Neisserial porins may provide critical second signals to polysaccharide-activated murine B cells for induction of immunoglobulin secretion

Polysaccharide peptide conjugates: Chemistry, properties and applications

The intention of this publication is to give an overview on research related to conjugates of polysaccharides and peptides. Dextran, chitosan, and alginate were selected, to cover four of the most often encountered functional groups known to be present in polysaccharides. These groups are the hydroxyl, the amine, the carboxyl, and the acetal functionality. A collection of the commonly used chemical reactions for conjugation is provided. Conjugation results into distinct properties compared to the parent polysaccharide, and a number of these characteristics are highlighted. This review aims at demonstrating the applicability of said conjugates with a strong emphasis on biomedical applications, drug delivery, biosensing, and tissue engineering. Some suggestions are made for more rigorous chemistries and analytics that could be investigated. Finally, an outlook is given into which direction the field could be developed further. We hope that this survey provides the reader with a comprehensive summary and contributes to the progress of works that aim at synthetically combining two of the main building blocks of life into supramolecular structures with unprecedented biological response.

Modulation of host cellular responses by gram-negative bacterial porins

The outer membrane of a gram-negative bacteria encapsulates the plasma membrane thereby protecting it from the harsh external environment. This membrane acts as a sieving barrier due to the presence of special membrane-spanning proteins called "porins." These porins are β-barrel channel proteins that allow the passive transport of hydrophilic molecules and are impermeable to large and charged molecules. Many porins form trimers in the outer membrane. They are abundantly present on the bacterial surface and therefore play various significant roles in the host-bacteria interactions. These include the roles of porins in the adhesion and virulence mechanisms necessary for the pathogenesis, along with providing resistance to the bacteria against the antimicrobial substances. They also act as the receptors for phage and complement proteins and are involved in modulating the host cellular responses. In addition, the potential use of porins as adjuvants, vaccine candidates, therapeutic targets, and biomarkers is now being exploited. In this review, we focus briefly on the structure of the porins along with their important functions and roles in the host-bacteria interactions.

The enhanced immune responses induced by Salmonella enteritidis ghosts loaded with Neisseria gonorrhoeae porB against Salmonella in mice

Human health has been seriously endangered by highly prevalent salmonellosis and multidrug-resistant Salmonella strains. Current vaccines suffer from variable immune-protective effects, so more effective ones are needed to control Salmonella infection : Bacterial ghosts have been produced by the expression of lysis gene E from bacteriophage PhiX174 and can be filled with considerable exogenous substances such as DNA or drugs as a novel platform. In this study, Salmonella enteritidis (SE) ghosts were developed and loaded with Neisseria gonorrhoeae porin B (porB) to construct a novel inactive vaccine. Our new studies show that SE ghosts loaded with porB displayed increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p70) in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), and elicited significantly higher specific systemic and mucosal immune responses to Salmonella than SE ghosts alone. In addition, the novel porB-loaded ghosts conferred higher protective effects on virulent Salmonella challenge. For the first time, we demonstrate that N. gonorrhoeae porB, as a novel adjuvant, can increase the immunogenicity of SE ghosts. Our studies suggested that Salmonella enteritidis ghosts loaded with Neisseria gonorrhoeae porin B might be a useful mucosal Salmonella vaccine candidate for practical use in the future.

Immune efficacy of five novel recombinant Bordetella bronchiseptica proteins

Background

The Gram-negative pathogen Bordetella bronchiseptica causes acute and chronic respiratory infection in a variety of animals. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent these infections. To identify useful candidate antigens for such a vaccine, five B. bronchiseptica genes including amino acid ATP-binding cassette transporter substrate-binding protein (ABC), lipoprotein (PL), outer membrane porin protein (PPP), leu/ile/val-binding protein (BPP), and conserved hypothetical protein (CHP) were cloned and the recombinant proteins were expressed. The immune responses of mice to vaccination with individual recombinant proteins were measured.

Results

Each of the tested recombinant proteins induced a high antibody titer. PPP and PL showed protective indices against challenges with B. bronchiseptica. The protection ratios were 62.5 and 50 %, respectively, compared with 12.5 % for control vaccinations. The protection ratios of ABC, BPP, and CHP were not significantly different from the controls. IgG-subtype and cytokine analysis demonstrated that PPP and PL can induce two immune responses: a humoral immune response and a cell-mediated immune response. The humoral immunity-mediated, Th2-type response dominated.

Conclusion

The identification of PPP and PL, which offer immune-protective potential, identifies them as candidates for the development of a diagnostic test or a vaccine for B. bronchiseptica.

Immune Adjuvant Effect of Molecularly-defined Toll-Like Receptor Ligands

Vaccine efficacy is optimized by addition of immune adjuvants. However, although adjuvants have been used for over a century, to date, only few adjuvants are approved for human use, mostly aimed at improving vaccine efficacy and antigen-specific protective antibody production. The mechanism of action of immune adjuvants is diverse, depending on their chemical and molecular nature, ranging from non-specific effects (i.e., antigen depot at the immunization site) to specific activation of immune cells leading to improved host innate and adaptive responses. Although the detailed molecular mechanism of action of many adjuvants is still elusive, the discovery of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) has provided new critical information on immunostimulatory effect of numerous bacterial components that engage TLRs. These ligands have been shown to improve both the quality and the quantity of host adaptive immune responses when used in vaccine formulations targeted to infectious diseases and cancer that require both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. The potential of such TLR adjuvants in improving the design and the outcomes of several vaccines is continuously evolving, as new agonists are discovered and tested in experimental and clinical models of vaccination. In this review, a summary of the recent progress in development of TLR adjuvants is presented.

Polysaccharide-specific memory B cells generated by conjugate vaccines in humans conform to the CD27+IgG+ isotype-switched memory B Cell phenotype and require contact-dependent signals from bystander T cells activated by bacterial proteins to differentiate into plasma cells

The polysaccharides (PS) surrounding encapsulated bacteria are generally unable to activate T cells and hence do not induce B cell memory (BMEM). PS conjugate vaccines recruit CD4(+) T cells via a carrier protein, such as tetanus toxoid (TT), resulting in the induction of PS-specific BMEM. However, the requirement for T cells in the subsequent activation of the BMEM at the time of bacterial encounter is poorly understood, despite having critical implications for protection. We demonstrate that the PS-specific BMEM induced in humans by a meningococcal serogroup C PS (Men C)-TT conjugate vaccine conform to the isotype-switched (IgG(+)CD27(+)) rather than the IgM memory (IgM(+)CD27(+)) phenotype. Both Men C and TT-specific BMEM require CD4(+) T cells to differentiate into plasma cells. However, noncognate bystander T cells provide such signals to PS-specific BMEM with comparable effect to the cognate T cells available to TT-specific BMEM. The interaction between the two populations is contact-dependent and is mediated in part through CD40. Meningococci drive the differentiation of the Men C-specific BMEM through the activation of bystander T cells by bacterial proteins, although these signals are enhanced by T cell-independent innate signals. An effect of the TT-specific T cells activated by the vaccine on unrelated BMEM in vivo is also demonstrated. These data highlight that any protection conferred by PS-specific BMEM at the time of bacterial encounter will depend on the effectiveness with which bacterial proteins are able to activate bystander T cells. Priming for T cell memory against bacterial proteins through their inclusion in vaccine preparations must continue to be pursued.

Innate immune function of the neisserial porins and the relationship to vaccine adjuvant activity

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria responsible for bacterial meningitis and septicemia. Porins are the most represented outer membrane proteins in the pathogenic Neisseria species, functioning as pores for the exchange of ions, and are characterized by a trimeric beta-barrel structure. Neisserial porins have been shown to act as adjuvants in the immune response via activation of B cells and other antigen-presenting cells. Their effect on the immune response is mediated by upregulation of the costimulatory molecule B7-2 (CD86) on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, an effect that is dependent on Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and MyD88, through a cascade of signal transduction events mediated by direct binding of the porin to the TLR2-TLR1 heterodimer. This article summarizes work carried out investigating the mechanisms of the immune stimulating capacity of the neisserial porins (specifically meningococcal PorB), emphasizing cellular events involved in antigen-presenting cell activation and induction of expression of cell surface molecules involved in the immune response.

B and CD4+ T-cell expression of TLR2 is critical for optimal induction of a T-cell-dependent humoral immune response to intact Streptococcus pneumoniae

TLR2(-/-) mice immunized with Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn) elicit normal IgM, but defective CD4(+) T-cell-dependent type 1 IgG isotype production, associated with a largely intact innate immune response. We studied the T-cell-dependent phosphorylcholine (PC)-specific IgG3 versus the T-cell-independent IgM response to Pn to determine whether TLR2 signals directly via the adaptive immune system. Pn-activated TLR2(-/-) BMDC have only a modest defect in cytokine secretion, undergo normal maturation, and when transferred into naïve WT mice elicit a normal IgM and IgG3 anti-PC response, relative to WT BMDC. Pn synergizes with BCR and TCR signaling for DNA synthesis in purified WT B and CD4(+)T cells, respectively, but is defective in cells lacking TLR2. Pn primes TLR2(-/-) mice for a normal CD4(+) T-cell IFN-gamma recall response. Notably, TLR2(-/-) B cells transferred into RAG-2(-/-) mice with WT CD4(+)T cells, or TLR2(-/-) CD4(+)T cells transferred into athymic nude mice, each elicit a defective IgG3, in contrast to normal IgM, anti-PC response relative to WT cells. These data are the first to demonstrate a major role for B-cell and CD4(+) T-cell expression of TLR2 for eliciting an anti-bacterial humoral immune response.

Role of protein tyrosine kinase and Erk1/2 activities in the Toll-like receptor 2-induced cellular activation of murine B cells by neisserial porin

Neisserial porins are potent immune adjuvants and have been demonstrated to stimulate and induce the activation of human and murine B lymphocytes. Their immunopotentiating ability is due largely to the upregulation of the surface expression of the costimulatory ligand CD86 (B7-2) on B cells and other antigen-presenting cells. Porin-induced activation is dependent on the innate immune pattern recognition receptor Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). These data have led us to investigate the signal transduction events induced by PorB from Neisseria meningitidis and then, using inhibitors of these pathways, to establish the mechanism by which this bacterial major outer membrane protein induces CD86 upregulation and the proliferation of murine B cells. PorB was able to induce (i) protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity, (ii) the phosphorylation of Erk1 and Erk2, and (iii) IkappaB-alpha phosphorylation, leading to NF-kappaB nuclear translocation in B cells in a TLR2-dependent manner. PorB-induced NF-kappaB nuclear translocation was not dependent on either PTK or Erk1/2 activities. However, B-cell proliferation and the induction of increased surface expression of CD86 by PorB were dependent on PTK activity and not Erk1/2 activation. In conclusion, PorB acts through TLR2 as a B-cell mitogen, triggering tyrosine phosphorylation of various cellular proteins that are involved in proliferation and CD86 expression, as well as the phosphorylation of Erk1/2, which is not necessary for CD86 upregulation or the proliferation of B cells.

The PorB porin from commensal Neisseria lactamica induces Th1 and Th2 immune responses to ovalbumin in mice and is a potential immune adjuvant

Porins from pathogenic Neisseriae are among several bacterial products with immune adjuvant activity. Neisseria meningitidis (Nme) PorB, has been shown to induce immune cells activation in a TLR2-dependent manner and acts as a vaccine immune adjuvant. The PorB porin from Neisseria lactamica (Nlac), a common nasopharyngeal commensal, shares significant structural and functional similarities with Nme PorB. In this work we ask whether the immune adjuvant ability of porins from pathogenic Neisserial strains is a characteristic shared with porins from non-pathogenic Neisserial species or whether it is unique for bacterial products derived from microorganisms capable of inducing inflammation and disease. We evaluated the potential immune adjuvant effect of Nlac PorB in mice using ovalbumin (OVA) as a prototype antigen. Immunization with Nlac PorB/OVA induced high OVA-specific IgG and IgM titers compared to OVA alone, similar to other adjuvants such as Nme PorB and alum. High titers of IgG1 and IgG2b were detected as well as production of IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and INF-gamma in response to Nlac PorB, consistent with induction of both a Th1-type and a Th2-type immune response. OVA-specific proliferation was also determined in splenocytes from Nlac PorB/OVA-immunized mice. In addition, B cell activation in vitro and cytokine production in response to Nlac PorB was found to be mediated by TLR2, in a similar manner to Nme PorB.

Toll-like receptor 2-mediated human B cell differentiation

Human B cells likely have a major role in the adjuvant activity of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 agonists by enhancing innate and adaptive immune responses. As several TLR2 ligands are promising vaccine adjuvant candidates, our aim was to characterize the effects of TLR2 stimulation on human B cell activation and differentiation using cells derived from healthy peripheral blood (PB), spleen, and diseased tonsils. We found a subset of partially differentiated TLR2+ PB and splenic B cells which responds to TLR2 agonists by mediating events involved in germinal center formation, such as upregulating CD77 and secreting chemokines. Furthermore, we show that TLR2-activated monocytes induce B cells to secrete significant quantities of IgM. Finally, activated TLR2+ B cells from tonsils are induced to secrete IgM directly by TLR2 ligands. Thus, TLR2 is likely involved in specific B cell-mediated functions and may be a viable vaccine adjuvant target in humans.

Meningococcal porin PorB binds to TLR2 and requires TLR1 for signaling

TLR2 plays a key role in the initiation of the cellular innate immune responses by a wide range of bacterial products. TLRs signaling, including TLR2 and its coreceptors TLR1 and TLR6, is mediated by a number of specific ligands. Although many of the TLR-mediated cell signaling pathways have been elucidated in the past few years, the molecular mechanisms that lead to cell activation are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the interaction of PorB from Neisseria meningitidis with TLR2 and describe the direct binding of a bacterial protein to TLR2 for the first time. Using labeled PorB, we demonstrate its binding to TLR2 both in its soluble form in vitro, and when it is over-expressed on the surface of human embryonic kidney 293 cells. We also show that TLR2-mediated binding of PorB is directly related to cellular activation. In addition, using 293 cells expressing the chimeric TLR2/TLR1 and TLR2/TLR6 complexes, we report the selectivity of PorB binding to the TLR2/TLR1 heterodimer, which is required for initiating signaling in transfected 293 cells and in murine B cells. Together, these data provide new evidence that TLR2 recognizes PorB through direct binding, and that PorB-induced cell activation is mediated by a TLR2/TLR1 complex.

Lipopolysaccharide deacylation by an endogenous lipase controls innate antibody responses to Gram-negative bacteria

T cell-independent type 1 agonists such as Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides can stimulate B lymphocytes to proliferate and produce antibodies by signaling through Toll-like receptors. This phenomenon is well established in vitro, yet polyclonal B cell responses after bacterial infection in vivo are often weak and short-lived. We show here that B cell proliferation and polyclonal antibody production in response to Gram-negative bacterial infection are modulated by acyloxyacyl hydrolase, a host enzyme that deacylates bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Deacylation of lipopolysaccharide occurred over several days, allowing lipopolysaccharide to act as an innate immune stimulant yet limiting the eventual amount of B cell proliferation and polyclonal antibody production. Control of lipopolysaccharide activation by acyloxyacyl hydrolase indicates that mammals can regulate immune responses to bacterial infection by chemical modification of a Toll-like receptor agonist.

Vaccines based on the cell surface carbohydrates of pathogenic bacteria

Glycoconjugate vaccines, in which a cell surface carbohydrate from a micro-organism is covalently attached to an appropriate carrier protein are proving to be the most effective means to generate protective immune responses to prevent a wide range of diseases. The technology appears to be generic and applicable to a wide range of pathogens, as long as antibodies against surface carbohydrates help protect against infection. Three such vaccines, against Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis Group C and seven serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, have already been licensed and many others are in development. This article discusses the rationale for the development and use of glycoconjugate vaccines, the mechanisms by which they elicit T cell-dependent immune responses and the implications of this for vaccine development, the role of physicochemical methods in the characterisation and quality control of these vaccines, and the novel products which are under development.

Neisserial porin-induced dendritic cell activation is MyD88 and TLR2 dependent

Neisserial porins have been shown to act as B cell mitogens and immune adjuvants. PorA and PorB are the major outer membrane porin proteins of the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis. We have shown that the mechanism of the immunopotentiating capability of porin involves up-regulation of the T cell costimulatory ligand, CD86. Due to neisserial porin's ability to activate B cells and potentiate immune responses, we hypothesized that porin also employs the potent immune stimulatory function of dendritic cells (DC). We examined the ability of purified N. meningitidis PorB to induce maturation of murine splenic and bone marrow-derived DC. PorB treatment induced DC maturation, as demonstrated by increased expression of CD86 and class I and II MHC molecules. In addition, PorB not only enhanced the allostimulatory activity of DC, but also augmented the ability of DC to stimulate T cells in an Ag-specific manner. PorB-matured DC secreted the inflammatory cytokine IL-6, which may have implications for the adjuvant property of porin. Induction of IL-6 by PorB is also significant because IL-6 is one of a number of cytokines produced during infection with N. meningitidis and may be involved in the inflammatory process observed during infection and disease. We previously demonstrated the requirement of MyD88 and TLR2 for PorB-induced B cell activation. In the present study, MyD88 and TLR2 were also essential for PorB-induced DC activation. This work is significant for elucidating the mechanism(s) of neisserial porin's immune stimulatory activity.

The molecular mechanisms used by Neisseria gonorrhoeae to initiate infection differ between men and women

The molecular mechanisms used by the gonococcus to initiate infection exhibit gender specificity. The clinical presentations of disease are also strikingly different upon comparison of gonococcal urethritis to gonococcal cervicitis. An intimate association occurs between the gonococcus and the urethral epithelium and is mediated by the asialoglycoprotein receptor. Gonococcal interaction with the urethral epithelia cell triggers cytokine release, which promotes neutrophil influx and an inflammatory response. Similarly, gonococcal infection of the upper female genital tract also results in inflammation. Gonococci invade the nonciliated epithelia, and the ciliated cells are subjected to the cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha induced by gonococcal peptidoglycan and lipooligosaccharide. In contrast, gonococcal infection of the lower female genital tract is typically asymptomatic. This is in part the result of the ability of the gonococcus to subvert the alternative pathway of complement present in the lower female genital tract. Gonococcal engagement of complement receptor 3 on the cervical epithelia results in membrane ruffling and does not promote inflammation. A model of gonococcal pathogenesis is presented in the context of the male and female human urogenital tracts.

Activation of human dendritic cells by the PorA protein of Neisseria meningitidis

The major porin proteins present in the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of life-threatening meningitis and septicaemia, are believed to have potent immunostimulatory effects. In this study, the interactions between human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mo-DC) and the PorA porin were investigated, in order to reveal the role of this protein in promoting innate and adaptive immune responses. Recombinant (r)PorA induced mo-DC maturation, as reflected by reduced receptor-mediated endocytosis, increased production of the chemokines IL-8, RANTES, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta and augmented expression of the surface markers CD40, CD54, CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. However, rPorA induced either low level or no significant secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines from mo-DC. The protein potently augmented the capacity of mo-DC to activate both allogeneic CD4(+) memory T-cells and CD4(+)RA(+) naïve T-cells. In addition, rPorA appeared to inhibit the production of IL-12p70 that follows from the interaction between CD40 on the mo-DC and CD40-ligand on T-cells, thereby directing T-cell differentiation towards a Th2 type response. These data demonstrate that PorA is involved in DC activation and in influencing the nature of the T-helper immune response, which are important properties for generating antibody responses required for protective immunity against meningococci and for determining the immuno-adjuvant effects of this protein.

The role of porins in neisserial pathogenesis and immunity

Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria responsible for bacterial meningitis and septicemia, and the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea, respectively. Porins are the most represented outer membrane proteins in the pathogenic Neisseria species, functioning as pores for the exchange of ions, and are characterized by a trimeric beta-barrel structure. Neisserial porins have been shown to act as adjuvants in the immune response via activation of B cells and other antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Their effect on the immune response is mediated by upregulation of the costimulatory molecule B7-2 (CD86) on the surface of APCs, an effect that is Toll-like receptor 2- and MyD88-dependent. The effect of neisserial porins on the immune system also involves interaction with components of the complement cascade. Furthermore, neisserial porins co-localize with mitochondria of target cells, where they appear to modulate apoptosis.

Carrier-mediated enhancement of cognate T cell help: the basis for enhanced immunogenicity of meningococcal outer membrane protein polysaccharide conjugate vaccine

Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (PRP) conjugate vaccines, which are thought to induce T cell-dependent antibody production, induce protective responses after a single dose in individuals under 15 months of age. However, multiple doses of these vaccines are required to induce protective antibody responses in infants, with the exception of PRP conjugated to meningococcal outer membrane proteins (OMPC), which does so after a single dose. The basis for this difference is not fully understood, although others have proposed that OMPC and porins, the major protein component of OMPC, act as adjuvants or mitogens. In this report OMPC is shown to enhance CD40 ligand-mediated, T cell-dependent antibody production in mice. This paralleled the induction by OMPC of CD86, CD80 and CD40 costimulatory molecules on human neonatal and murine B cells and of Th1 cytokines. Neither porins nor lipopolysaccharide fully reproduced the effects of OMPC. These studies indicate that OMPC acts both as carrier and adjuvant, and thereby enhances T cell-dependent antibody responses in human infants.

Safety and immunogenicity of a proteosome-Shigella flexneri 2a lipopolysaccharide vaccine administered intranasally to healthy adults

We studied the safety and immunogenicity of a Shigella flexneri 2a vaccine comprising native S. flexneri 2a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) complexed to meningococcal outer membrane proteins-proteosomes-in normal, healthy adults. A two-dose series of immunizations was given by intranasal spray, and doses of 0.1, 0.4, 1.0, and 1.5 mg (based on protein) were studied in a dose-escalating design. The vaccine was generally well tolerated. The most common reactions included rhinorrhea and nasal stuffiness, which were clearly dose related (P < or = 0.05). These reactions were self-limited and generally mild. The vaccine elicited S. flexneri 2a LPS-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, and IgM antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in a dose-responsive manner. At doses of 1.0 or 1.5 mg, highly significant (P < 0.001) increases in ASCs of all antibody isotypes occurred and 95% of subjects had an ASC response in at least one antibody isotype. Dose-related serum antibody responses were observed, with geometric mean two- to fivefold rises in specific serum IgA and IgG titers and two- to threefold rises in IgM in the 1.0- and 1.5-mg-dose groups (P < 0.0001 for each isotype). Elevated serum antibody levels persisted through day 70. Increases in fecal IgG and IgA and also in urinary IgA specific for S. flexneri 2a LPS were demonstrated. These were most consistent and approached statistical significance (P = 0.02 to 0.12 for various measures) on day 70 after the first dose. The magnitude of immune responses to intranasally administered proteosome-S. flexneri 2a LPS vaccine is similar to those reported for live vaccine candidates associated with protective efficacy in human challenge models, and further evaluation of this product is warranted.

Development of natural immunity to Neisseria meningitidis

Although meningococcal disease is rare in industrialized nations, Neisseria meningitidis holds a prominent position amongst pediatric infections because of the dramatic clinical presentation of the disease, high mortality, epidemic potential and the recent disappearance of many other important infectious diseases in developed countries through improvements in public health and vaccination. The precise nature of natural immunity to meningococci remains unknown, although a complex interaction between the organism and nasopharyngeal mucosal barrier, innate immune mechanisms and acquired immunity is involved. Study of the mechanisms of natural immunity may provide the key to development of vaccines that can reduce the burden of disease in early childhood.

Glycoinositolphospholipids from Trypanosoma cruzi induce B cell hyper-responsiveness in vivo

The surface of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease, is covered by a dense glycolipid layer, composed mainly by a structurally related family of glycoinositolphospholipids (GIPLs). In the present study we evaluated the in vivo effects of the GIPL on B cell function and immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion. We observed that GIPL injection led to a sustained increase in circulating IgM levels. B cells from GIPL injected mice showed higher response when activated in vitro with either LPS or dextran-conjugated anti-IgD antibodies or purified cytokines. GIPL purified from T. cruzi also showed an adjuvant effect, since this glycophospholipid boosted a polysaccharide-(TNP-Ficoll) induced IgG response. Taken together, our data indicate that T. cruzi-derived GIPL could be at least partially responsible for the remarkable B cell activation observed during T. cruzi acute infection in vivo.

Neisseria meningitidis porin PorB interacts with mitochondria and protects cells from apoptosis

Neisserial porins are strong immune adjuvants and B cell activators. The effect of neisserial porin PorB on activation-induced cell death was investigated, as a potential additional mechanism of the porin's immunopotentiating ability. Neisserial porins interact with target cells to localize intracellularly in the mitochondrial compartment without negatively affecting cellular survival. Pretreatment with Neisseria meningitidis PorB porin decreased or abrogated the mitochondrial damage induced by apoptotic stimuli. In addition, end stage determinants of apoptosis, including DNA breakdown, were diminished by PorB. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that PorB interacts with the mitochondrial porin VDAC (voltage-dependent anion channel). The mechanism of the antiapoptotic effect of neisserial porins could be explained by the protein-protein interaction of PorB with VDAC, similar to the interaction of VDAC with antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, resulting in an enhancement of cell survival and continued activation of B cells.

Bactericidal antibody response to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in patients with bacterial meningitis: effect of immunization with an outer membrane protein vaccine

We evaluated the bactericidal antibody response to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in convalescent patients (n=65) from bacterial meningitis. Patients infected with B meningococci were stratified according to their vaccination status (Cuban BC vaccine) into group 1 (immunized) (n=12) and group 2 (non-immunized) (n=15). The results suggested that antibody titers > or =2 (log(2)) indicate a specific immune response to N. meningitidis. In group 1, 64% of patients had a significant antibody titer (> or =2) in their acute sera against a B:4:P1.15 strain, compared to only 21% of group 2 patients. All patients from group 1 without bactericidal antibodies in their acute sera had a significant increase (at least 2-fold increase in log(2) titers) in antibody titers in their convalescent sera, in contrast, to only 27% of patients from group 2 (P=0.06). Using mutant strains lacking OMP1 or OMP5, it was shown that OMP1 was an important antigen recognized by immunized patients but not by non-immunized patients.

Epidemiology and pathogenesis of Neisseria meningitidis

Neisseria meningitidis, an exclusive pathogen of humans, remains the leading worldwide cause of meningitis and fatal sepsis, usually in otherwise healthy individuals. In recent years, significant advances have improved our understanding of the epidemiology and genetic basis of meningococcal disease and led to progress in the development of the next generation of meningococcal vaccines. This review summarizes current knowledge of the human susceptibility to and the epidemiology and molecular pathogenesis of meningococcal disease.

Mitogenic Activity of Purified Capsular Polysaccharide A from Bacteroides fragilis: Differential Stimulatory Effect on Mouse and Rat Lymphocytes In Vitro

Bacteroides fragilis, a Gram-negative colonic bacterium, induces the formation of abscesses associated with intra-abdominal sepsis in humans. The singular ability of this organism to modulate abscess formation in experimental rodent models resides in the structurally distinct and ionically charged capsular polysaccharides A (PS A) and B (PS B). The regulation of abscess formation in animals is dependent on T lymphocytes. However, the manner in which PS A interacts with T cells remains unknown. We therefore tested the T cell stimulatory capacity of purified PS A on mouse and rat lymphocytes in cellular proliferation assays and found that the PS A molecule possesses mitogenic characteristics distinguishable from those of the polyclonal B cell activator LPS, the T cell mitogen Con A, and staphylococcal enterotoxin A superantigen. Further, PS A stimulated proliferation of normal mouse and rat lymphocytes differentially. Mouse B cells responded to PS A in a fashion that did not require exogenous APC function, while rat T lymphocyte responses to PS A required APC function derived from autologous or xenogenic feeder cells. Cellular depletion experiments showed that the CD4+ subset of rat spleen cells was the primary responder cell type to PS A in vitro. The differential stimulatory effects of PS A on mouse and rat lymphocytes may reflect its ability to stimulate different lymphocyte subsets in vivo through the activities of receptor/counter-receptor pairs present on responder lymphocytes and cognate APC.

Host cell interactions and signalling with Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a highly adapted human pathogen that utilises multiple adhesins to interact with a variety of host cell receptors. Recently, substantial progress has been made in unravelling the signalling events induced by N. gonorrhoae that can lead to cytoskeletal reorganisation, invasion or phagocytic uptake, intraphagosomal accommodation, nuclear signalling, cytokine/chemokine release and apoptosis.

Oral immunization with a Streptococcal pneumoniae polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in enterocoated microparticles induces serum antibodies against type specific polysaccharides

The authors examined the antibody responses of mice orally immunized with pneumococcal polysaccharide (type 23F) or a pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugated to the outer membrane protein complex of Neisseria meningitides (23F-OMPC). These antigens were administered either in solution or entrapped within microcapsules. Only the mice receiving the encapsulated conjugate vaccine produced significant levels of anti-polysaccharide serum antibodies. These responses, observed after a second oral immunization with the conjugate, were predominantly IgG. Thus, the conversion from a T-cell-independent to a T-cell dependent response, achieved through conjugation was maintained following oral delivery. However, no local secretory IgA anti-polysaccharide response was detected in these mice indicating that while the OMPC carrier augments orally induced IgG responses, it was insufficient for the induction of secretory IgA.

Gonococcal invasion of epithelial cells driven by P.IA, a bacterial ion channel with GTP binding properties

The neisserial porin P.I is a GTP binding protein that forms a voltage-gated channel that translocates into mammalian cell membranes and modulates host cell signaling events. Here, we report that P.I confers invasion of the bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae into Chang epithelial cells and that this event is controlled by GTP, as well as other phosphorus-containing compounds. Bacterial invasion was observed only for strains carrying the P.IA subtype of porin, which is typically associated with the development of disseminated neisserial disease, and did not require opacity outer membrane proteins, previously recognized as gonococcal invasins. Allelic replacement studies showed that bacterial invasiveness cotransferred with the P.IA (por1A) gene. Mutation of the P.I-associated protein Rmp did not alter the invasive properties. Cross-linking of labeled GTP to the porin revealed more efficient GTP binding to the P.IA than P.IB porin subtype. GTP binding was inhibited by an excess of unlabeled GTP, ATP, and GDP, as well as inorganic phosphate, but not by UTP or beta-glycerophosphate, fully in line with the respective invasion-inhibitory activities observed for these compounds. The P.IA-mediated cellular invasion may explain the more invasive behavior of P.IA strains in the natural infection and may broaden the basis for the development of a P.I-based gonococcal vaccine.