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Bahadori Z, Shafaghi M, Sabzevari J, Madanchi H, Ranjbar MM, Mousavi SF, Shabani AA. Design, development, and assessment of a novel multi-peptide vaccine targeting PspC, PsaA, and PhtD proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 258:128924. [PMID: 38143051 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128924] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Pneumococcus is the top cause of diseases such as pneumonia/meningitis, and of secondary infections after viral respiratory diseases like COVID-19/flu. Pneumococcal protein-based vaccines consisting of proteins with various functions in virulence might provide a qualified alternative for present vaccines. In this project, PspC, PsaA, and PhtD proteins were considered to anticipate B/T-cell epitopes using immunoinformatics to develop 4 multi-peptide constructs (C, A, and D individual constructs, and a fusion construct CAD). We tested whether vaccination with CAD is able to elicit more efficient protective responses against infection than vaccination with the individual constructs or combination of C + A + D. Based on the in silico results, the constructs were predicted to be antigenic, soluble, non-toxic, and stable, and also be able to provoke humoral/cellular immune reactions. When mice were immunized with the fusion protein, significantly higher levels of IgG and cytokines were induced in serum. The IgG in the fusion group had an effective bioactivity for pneumococcus clearance utilizing the complement pathway. The mice immunized with fusion protein were the most protected from challenge. This report for the first time presents a novel multi-peptide vaccine composed of immunodominant peptides of PspC, PsaA, and PhtD. In general, the experimental results supported the immunoinformatics predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Bahadori
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mona Shafaghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Jahangir Sabzevari
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ranjbar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | | | - Ali Akbar Shabani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
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Kono M, Iyo T, Murakami D, Sakatani H, Nanushaj D, Hotomi M. Maternal immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A provides the immune memories of offspring against pneumococcal infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1059603. [PMID: 37033488 PMCID: PMC10076723 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1059603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is one of the most widespread pathogens in the world and one of the largest infectious causes of infant mortality. Although current vaccines have various benefits, antibiotic resistance and the inability to vaccinate infants less than one year old demands the development of new protective strategies. One strategy, 'maternal immunization', is to protect infants by passive immunity from an immunized mother, although its mechanism is still not fully understood. Materials and methods The current study aimed to acquire immunity against S. pneumoniae in infants by maternal immunization with pneumococcal common antigen, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). Four-week-old female mice were immunized with recombinant PspA intranasally twice a week for three weeks. Females were mated with age-matched males after immunization, and delivered offspring. Results The week-old offspring derived from and fostered by immunized mothers had more anti-PspA-specific antibody producing cells in the spleen than those derived from sham-immunized mothers. The offspring were raised up to four weeks old and were subcutaneously stimulated with recombinant PspA. The levels of anti-PspA IgG in sera after stimulation were significantly higher in the offspring derived from the immunized mothers and the induced specific antibody to PspA showed protective efficacy against systemic pneumococcal infection. Discussion Maternal immunization is suggested to be able to provide a sustained immune memory to offspring. The current study would be a milestone in the field of maternal immunization toward a universal pneumococcal vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamitsu Kono
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Takuro Iyo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kinan Hospital, Tanabe, Japan
| | - Daichi Murakami
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kinan Hospital, Tanabe, Japan
| | - Hideki Sakatani
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Denisa Nanushaj
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Muneki Hotomi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
- *Correspondence: Muneki Hotomi,
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Rafi MO, Al-Khafaji K, Mandal SM, Meghla NS, Biswas PK, Rahman MS. A subunit vaccine against pneumonia: targeting S treptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae. NETWORK MODELING AND ANALYSIS IN HEALTH INFORMATICS AND BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 12:21. [PMID: 37096010 PMCID: PMC10115389 DOI: 10.1007/s13721-023-00416-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Community-acquired pneumonia is primarily caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae, two pathogens that have high morbidity and mortality rates. This is largely due to bacterial resistance development against current antibiotics and the lack of effective vaccines. The objective of this work was to develop an immunogenic multi-epitope subunit vaccine capable of eliciting a robust immune response against S. pneumoniae and K. pneumoniae. The targeted proteins were the pneumococcal surface proteins (PspA and PspC) and choline-binding protein (CbpA) of S. pneumoniae and the outer membrane proteins (OmpA and OmpW) of K. pneumoniae. Different computational approaches and various immune filters were employed for designing a vaccine. The immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine were evaluated by utilizing many physicochemical and antigenic profiles. To improve structural stability, disulfide engineering was applied to a portion of the vaccine structure with high mobility. Molecular docking was performed to examine the binding affinities and biological interactions at the atomic level between the vaccine and Toll-like receptors (TLR2 and 4). Further, the dynamic stabilities of the vaccine and TLRs complexes were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. While the immune response induction capability of the vaccine was assessed by the immune simulation study. Vaccine translation and expression efficiency was determined through an in silico cloning experiment utilizing the pET28a(+) plasmid vector. The obtained results revealed that the designed vaccine is structurally stable and able to generate an effective immune response to combat pneumococcal infection. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13721-023-00416-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Oliullah Rafi
- Bioinformatics and Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408 Bangladesh
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408 Bangladesh
| | | | - Santi M. Mandal
- Central Research Facility, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302 India
| | - Nigar Sultana Meghla
- Department of Microbiology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408 Bangladesh
| | - Polash Kumar Biswas
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029 South Korea
| | - Md. Shahedur Rahman
- Bioinformatics and Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408 Bangladesh
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408 Bangladesh
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Bahadori Z, Shafaghi M, Madanchi H, Ranjbar MM, Shabani AA, Mousavi SF. In silico designing of a novel epitope-based candidate vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae with introduction of a new domain of PepO as adjuvant. J Transl Med 2022; 20:389. [PMID: 36059030 PMCID: PMC9440865 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03590-6] [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: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading reason for invasive diseases including pneumonia and meningitis, and also secondary infections following viral respiratory diseases such as flu and COVID-19. Currently, serotype-dependent vaccines, which have several insufficiency and limitations, are the only way to prevent pneumococcal infections. Hence, it is plain to need an alternative effective strategy for prevention of this organism. Protein-based vaccine involving conserved pneumococcal protein antigens with different roles in virulence could provide an eligible alternative to existing vaccines. METHODS In this study, PspC, PhtD and PsaA antigens from pneumococcus were taken to account to predict B-cell and helper T-cell epitopes, and epitope-rich regions were chosen to build the construct. To enhance the immunogenicity of the epitope-based vaccine, a truncated N-terminal fragment of pneumococcal endopeptidase O (PepO) was used as a potential TLR2/4 agonist which was identified by molecular docking studies. The ultimate construct was consisted of the chosen epitope-rich regions, along with the adjuvant role (truncated N-PepO) and suitable linkers. RESULTS The epitope-based vaccine was assessed as regards physicochemical properties, allergenicity, antigenicity, and toxicity. The 3D structure of the engineered construct was modeled, refined, and validated. Molecular docking and simulation of molecular dynamics (MD) indicated the proper and stable interactions between the vaccine and TLR2/4 throughout the simulation periods. CONCLUSIONS For the first time this work presents a novel vaccine consisting of epitopes of PspC, PhtD, and PsaA antigens which is adjuvanted with a new truncated domain of PepO. The computational outcomes revealed that the suggested vaccine could be deemed an efficient therapeutic vaccine for S. pneumoniae; nevertheless, in vitro and in vivo examinations should be performed to prove the potency of the candidate vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Bahadori
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Shafaghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ranjbar
- Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Shabani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. .,Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
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Gingerich AD, Mousa JJ. Diverse Mechanisms of Protective Anti-Pneumococcal Antibodies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:824788. [PMID: 35155281 PMCID: PMC8834882 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.824788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia, otitis media, septicemia, and meningitis in children and adults. Current prevention and treatment efforts are primarily pneumococcal conjugate vaccines that target the bacterial capsule polysaccharide, as well as antibiotics for pathogen clearance. While these methods have been enormously effective at disease prevention and treatment, there has been an emergence of non-vaccine serotypes, termed serotype replacement, and increasing antibiotic resistance among these serotypes. To combat S. pneumoniae, the immune system must deploy an arsenal of antimicrobial functions. However, S. pneumoniae has evolved a repertoire of evasion techniques and is able to modulate the host immune system. Antibodies are a key component of pneumococcal immunity, targeting both the capsule polysaccharide and protein antigens on the surface of the bacterium. These antibodies have been shown to play a variety of roles including increasing opsonophagocytic activity, enzymatic and toxin neutralization, reducing bacterial adherence, and altering bacterial gene expression. In this review, we describe targets of anti-pneumococcal antibodies and describe antibody functions and effectiveness against S. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D. Gingerich
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Jarrod J. Mousa
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- *Correspondence: Jarrod J. Mousa,
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Hames RG, Jasiunaite Z, Wanford JJ, Carreno D, Chung WY, Dennison AR, Oggioni MR. Analyzing Macrophage Infection at the Organ Level. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2414:405-431. [PMID: 34784049 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1900-1_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Classical in vivo infection models are oftentimes associated with speculation due to the many physiological factors that are unseen or not accounted for when analyzing experimental outputs, especially when solely utilizing the classic approach of tissue-derived colony-forming unit (CFU) enumeration. To better understand the steps and natural progression of bacterial infection, the pathophysiology of individual organs with which the bacteria interact in their natural course of infection must be considered. In this case, it is not only important to isolate organs as much as possible from additional physiological processes, but to also consider the dynamics of the bacteria at the cellular level within these organs of interest. Here, we describe in detail two models, ex vivo porcine liver and spleen coperfusion and a murine infection model, and the numerous associated experimental outputs produced by these models that can be taken and used together to investigate the pathogen-host interactions within tissues in depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan G Hames
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Zydrune Jasiunaite
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Joseph J Wanford
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - David Carreno
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Wen Y Chung
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Ashley R Dennison
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Marco R Oggioni
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. .,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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7
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Park SS, Gonzalez-Juarbe N, Martínez E, Hale JY, Lin YH, Huffines JT, Kruckow KL, Briles DE, Orihuela CJ. Streptococcus pneumoniae Binds to Host Lactate Dehydrogenase via PspA and PspC To Enhance Virulence. mBio 2021; 12:e00673-21. [PMID: 33947761 PMCID: PMC8437407 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00673-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) and pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC, also called CbpA) are major virulence factors of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn). These surface-exposed choline-binding proteins (CBPs) function independently to inhibit opsonization, neutralize antimicrobial factors, or serve as adhesins. PspA and PspC both carry a proline-rich domain (PRD) whose role, other than serving as a flexible connector between the N-terminal and C-terminal domains, was up to this point unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that PspA binds to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released from dying host cells during infection. Using recombinant versions of PspA and isogenic mutants lacking PspA or specific domains of PspA, this property was mapped to a conserved 22-amino-acid nonproline block (NPB) found within the PRD of most PspAs and PspCs. The NPB of PspA had specific affinity for LDH-A, which converts pyruvate to lactate. In a mouse model of pneumonia, preincubation of Spn carrying NPB-bearing PspA with LDH-A resulted in increased bacterial titers in the lungs. In contrast, incubation of Spn carrying a version of PspA lacking the NPB with LDH-A or incubation of wild-type Spn with enzymatically inactive LDH-A did not enhance virulence. Preincubation of NPB-bearing Spn with lactate alone enhanced virulence in a pneumonia model, indicating exogenous lactate production by Spn-bound LDH-A had an important role in pneumococcal pathogenesis. Our observations show that lung LDH, released during the infection, is an important binding target for Spn via PspA/PspC and that pneumococci utilize LDH-A derived lactate for their benefit in vivoIMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. PspA and PspC are among its most important virulence factors, and these surface proteins carry the proline-rich domain (PRD), whose role was unknown until now. Herein, we show that a conserved 22-amino-acid nonproline block (NPB) found within most versions of the PRD binds to host-derived lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A), a metabolic enzyme which converts pyruvate to lactate. PspA-mediated binding of LDH-A increased Spn titers in the lungs and this required LDH-A enzymatic activity. Enhanced virulence was also observed when Spn was preincubated with lactate, suggesting LDH-A-derived lactate is a vital food source. Our findings define a role for the NPB of the PRD and show that Spn co-opts host enzymes for its benefit. They advance our understanding of pneumococcal pathogenesis and have key implications on the susceptibility of individuals with preexisting airway damage that results in LDH-A release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Sang Park
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Norberto Gonzalez-Juarbe
- Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Eriel Martínez
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Joanetha Yvette Hale
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Yi-Han Lin
- Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Joshua T Huffines
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Katherine L Kruckow
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - David E Briles
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Carlos J Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Pneumococcal Choline-Binding Proteins Involved in Virulence as Vaccine Candidates. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020181. [PMID: 33672701 PMCID: PMC7924319 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a pathogen responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Currently, the available vaccines for the prevention of S. pneumoniae infections are the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide-based vaccine (PPV-23) and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV10 and PCV13). These vaccines only cover some pneumococcal serotypes (up to 100 different serotypes have been identified) and are unable to protect against non-vaccine serotypes and non-encapsulated pneumococci. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant non-vaccine serotypes after these vaccines is an increasing threat. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new pneumococcal vaccines which could cover a wide range of serotypes. One of the vaccines most characterized as a prophylactic alternative to current PPV-23 or PCVs is a vaccine based on pneumococcal protein antigens. The choline-binding proteins (CBP) are found in all pneumococcal strains, giving them the characteristic to be potential vaccine candidates as they may protect against different serotypes. In this review, we have focused the attention on different CBPs as vaccine candidates because they are involved in the pathogenesis process, confirming their immunogenicity and protection against pneumococcal infection. The review summarizes the major contribution of these proteins to virulence and reinforces the fact that antibodies elicited against many of them may block or interfere with their role in the infection process.
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9
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Ng J, Guo F, Marneth AE, Ghanta S, Kwon MY, Keegan J, Liu X, Wright KT, Kamaz B, Cahill LA, Mullally A, Perrella MA, Lederer JA. Augmenting emergency granulopoiesis with CpG conditioned mesenchymal stromal cells in murine neutropenic sepsis. Blood Adv 2020; 4:4965-4979. [PMID: 33049055 PMCID: PMC7556132 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with immune deficiencies from cancers and associated treatments represent a growing population within the intensive care unit with increased risk of morbidity and mortality from sepsis. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are an integral part of the hematopoietic niche and express toll-like receptors, making them candidate cells to sense and translate pathogenic signals into an innate immune response. In this study, we demonstrate that MSCs administered therapeutically in a murine model of radiation-associated neutropenia have dual actions to confer a survival benefit in Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumo-sepsis that is not from improved bacterial clearance. First, MSCs augment the neutrophil response to infection, an effect that is enhanced when MSCs are preconditioned with CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, a toll-like receptor 9 agonist. Using cytometry by time of flight, we identified proliferating neutrophils (Ly6GlowKi-67+) as the main expanded cell population within the bone marrow. Further analysis revealed that CpG-MSCs expand a lineage restricted progenitor population (Lin-Sca1+C-kit+CD150-CD48+) in the bone marrow, which corresponded to a doubling in the myeloid proliferation and differentiation potential in response to infection compared with control. Despite increased neutrophils, no reduction in organ bacterial count was observed between experimental groups. However, the second effect exerted by CpG-MSCs is to attenuate organ damage, particularly in the lungs. Neutrophils obtained from irradiated mice and cocultured with CpG-MSCs had decreased neutrophil extracellular trap formation, which was associated with decreased citrullinated H3 staining in the lungs of mice given CpG-MSCs in vivo. Thus, this preclinical study provides evidence for the therapeutic potential of MSCs in neutropenic sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Ng
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine
| | | | | | | | - Min-Young Kwon
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Xiaoli Liu
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, and
| | - Kyle T Wright
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | | | | | - Mark A Perrella
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, and
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10
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Chaguza C, Yang M, Cornick JE, du Plessis M, Gladstone RA, Kwambana-Adams BA, Lo SW, Ebruke C, Tonkin-Hill G, Peno C, Senghore M, Obaro SK, Ousmane S, Pluschke G, Collard JM, Sigaùque B, French N, Klugman KP, Heyderman RS, McGee L, Antonio M, Breiman RF, von Gottberg A, Everett DB, Kadioglu A, Bentley SD. Bacterial genome-wide association study of hyper-virulent pneumococcal serotype 1 identifies genetic variation associated with neurotropism. Commun Biol 2020; 3:559. [PMID: 33033372 PMCID: PMC7545184 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01290-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyper-virulent Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 strains are endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and frequently cause lethal meningitis outbreaks. It remains unknown whether genetic variation in serotype 1 strains modulates tropism into cerebrospinal fluid to cause central nervous system (CNS) infections, particularly meningitis. Here, we address this question through a large-scale linear mixed model genome-wide association study of 909 African pneumococcal serotype 1 isolates collected from CNS and non-CNS human samples. By controlling for host age, geography, and strain population structure, we identify genome-wide statistically significant genotype-phenotype associations in surface-exposed choline-binding (P = 5.00 × 10-08) and helicase proteins (P = 1.32 × 10-06) important for invasion, immune evasion and pneumococcal tropism to CNS. The small effect sizes and negligible heritability indicated that causation of CNS infection requires multiple genetic and other factors reflecting a complex and polygenic aetiology. Our findings suggest that certain pathogen genetic variation modulate pneumococcal survival and tropism to CNS tissue, and therefore, virulence for meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrispin Chaguza
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Darwin College, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Marie Yang
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jennifer E Cornick
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mignon du Plessis
- Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Rebecca A Gladstone
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Brenda A Kwambana-Adams
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Mucosal Pathogens, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Stephanie W Lo
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chinelo Ebruke
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Gerry Tonkin-Hill
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chikondi Peno
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Madikay Senghore
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen K Obaro
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
- International Foundation against Infectious Diseases in Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Sani Ousmane
- Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niamey, Niger
| | - Gerd Pluschke
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Betuel Sigaùque
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Neil French
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Keith P Klugman
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert S Heyderman
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Mucosal Pathogens, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lesley McGee
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Martin Antonio
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Robert F Breiman
- Emory Global Health Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anne von Gottberg
- Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Dean B Everett
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Aras Kadioglu
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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11
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Development of Next Generation Streptococcus pneumoniae Vaccines Conferring Broad Protection. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010132. [PMID: 32192117 PMCID: PMC7157650 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major pathogen causing pneumonia with over 2 million deaths annually, especially in young children and the elderly. To date, at least 98 different pneumococcal capsular serotypes have been identified. Currently, the vaccines for prevention of S. pneumoniae infections are the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide-based vaccine (PPV23) and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV10 and PCV13). These vaccines only cover some pneumococcal serotypes and are unable to protect against non-vaccine serotypes and unencapsulated S. pneumoniae. This has led to a rapid increase in antibiotic-resistant non-vaccine serotypes. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new, effective, and affordable pneumococcal vaccines, which could cover a wide range of serotypes. This review discusses the new approaches to develop effective vaccines with broad serotype coverage as well as recent development of promising pneumococcal vaccines in clinical trials. New vaccine candidates are the inactivated whole-cell vaccine strain (Δpep27ΔcomD mutant) constructed by mutations of specific genes and several protein-based S. pneumoniae vaccines using conserved pneumococcal antigens, such as lipoprotein and surface-exposed protein (PspA). Among the vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials are the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, PCV-15 (V114) and 20vPnC. The inactivated whole-cell and several protein-based vaccines are either in Phase 1 or 2 trials. Furthermore, the recent progress of nanoparticles that play important roles as delivery systems and adjuvants to improve the performance, as well as the immunogenicity of the nanovaccines, are reviewed.
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12
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De Ste Croix M, Mitsi E, Morozov A, Glenn S, Andrew PW, Ferreira DM, Oggioni MR. Phase variation in pneumococcal populations during carriage in the human nasopharynx. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1803. [PMID: 32019989 PMCID: PMC7000782 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58684-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the world's leading bacterial pathogens, responsible for pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis. Asymptomatic colonisation of the nasopharynx is considered to be a prerequisite for these severe infections, however little is understood about the biological changes that permit the pneumococcus to switch from asymptomatic coloniser to invasive pathogen. A phase variable type I restriction-modification (R-M) system (SpnIII) has been linked to a change in capsule expression and to the ability to successfully colonise the murine nasopharynx. Using our laboratory data, we have developed a Markov change model that allows prediction of the expected level of phase variation within a population, and as a result measures when populations deviate from those expected at random. Using this model, we have analysed samples from the Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage (EHPC) project. Here we show, through mathematical modelling, that the patterns of dominant SpnIII alleles expressed in the human nasopharynx are significantly different than those predicted by stochastic switching alone. Our inter-disciplinary work demonstrates that the expression of alternative methylation patterns should be an important consideration in studies of pneumococcal colonisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M De Ste Croix
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Rd, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - E Mitsi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Pl, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - A Morozov
- Department of Mathematics, University of Leicester, University Rd, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninskii pr., Moscow, 119071, Russia
| | - S Glenn
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, University Rd, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - P W Andrew
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, University Rd, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - D M Ferreira
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Pl, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - M R Oggioni
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Rd, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom.
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Methylation Warfare: Interaction of Pneumococcal Bacteriophages with Their Host. J Bacteriol 2019; 201:JB.00370-19. [PMID: 31285240 PMCID: PMC6755750 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00370-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With antimicrobial drug resistance becoming an increasing burden on human health, much attention has been focused on the potential use of bacteriophages and their enzymes as therapeutics. However, the investigations into the physiology of the complex interactions of bacteriophages with their hosts have attracted far less attention, in comparison. This work describes the molecular characterization of the infectious cycle of a bacteriophage in the important human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae and explores the intricate relationship between phase-variable host defense mechanisms and the virus. This is the first report showing how a phase-variable type I restriction-modification system is involved in bacteriophage restriction while it also provides an additional level of infection control through abortive infection. Virus-host interactions are regulated by complex coevolutionary dynamics. In Streptococcus pneumoniae, phase-variable type I restriction-modification (R-M) systems are part of the core genome. We hypothesized that the ability of the R-M systems to switch between six target DNA specificities also has a key role in preventing the spread of bacteriophages. Using the streptococcal temperate bacteriophage SpSL1, we show that the variants of both the SpnIII and SpnIV R-M systems are able to restrict invading bacteriophage with an efficiency approximately proportional to the number of target sites in the bacteriophage genome. In addition to restriction of lytic replication, SpnIII also led to abortive infection in the majority of host cells. During lytic infection, transcriptional analysis found evidence of phage-host interaction through the strong upregulation of the nrdR nucleotide biosynthesis regulon. During lysogeny, the phage had less of an effect on host gene regulation. This research demonstrates a novel combined bacteriophage restriction and abortive infection mechanism, highlighting the importance that the phase-variable type I R-M systems have in the multifunctional defense against bacteriophage infection in the respiratory pathogen S. pneumoniae. IMPORTANCE With antimicrobial drug resistance becoming an increasing burden on human health, much attention has been focused on the potential use of bacteriophages and their enzymes as therapeutics. However, the investigations into the physiology of the complex interactions of bacteriophages with their hosts have attracted far less attention, in comparison. This work describes the molecular characterization of the infectious cycle of a bacteriophage in the important human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae and explores the intricate relationship between phase-variable host defense mechanisms and the virus. This is the first report showing how a phase-variable type I restriction-modification system is involved in bacteriophage restriction while it also provides an additional level of infection control through abortive infection.
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Dorosti H, Eslami M, Negahdaripour M, Ghoshoon MB, Gholami A, Heidari R, Dehshahri A, Erfani N, Nezafat N, Ghasemi Y. Vaccinomics approach for developing multi-epitope peptide pneumococcal vaccine. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 37:3524-3535. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2018.1519460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hesam Dorosti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Eslami
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Manica Negahdaripour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Bagher Ghoshoon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Gholami
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Heidari
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Dehshahri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nasrollah Erfani
- Cancer Immunology Group, Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Navid Nezafat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Younes Ghasemi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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15
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Brooks LRK, Mias GI. Streptococcus pneumoniae's Virulence and Host Immunity: Aging, Diagnostics, and Prevention. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1366. [PMID: 29988379 PMCID: PMC6023974 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an infectious pathogen responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Diseases caused by this bacterium are classified as pneumococcal diseases. This pathogen colonizes the nasopharynx of its host asymptomatically, but overtime can migrate to sterile tissues and organs and cause infections. Pneumonia is currently the most common pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a global health concern and vastly affects children under the age of five as well as the elderly and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. S. pneumoniae has a large selection of virulence factors that promote adherence, invasion of host tissues, and allows it to escape host immune defenses. A clear understanding of S. pneumoniae's virulence factors, host immune responses, and examining the current techniques available for diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention will allow for better regulation of the pathogen and its diseases. In terms of disease prevention, other considerations must include the effects of age on responses to vaccines and vaccine efficacy. Ongoing work aims to improve on current vaccination paradigms by including the use of serotype-independent vaccines, such as protein and whole cell vaccines. Extending our knowledge of the biology of, and associated host immune response to S. pneumoniae is paramount for our improvement of pneumococcal disease diagnosis, treatment, and improvement of patient outlook.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavida R. K. Brooks
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - George I. Mias
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Antibiotic Susceptibility and Prevalence of Adhesion Genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates Detected in Carrier Children in Tehran. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2018. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.13256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Andre GO, Converso TR, Politano WR, Ferraz LFC, Ribeiro ML, Leite LCC, Darrieux M. Role of Streptococcus pneumoniae Proteins in Evasion of Complement-Mediated Immunity. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:224. [PMID: 28265264 PMCID: PMC5316553 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system plays a central role in immune defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae. In order to evade complement attack, pneumococci have evolved a number of mechanisms that limit complement mediated opsonization and subsequent phagocytosis. This review focuses on the strategies employed by pneumococci to circumvent complement mediated immunity, both in vitro and in vivo. At last, since many of the proteins involved in interactions with complement components are vaccine candidates in different stages of validation, we explore the use of these antigens alone or in combination, as potential vaccine approaches that aim at elimination or drastic reduction in the ability of this bacterium to evade complement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greiciely O Andre
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Microrganismos, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | - Thiago R Converso
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto ButantanSão Paulo, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Walter R Politano
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Microrganismos, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | - Lucio F C Ferraz
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Microrganismos, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | - Marcelo L Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Farmacologia, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | | | - Michelle Darrieux
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Microrganismos, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil
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Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen globally associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is capable of causing a wide range of diseases including sinusitis, conjunctivitis, otitis media, pneumonia, bacteraemia, sepsis, and meningitis. While its capsular polysaccharide is indispensible for invasive disease, and opsonising antibodies against the capsule are the basis for the current vaccines, a long history of biomedical research indicates that other components of this Gram-positive bacterium are also critical for virulence. Herein we review the contribution of pneumococcal virulence determinants to survival and persistence in the context of distinct anatomical sites. We discuss how these determinants allow the pneumococcus to evade mucociliary clearance during colonisation, establish lower respiratory tract infection, resist complement deposition and opsonophagocytosis in the bloodstream, and invade secondary tissues such as the central nervous system leading to meningitis. We do so in a manner that highlights both the critical role of the capsular polysaccharide and the accompanying and necessary protein determinants. Understanding the complex interplay between host and pathogen is necessary to find new ways to prevent pneumococcal infection. This review is an attempt to do so with consideration for the latest research findings.
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Virulence Factors of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Comparison between African and French Invasive Isolates and Implication for Future Vaccines. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26214695 PMCID: PMC4516325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many surface proteins thought to promote Streptocococcus pneumoniae virulence have recently been discovered and are currently being considered as future vaccine targets. We assessed the prevalence of 16 virulence genes among 435 S. pneumoniae invasive isolates from France and the “African meningitis belt” region, with particular focus on serotype 1 (Sp1), to compare their geographical distribution, assess their association with site of infection and evaluate their potential interest as new vaccine candidates. Methods Detection by PCR of pspA (+families), pspC (+pspC.4), pavA, lytA, phtA,B,D,E, nanA,B,C, rrgA (Pilus-1), sipA (Pilus-2), pcpA and psrp was performed on all isolates, as well as antibiotic resistance testing and MLVA typing (+MLST on 54 representative strains). Determination of ply alleles was performed by sequencing (Sp1 isolates). Results MLVA and virulence genes profiles segregated Sp1 isolates into 2 groups that followed continent distribution. The ply allele 5 and most of the genes that were variable (nanC, Pilus-2, psrp, pcpA, phtD) were present in the French Sp1 isolates (PMEN clone Sweden1-28, ST306) but absent from the African ones. Whereas all African Sp1 isolates clustered into a single MLST CC (CC217), MLVA distinguished two CCs that followed temporal evolution. Pilus-2 and psrp were more prevalent in bacteraemic pneumonia yielded isolates and phtB in meningitis-related isolates. Considering vaccine candidates, phtD was less prevalent than anticipated (50%) and pcpA varied importantly between France and Africa (98% versus 34%). Pilus-1 was carried by 7-11% of isolates and associated with β-lactams resistance. Conclusions Most virulence genes were carried by the European ST306 clone but were lacking on Sp1 isolates circulating in the African meningitis belt, where a more serious pattern of infection is observed. While virulence proteins are now considered as vaccine targets, the geographical differences in their prevalence could affect the efficacy expected from future vaccines.
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Abry MF, Kimenyi KM, Osowo FO, Odhiambo WO, Sewe SO, Kulohoma BW. Genetic diversity of the Pneumococcal CbpA: Implications for next-generation vaccine development. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 11:1261-7. [PMID: 25902300 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1021521] [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: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumococci are capable of vaccine escape by genetic recombination at the targeted capsular locus, significantly reducing long-term vaccine effectiveness. Recently, efforts have been redirected to understanding pneumococcal biology related to potential next-generation vaccine candidates. A variety of serotype-independent protein antigens capable of inducing protective immune responses in tissue culture and animal models of infection have been identified. However, ideal vaccine candidates that are conserved across all genotypes, provide broad population coverage, and induce T-cell dependent immune responses are still under investigation. We examined whether immune responses due to the highly polymorphic CbpA antigen are due to a conserved domain capable of evoking specific immune "memory" across all genotypes of pneumococci. We defined the genotypes in a global dataset of 213 pneumococcal isolates. This isolate collection was genotypically diverse and ideal for establishing the presence of conserved CbpA epitopes as potential protein vaccine candidates. Examination of the CbpA locus sequence was highly polymorphic at both the nucleic acid and amino acid level. Despite this high polymorphism some domains are broadly conserved and consist of different amino acid residues with the same physicochemical properties, and therefore have similar tertiary structures. The two most common domains identified in the CbpA gene are modular teichoic acid phosphorylcholine esterase Pce (2bib:A), and R2 domain (1w9r:A). These conserved domains are immunogenic, therefore capable of inducing long-term host immune responses; moreover they are extracellularly located and thus accessible. We proposed their evaluation as suitable next-generation CbpA-fusion protein vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muna F Abry
- a Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics; University of Nairobi ; Nairobi , Kenya
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21
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Schachern PA, Tsuprun V, Ferrieri P, Briles DE, Goetz S, Cureoglu S, Paparella MM, Juhn S. Pneumococcal PspA and PspC proteins: potential vaccine candidates for experimental otitis media. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 78:1517-21. [PMID: 25015773 PMCID: PMC4129636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2014.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Otitis media is the most commonly diagnosed disease in ambulatory care and Streptococcuspneumoniae continues to be the most common bacterial agent. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics underscores the need for better vaccines. Current pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are modestly protective against otitis media; however, limited serotype coverage and serotype replacement have led to the investigation of pneumococcal proteins as potential vaccine candidates. Two proteins, pneumococcal surface proteins A (PspA) and C (PspC) are important virulence factors, expressed by virtually all strains. Although a number of pneumococcal proteins have been investigated in other infection sites, these proteins can have diverse organ-specific effects. In this study, we investigated the viability and virulence of single (PspA(-) and PspC(-)) and double (PspA(-)/PspC(-)) mutants of pneumococcal PspA and PspC proteins in the chinchilla middle ear. METHODS Bullae of 24 chinchillas were inoculated with 0.5 ml of 10(6) colony forming units (CFUs)/ml bacteria: 6 with wild-type D39 strain; 6 with PspA(-); 6 with PspC(-); and 6 with PspA(-)/PspC(-) isogenic mutant strains. Bacterial CFU levels in middle ear effusions and light microscopic analysis of the number of inflammatory cells in the round window membrane (RWM) were compared 48 h after inoculation. RESULTS At 48 h, CFUs in middle ears were increased for wild-type and PspC(-) strains compared to inoculum levels; however, they were significantly less for the group inoculated with the PspC(-) strain compared to wild-type strain. No bacteria were detected in the PspA(-) and PspA(-)/PspC(-) groups. The number of inflammatory cells in the RWM was significantly higher in wild-type compared to the PspA(-), PspC(-), and PspA(-)/PspC(-) groups. No significant difference in number of inflammatory cells was observed between any pairs of groups inoculated with mutant strains. CONCLUSION Viability and virulence of the PspC(-) strain were similar to the wild-type strain. The single PspA(-) and double PspA(-)/PspC(-) mutants were highly attenuated in the ear. Bacterial clearance of the PspA(-)/PspC(-) double mutant was indistinguishable from that of the PspA mutant. These studies provide no reason to exclude PspC from a multi-component protein vaccine containing PspA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vladimir Tsuprun
- Departments of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - Patricia Ferrieri
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - David E Briles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
| | - Sarah Goetz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | | | - Steven Juhn
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Ricci S, Gerlini A, Pammolli A, Chiavolini D, Braione V, Tripodi SA, Colombari B, Blasi E, Oggioni MR, Peppoloni S, Pozzi G. Contribution of different pneumococcal virulence factors to experimental meningitis in mice. BMC Infect Dis 2013; 13:444. [PMID: 24059458 PMCID: PMC3848944 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pneumococcal meningitis (PM) is a life-threatening disease with a high case-fatality rate and elevated risk for serious neurological sequelae. In this study, we investigated the contribution of three major virulence factors of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the capsule, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) and C (PspC), to the pathogenesis of experimental PM. Methods Mice were challenged by the intracranial route with the serotype 4 TIGR4 strain (wt) and three isogenic mutants devoid of PspA, PspC, and the capsule. Survival, bacterial counts, and brain histology were carried out. To study the interaction between S. pneumoniae mutants and microglia, phagocytosis and survival experiments were performed using the BV2 mouse microglial cell line. Results Virulence of the PspC mutant was comparable to that of TIGR4. In contrast, survival of animals challenged with the PspA mutant was significantly increased compared with the wt, and the mutant was also impaired at replicating in the brain and blood of infected mice. Brain histology indicated that all strains, except for the unencapsulated mutant, caused PM. Analysis of inflammation and damage in the brain of mice infected with TIGR4 or its unencapsulated mutant demonstrated that the rough strain was unable to induce inflammation and neuronal injury, even at high challenge doses. Results with BV2 cells showed no differences in phagocytic uptake between wt and mutants. In survival assays, however, the PspA mutant showed significantly reduced survival in microglia compared with the wt. Conclusions PspA contributed to PM pathogenesis possibly by interacting with microglia at early infection stages, while PspC had limited importance in the disease. The rough mutant did not cause brain inflammation, neuronal damage or mouse death, strengthening the key role of the capsule in PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Ricci
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LA,M,M,B,), University of Siena and Siena University Hospital, Siena 53100, Italy.
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Kimaro Mlacha SZ, Romero-Steiner S, Hotopp JCD, Kumar N, Ishmael N, Riley DR, Farooq U, Creasy TH, Tallon LJ, Liu X, Goldsmith CS, Sampson J, Carlone GM, Hollingshead SK, Scott JAG, Tettelin H. Phenotypic, genomic, and transcriptional characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae interacting with human pharyngeal cells. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:383. [PMID: 23758733 PMCID: PMC3708772 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite the availability of effective pneumococcal vaccines. Understanding the molecular interactions between the bacterium and the host will contribute to the control and prevention of pneumococcal disease. RESULTS We used a combination of adherence assays, mutagenesis and functional genomics to identify novel factors involved in adherence. By contrasting these processes in two pneumococcal strains, TIGR4 and G54, we showed that adherence and invasion capacities vary markedly by strain. Electron microscopy showed more adherent bacteria in association with membranous pseudopodia in the TIGR4 strain. Operons for cell wall phosphorylcholine incorporation (lic), manganese transport (psa) and phosphate utilization (phn) were up-regulated in both strains on exposure to epithelial cells. Pneumolysin, pili, stress protection genes (adhC-czcD) and genes of the type II fatty acid synthesis pathway were highly expressed in the naturally more invasive strain, TIGR4. Deletion mutagenesis of five gene regions identified as regulated in this study revealed attenuation in adherence. Most strikingly, ∆SP_1922 which was predicted to contain a B-cell epitope and revealed significant attenuation in adherence, appeared to be expressed as a part of an operon that includes the gene encoding the cytoplasmic pore-forming toxin and vaccine candidate, pneumolysin. CONCLUSION This work identifies a list of novel potential pneumococcal adherence determinants.
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Bhide M, Bhide K, Pulzova L, Madar M, Mlynarcik P, Bencurova E, Hresko S, Mucha R. Variable regions in the sushi domains 6–7 and 19–20 of factor H in animals and human lead to change in the affinity to factor H binding protein of Borrelia. J Proteomics 2012; 75:4520-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2012.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2012] [Revised: 04/06/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Cross-reactivity of antipneumococcal surface protein C (PspC) antibodies with different strains and evaluation of inhibition of human complement factor H and secretory IgA binding via PspC. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2012; 19:499-507. [PMID: 22336290 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.05706-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC) is an important candidate for a cost-effective vaccine with broad coverage against pneumococcal diseases. Previous studies have shown that Streptococcus pneumoniae is able to bind to both human factor H (FH), an inhibitor of complement alternative pathway, and human secretory IgA (sIgA) via PspC. PspC was classified into 11 groups based on variations of the gene. In this work, we used three PspC fragments from different groups (PspC3, PspC5, and PspC8) to immunize mice for the production of antibodies. Immunization with PspC3 induced antibodies that recognized the majority of the clinical isolates as analyzed by Western blotting of whole-cell extracts and flow cytometry of intact bacteria, while anti-PspC5 antibodies showed cross-reactivity with the paralogue pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), and anti-PspC8 antibodies reacted only with the PspC8-expressing strain. Most of the isolates tested showed strong binding to FH and weaker interaction with sIgA. Preincubation with anti-PspC3 and anti-PspC5 IgG led to some inhibition of binding of FH, and preincubation with anti-PspC3 partially inhibited sIgA binding in Western blotting. The analysis of intact bacteria through flow cytometry showed only a small decrease in FH binding after incubation of strain D39 with anti-PspC3 IgG, and one clinical isolate showed inhibition of sIgA binding by anti-PspC3 IgG. We conclude that although anti-PspC3 antibodies were able to recognize PspC variants from the majority of the strains tested, partial inhibition of FH and sIgA binding through anti-PspC3 antibodies in vitro could be observed for only a restricted number of isolates.
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Abstract
Pneumococcal meningitis continues to be associated with high rates of mortality and long-term neurological sequelae. The most common route of infection starts by nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which must avoid mucosal entrapment and evade the host immune system after local activation. During invasive disease, pneumococcal epithelial adhesion is followed by bloodstream invasion and activation of the complement and coagulation systems. The release of inflammatory mediators facilitates pneumococcal crossing of the blood-brain barrier into the brain, where the bacteria multiply freely and trigger activation of circulating antigen-presenting cells and resident microglial cells. The resulting massive inflammation leads to further neutrophil recruitment and inflammation, resulting in the well-known features of bacterial meningitis, including cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, cochlear damage, cerebral edema, hydrocephalus, and cerebrovascular complications. Experimental animal models continue to further our understanding of the pathophysiology of pneumococcal meningitis and provide the platform for the development of new adjuvant treatments and antimicrobial therapy. This review discusses the most recent views on the pathophysiology of pneumococcal meningitis, as well as potential targets for (adjunctive) therapy.
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Santamaria R, Goulart C, Perciani CT, Barazzone GC, Carvalho RJ, Gonçalves VM, Leite LC, Tanizaki MM. Humoral immune response of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Capsular polysaccharide serotype 14—Lysine modified PspA. Vaccine 2011; 29:8689-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.08.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2011] [Revised: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 08/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Ricci S, Janulczyk R, Gerlini A, Braione V, Colomba L, Iannelli F, Chiavolini D, Oggioni MR, Björck L, Pozzi G. The factor H-binding fragment of PspC as a vaccine antigen for the induction of protective humoral immunity against experimental pneumococcal sepsis. Vaccine 2011; 29:8241-9. [PMID: 21911026 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.08.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2011] [Revised: 08/13/2011] [Accepted: 08/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC) is a major virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae and interferes with complement activity by binding complement factor H (fH). In this study, protection against experimental sepsis caused by pneumococci carrying different PspC variants was evaluated by immunisation with the fH-binding fragment of PspC. The mechanisms of protection mediated by antibodies to PspC were also studied. Mice were immunised with a PspC fragment (PspC(39-261)) from the type 3 strain HB565 and infected intravenously with either strain HB565 (homologous challenge), or strains D39 and TIGR4 (heterologous challenge). Immunisation with PspC(39-261) elicited high titers (>300,000) of PspC-specific serum IgG and conferred protection from challenge with HB565. In contrast, cross-protection was either limited or absent in vaccinated animals infected with D39 and TIGR4, respectively. To correlate protection with reactivity and function of PspC antibodies, pooled sera from vaccinated mice were tested in IgG binding and complement deposition experiments. IgG antibodies efficiently bound to HB565, while binding was lower with D39 and absent with TIGR4. In the presence of mouse post-immune sera, C3 deposition was increased onto HB565, while no effect was observed with D39 and TIGR4. Antibody cross-reactivity and complement deposition progressively declined with reduced amino acid identity between PspC variants. Antibodies to PspC were also found to interfere with fH binding to HB565. Finally, in vitro and ex vivo phagocytosis assays demonstrated that PspC-specific antibodies promoted opsonophagocytic killing of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Ricci
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Siena, Italy.
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Two DHH subfamily 1 proteins contribute to pneumococcal virulence and confer protection against pneumococcal disease. Infect Immun 2011; 79:3697-710. [PMID: 21768284 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01383-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human bacterial pathogen, causing such infections as pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, and otitis media. Current capsular polysaccharide-based conjugate vaccines protect against a fraction of the over 90 serotypes known, whereas vaccines based on conserved pneumococcal proteins are considered promising broad-range alternatives. The pneumococcal genome encodes two conserved proteins of an as yet unknown function, SP1298 and SP2205, classified as DHH (Asp-His-His) subfamily 1 proteins. Here we examined their contribution to pneumococcal pathogenesis using single and double knockout mutants in three different strains: D39, TIGR4, and BHN100. Mutants lacking both SP1298 and SP2205 were severely impaired in adherence to human epithelial Detroit 562 cells. Importantly, the attenuated phenotypes were restored upon genetic complementation of the deleted genes. Single and mixed mouse models of colonization, otitis media, pneumonia, and bacteremia showed that bacterial loads in the nasopharynx, middle ears, lungs, and blood of mice infected with the mutants were significantly reduced from those of wild-type-infected mice, with an apparent additive effect upon deletion of both genes. Minor strain-specific phenotypes were observed, i.e., deletion of SP1298 affected host-cell adherence in BHN100 only, and deletion of SP2205 significantly attenuated virulence in lungs and blood in D39 and BHN100 but not TIGR4. Finally, subcutaneous vaccination with a combination of both DHH subfamily 1 proteins conferred protection to nasopharynx, lungs, and blood of mice infected with TIGR4. We conclude that SP1298 and SP2205 play a significant role at several stages of pneumococcal infection, and importantly, these proteins are potential candidates for a multicomponent protein vaccine.
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Abstract
The pneumococcal histidine triad (Pht) proteins PhtA, PhtB, PhtD, and PhtE form a group of conserved pneumococcal surface proteins. Humans produce antibodies to Pht proteins upon exposure to pneumococcus, and immunization of mice has provided protective immunity against sepsis and pneumonia and reduced nasopharyngeal colonization. Pht proteins are candidates for inclusion in multicomponent pneumococcal protein vaccines. Their biological function in pneumococcal infections is not clear, but a role in complement inhibition has been suggested. We measured complement deposition on wild-type and Pht mutant strains in four genetic backgrounds: Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 (serotype 2) and R36A (unencapsulated derivative of D39) and strains of serotypes 3, 4, and 19F. PspA and PspC single and double mutants were compared to the wild-type and Pht-deficient D39 strains. Factor H binding was measured to bacterial cells, lysates, and protein antigens. Deletion of all four Pht proteins (Pht(-)) resulted in increased C3 deposition on the serotype 4 strain but not on the other strains. Pht antigens did not bind factor H, and deletion of Pht proteins did not affect factor H binding by bacterial lysates. The Pht(-) mutant serotype 4 strain bound slightly less factor H than the wild-type strain when binding was measured by flow cytometry. Pht proteins may play a role in immune evasion, but the mechanism of function is unlikely to be mediated by factor H binding. The relative contribution of Pht proteins to the inhibition of complement deposition is likely to be affected by the presence of other pneumococcal proteins and to depend on the genetic background.
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Yuste J, Khandavilli S, Ansari N, Muttardi K, Ismail L, Hyams C, Weiser J, Mitchell T, Brown JS. The effects of PspC on complement-mediated immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae vary with strain background and capsular serotype. Infect Immun 2010; 78:283-92. [PMID: 19884335 PMCID: PMC2798213 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00541-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2009] [Revised: 06/20/2009] [Accepted: 10/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae may evade complement activity by binding of factor H (FH), a negative regulator of the alternative pathway, to the surface protein PspC. However, existing data on the effects of FH binding to PspC on complement activity are conflicting, and there is also considerable allelic variation in PspC structure between S. pneumoniae strains that may influence PspC-dependent effects on complement. We have investigated interactions with complement for several S. pneumoniae strains in which the gene encoding PspC has been deleted. The degree of FH binding varied between strains and was entirely dependent on PspC for seven strains. Data obtained with TIGR4 strains expressing different capsular serotypes suggest that FH binding is affected by capsular serotype. Results of immunoblot analysis for C3 degradation products and iC3b deposition assays suggested that FH bound to PspC retained functional activity, but loss of PspC had strikingly varied effects on C3b/iC3b deposition on S. pneumoniae, with large increases on serotype 4, 6A, 6B, and 9V strains but only small increases or even decreases on serotype 2, 3, 17, and 23F strains. Repeating C3b/iC3b assays with TIGR4 strains expressing different capsular serotypes suggested that differences in the effect of PspC on C3b/iC3b deposition were largely independent of capsular serotype and depend on strain background. However, data obtained from infection in complement-deficient mice demonstrated that differences between strains in the effects of PspC on complement surprisingly did not influence the development of septicemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Yuste
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Suneeta Khandavilli
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Naadir Ansari
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Kairya Muttardi
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ismail
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - C. Hyams
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey Weiser
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy Mitchell
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy S. Brown
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rayne Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom, Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, 402A Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, Division of Infection and Immunity, IBLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
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Could proteomic research deliver the next generation of treatments for pneumococcal meningitis? Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis 2009; 2009:214216. [PMID: 19503804 PMCID: PMC2688656 DOI: 10.1155/2009/214216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2009] [Accepted: 03/09/2009] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired meningitis worldwide. Despite optimal antibiotic therapy and supportive care, the mortality of this condition remains very high at 20–30% in the developed world and over 60% in under-resourced hospitals. In developed countries, approximately half of the survivors suffer intellectual impairment, hearing loss, or other neurological damage. There is an urgent need for more information about the mechanisms of brain damage and death in pneumococcal meningitis so that new treatments can be designed. Using proteomic techniques and bioinformatics, the protein content of cerebrospinal fluid can be examined in great detail. Animal models have added greatly to our knowledge of possible mechanisms and shown that hippocampal apoptosis and cortical necrosis are distinct mechanisms of neuronal death. The contribution of these pathways to human disease is unknown. Using proteomic techniques, neuronal death pathways could be described in CSF samples. This information could lead to the design of novel therapies to minimize brain damage and lower mortality. This minireview will summarize the known pathogenesis of meningitis, and current gaps in knowledge, that could be filled by proteomic analysis.
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Jongerius I, Ram S, Rooijakkers S. Bacterial complement escape. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2009; 666:32-48. [PMID: 20054973 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1601-3_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Complement activation is a crucial step in our innate immune defense against invading bacteria. Complement proteins can quickly recognize invading bacteria and subsequently label them for phagocytosis or kill them by direct lysis. In order to survive in the human host, bacterial pathogens have evolved a number of excreted and membrane-bound proteins that interfere with several steps of the complement cascade. In this chapter we summarize the most successful complement-modulating strategies by human bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Jongerius
- Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Lu L, Ma Z, Jokiranta TS, Whitney AR, DeLeo FR, Zhang JR. Species-specific interaction of Streptococcus pneumoniae with human complement factor H. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 181:7138-46. [PMID: 18981135 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.10.7138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae naturally colonizes the nasopharynx as a commensal organism and sometimes causes infections in remote tissue sites. This bacterium is highly capable of resisting host innate immunity during nasopharyngeal colonization and disseminating infections. The ability to recruit complement factor H (FH) by S. pneumoniae has been implicated as a bacterial immune evasion mechanism against complement-mediated bacterial clearance because FH is a complement alternative pathway inhibitor. S. pneumoniae recruits FH through a previously defined FH binding domain of choline-binding protein A (CbpA), a major surface protein of S. pneumoniae. In this study, we show that CbpA binds to human FH, but not to the FH proteins of mouse and other animal species tested to date. Accordingly, deleting the FH binding domain of CbpA in strain D39 did not result in obvious change in the levels of pneumococcal bacteremia or virulence in a bacteremia mouse model. Furthermore, this species-specific pneumococcal interaction with FH was shown to occur in multiple pneumococcal isolates from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Finally, our phagocytosis experiments with human and mouse phagocytes and complement systems provide additional evidence to support our hypothesis that CbpA acts as a bacterial determinant for pneumococcal resistance to complement-mediated host defense in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Lu
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
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Abstract
SUMMARY Streptococcus pneumoniae is a colonizer of human nasopharynx, but it is also an important pathogen responsible for high morbidity, high mortality, numerous disabilities, and high health costs throughout the world. Major diseases caused by S. pneumoniae are otitis media, pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Despite the availability of antibiotics and vaccines, pneumococcal infections still have high mortality rates, especially in risk groups. For this reason, there is an exceptionally extensive research effort worldwide to better understand the diseases caused by the pneumococcus, with the aim of developing improved therapeutics and vaccines. Animal experimentation is an essential tool to study the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and test novel drugs and vaccines. This article reviews both historical and innovative laboratory pneumococcal animal models that have vastly added to knowledge of (i) mechanisms of infection, pathogenesis, and immunity; (ii) efficacies of antimicrobials; and (iii) screening of vaccine candidates. A comprehensive description of the techniques applied to induce disease is provided, the advantages and limitations of mouse, rat, and rabbit models used to mimic pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis are discussed, and a section on otitis media models is also included. The choice of appropriate animal models for in vivo studies is a key element for improved understanding of pneumococcal disease.
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Preston JA, Dockrell DH. Virulence factors in pneumococcal respiratory pathogenesis. Future Microbiol 2008; 3:205-21. [PMID: 18366340 DOI: 10.2217/17460913.3.2.205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a major global cause of human disease. Since the publication of the entire sequence of TIGR4 in 2001, our understanding of this human pathogen has increased significantly. Genetic studies, and the use of mutant strains have refined our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of classic pneumococcal virulence factors, including the polysaccharide capsule, pneumolysin and surface-expressed proteins. Genetic screens are identifying novel virulence factors. Characterization of pili and bacteriocins, as well as genes associated with competence, metabolism and resistance to oxidative stress has provided new insights into the genetic diversity of the pneumococcus. Further appreciation of the molecular basis of pneumococcal pathogenesis will lead to more effective strategies for the prevention and management of pneumococcal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Preston
- Section of Infection, Inflammation & Immunity, L-Floor, University of Sheffield School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK.
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Pneumococcal virulence gene expression and host cytokine profiles during pathogenesis of invasive disease. Infect Immun 2007; 76:646-57. [PMID: 18039836 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01161-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal disease continues to account for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. For the development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against the disease spectrum, a complete understanding of pneumococcal behavior in vivo is necessary. We evaluated the expression patterns of the proven and putative virulence factor genes adcR, cbpA, cbpD, cbpG, cpsA, nanA, pcpA, piaA, ply, psaA, pspA, and spxB after intranasal infection of CD1 mice with serotype 2, 4, and 6A pneumococci by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Simultaneous gene expression patterns of selected host immunomodulatory molecules, CCL2, CCL5, CD54, CXCL2, interleukin-6, and tomor necrosis factor alpha, were also investigated. We show that pneumococcal virulence genes are differentially expressed in vivo, with some genes demonstrating niche- and serotype-specific differential expression. The in vivo expression patterns could not be attributed to in vitro differences in expression of the genes in transparent and opaque variants of the three strains. The host molecules were significantly upregulated, especially in the lungs, blood, and brains of mice. The pneumococcal-gene expression patterns support their ascribed roles in pathogenesis, providing insight into which protein combinations might be more appropriate as vaccine antigens against invasive disease. This is the first simultaneous comparison of bacterial- and host gene expression in the same animal during pathogenesis. The strategy provides a platform for prospective evaluation of interaction kinetics between invading pneumococci and human patients in culture-positive cases and should be feasible in other infection models.
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Quin LR, Onwubiko C, Moore QC, Mills MF, McDaniel LS, Carmicle S. Factor H binding to PspC of Streptococcus pneumoniae increases adherence to human cell lines in vitro and enhances invasion of mouse lungs in vivo. Infect Immun 2007; 75:4082-7. [PMID: 17562771 PMCID: PMC1952001 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00474-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC) binds to both human secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and complement factor H (FH). FH, a regulator of the alternative pathway of complement, can also mediate adherence of different host cells. Since PspC contributes to adherence and invasion of host cells, we hypothesized that the interaction of PspC with FH may also mediate adherence of pneumococci to human cells. In this study, we investigated FH- and sIgA-mediated pneumococcal adherence to human cell lines in vitro. Adherence assays demonstrated that preincubation of Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 with FH increased adherence to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) 5-fold and to lung epithelial cells (SK-MES-1) 18-fold, relative to that of D39 without FH on the surface. The presence of sIgA enhanced adherence to SK-MES-1 6-fold and to pharyngeal epithelial cells (Detroit 562) 14-fold. Furthermore, sIgA had an additive effect on adherence to HUVEC; specifically, preincubation of D39 with both FH and sIgA led to a 21-fold increase in adherence. Finally, using a mouse model, we examined the significance of the FH-PspC interaction in pneumococcal nasal colonization and lung invasion. Mice intranasally infected with D39 preincubated with FH had increased bacteremia and lung invasion, but they had similar levels of nasopharyngeal colonization compared to that of mice challenged with D39 without FH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa R Quin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
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Ogunniyi AD, LeMessurier KS, Graham RMA, Watt JM, Briles DE, Stroeher UH, Paton JC. Contributions of pneumolysin, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), and PspC to pathogenicity of Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 in a mouse model. Infect Immun 2007; 75:1843-51. [PMID: 17261599 PMCID: PMC1865719 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01384-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful colonization of the upper respiratory tract by Streptococcus pneumoniae is an essential first step in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal disease. However, the bacterial and host factors that provoke the progression from asymptomatic colonization to invasive disease are yet to be fully defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of single and combined mutations in genes encoding pneumolysin (Ply), pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), and pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC, also known as choline-binding protein A) on the pathogenicity of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 2 (D39) in mice. Following intranasal challenge with D39, stable colonization of the nasopharynx was maintained over a 7-day period at a level of approximately 10(5) bacteria per mouse. The abilities of the mutant deficient in PspA to colonize the nasopharynx and to cause lung infection and bacteremia were significantly reduced. Likewise, the PspC mutant and, to a lesser extent, the Ply mutant also had reduced abilities to colonize the nasopharynx. As expected, the double mutants colonized less well than the parent to various degrees and had difficulty translocating to the lungs and blood. A significant additive attenuation was observed for the double and triple mutants in pneumonia and systemic disease models. Surprisingly, the colonization profile of the derivative lacking all three proteins was similar to that of the wild type, indicating virulence gene compensation. These findings further demonstrate that the mechanism of pneumococcal pathogenesis is highly complex and multifactorial but ascribes a role for each of these virulence proteins, alone or in combination, in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiodun D Ogunniyi
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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Ma Z, Zhang JR. RR06 activates transcription of spr1996 and cbpA in Streptococcus pneumoniae. J Bacteriol 2007; 189:2497-509. [PMID: 17220227 PMCID: PMC1899362 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01429-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes at the nasopharynx of humans and is able to disseminate and cause various infections. The hallmark of pneumococcal disease is rapid bacterial replication in different tissue sites leading to intense inflammation. The genetic basis of pneumococcal adaptation to different host niches remains sketchy. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effect of RR06, a response regulator protein, on gene expression of S. pneumoniae. Microarray and Northern blot analyses showed that RR06 is specifically required for transcription of spr1996 and cbpA. While the function of Spr1996 is unknown, CbpA has been well characterized as a surface-exposed protective antigen and a virulence factor of S. pneumoniae. A recombinant form of RR06 was able to bind to a 19-bp conserved sequence shared by the spr1996 and cbpA promoter regions. Furthermore, inactivation of rr06 resulted in loss of CbpA expression as detected by antibody staining and bacterial adhesion. CbpA expression was restored in trans by the intact rr06 gene. However, a mutant, RR06(D51A), with a point mutation in the aspartate residue at position 51 (a predicted major phosphorylation site) of RR06, completely abolished the CbpA expression, suggesting that RR06 phosphorylation is required for transcriptional activation of spr1996 and cbpA. Finally, inactivation of rr06 in additional pneumococcal strains also led to the loss of CbpA expression. These data implicate that RR06 activates the expression of spr1996 and cbpA in many other pneumococcal strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Ma
- Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, M/C 151, Room MS453, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA
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Quin LR, Moore QC, McDaniel LS. Pneumolysin, PspA, and PspC contribute to pneumococcal evasion of early innate immune responses during bacteremia in mice. Infect Immun 2007; 75:2067-70. [PMID: 17220305 PMCID: PMC1865685 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01727-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The pneumococcal virulence factors include capsule, PspA, PspC, and Ply. Cytometric analysis demonstrated that the greatest levels of C3 deposition were on a Deltaply PspA(-) PspC(-) mutant. Also, Ply, PspA, and PspC expression resulted in C3 degradation in vitro and in vivo. Finally, blood clearance assays demonstrated that there was enhanced clearance of Deltaply PspA(-) PspC(-) pneumococci compared to the clearance of nonencapsulated pneumococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa R Quin
- Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
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Burne RA, Bessen DE, Broadbent JR, Claverys JP. The Seventh International Conference on the Genetics of Streptococci, Lactococci, and Enterococci. J Bacteriol 2006; 189:1209-18. [PMID: 17012391 PMCID: PMC1797339 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01363-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Burne
- Department of Oral Biology, Gainesville, FL 32610-0424, USA.
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