1
|
Kiekens C, Morré SA, Vanrompay D. Advances in Chlamydia trachomatis Vaccination: Unveiling the Potential of Major Outer Membrane Protein Derivative Constructs. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1196. [PMID: 38930578 PMCID: PMC11205628 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis, a leading cause of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide, continues to be a significant public health concern. The majority of infections are asymptomatic and, when left untreated, severe sequelae such as infertility and chronic pelvic pain can occur. Despite decades of research, an effective vaccine remains elusive. This review focuses on the potential of Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP)-derived constructs as promising candidates for C. trachomatis vaccination. MOMP, the most abundant protein in the outer membrane of C. trachomatis, has been a focal point of vaccine research over the years due to its antigenic properties. To overcome issues associated with the use of full MOMP as a vaccine antigen, derivative constructs have been studied. As these constructs are often not sufficiently immunogenic, antigen delivery systems or accompanying adjuvants are required. Additionally, several immunization routes have been explored with these MOMP-derived vaccine antigens, and determining the optimal route remains an ongoing area of research. Future directions and challenges in the field of C. trachomatis vaccination are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celien Kiekens
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Servaas A. Morré
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Microbe&Lab BV, 1105 AG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dutch Chlamydia trachomatis Reference Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Jacob Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lorenzen E, Contreras V, Olsen AW, Andersen P, Desjardins D, Rosenkrands I, Juel HB, Delache B, Langlois S, Delaugerre C, Joubert C, Dereuddre-Bosquet N, Bébéar C, De Barbeyrac B, Touati A, McKay PF, Shattock RJ, Le Grand R, Follmann F, Dietrich J. Multi-component prime-boost Chlamydia trachomatis vaccination regimes induce antibody and T cell responses and accelerate clearance of infection in a non-human primate model. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1057375. [PMID: 36505459 PMCID: PMC9726737 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1057375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is of international priority to develop a vaccine against sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infections to combat the continued global spread of the infection. The optimal immunization strategy still remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate immunization strategies in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model. Cynomolgus macaques (Macaqua fascicularis) were immunized following different multi-component prime-boost immunization-schedules and subsequently challenged with C. trachomatis SvD in the lower genital tract. The immunization antigens included the recombinant protein antigen CTH522 adjuvanted with CAF01 or aluminium hydroxide, MOMP DNA antigen and MOMP vector antigens (HuAd5 MOMP and MVA MOMP). All antigen constructs were highly immunogenic raising significant systemic C. trachomatis-specific IgG responses. In particularly the CTH522 protein vaccinated groups raised a fast and strong pecificsIgG in serum. The mapping of specific B cell epitopes within the MOMP showed that all vaccinated groups, recognized epitopes near or within the variable domains (VD) of MOMP, with a consistent VD4 response in all animals. Furthermore, serum from all vaccinated groups were able to in vitro neutralize both SvD, SvE and SvF. Antibody responses were reflected on the vaginal and ocular mucosa, which showed detectable levels of IgG. Vaccines also induced C. trachomatis-specific cell mediated responses, as shown by in vitro stimulation and intracellular cytokine staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In general, the protein (CTH522) vaccinated groups established a multifunctional CD4 T cell response, whereas the DNA and Vector vaccinated groups also established a CD8 T cells response. Following vaginal challenge with C. trachomatis SvD, several of the vaccinated groups showed accelerated clearance of the infection, but especially the DNA group, boosted with CAF01 adjuvanted CTH522 to achieve a balanced CD4/CD8 T cell response combined with an IgG response, showed accelerated clearance of the infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Lorenzen
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vanessa Contreras
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Anja W. Olsen
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Andersen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation, Infectious Disease, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Delphine Desjardins
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Ida Rosenkrands
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Helene Bæk Juel
- Novo Nordisk Foundation, Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Benoit Delache
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Sebastien Langlois
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Constance Delaugerre
- Laboratory of Virology, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université de Paris, Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Joubert
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Nathalie Dereuddre-Bosquet
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Cécile Bébéar
- Bordeaux University Hopsital, Bacteriology Department, National Reference Centre for bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections, Bordeaux, France
| | - Bertille De Barbeyrac
- Bordeaux University Hopsital, Bacteriology Department, National Reference Centre for bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections, Bordeaux, France
| | - Arabella Touati
- Bordeaux University Hopsital, Bacteriology Department, National Reference Centre for bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections, Bordeaux, France
| | - Paul F. McKay
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, St Mary’s Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin J. Shattock
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, St Mary’s Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Le Grand
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Frank Follmann
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jes Dietrich
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark,*Correspondence: Jes Dietrich,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Murray SM, McKay PF. Chlamydia trachomatis: Cell biology, immunology and vaccination. Vaccine 2021; 39:2965-2975. [PMID: 33771390 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the causative agent of a highly prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial disease and is associated with a number of severe disease complications. Current therapy options are successful at treating disease, but patients are left without protective immunity and do not benefit the majority asymptomatic patients who do not seek treatment. As such, there is a clear need for a broad acting, protective vaccine that can prevent transmission and protect against symptomatic disease presentation. There are three key elements that underlie successful vaccine development: 1) Chlamydia biology and immune-evasion adaptations, 2) the correlates of protection that prevent disease in natural and experimental infection, 3) reflection upon the evidence provided by previous vaccine attempts. In this review, we give an overview of the unique intra-cellular biology of C. trachomatis and give insight into the dynamic combination of adaptations that allow Chlamydia to subvert host immunity and survive within the cell. We explore the current understanding of chlamydial immunity in animal models and in humans and characterise the key immune correlates of protection against infection. We discuss in detail the specific immune interactions involved in protection, with relevance placed on the CD4+ T lymphocyte and B lymphocyte responses that are key to pathogen clearance. Finally, we provide a timeline of C. trachomatis vaccine research to date and evaluate the successes and failures in development so far. With insight from these three key elements of research, we suggest potential solutions for chlamydial vaccine development and promising avenues for further exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sam M Murray
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Paul F McKay
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tifrea DF, Pal S, le Bon C, Cocco MJ, Zoonens M, de la Maza LM. Improved protection against Chlamydia muridarum using the native major outer membrane protein trapped in Resiquimod-carrying amphipols and effects in protection with addition of a Th1 (CpG-1826) and a Th2 (Montanide ISA 720) adjuvant. Vaccine 2020; 38:4412-4422. [PMID: 32386746 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.04.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
A new vaccine formulated with the Chlamydia muridarum native major outer membrane protein (nMOMP) and amphipols was assessed in an intranasal (i.n.) challenge mouse model. nMOMP was trapped either in amphipol A8-35 (nMOMP/A8-35) or in A8-35 conjugated with Resiquimod (nMOMP/Resiq-A8-35), a TLR7/8 agonist added as adjuvant. The effects of free Resiquimod and/or additional adjuvants, Montanide ISA 720 (TLR independent) and CpG-1826 (TLR9 agonist), were also evaluated. Immunization with nMOMP/A8-35 alone administered i.n. was used as negative adjuvant-control group, whereas immunizations with C. muridarum elementary bodies (EBs) and MEM buffer, administered i.n., were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Vaccinated mice were challenged i.n. with C. muridarum and changes in body weight, lungs weight and recovery of Chlamydia from the lungs were evaluated. All the experimental groups showed protection when compared with the negative control group. Resiquimod alone produced weak humoral and cellular immune responses, but both Montanide and CpG-1826 showed significant increases in both responses. The addition of CpG-1826 alone switched immune responses to be Th1-biased. The most robust protection was elicited in mice immunized with the three adjuvants and conjugated Resiquimod. Increased protection induced by the Resiquimod covalently linked to A8-35, in the presence of Montanide and CpG-1826 was established based on a set of parameters: (1) the ability of the antibodies to neutralize C. muridarum; (2) the increased proliferation of T-cells in vitro accompanied by higher production of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17; (3) the decreased body weight loss over the 10 days after challenge; and (4) the number of IFUs recovered from the lungs at day 10 post challenge. In conclusion, a vaccine formulated with the C. muridarum nMOMP bound to amphipols conjugated with Resiquimod enhances protective immune responses that can be further improved by the addition of Montanide and CpG-1826.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, USA
| | - Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, USA
| | - Christel le Bon
- Université de Paris, Laboratoire de Biologie Physico-Chimique des Protéines Membranaires, CNRS, UMR 7099, F-75005 Paris, France; Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild pour le développement de la recherche scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Melanie J Cocco
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1218 Natural Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
| | - Manuela Zoonens
- Université de Paris, Laboratoire de Biologie Physico-Chimique des Protéines Membranaires, CNRS, UMR 7099, F-75005 Paris, France; Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild pour le développement de la recherche scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gitsels A, Van Lent S, Sanders N, Vanrompay D. Chlamydia: what is on the outside does matter. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:100-119. [PMID: 32093536 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1730300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
This review summarises major highlights on the structural biology of the chlamydial envelope. Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria, characterised by a unique biphasic developmental cycle. Depending on the stage of their lifecycle, they appear in the form of elementary or reticulate bodies. Since these particles have distinctive functions, it is not surprising that their envelope differs in lipid as well as in protein content. Vice versa, by identifying surface proteins, specific characteristics of the particles such as rigidity or immunogenicity may be deduced. Detailed information on the bacterial membranes will increase our understanding on the host-pathogen interactions chlamydiae employ to survive and grow and might lead to new strategies to battle chlamydial infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arlieke Gitsels
- Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Van Lent
- Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Niek Sanders
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Harvie MC, Carey AJ, Armitage CW, O'Meara CP, Peet J, Phillips ZN, Timms P, Beagley KW. Chlamydia-infected macrophages are resistant to azithromycin treatment and are associated with chronic oviduct inflammation and hydrosalpinx development. Immunol Cell Biol 2019; 97:865-876. [PMID: 31348541 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia infection remains the leading sexually-transmitted bacterial infection worldwide, causing damaging sequelae such as tubal scarring, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. As infection is often asymptomatic, prevention via vaccination is the optimal strategy for disease control. Vaccination strategies aimed at preventing bacterial infection have shown some promise, although these strategies often fail to prevent damaging inflammatory pathology when Chlamydia is encountered. Using a murine model of Chlamydia muridarum genital infection, we employed two established independent models to compare immune responses underpinning pathologic development of genital Chlamydia infection. Model one uses antibiotic treatment during infection, with only early treatment preventing pathology. Model two uses a plasmid-cured variant strain of C. muridarum that does not cause pathologic outcomes like the plasmid-containing wild-type counterpart. Using these infection models, contrasted by the development of pathology, we identified an unexpected role for macrophages. We observed that mice showing signs of pathology had greater numbers of activated macrophages present in the oviducts. This may have been due to early differences in macrophage activation and proinflammatory signaling leading to persistent or enhanced infection. These results provide valuable insight into the cellular mechanisms driving pathology in Chlamydia infection and contribute to the design and development of more effective vaccine strategies for protection against the deleterious sequelae of Chlamydia infection of the female reproductive tract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Cg Harvie
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alison J Carey
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Charles W Armitage
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Connor P O'Meara
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jesse Peet
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Zachary N Phillips
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of Sunshine Coast (USC), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kenneth W Beagley
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nyari S, Booth R, Quigley BL, Waugh CA, Timms P. Therapeutic effect of a Chlamydia pecorum recombinant major outer membrane protein vaccine on ocular disease in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210245. [PMID: 30615687 PMCID: PMC6322743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia pecorum is responsible for causing ocular infection and disease which can lead to blindness in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Antibiotics are the current treatment for chlamydial infection and disease in koalas, however, they can be detrimental for the koala’s gastrointestinal tract microbiota and in severe cases, can lead to dysbiosis and death. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects provided by a recombinant chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) vaccine on ocular disease in koalas. Koalas with ocular disease (unilateral or bilateral) were vaccinated and assessed for six weeks, evaluating any changes to the conjunctival tissue and discharge. Samples were collected pre- and post-vaccination to evaluate both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. We further assessed the infecting C. pecorum genotype, host MHC class II alleles and presence of koala retrovirus type (KoRV-B). Our results clearly showed an improvement in the clinical ocular disease state of all seven koalas, post-vaccination. We observed increases in ocular mucosal IgA antibodies to whole C. pecorum elementary bodies, post-vaccination. We found that systemic cell-mediated immune responses to interferon-γ, interleukin-6 and interleukin-17A were not significantly predictive of ocular disease in koalas. Interestingly, one koala did not have as positive a clinical response (in one eye primarily) and this koala was infected with a C. pecorum genotype (E’) that was not used as part of the vaccine formula (MOMP genotypes A, F and G). The predominant MHC class II alleles identified were DAb*19, DAb*21 and DBb*05, with no two koalas identified with the same genetic sequence. Additionally, KoRV-B, which is associated with chlamydial disease outcome, was identified in two (29%) ocular diseased koalas, which still produced vaccine-induced immune responses and clinical ocular improvements post-vaccination. Our findings show promise for the use of a recombinant chlamydial MOMP vaccine for the therapeutic treatment of ocular disease in koalas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Nyari
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rosemary Booth
- Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bonnie L. Quigley
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Courtney A. Waugh
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jiang P, Cai Y, Chen J, Ye X, Mao S, Zhu S, Xue X, Chen S, Zhang L. Evaluation of tandem Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP multi-epitopes vaccine in BALB/c mice model. Vaccine 2017; 35:3096-3103. [PMID: 28456528 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), an obligate intracellular parasite, is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. The best solution to control the spread of Ct is to develop safe and effective vaccines. However, an effective vaccine has not been developed due to some challenges such as selection of appropriate candidate antigens and an effective delivery system. In our previous study, we have developed a Ct vaccine that comprises a multi-epitope peptide of Ct major outer membrane protein (MOMP370-387) and Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg). The vaccine was evaluated in a murine model with chlamydial genital infection. The results indicated that Ct MOMP multi-epitope delivered by HBcAg could be an effective vaccine for the prevention of Ct. In this study, another two epitopes were selected from the MOMP protein and tandemly linked with MOMP370-387 to enhance the immunogenicity and the protective effect of the candidate vaccine. Our results revealed that both the immunogenicity and the protective effect of the tandem Ct MOMP multi-epitopes were much better than that of the single epitope. Therefore, vaccines based on the tandem Ct MOMP multi-epitopes could be more effective immune prophylactics to prevent Ct infection than the single epitope in murine model system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Jiang
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yiqi Cai
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Jun Chen
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Xiaoxian Ye
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Shanshan Mao
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Shanli Zhu
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Xiangyang Xue
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Shao Chen
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Lifang Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Update on Chlamydia trachomatis Vaccinology. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:CVI.00543-16. [PMID: 28228394 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00543-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Attempts to produce a vaccine to protect against Chlamydia trachomatis-induced trachoma were initiated more than 100 years ago and continued for several decades. Using whole organisms, protective responses were obtained. However, upon exposure to C. trachomatis, disease exacerbation developed in some immunized individuals, precluding the implementation of the vaccine. Evidence of the role of C. trachomatis as a sexually transmitted pathogen started to emerge in the 1960s, and it soon became evident that it can cause acute infections and long-term sequelae in women, men, and newborns. The main focus of this minireview is to summarize recent findings and discuss formulations, including antigens, adjuvants, routes, and delivery systems for immunization, primarily explored in the female mouse model, with the goal of implementing a vaccine against C. trachomatis genital infections.
Collapse
|
10
|
Pal S, Tifrea DF, Follmann F, Andersen P, de la Maza LM. The cationic liposomal adjuvants CAF01 and CAF09 formulated with the major outer membrane protein elicit robust protection in mice against a Chlamydia muridarum respiratory challenge. Vaccine 2017; 35:1705-1711. [PMID: 28238632 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Two cationic liposomal adjuvants CAF01 and CAF09 were formulated with the native or the recombinant Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein (nMOMP and rMOMP). BALB/c mice were immunized with the four vaccine formulations using the subcutaneous followed by the intranasal (i.n.) routes. As positive controls mice were inoculated i.n. with live C. muridarum and negative controls received i.n. minimal essential medium (MEM). Four weeks after the last immunization mice were challenged i.n. with 104 inclusion forming units (IFU) of C. muridarum. Following the challenge the mice were weighed daily. At 10days post-challenge the mice were euthanized, their lungs weighed and the number of C. muridarum IFU determined. Serum collected the day before the challenge showed that all four groups of mice immunized with CAF01, or CAF09 and MOMP had significant C. muridarum-specific antibody titers. As determined by a T-cell lymphoproliferative assay, these four groups of mice also mounted robust cell mediated immune responses with high production of IFN-γ and IL17 and low levels of IL-4. Following the challenge the four groups of mice lost significantly less body weight than the MEM-immunized group. Lungs of mice vaccinated with CAF01, or CAF09, and nMOMP were significantly lighter than those from mice immunized using rMOMP. The number of IFU recovered from the lungs of mice vaccinated with CAF01, or CAF09, and nMOMP was similar to the number of IFU recovered from mice immunized with live EB. Mice that received rMOMP had significantly higher numbers of IFU than other groups. In conclusion, CAF01 and CAF09 elicited very robust protective humoral and cellular immune responses and were equally effective at adjuntavizing the C. muridarum MOMP. Mice vaccinated with nMOMP were significantly better protected than those immunized with rMOMP, indicative of the importance of the structural conformation of this antigen in protection.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage
- Administration, Intranasal
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial/blood
- Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/immunology
- Bacterial Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Bacterial Vaccines/immunology
- Body Weight
- Cell Proliferation
- Chlamydia Infections/pathology
- Chlamydia Infections/prevention & control
- Chlamydia muridarum/immunology
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Injections, Subcutaneous
- Liposomes/administration & dosage
- Lung/pathology
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Pneumonia, Bacterial/pathology
- Pneumonia, Bacterial/prevention & control
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Treatment Outcome
- Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, USA
| | - Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, USA
| | - Frank Follmann
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Adjuvant Research, Staten Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Andersen
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Adjuvant Research, Staten Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Jiang P, Du W, Xiong Y, Lv Y, Feng J, Zhu S, Xue X, Chen S, Zhang L. Hepatitis B virus core antigen as a carrier for Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP multi-epitope peptide enhances protection against genital chlamydial infection. Oncotarget 2016; 6:43281-92. [PMID: 26657117 PMCID: PMC4791232 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the leading cause of sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. There is no safe and effective vaccine to control the spread of Ct. In development of Ct vaccine, selection of appropriate candidate antigens and an effective delivery system may be the main challenges. Multi-epitope of major outer membrane protein (MOMPm) is the most suitable candidate for a Ct vaccine, while hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) has unique advantages as vaccine delivery system. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective immune response of a novel candidate vaccine in a murine model of chlamydial genital infection. This candidate vaccine comprises MOMPm peptide delivered with HBcAg. Our results of Ct-specific serum IgG and secretory IgA assay, cytokine assay, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte assay revealed that immunogenicity of the candidate vaccine was much better than that of the corresponding synthetic MOMPm peptide. Furthermore, the protective effect of the candidate vaccine was also shown much better than that of the synthetic peptide by calculating the isolation of Chlamydia from vaginal swabs and histopathological analysis. Taken together, our results indicate that HBcAg carrying Ct MOMPm could be an effective immune prophylactic for chlamydial infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Jiang
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Wangqi Du
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yirong Xiong
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yan Lv
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Juan Feng
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Shanli Zhu
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xiangyang Xue
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Shao Chen
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Lifang Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rey-Ladino J, Ross AGP, Cripps AW. Immunity, immunopathology, and human vaccine development against sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 10:2664-73. [PMID: 25483666 PMCID: PMC4977452 DOI: 10.4161/hv.29683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This review examines the immunity, immunopathology, and contemporary problems of vaccine development against sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis. Despite improved surveillance and treatment initiatives, the incidence of C. trachomatis infection has increased dramatically over the past 30 years in both the developed and developing world. Studies in animal models have shown that protective immunity to C. trachomatis is largely mediated by Th1 T cells producing IFN-γ which is needed to prevent dissemination of infection. Similar protection appears to develop in humans but in contrast to mice, immunity in humans may take years to develop. Animal studies and evidence from human infection indicate that immunity to C. trachomatis is accompanied by significant pathology in the upper genital tract. Although no credible evidence is currently available to indicate that autoimmunity plays a role, nevertheless, this underscores the necessity to design vaccines strictly based on chlamydial-specific antigens and to avoid those displaying even minimal sequence homologies with host molecules. Current advances in C. trachomatis vaccine development as well as alternatives for designing new vaccines for this disease are discussed. A novel approach for chlamydia vaccine development, based on targeting endogenous dendritic cells, is described.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Rey-Ladino
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology; School of Medicine ; Alfaisal University ; Riyadh , Saudi Arabia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Genital Chlamydia trachomatis: understanding the roles of innate and adaptive immunity in vaccine research. Clin Microbiol Rev 2016; 27:346-70. [PMID: 24696438 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00105-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease worldwide, and despite significant advances in chlamydial research, a prophylactic vaccine has yet to be developed. This Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium, which often causes asymptomatic infection, may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancies, scarring of the fallopian tubes, miscarriage, and infertility when left untreated. In the genital tract, Chlamydia trachomatis infects primarily epithelial cells and requires Th1 immunity for optimal clearance. This review first focuses on the immune cells important in a chlamydial infection. Second, we summarize the research and challenges associated with developing a chlamydial vaccine that elicits a protective Th1-mediated immune response without inducing adverse immunopathologies.
Collapse
|
14
|
Badamchi-Zadeh A, McKay PF, Korber BT, Barinaga G, Walters AA, Nunes A, Gomes JP, Follmann F, Tregoning JS, Shattock RJ. A Multi-Component Prime-Boost Vaccination Regimen with a Consensus MOMP Antigen Enhances Chlamydia trachomatis Clearance. Front Immunol 2016; 7:162. [PMID: 27199987 PMCID: PMC4848310 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A vaccine for Chlamydia trachomatis is of urgent medical need. We explored bioinformatic approaches to generate an immunogen against C. trachomatis that would induce cross-serovar T-cell responses as (i) CD4(+) T cells have been shown in animal models and human studies to be important in chlamydial protection and (ii) antibody responses may be restrictive and serovar specific. METHODS A consensus antigen based on over 1,500 major outer membrane protein (MOMP) sequences provided high epitope coverage against the most prevalent C. trachomatis strains in silico. Having designed the T-cell immunogen, we assessed it for immunogenicity in prime-boost regimens. This consensus MOMP transgene was delivered using plasmid DNA, Human Adenovirus 5 (HuAd5) or modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vectors with or without MF59(®) adjuvanted recombinant MOMP protein. RESULTS Different regimens induced distinct immune profiles. The DNA-HuAd5-MVA-Protein vaccine regimen induced a cellular response with a Th1-biased serum antibody response, alongside high serum and vaginal MOMP-specific antibodies. This regimen significantly enhanced clearance against intravaginal C. trachomatis serovar D infection in both BALB/c and B6C3F1 mouse strains. This enhanced clearance was shown to be CD4(+) T-cell dependent. Future studies will need to confirm the specificity and precise mechanisms of protection. CONCLUSION A C. trachomatis vaccine needs to induce a robust cellular response with broad cross-serovar coverage and a heterologous prime-boost regimen may be an approach to achieve this.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul F McKay
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Imperial College London , London , UK
| | - Bette T Korber
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Theoretical Division , Los Alamos, NM , USA
| | - Guillermo Barinaga
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Imperial College London , London , UK
| | - Adam A Walters
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Imperial College London , London , UK
| | - Alexandra Nunes
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Frank Follmann
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institute , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - John S Tregoning
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Imperial College London , London , UK
| | - Robin J Shattock
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Imperial College London , London , UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Poston TB, Darville T. Chlamydia trachomatis: Protective Adaptive Responses and Prospects for a Vaccine. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2016; 412:217-237. [PMID: 27033698 DOI: 10.1007/82_2016_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of sexually transmitted bacterial infection globally. These infections translate to a significant public health burden, particularly women's healthcare costs due to serious disease sequelae such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), tubal factor infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy. There is no evidence that natural immunity can provide complete, long-term protection necessary to prevent chronic pathology, making human vaccine development critical. Vaccine design will require careful consideration of protective versus pathological host-response mechanisms in concert with elucidation of optimal antigens and adjuvants. Evidence suggests that a Th1 response, facilitated by IFN-γ-producing CD4 T cells, will be instrumental in generating long-term, sterilizing immunity. Although the role of antibodies is not completely understood, they have exhibited a protective effect by enhancing chlamydial clearance. Future work will require investigation of broadly neutralizing antibodies and antibody-augmented cellular immunity to successfully design a vaccine that potently elicits both arms of the immune response. Sterilizing immunity is the ultimate goal. However, vaccine-induced partial immunity that prevents upper genital tract infection and inflammation would be cost-effective compared to current screening and treatment strategies. In this chapter, we examine evidence from animal and human studies demonstrating protective adaptive immune responses to Chlamydia and discuss future challenges and prospects for vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor B Poston
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Toni Darville
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Pal S, Tatarenkova OV, de la Maza LM. A vaccine formulated with the major outer membrane protein can protect C3H/HeN, a highly susceptible strain of mice, from a Chlamydia muridarum genital challenge. Immunology 2015; 146:432-43. [PMID: 26423798 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
C3H/HeN female mice were vaccinated with native Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein (MOMP), using Montanide+CpG or Alum+CpG as adjuvants. Negative control groups were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and the same adjuvants. As positive control, mice were inoculated intranasally with live Chlamydia. Mice were challenged in the ovarian bursa with 10(5) C. muridarum inclusion forming units. Six weeks after the genital challenge the animals were caged with male mice and monitored for pregnancy. Mice vaccinated with MOMP+Montanide+CpG developed high levels of C. muridarum-specific antibodies, with a high IgG2a/IgG1 ratio and neutralizing titres. Animals immunized using Alum+CpG had low antibody levels. Cellular immune responses were significantly higher in mice vaccinated with MOMP and Montanide+CpG, but not with Alum+CpG, when compared with negative controls. Following the genital challenge, only 20% (4/20) of mice vaccinated with MOMP+CpG+Montanide had positive vaginal cultures whereas 100% (9/9) of mice immunized with MOMP+CpG+Alum had positive cultures. Of the positive control animals inoculated with live Chlamydia only 15% (3/20) had positive vaginal cultures. In contrast, 100% (20/20) of mice immunized with OVA+CpG+Montanide, or minimal essential medium, had positive cultures. Following mating, 80% (16/20) of mice vaccinated with MOMP+CpG+Montanide, and 85% (17/20) of animals inoculated intranasally with live C. muridarum carried embryos in both uterine horns. No protection against infertility was observed in mice immunized with MOMP and CpG+Alum or OVA. In conclusion, this is the first time that a subunit vaccine has been shown to elicit a protective immune response in the highly susceptible C3H/HeN strain of mice against an upper genital challenge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Olga V Tatarenkova
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Immuno-Modulatory Role of Porins: Host Immune Responses, Signaling Mechanisms and Vaccine Potential. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 842:79-108. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-11280-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
|
18
|
Tifrea DF, Pal S, Popot JL, Cocco MJ, de la Maza LM. Increased immunoaccessibility of MOMP epitopes in a vaccine formulated with amphipols may account for the very robust protection elicited against a vaginal challenge with Chlamydia muridarum. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 192:5201-13. [PMID: 24778450 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1303392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
There is a need to implement a vaccine to protect against Chlamydia trachomatis infections. To test a new vaccine, mice were immunized with the Chlamydia muridarum native major outer membrane protein (nMOMP) solubilized with either amphipol A8-35 or the detergent Z3-14. OVA was used as a negative control, and mice were inoculated intranasally with C. muridarum as positive controls. Animals vaccinated with nMOMP mounted strong Chlamydia-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Mice vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 had a higher ratio of Abs to denatured elementary bodies (EB) over live EB, recognized more synthetic MOMP peptides and had higher neutralizing titers than sera from mice immunized with nMOMP/Z3-14. T cell lymphoproliferative responses and levels of IFN-γ were also higher in mice vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 than with nMOMP/Z3-14. Following immunization, animals were challenged intravaginally with C. muridarum. On the basis of the number of mice with positive vaginal cultures, length of vaginal shedding, total number of positive vaginal cultures, and number of Chlamydia inclusion forming units recovered, nMOMP/A8-35 elicited a more robust protection than nMOMP/Z3-14. By depleting T cells with Abs, we determined that CD4(+) and not CD8(+) T cells mediated the protection elicited by nMOMP/A8-35. Mice were subsequently mated, and based on the number of pregnant mice and number of embryos, animals that were vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 or nMOMP/Z3-14 had fertility rates equivalent to the positive control group immunized with live EB and the fertility controls. In conclusion, increased accessibility of epitopes in the nMOMP/A8-35 preparation may account for the very robust protection against infection and disease elicited by this vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Jean-Luc Popot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université Paris-7 Unité Mixte de Recherche 7099, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, F-75005 Paris, France; and
| | - Melanie J Cocco
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697;
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Hafner LM, Wilson DP, Timms P. Development status and future prospects for a vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Vaccine 2013; 32:1563-71. [PMID: 23973245 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis continues to be the most commonly reported sexually transmitted bacterial infection in many countries with more than 100 million new cases estimated annually. These acute infections translate into significant downstream health care costs, particularly for women, where complications can include pelvic inflammatory disease and other disease sequelae such as tubal factor infertility. Despite years of research, the immunological mechanisms responsible for protective immunity versus immunopathology are still not well understood, although it is widely accepted that T cell driven IFN-g and Th17 responses are critical for clearing infection. While antibodies are able to neutralize infections in vitro, alone they are not protective, indicating that any successful vaccine will need to elicit both arms of the immune response. In recent years, there has been an expansion in the number and types of antigens that have been evaluated as vaccines, and combined with the new array of mucosal adjuvants, this aspect of chlamydial vaccinology is showing promise. Most recently, the opportunities to develop successful vaccines have been given a significant boost with the development of a genetic transformation system for Chlamydia, as well as the identification of the key role of the chlamydial plasmid in virulence. While still remaining a major challenge, the development of a successful C. trachomatis vaccine is starting to look more likely.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louise M Hafner
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - David P Wilson
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Nanotechnological Approaches for Genetic Immunization. DNA AND RNA NANOBIOTECHNOLOGIES IN MEDICINE: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES 2013. [PMCID: PMC7121080 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-36853-0_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Genetic immunization is one of the important findings that provide multifaceted immunological response against infectious diseases. With the advent of r-DNA technology, it is possible to construct vector with immunologically active genes against specific pathogens. Nevertheless, site-specific delivery of constructed genetic material is an important contributory factor for eliciting specific cellular and humoral immune response. Nanotechnology has demonstrated immense potential for the site-specific delivery of biomolecules. Several polymeric and lipidic nanocarriers have been utilized for the delivery of genetic materials. These systems seem to have better compatibility, low toxicity, economical and capable to delivering biomolecules to intracellular site for the better expression of desired antigens. Further, surface engineering of nanocarriers and targeting approaches have an ability to offer better presentation of antigenic material to immunological cells. This chapter gives an overview of existing and emerging nanotechnological approaches for the delivery of genetic materials.
Collapse
|
21
|
Ou C, Tian D, Ling Y, Pan Q, He Q, Eko FO, He C. Evaluation of an ompA-based phage-mediated DNA vaccine against Chlamydia abortus in piglets. Int Immunopharmacol 2013; 16:505-10. [PMID: 23669337 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2013.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Revised: 04/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus) is an obligate intracellular pathogen that causes abortion in pigs and poses a zoonotic risk in pregnant women. Although attenuated and inactivated vaccines are available, they do not provide complete protection in animals underlining the need to develop new vaccines. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that intramuscular immunization with an ompA-based phage-mediated DNA chlamydial vaccine candidate will induce significant antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses. Thus, groups of piglets (five per group) were immunized intramuscularly with the phage-MOMP vaccine (λ-MOMP) or a commercial live-attenuated vaccine (1B vaccine) or a GFP-expressing phage (λ-GFP) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (control) and antigen-specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses were evaluated. By day 63 post-immunization, the λ-MOMP vaccine elicited significantly higher (P<0.05) levels of antigen-specific serum IgG antibody responses than the 1B vaccine or control did. Also, piglets immunized with λ-MOMP vaccine had significantly higher (P<0.05) MOMP-specific lymphocyte proliferative responses compared to those immunized with the 1B vaccine or control. Furthermore, the total T-cell numbers (CD3+) and the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets as well as the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells elicited following immunization were comparable between the λ-MOMP- and 1B-vaccinated animals on both days 63 and 70. Interestingly, although the proportion of CD3+CD4-CD8- double negative T cells on day 63 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the 1B vaccine group compared to the λ-MOMP-immunized group, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of this T-cell population on day 70 in the 1B compared to the λ-MOMP vaccinated group. These results indicate that the λ-MOMP DNA vaccine is capable of inducing antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses that may provide protective immunity against a live challenge infection with C. abortus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changbo Ou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Lu C, Peng B, Li Z, Lei L, Li Z, Chen L, He Q, Zhong G, Wu Y. Induction of protective immunity against Chlamydia muridarum intravaginal infection with the chlamydial immunodominant antigen macrophage infectivity potentiator. Microbes Infect 2013; 15:329-38. [PMID: 23416214 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2013.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Revised: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that 5 Chlamydia muridarum antigens reacted with antisera from >90% mice urogenitally infected with C. muridarum and they are TC0660 (ABC transporter or ArtJ), TC0727 (outer membrane complex protein B or OmcB), TC0828 (macrophage infectivity potentiator or MIP), TC0726 (inclusion membrane protein or Inc) & TC0268 (hypothetical protein or HP). The orthologs of these antigens in Chlamydia trachomatis were also highly reactive with antisera from women urogenitally infected with C. trachomatis. In the current study, we evaluated these C. muridarum antigens for their ability to induce protection against a C. muridarum intravaginal challenge infection in mice. We found that only MIP induced the most pronounced protection against C. muridarum infection. The protection correlated well with robust C. muridarum MIP-specific antibody and Th1-dominant T cell responses. The MIP-immunized mice displayed significantly reduced live organism shedding from the lower genital tract and highly attenuated inflammatory pathologies in the upper genital tissues. These results demonstrate that MIP, an immunodominant antigen identified by both human and mouse antisera, may be considered a component of a multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine for inducing protective immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunxue Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South China, 28 West Changsheng Rd., Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Saroja C, Lakshmi P, Bhaskaran S. Recent trends in vaccine delivery systems: A review. Int J Pharm Investig 2012; 1:64-74. [PMID: 23071924 PMCID: PMC3465129 DOI: 10.4103/2230-973x.82384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Revised: 02/14/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are the preparations given to patients to evoke immune responses leading to the production of antibodies (humoral) or cell-mediated responses that will combat infectious agents or noninfectious conditions such as malignancies. Alarming safety profile of live vaccines, weak immunogenicity of sub-unit vaccines and immunization, failure due to poor patient compliance to booster doses which should potentiate prime doses are few strong reasons, which necessitated the development of new generation of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines to promote effective immunization. Attempts are being made to deliver vaccines through carriers as they control the spatial and temporal presentation of antigens to immune system thus leading to their sustained release and targeting. Hence, lower doses of weak immunogens can be effectively directed to stimulate immune responses and eliminate the need for the administration of prime and booster doses as a part of conventional vaccination regimen. This paper reviews carrier systems such as liposomes, microspheres, nanoparticles, dendrimers, micellar systems, ISCOMs, plant-derived viruses which are now being investigated and developed as vaccine delivery systems. This paper also describes various aspects of "needle-free technologies" used to administer the vaccine delivery systems through different routes into the human body.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ch Saroja
- Department of Pharmaceutics, G. Pulla Reddy College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Huston WM, Harvie M, Mittal A, Timms P, Beagley KW. Vaccination to protect against infection of the female reproductive tract. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2012; 8:81-94. [PMID: 22149343 DOI: 10.1586/eci.11.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Infection of the female genital tract can result in serious morbidities and mortalities from reproductive disability, pelvic inflammatory disease and cancer, to impacts on the fetus, such as infant blindness. While therapeutic agents are available, frequent testing and treatment is required to prevent the occurrence of the severe disease sequelae. Hence, sexually transmitted infections remain a major public health burden with ongoing social and economic barriers to prevention and treatment. Unfortunately, while there are two success stories in the development of vaccines to protect against HPV infection of the female reproductive tract, many serious infectious agents impacting on the female reproductive tract still have no vaccines available. Vaccination to prevent infection of the female reproductive tract is an inherently difficult target, with many impacting factors, such as appropriate vaccination strategies/mechanisms to induce a suitable protective response locally in the genital tract, variation in the local immune responses due to the hormonal cycle, selection of vaccine antigen(s) that confers effective protection against multiple variants of a single pathogen (e.g., the different serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis) and timing of the vaccine administration prior to infection exposure. Despite these difficulties, there are numerous ongoing efforts to develop effective vaccines against these infectious agents and it is likely that this important human health field will see further major developments in the next 5 years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelmina M Huston
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ling Y, Liu W, Clark JR, March JB, Yang J, He C. Protection of mice against Chlamydophila abortus infection with a bacteriophage-mediated DNA vaccine expressing the major outer membrane protein. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011; 144:389-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2009] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 08/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
26
|
Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine research through the years. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2011; 2011:963513. [PMID: 21747646 PMCID: PMC3124257 DOI: 10.1155/2011/963513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2011] [Revised: 04/13/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium. It is the leading cause of bacterial sexual transmitted infections (STIs). World Health Organization figures estimated that over 90 million new cases of genital C. trachomatis infections occur worldwide each year. A vaccination program is considered to be the best approach to reduce the prevalence of C. trachomatis infections, as it would be much cheaper and have a greater impact on controlling C. trachomatis infections worldwide rather than a screening program or treating infections with antibiotics. Currently, there are no vaccines available which effectively protect against a C. trachomatis genital infection despite the many efforts that have been made throughout the years. In this paper, the many attempts to develop a protective vaccine against a genital C. trachomatis infection will be reviewed.
Collapse
|
27
|
Cheng C, Pal S, Bettahi I, Oxford KL, Barry PA, de la Maza LM. Immunogenicity of a vaccine formulated with the Chlamydia trachomatis serovar F, native major outer membrane protein in a nonhuman primate model. Vaccine 2011; 29:3456-64. [PMID: 21376796 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.02.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Revised: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
To determine the ability of a vaccine formulated with the genital Chlamydia trachomatis, serovar F, native major outer membrane protein (Ct-F-nMOMP), to induce systemic and mucosal immune responses, rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were immunized three times by the intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) routes using CpG-2395 and Montanide ISA 720 VG, as adjuvants. As controls, another group of M. mulatta was immunized with ovalbumin instead of Ct-F-nMOMP using the same formulation and routes. High levels of Chlamydia-specific IgG and IgA antibodies were detected in plasma, vaginal washes, tears, saliva, and stools from the Ct-F-nMOMP immunized animals. Also, high neutralizing antibody titers were detected in the plasma from these animals. Monkeys immunized with ovalbumin had no detectable Chlamydia-specific antibodies. Furthermore, as measured by a lymphoproliferative assay, significant Chlamydia-specific cell-mediated immune responses were detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the rhesus macaques vaccinated with Ct-F-nMOMP when compared with the animals immunized with ovalbumin. In addition, the levels of two Th1 cytokines, IFN-γ and TNF-α, were significantly higher in the animals immunized with Ct-F-nMOMP when compared with those from the monkeys immunized with ovalbumin. To our knowledge, this is the first time that mucosal and systemic immune responses have been investigated in a nonhuman primate model using a subunit vaccine from a human genital C. trachomatis serovar.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Xu W, Liu J, Gong W, Chen J, Zhu S, Zhang L. Protective immunity against Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection induced by a vaccine based on the major outer membrane multi-epitope human papillomavirus major capsid protein L1. Vaccine 2011; 29:2672-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.12.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2010] [Revised: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 12/26/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
29
|
Ling Y, Li S, Yang J, Yuan J, He C. Co-administration of the polysaccharide of Lycium barbarum with DNA vaccine of Chlamydophila abortus augments protection. Immunol Invest 2010; 40:1-13. [PMID: 20942772 DOI: 10.3109/08820139.2010.504803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) can stimulate moderate immune responses therefore could potentially be used as a substitute for oil adjuvants in veterinary vaccines. In the present study, it was shown that the isolated active component of LBP3a, combined with a DNA vaccine encoding the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydophila abortus, induced protection in mice against challenge. Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to 5 groups. Sub-fractions of polysaccharide LBP3a, at 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg concentrations, respectively, were mixed with a pCI-neo::MOMP (pMOMP) vaccine. Mice administrated with pCI-neo + LBP3a were served as a control. All mice were inoculated at day 0, 14, and 28, and challenged on day 44. The effects of LBp3a on serum antibody levels, in vitro lymphocyte proliferation, the activity of interleaukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)and chlamydia clearance were determined. A combination of DNA vaccine and LBP3a induced significantly higher antibody levels in mice, higher T cell proliferation and higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-2. Mice immunized with DNA and LBP3a also showed significantly higher levels of chlamydia clearance in mice spleens and a greater Th1 immune response. The immunoenhancement induced by 25 mg/kg LBP3a is more effective than that induced by a 12.5 and 50 mg/kg. This implies that LBP3a at 25 mg/kg has a high potential to be used as an effective adjuvant with a DNA vaccine against swine Chlamydophila abortus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Ling
- Key Lab of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Rockey DD, Wang J, Lei L, Zhong G. Chlamydia vaccine candidates and tools for chlamydial antigen discovery. Expert Rev Vaccines 2009; 8:1365-77. [PMID: 19803759 DOI: 10.1586/erv.09.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The failure of the inactivated Chlamydia-based vaccine trials in the 1960s has led researchers studying Chlamydia to take cautious and rational approaches to develop safe and effective chlamydial vaccines. Subsequent research efforts focused on three areas. The first is the analysis of the immunobiology of chlamydial infection in animal models, with supporting clinical studies, to identify the immune correlates of both protective immunity and pathological responses. Second, recent radical improvements in genomics, proteomics and associated technologies have assisted in the implementation of creative approaches to search for suitable vaccine candidates. Third, progress in the analysis of host response and adjuvanticity regulating both innate and adaptive immunity at the mucosal site of infection has led to progress in the design of optimal delivery and adjuvant systems for enhancing protective immunity. Considerable progress has been made in the first two areas but research efforts to better define the factors that regulate immunity at mucosal sites of infection and to develop strategies to boost protective immunity via immunomodulation, effective delivery systems and potent adjuvants, have remained elusive. In this article, we will summarize progress in these areas with a focus on chlamydial vaccine antigen discovery, and discuss future directions towards the development of a safe and effective chlamydial vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D Rockey
- Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 211 Dryden Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-4804, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Immunization with the attenuated plasmidless Chlamydia trachomatis L2(25667R) strain provides partial protection in a murine model of female genitourinary tract infection. Vaccine 2009; 28:1454-62. [PMID: 20004265 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.11.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2009] [Revised: 10/15/2009] [Accepted: 11/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Here we report on the safety, immunogenicity, and vaccine efficacy of the naturally occurring plasmid-free attenuated Chlamydia trachomatis L2-25667R (L2R) strain in a murine infection model. Intravaginal immunization induced both chlamydial specific serum antibody and systemic CD4(+) Th1 biased immune responses but failed to induce local IgA antibodies. Immunization induced no pathological changes in the urogenital tract. Protective immunity was evaluated by vaginal challenge with a natural occurring non-attenuated plasmid positive C. trachomatis urogenital strain (serovar D). Vaccinated mice were not protected from colonization/infection but exhibited a reduction in infectious burden at early time periods (1-2 weeks) post-challenge. Partial protective immunity did not protect against inflammatory disease. Thus, intravaginal vaccination with the live-attenuated L2R stain is safe, induces a systemic antibody and CD4(+) Th1 biased immune response, but its protective efficacy is limited to reducing chlamydial burden at early time periods post-infection.
Collapse
|
32
|
Agrawal T, Vats V, Salhan S, Mittal A. The mucosal immune response to Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the reproductive tract in women. J Reprod Immunol 2009; 83:173-8. [PMID: 19896206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2009.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2008] [Revised: 07/17/2009] [Accepted: 07/26/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infection is an important public health concern with major adverse effects on female reproductive tract health and function. The magnitude of reproductive morbidity associated with sexually transmitted C. trachomatis infection is enormous, however to date no prophylactic vaccine is available. In part this is due to the lack of information on the mucosal immunobiology of the host-pathogen interaction and correlates of protective immunity during genital C. trachomatis infection. In this review, we focus on current knowledge of mucosal innate and adaptive immune responses in the female genital tract during C. trachomatis infection, which will eventually help in the development of a vaccine for prevention of chlamydial infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanvi Agrawal
- Institute of Pathology - ICMR, Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi, India
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
CT043, a protective antigen that induces a CD4+ Th1 response during Chlamydia trachomatis infection in mice and humans. Infect Immun 2009; 77:4168-76. [PMID: 19596772 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00344-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite several decades of intensive studies, no vaccines against Chlamydia trachomatis, an intracellular pathogen causing serious ocular and urogenital diseases, are available yet. Infection-induced immunity in both animal models and humans strongly supports the notion that for a vaccine to be effective a strong CD4(+) Th1 immune response should be induced. In the course of our vaccine screening program based on the selection of chlamydial proteins eliciting cell-mediated immunity, we have found that CT043, a protein annotated as hypothetical, induces CD4(+) Th1 cells both in chlamydia-infected mice and in human patients with diagnosed C. trachomatis genital infection. DNA priming/protein boost immunization with CT043 results in a 2.6-log inclusion-forming unit reduction in the murine lung infection model. Sequence analysis of CT043 from C. trachomatis human isolates belonging to the most representative genital serovars revealed a high degree of conservation, suggesting that this antigen could provide cross-serotype protection. Therefore, CT043 is a promising vaccine candidate against C. trachomatis infection.
Collapse
|
34
|
Kari L, Whitmire WM, Crane DD, Reveneau N, Carlson JH, Goheen MM, Peterson EM, Pal S, de la Maza LM, Caldwell HD. Chlamydia trachomatis native major outer membrane protein induces partial protection in nonhuman primates: implication for a trachoma transmission-blocking vaccine. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2009; 182:8063-70. [PMID: 19494332 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0804375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A vaccine is likely the most effective strategy for controlling human chlamydial infections. Recent studies have shown immunization with Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein (MOMP) can induce significant protection against infection and disease in mice if its native trimeric structure is preserved (nMOMP). The objective of this study was to investigate the immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy of Chlamydia trachomatis nMOMP in a nonhuman primate trachoma model. Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were immunized systemically with nMOMP, and monkeys were challenged ocularly. Immunization induced high serum IgG and IgA ELISA Ab titers, with Abs displaying high strain-specific neutralizing activity. The PBMCs of immunized monkeys produced a broadly cross-reactive, Ag-specific IFN-gamma response equivalent to that induced by experimental infection. Immunized monkeys exhibited a significant decrease in infectious burden during the early peak shedding periods (days 3-14). However, at later time points, they exhibited no difference from control animals in either burden or duration of infection. Immunization had no effect on the progression of ocular disease. These results show that systemically administered nMOMP is highly immunogenic in nonhuman primates and elicits partially protective immunity against ocular chlamydial challenge. This is the first time a subunit vaccine has shown a significant reduction in ocular shedding in nonhuman primates. A partially protective vaccine, particularly one that reduces infectious burden after primary infection of children, could interrupt the natural trachoma reinfection cycle. This would have a beneficial effect on the transmission between children and sensitized adults which drives blinding inflammatory disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laszlo Kari
- Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Sun HX, Xie Y, Ye YP. ISCOMs and ISCOMATRIX. Vaccine 2009; 27:4388-401. [PMID: 19450632 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2008] [Revised: 02/22/2009] [Accepted: 05/09/2009] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Immunostimulatory complexes (ISCOMs) are particulate antigen delivery systems composed of antigen, cholesterol, phospholipid and saponin, while ISCOMATRIX is a particulate adjuvant comprising cholesterol, phospholipid and saponin but without antigen. The combination of an antigen with ISCOMATRIX is called an ISCOMATRIX vaccine. ISCOMs and ISCOMATRIX combine the advantages of a particulate carrier system with the presence of an in-built adjuvant (Quil A) and consequently have been found to be more immunogenic, while removing its haemolytic activity of the saponin, producing less toxicity. ISCOMs and ISCOMATRIX vaccines have now been shown to induce strong antigen-specific cellular or humoral immune responses to a broad range of antigens of viral, bacterial, parasite origin or tumor in a number of animal species including non-human primates and humans. These vaccines produced by well controlled and reproducible processes have also been evaluated in human clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of ISCOMs and ISCOMATRIX, including preparation technology as well as their application in humans and veterinary vaccine designs with particular emphasis on the current understanding of the properties and features of ISCOMs and ISCOMATRIX vaccines to induce immune responses. The mechanisms of adjuvanticity are also discussed in the light of recent findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Xiang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemic Etiology & Immunological Prevention of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Kaixuan Road 268, Hangzhou 310029, Zhejiang, China.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Sun G, Pal S, Weiland J, Peterson EM, de la Maza LM. Protection against an intranasal challenge by vaccines formulated with native and recombinant preparations of the Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein. Vaccine 2009; 27:5020-5. [PMID: 19446590 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2009] [Revised: 04/20/2009] [Accepted: 05/04/2009] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
To compare the ability of a native and a recombinant preparation of the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis mouse pneumonitis (MoPn; Ct-nMOMP and Ct-rMOMP) to protect against an intranasal (i.n.) challenge, BALB/c mice were vaccinated by the intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) routes using CpG-1826 and Montanide ISA 720 as adjuvants. Animals inoculated i.n. with live elementary bodies (EB) of Chlamydia served as a positive control. Negative control groups were immunized with either Neisseria gonorrhoeae recombinant porin B (Ng-rPorB) or with minimal essential medium (MEM-0). Mice immunized with Ct-rMOMP, Ct-nMOMP and EB developed a strong immune response as shown by high levels of Chlamydia specific antibodies in serum and a strong T-cell lymphoproliferative response. Following the i.n. challenge with 10(4) inclusion forming units (IFU) of C. trachomatis, mice immunized with Ct-nMOMP or Ct-rMOMP lost significantly less weight than the negative control animals immunized with Ng-rPorB or MEM-0 (P<0.05). However, mice vaccinated with the Ct-nMOMP lost less weight than those immunized with the Ct-rMOMP (P<0.05). Mice were euthanized at 10 days following the challenge, their lungs weighed and the number of IFU of Chlamydia determined. Based on the lung weight and number of IFU recovered, significant protection was observed in the groups of mice immunized with both Ct-nMOMP and the Ct-rMOMP (P<0.05). Nevertheless, significantly better protection was achieved with the Ct-nMOMP in comparison with the Ct-rMOMP (P<0.05). In conclusion, vaccination with a preparation of the nMOMP elicited a more robust protection than immunization with rMOMP, suggesting that the conformational structure of MOMP is critical for inducing strong protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guifeng Sun
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, United States
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Zhang F, Li S, Yang J, Yang L, He C. Induction of a protective immune response against swine Chlamydophila abortus infection in mice following co-vaccination of omp-1 DNA with recombinant MOMP. Zoonoses Public Health 2008; 56:71-6. [PMID: 18721226 DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2008.01160.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydophila abortus is the causative agent of abortion in pigs and pregnant women. Seroconversion rates were arranged from 11% to 80% in piglets and sows in China. These very high rates illustrate the scale of the problem in China and highlight the urgent need for the development of a C. abortus vaccine. An efficacious anti-chlamydial vaccine should induce not only strong mucosal and systemic T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune response but also give a humoral response that enhances Th1 activation following infection. In order to evaluate an active immune response of a combination of the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) DNA- and protein-based vaccines, 54 BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to six groups and inoculated intramuscularly with: (i) 100 microg pcDNA::MOMP, (ii) 10 microg r-MOMP, (iii) primed with 100 microg pcDNA::MOMP and boosted with 10 microg r-MOMP, (iv) primed-boosted with a combination of pcDNA::MOMP and r-MOMP simultaneously, (v) live-attenuated 1B vaccine, (vi) 100 microg pcDNA3.1 vector. All animals were vaccinated two times at 14 days intervals. Results showed that mice given DNA and r-MOMP induced higher antibody levels, higher T cells proliferation and an elevated level of chlamydial clearance in spleen, which was equivalent to the clearance of 1B vaccine. Mice administrated the DNA-primed/MOMP-boosted approach elicited moderate antibody levels, less T-lymphocyte proliferation and lower chlamydial clearance as compared with 1B vaccine. Co-immunization with DNA- and r-MOMP vaccine may provide novel ways for active immunization strategy against swine C. abortus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Zhang
- Key Lab of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Induced immune response of DNA vaccine encoding an association MSP1a, MSP1b, and MSP5 antigens of Anaplasma marginale. Vaccine 2008; 26:3522-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.04.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2007] [Revised: 04/01/2008] [Accepted: 04/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
39
|
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis causes genital tract infections that affect men, women, and children on a global scale. This review focuses on innate and adaptive immune responses in the female reproductive tract (FRT) to genital tract infections with C. trachomatis. It covers C. trachomatis infections and highlights our current knowledge of genital tract infections, serovar distribution, infectious load, and clinical manifestations of these infections in women. The unique features of the immune system of the FRT will be discussed and will include a review of our current knowledge of innate and adaptive immunity to chlamydial infections at this mucosal site. The use of animal models to study the pathogenesis of, and immunity to, Chlamydia infection of the female genital tract will also be discussed and a review of recent immunization and challenge experiments in the murine model of chlamydial FRT infection will be presented.
Collapse
|
40
|
Caspase-1 contributes to Chlamydia trachomatis-induced upper urogenital tract inflammatory pathologies without affecting the course of infection. Infect Immun 2007; 76:515-22. [PMID: 18025098 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01064-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis infection induces inflammatory pathologies in the upper genital tract, potentially leading to ectopic pregnancy and infertility in the affected women. Caspase-1 is required for processing and release of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-18, and possibly IL-33. In the present study, we evaluated the role of caspase-1 in chlamydial infection and pathogenesis. Although chlamydial infection induced caspase-1 activation and processing of IL-1beta, mice competent and mice deficient in caspase-1 experienced similar courses of chlamydial infection in their urogenital tracts, suggesting that Chlamydia-activated caspase-1 did not play a significant role in resolution of chlamydial infection. However, when genital tract tissue pathologies were examined, the caspase-1-deficient mice displayed much reduced inflammatory damage. The reduction in inflammation was most obvious in the fallopian tube tissue. These observations demonstrated that although caspase-1 is not required for controlling chlamydial infection, caspase-1-mediated responses can exacerbate the Chlamydia-induced inflammatory pathologies in the upper genital tract, suggesting that the host caspase-1 may be targeted for selectively attenuating chlamydial pathogenicity without affecting the host defense against chlamydial infection.
Collapse
|
41
|
Huang S, Sahin O, Zhang Q. Infection-induced antibodies against the major outer membrane protein ofCampylobacter jejunimainly recognize conformational epitopes. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2007; 272:137-43. [PMID: 17521366 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00752.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Campylobacter jejuni is an abundant surface protein with a pore-forming function and may be a potential candidate for vaccine development. Despite the fact that MOMP is immunogenic and the recombinant MOMP (rMOMP) can be readily produced in Escherichia coli, the nature of the antibody response to MOMP during in vivo infection is not well understood. In this study, various methods involving detergent replacement and liposome reconstitution were used to refold rMOMP, and antibody responses to MOMP elicited in Campylobacter-colonized chickens were evaluated using sera from chickens either naturally or experimentally infected by C. jejuni. The results demonstrated that proteoliposomes restored the reactivity of rMOMP to rabbit antibodies elicited by native MOMP, indicating the recovery of native MOMP conformation by this refolding method. Importantly, sera from naturally or experimentally infected chickens reacted weakly with denatured rMOMP, but strongly with rMOMP reconstituted in proteoliposome, suggesting that the chicken antibody response to MOMP is predominantly directed against conformational epitopes. These observations provide direct evidence for conformation-dependent humoral responses to MOMP induced by Campylobacter infection, demonstrate that C. jejuni MOMP is immunogenic in its natural host and suggest that proteoliposomes may be potentially used for the evaluation of rMOMP-based vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shouxiong Huang
- Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University,Wooster, OH, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
He Q, Martinez-Sobrido L, Eko FO, Palese P, Garcia-Sastre A, Lyn D, Okenu D, Bandea C, Ananaba GA, Black CM, Igietseme JU. Live-attenuated influenza viruses as delivery vectors for Chlamydia vaccines. Immunology 2007; 122:28-37. [PMID: 17451464 PMCID: PMC2265991 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2007.02608.x] [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: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective delivery systems are needed to design efficacious vaccines against the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen, Chlamydia trachomatis. Potentially effective delivery vehicles should promote the induction of adequate levels of mucosal T-cell and antibody responses that mediate long-term protective immunity. Antigen targeting to the nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) is effective for inducing high levels of specific immune effectors in the genital mucosa, and therefore suitable for vaccine delivery against genital chlamydial infection. We tested the hypothesis that live attenuated influenza A viruses are effective viral vectors for intranasal delivery of subunit vaccines against genital chlamydial infection. Recombinant influenza A/PR8/34 (H1N1) viruses were generated by insertion of immunodominant T-cell epitopes from chlamydial major outer membrane protein into the stalk region of the neuraminidase gene. Intranasal immunization of mice with viral recombinants resulted in a strong T helper 1 (Th1) response against intact chlamydial elementary bodies. Also, immunized mice enjoyed a significant state of protective immunity (P > 0.002) by shedding less chlamydiae and rapidly clearing the infection. Furthermore, a high frequency of Chlamydia-specific Th1 was measured in the genital mucosal and systemic draining lymphoid tissues within 24 hr after challenge of vaccinated mice. Moreover, multiple epitope delivery provided a vaccine advantage over single recombinants. Besides, long-term protective immunity correlated with the preservation of a robustly high frequency of specific Th1 cells and elevated immunoglobulin G2a in genital secretions. Because live attenuated influenza virus vaccines are safe and acceptable for human use, they may provide a new and reliable approach to deliver efficacious vaccines against sexually transmitted diseases.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Administration, Intranasal
- Animals
- Bacterial Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Bacterial Vaccines/immunology
- Chlamydia Infections/immunology
- Chlamydia Infections/prevention & control
- Chlamydia trachomatis/immunology
- Drug Delivery Systems/methods
- Female
- Genetic Vectors
- Genital Diseases, Female/immunology
- Genital Diseases, Female/microbiology
- Genital Diseases, Female/prevention & control
- Genitalia, Female/immunology
- Immunity, Mucosal
- Immunodominant Epitopes/administration & dosage
- Immunodominant Epitopes/immunology
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mucous Membrane/immunology
- Th1 Cells/immunology
- Vaccination/methods
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing He
- National Center for Infectious Disease, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
McNeilly CL, Beagley KW, Moore RJ, Haring V, Timms P, Hafner LM. Expression library immunization confers partial protection against Chlamydia muridarum genital infection. Vaccine 2007; 25:2643-55. [PMID: 17239501 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2006] [Revised: 11/30/2006] [Accepted: 12/10/2006] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Protective sequences of Chlamydia muridarum were identified as potential vaccine candidates by screening a genomic DNA expression library and assessing the immune responses of mice immunized with individual library clones following vaginal challenge with live Chlamydia. Groups of female BALB/c mice were immunized intra-abdominally by gene gun delivery of DNA three times at three-weekly intervals with individual library clones expressing chlamydial protein fragments and humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were evaluated. Chlamydia-specific cytokines including tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were detected in mice immunized either with selected DNA clones in spleen cells (0.2-135.2 pg/mL) or lymph nodes (0.15-84.9 pg/mL). The most protective antigen identified was TC0512, a putative outer membrane protein (OMP). Immunization of mice with this clone elicited T-helper type-1 (Th-1) and T-helper type-2 (Th-2) cytokines as well as and IgG1 and IgG2a in sera of these animals. Ten days after the last immunization, animals were challenged intra-vaginally with 5 x 10(4) inclusion-forming units (IFUs) of C. muridarum. At 9 days following challenge TC0512 showed a 73% reduction in the number of recoverable Chlamydia compared with vector only immunized controls. Six additional clones were identified that also conferred varying degrees of protection against live chlamydial challenge. Significant protection against the initial stages of infection was shown by two DNA clones (encoding hypothetical proteins) and five clones showed enhanced clearance of chlamydial infection following DNA immunization and live chlamydial challenge. These results demonstrate that the C. muridarum genome can be screened for individual vaccine candidates by genetic immunization and that the screen produces novel and partially protective vaccine candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celia L McNeilly
- School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU 7XH, Surrey, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Murthy AK, Chambers JP, Meier PA, Zhong G, Arulanandam BP. Intranasal vaccination with a secreted chlamydial protein enhances resolution of genital Chlamydia muridarum infection, protects against oviduct pathology, and is highly dependent upon endogenous gamma interferon production. Infect Immun 2006; 75:666-76. [PMID: 17118987 PMCID: PMC1828486 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01280-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
There is currently no licensed vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis, the leading cause of sexually transmitted bacterial disease worldwide. Conventional vaccination attempts using surface-exposed chlamydial antigens have achieved only partial success. We have employed a novel vaccination strategy using a secreted protein, chlamydial protease-like activity factor (CPAF), which has been shown to degrade host major histocompatibility complex transcription factors and keratin-8 and therefore may allow immune evasion and establishment of a productive infection. Intranasal immunization using recombinant CPAF (rCPAF) plus interleukin-12 (IL-12) (rCPAF+IL-12 immunization) was used to assess the protective immunity against genital Chlamydia muridarum infection in BALB/c mice. rCPAF+IL-12 immunization induced robust gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production and minimal IL-4 production by splenocytes upon in vitro recall with rCPAF. The total and immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) anti-rCPAF antibody levels in serum were significantly elevated after rCPAF+IL-12 vaccination, as were the total antibody, IgG2a, and IgA levels in bronchoalveolar lavage and vaginal fluids when the animals were compared to animals that received rCPAF alone. rCPAF+IL-12-vaccinated mice displayed significantly reduced bacterial shedding upon chlamydial challenge and accelerated resolution of infection compared to mock-immunized (phosphate-buffered saline) animals. Moreover, rCPAF+IL-12-immunized animals exhibited protection against pathological consequences of chlamydial infection, including the development of hydrosalpinx and oviduct dilatation. This vaccination regimen also reduced the development of fibrosis and the influx of neutrophils into the upper genital tract when the animals were compared to mock-immunized (phosphate-buffered saline) animals after bacterial challenge. rCPAF+IL-12-mediated resolution of the bacterial infection and protection against Chlamydia-induced inflammatory disease were highly dependent on endogenous IFN-gamma production. Together, these results demonstrate that secreted chlamydial antigens may be novel vaccine candidates to induce protective immunity.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Administration, Intranasal
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis
- Antibodies, Bacterial/blood
- Antigens, Bacterial/administration & dosage
- Antigens, Bacterial/immunology
- Bacterial Proteins/administration & dosage
- Bacterial Proteins/immunology
- Bacterial Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Bacterial Vaccines/immunology
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/immunology
- Chlamydia Infections/immunology
- Chlamydia Infections/pathology
- Chlamydia muridarum/immunology
- Chlamydia muridarum/isolation & purification
- Colony Count, Microbial
- Fallopian Tubes/pathology
- Female
- Genital Diseases, Female/immunology
- Genital Diseases, Female/microbiology
- Genital Diseases, Female/pathology
- Genital Diseases, Female/therapy
- Immunity, Mucosal
- Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis
- Interferon-gamma/immunology
- Interleukin-12/administration & dosage
- Interleukin-12/immunology
- Interleukin-4/biosynthesis
- Lymphocytes/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Vaccination
- Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- Vagina/immunology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashlesh K Murthy
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900N Loop 1604W, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Woldehiwet Z. Vaccines against chlamydial infections--a complex but effective strategy for disease control. Vet J 2006; 171:200-3. [PMID: 16490702 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
46
|
Pal S, Peterson EM, de la Maza LM. Vaccination with the Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein can elicit an immune response as protective as that resulting from inoculation with live bacteria. Infect Immun 2006; 73:8153-60. [PMID: 16299310 PMCID: PMC1307068 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.12.8153-8160.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BALB/c mice were vaccinated by the intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) routes with a native preparation of the Chlamydia trachomatis mouse pneumonitis (MoPn) major outer membrane protein (MOMP), using Montanide ISA 720 and CpG-1826 as adjuvants. A negative control group was immunized with ovalbumin and the two adjuvants, and a positive control group was immunized intranasally (i.n.) with 10(4) inclusion-forming units (IFU) of C. trachomatis. Four weeks after the last i.m.-plus-s.c. immunization, mice were challenged in the ovarian bursa with 10(5) IFU of C. trachomatis MoPn. Six weeks after the genital challenge, animals were mated, and the pregnancies were monitored. After vaccination with MOMP, the mice developed strong Chlamydia-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Following the genital challenge, of the mice vaccinated with the MOMP, only 15% (3/20) had positive vaginal cultures, while 85% (17/20) of the animals immunized with ovalbumin had positive cultures over the 6 weeks of observation (P < 0.05). Also, only 14% (3/21) of the animals inoculated i.n. with Chlamydia had positive vaginal cultures. After mating, 75% (15/20) of the mice vaccinated with MOMP carried embryos in both uterine horns. Of the animals vaccinated i.n. with the Chlamydia, 81% (17/21) had embryos in both uterine horns (P > 0.05). In contrast, only 10% (2/20) of the mice immunized with ovalbumin had embryos in both uterine horns (P < 0.05). In conclusion, immunization with a purified preparation of the MOMP is as effective as vaccination with viable C. trachomatis in eliciting a protective immune response against a genital challenge in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4800, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Igietseme J, Eko F, He Q, Bandea C, Lubitz W, Garcia-Sastre A, Black C. Delivery of Chlamydia vaccines. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2005; 2:549-62. [PMID: 16296774 DOI: 10.1517/17425247.2.3.549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The plethora of ocular, genital and respiratory diseases of Chlamydia, including nongonococcal urethritis, cervicitis pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, tubal factor infertility, conjunctivitis, blinding trachoma and interstitial pneumonia, and chronic diseases that may include atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, adult onset asthma and Alzheimer's disease, still pose a considerable public health challenge to many nations. Although antibiotics are effective against Chlamydia when effectively diagnosed, asymptomatic infections are rampart, making clinical presentation of complications often the first evidence of an infection. Consequently, the current medical opinion is that an effective prophylactic vaccine would constitute the best approach to protect the human population from the most severe consequences of these infections. Clinical and experimental studies have demonstration that Chlamydia immunity in animals and humans is mediated by T cells and a complementary antibody response, and the completion of the genome sequencing of several isolates of Chlamydia is broadening our knowledge of the immunogenic antigens with potential vaccine value. Thus, major advances have been made in defining the essential elements of a potentially effective subunit vaccine design and parameters for evaluation. However, the challenge to develop effective delivery systems and human compatible adjuvants that would boost the immune response to achieve long-lasting protective immunity remains an elusive objective in chlamydial vaccine research. In response to evolving molecular and cellular technologies and novel vaccinology approaches, considerable progress is being made in the construction of novel delivery systems, such as DNA and plasmid expression systems, viral vectors, living and nonliving bacterial delivery systems, the use of chemical adjuvants, lipoprotein constructs and the codelivery of vaccines and specific immuno-modulatory biological agonists targeting receptors for chemokines, Toll-like receptors, and costimulatory molecules. The application of these novel delivery strategies to Chlamydia vaccine design could culminate in timely achievement of an efficacious vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Igietseme
- National Center for Infectious Disease/CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Pinchuk I, Starcher BC, Livingston B, Tvninnereim A, Wu S, Appella E, Sidney J, Sette A, Wizel B. A CD8+ T cell heptaepitope minigene vaccine induces protective immunity against Chlamydia pneumoniae. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2005; 174:5729-39. [PMID: 15843575 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.174.9.5729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
An intact T cell compartment and IFN-gamma signaling are required for protective immunity against Chlamydia. In the mouse model of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection, this immunity is critically dependent on CD8(+) T cells. Recently we reported that Cpn-infected mice generate an MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) Tc1 response against various Cpn Ags, and that CD8(+) CTL to multiple epitopes inhibit Cpn growth in vitro. Here, we engineered a DNA minigene encoding seven H-2(b)-restricted Cpn CTL epitopes, the universal pan-DR epitope Th epitope, and an endoplasmic reticulum-translocating signal sequence. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with this construct primed IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) CTL against all seven CTL epitopes. CD8(+) T cell lines generated to minigene-encoded CTL epitopes secreted IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and exhibited CTL activity upon recognition of Cpn-infected macrophages. Following intranasal challenge with Cpn, a 3.6 log reduction in mean lung bacterial numbers compared with control animals was obtained. Using a 20-fold increase in the Cpn challenging dose, minigene-vaccinated mice had a 60-fold reduction in lung bacterial loads, compared with controls. Immunization and challenge studies with beta(2)-microglobulin(-/-) mice indicated that the reduction of lung Cpn burdens was mediated by the MHC class I-dependent CD8(+) T cells to minigene-included Cpn CTL epitopes, rather than by pan-DR epitope-specific CD4(+) T cells. This constitutes the first demonstration of significant protection achieved by immunization with a CD8(+) T cell epitope-based DNA construct in a bacterial system and provides the basis for the optimal design of multicomponent anti-Cpn vaccines for humans.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigen Presentation/genetics
- Bacterial Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Bacterial Vaccines/genetics
- Bacterial Vaccines/immunology
- Base Sequence
- Cell Line
- Chlamydophila Infections/immunology
- Chlamydophila Infections/prevention & control
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae/genetics
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae/immunology
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/administration & dosage
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Female
- Genetic Vectors
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/physiology
- Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Severity of Illness Index
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism
- Transfection
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Subunit/genetics
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- beta 2-Microglobulin/physiology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina Pinchuk
- Center for Pulmonary and Infectious Disease Control, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Center, Tyler, TX 75708, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
The immunostimulating complex or 'iscom' was first described 20 years ago as an antigen delivery system with powerful immunostimulating activity. Iscoms are cage-like structures, typically 40 nm in diameter, that are comprised of antigen, cholesterol, phospholipid and saponin. ISCOM-based vaccines have been shown to promote both antibody and cellular immune responses in a variety of experimental animal models. This review focuses on the evaluation of ISCOM-based vaccines in animals over the past 10 years, as well as examining the progress that has been achieved in the development of human vaccines based on ISCOM adjuvant technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan T Sanders
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Brunham RC, Rey-Ladino J. Immunology of Chlamydia infection: implications for a Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine. Nat Rev Immunol 2005; 5:149-61. [PMID: 15688042 DOI: 10.1038/nri1551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 437] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infections are a serious public-health problem. With more than 90 million new cases occurring annually, C. trachomatis is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease worldwide. Recent progress in elucidating the immunobiology of Chlamydia muridarum infection of mice has helped to guide the interpretation of immunological findings in studies of human C. trachomatis infection and has led to the development of a common model of immunity. In this review, we describe our current understanding of the immune response to infection with Chlamydia spp. and how this information is improving the prospects for development of a vaccine against infection with C. trachomatis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Brunham
- University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4R4, Canada.
| | | |
Collapse
|