FH to FHbp vaccines decreased protective antibody responses, our data will aid in selection of macaques with FH binding that is similar to humans for further investigation of FHbp vaccine immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Konar
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California, United States of America
| | - Peter T. Beernink
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California, United States of America
| | - Dan M. Granoff
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Rana A, Ahmed M, Rub A, Akhter Y. A tug-of-war between the host and the pathogen generates strategic hotspots for the development of novel therapeutic interventions against infectious diseases. Virulence 2015; 6:566-80. [PMID: 26107578 PMCID: PMC4720223 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1062211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial pathogens are known to express an array of specific signaling molecules referred as Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs), which are recognized by Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs), present on the surface of the host cells. Interactions between PAMPs and PRRs on the surface of the host cells lead to signaling events which could culminate into either successful infection or clearance of the pathogens. Here, we summarize how these events may generate novel host based as well as pathogen based molecular targets for designing effective therapeutic strategies against infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Rana
- School of Life Sciences; Central University of Himachal Pradesh; Shahpur, District-Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Mushtaq Ahmed
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Central University of Himachal Pradesh; Shahpur, District-Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Abdur Rub
- Infection and Immunity Lab; Department of Biotechnology; Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University); New Delhi, India
| | - Yusuf Akhter
- School of Life Sciences; Central University of Himachal Pradesh; Shahpur, District-Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
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Abstract
Two licensed serogroup B meningococcal vaccines contain factor H binding protein (FHbp). The antigen specifically binds human FH, which downregulates complement. In wild-type mice whose mouse FH does not bind to FHbp vaccines, the serum anti-FHbp antibody response inhibited binding of human FH to FHbp. The inhibition was important for eliciting broad anti-FHbp serum bactericidal activity. In human FH transgenic mice and some nonhuman primates, FHbp was able to form a complex with FH and FHbp vaccination elicited anti-FHbp antibodies that did not inhibit FH binding. To investigate the human anti-FHbp repertoire, we cloned immunoglobulin heavy- and light-chain-variable-region genes of individual B cells from three adults immunized with FHbp vaccines and generated 10 sequence-distinct native anti-FHbp antibody fragments (Fabs). All 10 Fabs bound to live meningococci; only 1 slightly inhibited binding of human FH, while 4 enhanced FH binding. Affinity-purified anti-FHbp antibody from serum of a fourth immunized adult also enhanced binding of human FH to live meningococcal bacteria. Despite the bound FH, the affinity-purified serum anti-FHbp antibodies elicited human complement-mediated bactericidal activity that was amplified by the alternative pathway. The lack of FH inhibition by the human anti-FHbp Fabs and serum antibodies suggests that binding of human FH to the vaccine antigen skews the anti-FHbp antibody repertoire to epitopes outside the FH-binding site. Mutant FHbp vaccines with decreased FH binding may represent a means to redirect the human antibody repertoire to epitopes within the FH binding site, which can inhibit FH binding and, potentially, increase safety and protective activity. Two meningococcal vaccines contain factor H binding protein (FHbp). Immunized mice whose mouse factor H (FH) does not bind to FHbp develop serum anti-FHbp antibodies that block binding of human FH to the bacteria. With less bound FH, the bacteria become more susceptible to complement killing. To investigate human responses, we isolated 10 recombinant anti-FHbp antibody fragments (Fabs) from immune cells of three immunized adults. One slightly inhibited binding of FH to the bacteria, and four enhanced FH binding. Purified serum anti-FHbp antibodies from a fourth immunized adult also enhanced FH binding. Although bound FH would be expected to block the alternative pathway, the human anti-FHbp antibodies retained bactericidal activity and the ability to activate the alternative pathway. Mutant FHbp vaccines with decreased binding to human FH may redirect the human antibody repertoire to epitopes within the FH binding site that inhibit FH binding, which are expected to increase protective activity.
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Heterogeneity in rhesus macaque complement factor H binding to meningococcal factor H binding protein (FHbp) informs selection of primates to assess immunogenicity of FHbp-based vaccines. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 21:1505-11. [PMID: 25185576 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00517-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis causes disease only in humans. An important mechanism underlying this host specificity is the ability of the organism to resist complement by recruiting the complement downregulator factor H (FH) to the bacterial surface. In previous studies, binding of FH to one of the major meningococcal FH ligands, factor H binding protein (FHbp), was reported to be specific for human FH. Here we report that sera from 23 of 73 rhesus macaques (32%) tested had high FH binding to FHbp. Similar to human FH, binding of macaque FH to the meningococcal cell surface inhibited the complement alternative pathway by decreasing deposition of C3b. FH contains 20 domains (or short consensus repeats), with domains 6 and 7 being responsible for binding of human FH to FHbp. DNA sequence analyses of FH domains 6 and 7 from macaques with high or low FH binding showed a polymorphism at residue 352 in domain 6, with Tyr being associated with high binding and His with low binding. A recombinant macaque FH 6,7/Fc fragment with Tyr352 showed higher binding to FHbp than the corresponding fragment with His352. In previous studies in human FH transgenic mice, binding of FH to FHbp vaccines decreased protective antibody responses, and mutant FHbp vaccines with decreased FH binding elicited serum antibodies with greater protective activity. Thus, macaques with high FH binding to FHbp represent an attractive nonhuman primate model to investigate further the effects of FH binding on the immunogenicity of FHbp vaccines.
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Rossi R, Granoff DM, Beernink PT. Meningococcal factor H-binding protein vaccines with decreased binding to human complement factor H have enhanced immunogenicity in human factor H transgenic mice. Vaccine 2013; 31:5451-7. [PMID: 24035433 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.08.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Factor H-binding protein (fHbp) is a component of a meningococcal vaccine recently licensed in Europe for prevention of serogroup B disease, and a second vaccine in clinical development. The protein specifically binds human factor H (fH), which down-regulates complement activation and enhances resistance to bactericidal activity. There are conflicting data from studies in human fH transgenic mice on whether binding of human fH to fHbp vaccines decreases immunogenicity, and whether mutant fHbp vaccines with decreased fH binding have enhanced immunogenicity. fHbp can be classified into two sub-families based on sequence divergence and immunologic cross-reactivity. Previous studies of mutant fHbp vaccines with low fH binding were from sub-family B, which account for approximately 60% of serogroup B case isolates. In the present study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of two mutant sub-family A fHbp vaccines containing single substitutions, T221A or D211A, which resulted in 15- or 30-fold lower affinity for human fH, respectively, than the corresponding control wild-type fHbp vaccine. In transgenic mice with high serum concentrations of human fH, both mutant vaccines elicited significantly higher IgG titers and higher serum bactericidal antibody responses than the control fHbp vaccine that bound human fH. Thus, mutations introduced into a sub-family A fHbp antigen to decrease fH binding can increase protective antibody responses in human fH transgenic mice. Collectively the data suggest that mutant fHbp antigens with decreased fH binding will result in superior vaccines in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Rossi
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94609, USA
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