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Behera LM, Ghosh M, Gupta PK, Rana S. A rationally engineered small antimicrobial peptide with potent antibacterial activity. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30503. [PMID: 37992185 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a silent pandemic declared by the WHO that requires urgent attention in the post-COVID world. AMR is a critical public health concern worldwide, potentially affecting people at different stages of life, including the veterinary and agriculture industries. Notably, very few new-age antimicrobial agents are in the current developmental pipeline. Thus, the design, discovery, and development of new antimicrobial agents are required to address the menace of AMR. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important class of antimicrobial agents for combating AMR due to their broad-spectrum activity and ability to evade AMR through a multimodal mechanism of action. However, molecular size, aggregability, proteolytic degradation, cytotoxicity, and hemolysis activity significantly limit the clinical application of natural AMPs. The de novo design and engineering of a short synthetic amphipathic AMP (≤16 aa, Mol. Wt. ≤ 2 kDa) with an unusual architecture comprised of coded and noncoded amino acids (NCAAs) is presented here, which demonstrates potent antibacterial activity against a few selected bacterial strains mentioned in the WHO priority list. The designer AMP is conformationally ordered in solution and effectively permeabilizes the outer and inner membranes, leading to bacterial growth inhibition and death. Additionally, the peptide is resistant to proteolysis and has negligible cytotoxicity and hemolysis activity up to 150 μM toward cultured human cell lines and erythrocytes. The designer AMP is unique and appears to be a potent therapeutic candidate, which can be subsequently subjected to preclinical studies to explicitly understand and address the menace of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Mohan Behera
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Manaswini Ghosh
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Pulkit Kr Gupta
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Soumendra Rana
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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2
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Alfandari D, Cadury S, Morandi MI, Regev-Rudzki N. Transforming parasites into their own foes: parasitic extracellular vesicles as a vaccine platform. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:913-928. [PMID: 37758631 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases continue to afflict millions of people globally. However, traditional vaccine development strategies are often difficult to apply to parasites, leaving an immense unmet need for new effective vaccines for the prevention and control of parasitic infections. As parasites commonly use extracellular vesicles (EVs) to interact with, interfere with, or modulate the host immune response from a distance, parasite-derived EVs may provide promising vaccine agents that induce immunity against parasitic infections. We here present achievements to date and the challenges and limitations associated with using parasitic EVs in a clinical context. Despite the many difficulties that need to be overcome, we believe this direction could offer a new and reliable source of therapeutics for various neglected parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Alfandari
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sharon Cadury
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mattia I Morandi
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Neta Regev-Rudzki
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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3
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Rodriguez EI, Tzeng YL, Stephens DS. Continuing genomic evolution of the Neisseria meningitidis cc11.2 urethritis clade, NmUC: a narrative review. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001113. [PMID: 37850987 PMCID: PMC10634446 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) is a bacterial pathogen responsible for invasive meningococcal disease. Though typically colonizing the nasopharynx, multiple outbreaks of meningococcal urethritis were first reported in 2015-2016; outbreaks originally presumed to be caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng). Genomic analysis revealed that the Nm isolates causing these outbreaks were a distinct clade, and had integrated gonococcal DNA at multiple genomic sites, including the gonococcal denitrification apparatus aniA-norB, a partial gonococcal operon of five genes containing ispD, and the acetylglutamate kinase gene argB with the adjacent gonococcal locus NGO0843. The urethritis isolates had also deleted the group C capsule biosynthesis genes cssA/B/C and csc, resulting in loss of capsule. Collectively, these isolates form the N. meningitidis urethritis clade (NmUC). Genomic analysis of recent (2016-2022) NmUC isolates revealed that the genomic features have been maintained in the clade, implying that they are important for NmUC's status as a urogenital pathogen. Furthermore, the analysis revealed the emergence of a sub-clade, designated NmUC-B, phylogenetically separated from the earlier NmUC-A. This sub-clade has integrated additional gonococcal alleles into the genome, including alleles associated with antimicrobial resistance. NmUC continues to adapt to a urethral niche and evolve as a urogenital pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio I. Rodriguez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yih-Ling Tzeng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David S. Stephens
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Eriksson L, Johannesen TB, Stenmark B, Jacobsson S, Säll O, Hedberg ST, Fredlund H, Stegger M, Mölling P. Genetic variants linked to the phenotypic outcome of invasive disease and carriage of Neisseria meningitidis. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001124. [PMID: 37874326 PMCID: PMC10634450 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis can be a human commensal in the upper respiratory tract but is also capable of causing invasive diseases such as meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. No specific genetic markers have been detected to distinguish carriage from disease isolates. The aim here was to find genetic traits that could be linked to phenotypic outcomes associated with carriage versus invasive N. meningitidis disease through a bacterial genome-wide association study (GWAS). In this study, invasive N. meningitidis isolates collected in Sweden (n=103) and carriage isolates collected at Örebro University, Sweden (n=213) 2018-2019 were analysed. The GWAS analysis, treeWAS, was applied to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genes and k-mers. One gene and one non-synonymous SNP were associated with invasive disease and seven genes and one non-synonymous SNP were associated with carriage isolates. The gene associated with invasive disease encodes a phage transposase (NEIS1048), and the associated invasive SNP glmU S373C encodes the enzyme N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate (GlcNAC 1-P) uridyltransferase. Of the genes associated with carriage isolates, a gene variant of porB encoding PorB class 3, the genes pilE/pilS and tspB have known functions. The SNP associated with carriage was fkbp D33N, encoding a FK506-binding protein (FKBP). K-mers from PilS, tbpB and tspB were found to be associated with carriage, while k-mers from mtrD and tbpA were associated with invasiveness. In the genes fkbp, glmU, PilC and pilE, k-mers were found that were associated with both carriage and invasive isolates, indicating that specific variations within these genes could play a role in invasiveness. The data presented here highlight genetic traits that are significantly associated with invasive or carriage N. meningitidis across the species population. These traits could prove essential to our understanding of the pathogenicity of N. meningitidis and could help to identify future vaccine targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Eriksson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Thor Bech Johannesen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bianca Stenmark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Susanne Jacobsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Olof Säll
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Sara Thulin Hedberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Hans Fredlund
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Marc Stegger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paula Mölling
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Khalid K, Poh CL. The Promising Potential of Reverse Vaccinology-Based Next-Generation Vaccine Development over Conventional Vaccines against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1264. [PMID: 37515079 PMCID: PMC10385262 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, leading to the current antibiotic resistance crisis. To address this issue, next-generation vaccines are being developed to prevent antimicrobial resistance caused by MDR bacteria. Traditional vaccine platforms, such as inactivated vaccines (IVs) and live attenuated vaccines (LAVs), were effective in preventing bacterial infections. However, they have shown reduced efficacy against emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including MDR M. tuberculosis. Additionally, the large-scale production of LAVs and IVs requires the growth of live pathogenic microorganisms. A more promising approach for the accelerated development of vaccines against antibiotic-resistant bacteria involves the use of in silico immunoinformatics techniques and reverse vaccinology. The bioinformatics approach can identify highly conserved antigenic targets capable of providing broader protection against emerging drug-resistant bacteria. Multi-epitope vaccines, such as recombinant protein-, DNA-, or mRNA-based vaccines, which incorporate several antigenic targets, offer the potential for accelerated development timelines. This review evaluates the potential of next-generation vaccine development based on the reverse vaccinology approach and highlights the development of safe and immunogenic vaccines through relevant examples from successful preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanwal Khalid
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
| | - Chit Laa Poh
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
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Ispasanie E, Muri L, Schmid M, Schubart A, Thorburn C, Zamurovic N, Holbro T, Kammüller M, Pluschke G. In vaccinated individuals serum bactericidal activity against B meningococci is abrogated by C5 inhibition but not by inhibition of the alternative complement pathway. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1180833. [PMID: 37457736 PMCID: PMC10349132 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1180833] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Several diseases caused by the dysregulation of complement activation can be treated with inhibitors of the complement components C5 and/or C3. However, complement is required for serum bactericidal activity (SBA) against encapsulated Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, C3 and C5 inhibition increases the risk of invasive disease, in particular by Neisseria meningitidis. As inhibitors against complement components other than C3 and C5 may carry a reduced risk of infection, we compared the effect of inhibitors targeting the terminal pathway (C5), the central complement component C3, the alternative pathway (FB and FD), and the lectin pathway (MASP-2) on SBA against serogroup B meningococci. Methods Serum from adults was collected before and after vaccination with the meningococcal serogroup B vaccine 4CMenB and tested for meningococcal killing. Since the B capsular polysaccharide is structurally similar to certain human polysaccharides, 4CMenB was designed to elicit antibodies against meningococcal outer membrane proteins. Results While only a few pre-vaccination sera showed SBA against the tested B meningococcal isolates, 4CMenB vaccination induced potent complement-activating IgG titers against isolates expressing a matching allele of the bacterial cell surface-exposed factor H-binding protein (fHbp). SBA triggered by these cell surface protein-specific antibodies was blocked by C5 and reduced by C3 inhibition, whereas alternative (factor B and D) and lectin (MASP-2) pathway inhibitors had no effect on the SBA of post-4CMenB vaccination sera. Discussion Compared to the SBA triggered by A,C,W,Y capsule polysaccharide conjugate vaccination, SBA against B meningococci expressing a matching fHbp allele was remarkably resilient against the alternative pathway inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ispasanie
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Molecular Immunology Unit, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Muri
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Molecular Immunology Unit, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marc Schmid
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Molecular Immunology Unit, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Schubart
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Department Autoimmunity, Transplantation and Inflammation, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Natasa Zamurovic
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Translational Medicine-Preclinical Safety, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Holbro
- Global Drug Development, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Kammüller
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Translational Medicine-Preclinical Safety, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gerd Pluschke
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Molecular Immunology Unit, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Satola SW, Schechter MC, Wilde S, Stephens DS. Host Defenses to Extracellular Bacteria Including Spirochetes. Clin Immunol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-8165-1.00027-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
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La Fauci V, Lo Giudice D, Squeri R, Genovese C. Insight into Prevention of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae: A Short Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1949. [PMID: 36423044 PMCID: PMC9692366 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) are important global pathogens which cause the sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea and meningitis, respectively, as well as sepsis. We prepared a review according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), with the aims of (a) evaluating the data on the MenB vaccination as protection against sexually transmitted infections by N. gonorrhoeae and (b) to briefly comment on the data of ongoing studies of new vaccines. We evaluated existing evidence on the effect of 4CMenB, a multi-component vaccine, on invasive diseases caused by different meningococcal serogroups and on gonorrhea. Non-B meningococcal serogroups showed that the 4CMenB vaccine could potentially offer some level of protection against non-B meningococcal serogroups and N. gonorrhoeae. The assessment of the potential protection conferred by 4CMenB is further challenged by the fact that further studies are still needed to fully understand natural immune responses against gonococcal infections. A further limitation could be the potential differences between the protection mechanisms against N. gonorrhoeae, which causes local infections, and the protection mechanisms against N. meningitidis, which causes systemic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenza La Fauci
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
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Meningococcal Urethritis: Old and New. J Clin Microbiol 2022; 60:e0057522. [PMID: 35969045 PMCID: PMC9667755 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00575-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a common commensal bacterium found in the respiratory tract, but it can also cause severe, invasive disease. Vaccines have been employed which have been successful in helping to prevent invasive disease caused by encapsulated N. meningitidis from the A, C, W, Y, and B serogroups. Currently, nonencapsulated N. meningitidis groups are more common commensals in the population than in the prevaccine era. One emerging nonencapsulated group of bacteria is the U.S. N. meningitidis urethritis clade (US_NmUC), which can cause meningococcal urethritis in men. US_NmUC has unique genotypic and phenotypic features that may increase its fitness in the male urethra. It is diagnostically challenging to identify and distinguish meningococcal urethritis from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, as the clinical presentation and microbiological findings are overlapping. In this review, the history of meningococcal urethritis, emergence of US_NmUC, laboratory diagnosis, and clinical treatment are all explored.
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Sheerin D, Dold C, Silva-Reyes L, Linder A, Pollard AJ, Rollier CS. Inclusion of a dual signal sequence enhances the immunogenicity of a novel viral vectored vaccine against the capsular group B meningococcus. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:86. [PMID: 35690803 PMCID: PMC9187930 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00809-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disease caused by the capsular group B meningococcus (MenB) is the leading cause of infectious death in UK infants. A novel adenovirus-based vaccine encoding the MenB factor H binding protein (fHbp) with an N-terminal dual signal sequence induces high titres of protective antibody after a single dose in mice. A panel of N-terminal signal sequence variants were created to assess the contribution of components of this sequence to transgene expression kinetics of the encoded antigen from mammalian cells and the resultant effect on immunogenicity of fHbp. RESULTS The full-length signal sequence (FL SS) resulted in superior early antigen expression compared with the panel of variants, as measured by flow cytometry and confocal imaging, and supported higher bactericidal antibody levels against the expressed antigen in mouse sera < 6 weeks post-immunisation than the licensed four component MenB vaccine. The FL SS also significantly increased antigen-specific T cell responses against other adenovirus-encoded bacterial antigens in mice. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that the FL SS enhances immunogenicity of the encoded antigen, supporting its inclusion in other viral vectored bacterial antigen transgenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Sheerin
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK. .,Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), The Walter & Eliza Hall, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Christina Dold
- grid.415719.f0000 0004 0488 9484Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Laura Silva-Reyes
- grid.415719.f0000 0004 0488 9484Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Aline Linder
- grid.415719.f0000 0004 0488 9484Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew J. Pollard
- grid.415719.f0000 0004 0488 9484Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Christine S. Rollier
- grid.415719.f0000 0004 0488 9484Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK ,grid.5475.30000 0004 0407 4824Present Address: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
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11
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Facchetti A, Wheeler JX, Vipond C, Whiting G, Lavender H, Feavers IM, Maiden MCJ, Maharjan S. Factor H binding protein (fHbp)-mediated differential complement resistance of a serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis isolate from cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with invasive meningococcal disease. Access Microbiol 2021; 3:000255. [PMID: 34712903 PMCID: PMC8549389 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
During an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) at the University of Southampton, UK, in 1997, two Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C isolates were retrieved from a student ('Case'), who died of IMD, and a close contact ('Carrier') who, after mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the deceased, did not contract the disease. Genomic comparison of the isolates demonstrated extensive nucleotide sequence identity, with differences identified in eight genes. Here, comparative proteomics was used to measure differential protein expression between the isolates and investigate whether the differences contributed to the clinical outcomes. A total of six proteins were differentially expressed: four proteins (methylcitrate synthase, PrpC; hypothetical integral membrane protein, Imp; fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, Fba; aldehyde dehydrogenase A, AldA) were upregulated in the Case isolate, while one protein (Type IV pilus-associated protein, PilC2) was downregulated. Peptides for factor H binding protein (fHbp), a major virulence factor and antigenic protein, were only detected in the Case, with a single base deletion (ΔT366) in the Carrier fHbp causing lack of its expression. Expression of fHbp resulted in an increased resistance of the Case isolate to complement-mediated killing in serum. Complementation of fHbp expression in the Carrier increased its serum resistance by approximately 8-fold. Moreover, a higher serum bactericidal antibody titre was seen for the Case isolate when using sera from mice immunized with Bexsero (GlaxoSmithKline), a vaccine containing fHbp as an antigenic component. This study highlights the role of fHbp in the differential complement resistance of the Case and the Carrier isolates. Expression of fHbp in the Case resulted in its increased survival in serum, possibly leading to active proliferation of the bacteria in blood and death of the student through IMD. Moreover, enhanced killing of the Case isolate by sera raised against an fHbp-containing vaccine, Bexsero, underlines the role and importance of fHbp in infection and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Facchetti
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Jun X Wheeler
- Division of Analytical Biological Sciences, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Caroline Vipond
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Gail Whiting
- Division of Analytical Biological Sciences, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Hayley Lavender
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Ian M Feavers
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Martin C J Maiden
- Department of Zoology, Peter Medawar Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Sunil Maharjan
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
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12
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Syed I, Wooten RM. Interactions Between Pathogenic Burkholderia and the Complement System: A Review of Potential Immune Evasion Mechanisms. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:701362. [PMID: 34660335 PMCID: PMC8515183 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.701362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Burkholderia contains over 80 different Gram-negative species including both plant and human pathogens, the latter of which can be classified into one of two groups: the Burkholderia pseudomallei complex (Bpc) or the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). Bpc pathogens Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei are highly virulent, and both have considerable potential for use as Tier 1 bioterrorism agents; thus there is great interest in the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of these infections. While Bcc pathogens Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia multivorans, and Burkholderia cepacia are not considered bioterror threats, the incredible impact these infections have on the cystic fibrosis community inspires a similar demand for vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of these infections as well. Understanding how these pathogens interact with and evade the host immune system will help uncover novel therapeutic targets within these organisms. Given the important role of the complement system in the clearance of bacterial pathogens, this arm of the immune response must be efficiently evaded for successful infection to occur. In this review, we will introduce the Burkholderia species to be discussed, followed by a summary of the complement system and known mechanisms by which pathogens interact with this critical system to evade clearance within the host. We will conclude with a review of literature relating to the interactions between the herein discussed Burkholderia species and the host complement system, with the goal of highlighting areas in this field that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irum Syed
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States
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13
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Ständer S, R Grauslund L, Scarselli M, Norais N, Rand K. Epitope Mapping of Polyclonal Antibodies by Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS). Anal Chem 2021; 93:11669-11678. [PMID: 34308633 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Epitope mapping of antibodies (Abs) is crucial for understanding adaptive immunity, as well as studying the mode of action of therapeutic antibodies and vaccines. Especially insights into the binding of the entire polyclonal antibody population (pAb) raised upon vaccination would be of unique value to vaccine development. However, very few methods for epitope mapping can tolerate the complexity of a pAb sample. Here we show how hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) can be used to map epitopes recognized by pAb samples. Our approach involves measuring the HDX of the antigen in absence or presence of varied amounts of pAbs, as well as dissociating additives. We apply the HDX-MS workflow to pAbs isolated from rabbit immunized with factor H-binding protein (fHbp), a Neisseria meningitidis vaccine antigen. We identify four immunogenic regions located on the N- and C-terminal region of fHbp and provide insights into the relative abundance and avidity of epitope binding Abs present in the sample. Overall, our results show that HDX-MS can provide a unique and relatively fast method for revealing the binding impact of the entire set of pAbs present in blood samples after vaccination. Such information provides a rare view into effective immunity and can guide the design of improved vaccines against viruses or bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Ständer
- Protein Analysis Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.,GSK, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura R Grauslund
- Protein Analysis Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.,GSK, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | | | - Kasper Rand
- Protein Analysis Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Pilewski KA, Kramer KJ, Georgiev IS. Simultaneous Immunization with Multiple Diverse Immunogens Alters Development of Antigen-Specific Antibody-Mediated Immunity. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9090964. [PMID: 34579201 PMCID: PMC8473051 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9090964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination remains one of the most successful medical interventions in history, significantly decreasing morbidity and mortality associated with, or even eradicating, numerous infectious diseases. Although traditional immunization strategies have recently proven insufficient in the face of many highly mutable and emerging pathogens, modern strategies aim to rationally engineer a single antigen or cocktail of antigens to generate a focused, protective immune response. However, the effect of cocktail vaccination (simultaneous immunization with multiple immunogens) on the antibody response to each individual antigen within the combination, remains largely unstudied. To investigate whether immunization with a cocktail of diverse antigens would result in decreased antibody titer against each unique antigen in the cocktail compared to immunization with each antigen alone, we immunized mice with surface proteins from uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Neisseria meningitides, and monitored the development of antigen-specific IgG antibody responses. We found that antigen-specific endpoint antibody titers were comparable across immunization groups by study conclusion (day 70). Further, we discovered that although cocktail-immunized mice initially elicited more robust antibody responses, the rate of titer development decreases significantly over time compared to single antigen-immunized mice. Investigating the basic properties that govern the development of antigen-specific antibody responses will help inform the design of future combination immunization regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey A. Pilewski
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (K.A.P.); (K.J.K.)
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Kevin J. Kramer
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (K.A.P.); (K.J.K.)
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Ivelin S. Georgiev
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; (K.A.P.); (K.J.K.)
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Program in Computational Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Correspondence:
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15
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Safadi MAP, Martinón-Torres F, Serra L, Burman C, Presa J. Translating meningococcal serogroup B vaccines for healthcare professionals. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:401-414. [PMID: 34151699 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1899820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vaccination is an effective strategy to combat invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). Vaccines against the major disease-causing meningococcal serogroups are available; however, development of vaccines against serogroup B faced particular challenges, including the inability to target traditional meningococcal antigens (i.e. polysaccharide capsule) and limited alternative antigens due to serogroup B strain diversity. Two different recombinant, protein-based, serogroup B (MenB) vaccines that may address these challenges are currently available. These vaccines have been extensively evaluated in pre-licensure safety and immunogenicity trials, and recently in real-world studies on effectiveness, safety, and impact on disease burden. AREAS COVERED This review provides healthcare professionals, particularly pediatricians, an overview of currently available MenB vaccines, including development strategies and evaluation of coverage. EXPERT OPINION Overall, recombinant MenB vaccines are valuable tools for healthcare professionals to protect patients against IMD. Their development required innovative design approaches that overcame challenging hurdles and identified novel protein antigen targets; however, important distinctions in the approaches used in their development, evaluation, and administration exist and many unanswered questions remain. Healthcare providers frequently prescribing MenB vaccines are challenged to keep abreast of these differences to ensure patient protection against this serious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Aurelio P Safadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa De São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain.,Genetics, Vaccines and Pediatrics Research Group, Universitario De Santiago De Compostela, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria De Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Lidia Serra
- Pfizer Vaccine Medical Development, Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Cynthia Burman
- Pfizer Vaccine Medical Development, Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Jessica Presa
- Pfizer Vaccines, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Collegeville, PA, USA
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16
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Clark SA, Gray S, Finn A, Borrow R. Colistin Sensitivity and Factor H-Binding Protein Expression among Commensal Neisseria Species. mSphere 2021; 6:e0017521. [PMID: 34133203 PMCID: PMC8265630 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00175-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial carriage studies utilize colistin-containing media to select for Neisseria meningitidis among the diverse human pharyngeal milieu. These studies commonly report the isolation of Neisseria commensal species, with carriage rates of around 1% or less typically observed. Here, we describe the isolation of N. cinerea and N. polysaccharea from pharyngeal swabs using nonselective agar and confirm they are unable to grow on colistin-containing media. We also demonstrated colistin sensitivity among archived Neisseria commensal strains, including N. cinerea, N. polysaccharea, N. mucosa, and N. subflava. The distribution of lptA among these strains indicated that, while the phosphoethanolamine (PEA) transferase encoded by this gene confers colistin resistance, other mechanisms may lead to reduced susceptibility in some lptA-deficient strains. The majority of the N. cinerea and N. polysaccharea isolates expressed medium to very high levels of factor H-binding protein (fHbp), an important meningococcal vaccine antigen. Sequence analysis showed that the commensal fHbp peptide variants were similar in sequence to fHbp variants typically observed among invasive meningococci. Altogether, these results not only suggest that Neisseria commensal strains could be carried at much higher rates than previously reported but also raise questions about the impact of protein-based meningococcal vaccines on these unencapsulated commensals. IMPORTANCE This study highlights the need for further work to accurately determine the pharyngeal carriage prevalence of Neisseria commensal bacteria (e.g., N. cinerea and N. polysaccharea) among the general population. Previous studies have clearly demonstrated the suppressive effect these commensal species can have on meningococcal colonization, and so the carriage prevalence of these species could be an important factor in the spread of meningococci through the population. Furthermore, the surface expression of the meningococcal vaccine antigen factor H-binding protein by many of these commensal strains could have important implications for the use of fHbp-containing vaccines. Carriage of these commensal species may influence the immune response to these vaccines, or conversely, the immune response elicited by vaccination may induce clearance of these potentially important members of the pharyngeal niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A. Clark
- Meningococcal Reference Unit (MRU), Public Health England (PHE), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Gray
- Meningococcal Reference Unit (MRU), Public Health England (PHE), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Finn
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit (MRU), Public Health England (PHE), Manchester, United Kingdom
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Delic S, Mijac V, Gajic I, Kekic D, Ranin L, Jegorovic B, Culic D, Cirkovic V, Siljic M, Stanojevic M, Paragi M, Markovic M, Opavski N. A Laboratory-Based Surveillance Study of Invasive Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae Diseases in a Serbian Pediatric Population-Implications for Vaccination. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11061059. [PMID: 34207530 PMCID: PMC8228891 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11061059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to present the epidemiology of invasive diseases caused by Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae in the pre-vaccine period, and Haemophilus influenzae in the post-vaccine period in a pediatric population from Serbia. Among the meningococci, serogroup B dominated (83%), followed by serogroup C (11.3%). High antigenic diversity was found, with fine type P1.5-1,10-4 being the most frequent. Moderate susceptibility to penicillin was common (55%). Within pneumococci, serotypes 19F, 14, 6B, 6A, 18C, 23F, 3, and 7F prevailed, while 19A was rare (3.6%). The coverages of PCV10 and PCV13 were 68% and 84%, respectively. Major sequence types were ST320, ST15, ST273, ST271, and ST81. Non-susceptibility to penicillin (66.7%), cefotaxime (37%), and macrolides (55%) was predominantly detected in vaccine-related serotypes. Among the 11 invasive H. influenzae isolates collected, there were six Hib, three non-type b, and two non-typeable strains (ntHi) that were antibiotic susceptible. These results imply a potential benefit of future Men-B vaccine implementations. For pneumococci, as PCV10 was recently introduced, a significant reduction of morbidity and antibiotic resistance might be expected. The efficiency of Hib vaccination is evident, but a shift towards non-type b and ntHi strains may be anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snezana Delic
- Centre for Microbiology, National Reference Laboratory for Meningococcus and Haemophilus, Institute of Public Health, 25101 Sombor, Serbia; (S.D.); (D.C.)
| | - Vera Mijac
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
- National Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Correspondence:
| | - Ina Gajic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
- National Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dusan Kekic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
- National Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Lazar Ranin
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
- National Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Boris Jegorovic
- Clinical Centre of Serbia, University Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Davor Culic
- Centre for Microbiology, National Reference Laboratory for Meningococcus and Haemophilus, Institute of Public Health, 25101 Sombor, Serbia; (S.D.); (D.C.)
| | - Valentina Cirkovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
| | - Marina Siljic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
| | - Maja Stanojevic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
| | - Metka Paragi
- National Laboratory of Health Environment and Food, Department for Public Health Microbiology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Milos Markovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
| | - Natasa Opavski
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.G.); (D.K.); (L.R.); (V.C.); (M.S.); (M.S.); (M.M.); (N.O.)
- National Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Lodi L, Moriondo M, Nieddu F, Ricci S, Guiducci S, Lippi F, Canessa C, Calistri E, Citera F, Giovannini M, Indolfi G, Resti M, Azzari C. Molecular typing of group B Neisseria meningitidis'subcapsular antigens directly on biological samples demonstrates epidemiological congruence between culture-positive and -negative cases: A surveillance study of invasive disease over a 13-year period. J Infect 2021; 82:28-36. [PMID: 33610687 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surveillance of serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB) subcapsular antigen variant distribution in invasive disease (IMD) is fundamental for multicomponent vaccine coverage prediction. IMD incidence in Tuscany in 2018 was 0.37/100,000 inhabitants, with MenB representing 57% of cases. More than 50% of MenB responsible for IMD cannot be grown in culture, and molecular characterization of these cases is often lacking. The aim of the present study was to describe the distribution of MenB subcapsular antigens, comparing their distribution in culture-positive and culture-negative cases. METHODS Molecular data regarding clonal complexes and subcapsular antigen variants of the 55 MenB-IMD occurring in Tuscany from 2007 to 2019 were made available, and their distribution between culture-positive and culture-negative cases was compared. Genetic-MATS and MenDeVAR prediction systems were used to assess multicomponent vaccine coverage predictions. RESULTS Culture-positive and culture-negative cases presented a similar percentage representation of fHbp subfamilies. Clonal complex 162 was almost constantly associated with fHbp B231/v1.390, Neisserial-heparin-binding-antigen (NHBA) peptide 20, and PorinA P1.22,14 (BAST-3033): these were the most represented antigenic variants, both in culture-positive and culture-negative groups. Point-estimate 4CMenB coverage prediction was 88.5% (84.6%-92.3%). CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that non-cultivable meningococci, responsible for IMD, possess genetic variants of subcapsular antigens that are representative of what has been observed in culture. The vaccine-related antigenic epidemiology of MenB is thus similar in both groups. One of the first on-field applications of gMATS and MenDeVAR identifies their major advantage in their accessibility and in the possibility of dynamic data implementation that must be pursued continuously in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Lodi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Moriondo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Nieddu
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Ricci
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy.
| | - Sara Guiducci
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Lippi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Clementina Canessa
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Elisa Calistri
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Citera
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Mattia Giovannini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Indolfi
- Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Resti
- Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Azzari
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence and Meyer Children's University Hospital, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
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19
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Syed I, Wooten RM. Interactions Between Pathogenic Burkholderia and the Complement System: A Review of Potential Immune Evasion Mechanisms. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021. [PMID: 34660335 DOI: 10.1086/69216810.3389/fcimb.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Burkholderia contains over 80 different Gram-negative species including both plant and human pathogens, the latter of which can be classified into one of two groups: the Burkholderia pseudomallei complex (Bpc) or the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). Bpc pathogens Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei are highly virulent, and both have considerable potential for use as Tier 1 bioterrorism agents; thus there is great interest in the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of these infections. While Bcc pathogens Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia multivorans, and Burkholderia cepacia are not considered bioterror threats, the incredible impact these infections have on the cystic fibrosis community inspires a similar demand for vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of these infections as well. Understanding how these pathogens interact with and evade the host immune system will help uncover novel therapeutic targets within these organisms. Given the important role of the complement system in the clearance of bacterial pathogens, this arm of the immune response must be efficiently evaded for successful infection to occur. In this review, we will introduce the Burkholderia species to be discussed, followed by a summary of the complement system and known mechanisms by which pathogens interact with this critical system to evade clearance within the host. We will conclude with a review of literature relating to the interactions between the herein discussed Burkholderia species and the host complement system, with the goal of highlighting areas in this field that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irum Syed
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - R Mark Wooten
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States
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20
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Findlow J, Bayliss CD, Beernink PT, Borrow R, Liberator P, Balmer P. Broad vaccine protection against Neisseria meningitidis using factor H binding protein. Vaccine 2020; 38:7716-7727. [PMID: 32878710 PMCID: PMC8082720 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), is classified into different serogroups defined by their polysaccharide capsules. Meningococcal serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y are responsible for most IMD cases, with serogroup B (MenB) causing a substantial percentage of IMD cases in many regions. Vaccines using capsular polysaccharides conjugated to carrier proteins have been successfully developed for serogroups A, C, W, and Y. However, because the MenB capsular polysaccharide is poorly immunogenic, MenB vaccine development has focused on alternative antigens. The 2 currently available MenB vaccines (MenB-4C and MenB-FHbp) both include factor H binding protein (FHbp), a surface-exposed protein harboured by nearly all meningococcal isolates that is important for survival of the bacteria in human blood. MenB-4C contains a nonlipidated FHbp from subfamily B in addition to other antigens, including Neisserial Heparin Binding Antigen, Neisserial adhesin A, and outer membrane vesicles, whereas MenB-FHbp contains a lipidated FHbp from each subfamily (A and B). FHbp is highly immunogenic and a main target of bactericidal activity of antibodies elicited by both licensed MenB vaccines. FHbp is also an important vaccine component, in contrast to some other meningococcal antigens that may have limited cross-protection across strains, as FHbp-specific antibodies can provide broad cross-protection within each subfamily. Limited cross-protection between subfamilies necessitates the inclusion of FHbp variants from both subfamilies to achieve broad FHbp-based vaccine coverage. Additionally, immune responses to the lipidated form of FHbp have a superior cross-reactive profile to those elicited by the nonlipidated form. Taken together, the inclusion of lipidated FHbp variants from both FHbp subfamilies is expected to provide broad protection against the diverse disease-causing meningococcal strains expressing a wide range of FHbp sequence variants. This review describes the development of vaccines for MenB disease prevention, with a focus on the FHbp antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Findlow
- Vaccine Medical Development, Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Ltd, Tadworth, UK.
| | | | - Peter T Beernink
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Ray Borrow
- Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
| | - Paul Liberator
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, NY, USA.
| | - Paul Balmer
- Vaccine Medical Development, Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA.
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21
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Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis Outbreak Isolates Express a Novel Factor H Binding Protein Variant That Is a Potential Target of Group B-Directed Meningococcal (MenB) Vaccines. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00462-20. [PMID: 32958529 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00462-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Factor H binding protein (FHbp) is an important Neisseria meningitidis virulence factor that binds a negative regulator of the alternative complement pathway, human factor H (FH). Binding of FH increases meningococcal resistance to complement-mediated killing. FHbp also is reported to prevent interaction of the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) LL-37 with the meningococcal surface and meningococcal killing. FHbp is a target of two licensed group B-directed meningococcal (MenB) vaccines. We found a new FHbp variant, peptide allele identification no. 896 (ID 896), was highly expressed by an emerging meningococcal pathotype, the nonencapsulated urethritis clade (US_NmUC). This clade has been responsible for outbreaks of urethritis in multiple U.S. cities since 2015, other mucosal infections, and cases of invasive meningococcal disease. FHbp ID 896 is a member of the variant group 1 (subfamily B), bound protective anti-FHbp monoclonal antibodies, bound high levels of human FH, and enhanced the resistance of the clade to complement-mediated killing in low levels of human complement likely present at human mucosal surfaces. Interestingly, expression of FHbp ID 896 resulted in augmented killing of the clade by LL-37. FHbp ID 896 of the clade was recognized by antibodies elicited by FHbp in MenB vaccines.
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22
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Polysialylation and disease. Mol Aspects Med 2020; 79:100892. [PMID: 32863045 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2020.100892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Polysialic acid (polySia, PSA) is a unique constituent of the glycocalyx on the surface of bacterial and vertebrate cells. In vertebrates, its biosynthesis is highly regulated, not only in quantity and quality, but also in time and location, which allows polySia to be involved in various important biological phenomena. Therefore, impairments in the expression and structure of polySia sometimes relate to diseases, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and cancer. Some bacteria express polySia as a tool for protecting themselves from the host immune system during invasion. PolySia is proven to be a biosafe material; polySia, as well as polySia-recognizing molecules, are key therapeutic agents. This review first comprehensive outlines the occurrence, features, biosynthesis, and functions of polySia and subsequently focuses on the related diseases.
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Beeslaar J, Absalon J, Anderson AS, Eiden JJ, Balmer P, Harris SL, Jones TR, O'Neill RE, Pregaldien JL, Radley D, Maansson R, Ginis J, Srivastava A, Perez JL. MenB-FHbp Vaccine Protects Against Diverse Meningococcal Strains in Adolescents and Young Adults: Post Hoc Analysis of Two Phase 3 Studies. Infect Dis Ther 2020; 9:641-656. [PMID: 32700260 PMCID: PMC7452968 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-020-00319-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Two phase 3 studies in adolescents and young adults demonstrated that MenB-FHbp, a meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccine, elicits protective immune responses after 2 or 3 doses based on serum bactericidal antibody assays using human complement (hSBA) against 4 primary and 10 additional diverse, vaccine-heterologous MenB test strains. Lower limits of quantitation (LLOQs; titers 1:8 or 1:16; titers ≥ 1:4 correlate with protection) were used to evaluate responses to individual strains and all 4 primary strains combined (composite response). A post hoc analysis evaluated percentages of subjects with protective responses to as many as 8 strains combined (4 primary plus additional strains). Methods Immune responses were measured using hSBAs against 4 primary strains in adolescents (n = 1509, MenB-FHbp; n = 898, hepatitis A virus vaccine/saline) and young adults (n = 2480, MenB-FHbp; n = 824, saline) receiving MenB-FHbp or control at 0, 2, and 6 months. Ten additional strains were evaluated in subsets of subjects from approximately 1800 MenB-FHbp recipients across both studies. Percentages of subjects with hSBA titers ≥ LLOQ for different numbers of primary strains or primary plus additional strains combined (7 or 8 strains total per subset) were determined before vaccination, 1 month post-dose 2, and 1 month post-dose 3. Results Across the panel of primary plus additional strains, at 1 month post-dose 3, titers ≥ LLOQ were elicited in 93.7–95.7% of adolescents and 91.7–95.0% of young adults for ≥ 5 test strains combined and in 70.5–85.8% of adolescents and 67.5–81.4% of young adults for ≥ 7 strains combined. Among adolescents, 99.8%, 99.0%, 92.8%, and 82.7% had titers ≥ LLOQ against at least 1, 2, 3, and all 4 primary strains, respectively; corresponding percentages for young adults were 99.7%, 97.7%, 94.0%, and 84.5%. Conclusions Results support the ability of MenB-FHbp to provide broad coverage against MenB strains expressing diverse FHbp variants. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT01830855, NCT01352845. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40121-020-00319-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Beeslaar
- Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Pfizer Ltd UK, Hurley, UK.
| | - Judith Absalon
- Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | | | - Joseph J Eiden
- Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Paul Balmer
- Vaccine Medical Development, Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Shannon L Harris
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Thomas R Jones
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Robert E O'Neill
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | | | - David Radley
- Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Roger Maansson
- Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - John Ginis
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Amit Srivastava
- Vaccine Medical Development, Scientific and Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - John L Perez
- Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
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24
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Carr JM, Cabezas-Falcon S, Dubowsky JG, Hulme-Jones J, Gordon DL. Dengue virus and the complement alternative pathway. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2543-2555. [PMID: 31943152 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Dengue disease is an inflammatory-driven pathology, and complement overactivation is linked to disease severity and vascular leakage. Additionally, dysregulation of complement alternative pathway (AP) components has been described, such as upregulation of complement factor D and downregulation of complement factor H (FH), which activate and inhibit the AP, respectively. Thus, the pathology of severe dengue could in part result from AP dysfunction, even though complement and AP activation usually provide protection against viral infections. In dengue virus-infected macrophages and endothelial cells (ECs), the site of replication and target for vascular pathology, respectively, the AP is activated. The AP activation, reduced FH and vascular leakage seen in dengue disease in part parallels other complement AP pathologies associated with FH deficiency, such as atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS). aHUS can be therapeutically targeted with inhibitors of complement terminal activity, raising the idea that strategies such as inhibition of complement or delivery of FH or other complement regulatory components to EC may be beneficial to combat the vascular leakage seen in severe dengue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian M Carr
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sheila Cabezas-Falcon
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,TGR Biosciences, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Joshua G Dubowsky
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jarrod Hulme-Jones
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - David L Gordon
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,SA Pathology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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25
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Airway Mucus Restricts Neisseria meningitidis Away from Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells and Protects the Mucosa from Inflammation. mSphere 2019; 4:4/6/e00494-19. [PMID: 31801841 PMCID: PMC6893211 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00494-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
N. meningitidis is transmitted from person to person by aerosol droplets produced by breathing, talking, or coughing or by direct contact with a contaminated fluid. The natural reservoir of N. meningitidis is the human nasopharynx mucosa, located at the back of the nose and above the oropharynx. The means by which meningococci cross the nasopharyngeal wall is still under debate, due to the lack of a convenient and relevant model mimicking the nasopharyngeal niche. Here, we took advantage of Calu-3 cells grown in air interface culture to study how meningococci colonize the nasopharyngeal niche. We report that the airway mucus is both a niche for meningococcal growth and a protective barrier against N. meningitidis infection. As such, N. meningitidis behaves like commensal bacteria and is unlikely to induce infection without an external trigger. Neisseria meningitidis is an inhabitant of the nasopharynx, from which it is transmitted from person to person or disseminates in blood and becomes a harmful pathogen. In this work, we addressed colonization of the nasopharyngeal niche by focusing on the interplay between meningococci and the airway mucus that lines the mucosa of the host. Using Calu-3 cells grown in air interface culture (cells grown with the apical domain facing air), we studied meningococcal colonization of the mucus and the host response. Our results suggested that N. meningitidis behaved like commensal bacteria in mucus, without interacting with human cells or actively transmigrating through the cell layer. As a result, type IV pili do not play a role in this model, and meningococci did not trigger a strong innate immune response from the Calu-3 cells. Finally, we have shown that this model is suitable for studying interaction of N. meningitidis with other bacteria living in the nasopharynx and that Streptococcus mitis, but not Moraxella catarrhalis, can promote meningococcal growth in this model. IMPORTANCEN. meningitidis is transmitted from person to person by aerosol droplets produced by breathing, talking, or coughing or by direct contact with a contaminated fluid. The natural reservoir of N. meningitidis is the human nasopharynx mucosa, located at the back of the nose and above the oropharynx. The means by which meningococci cross the nasopharyngeal wall is still under debate, due to the lack of a convenient and relevant model mimicking the nasopharyngeal niche. Here, we took advantage of Calu-3 cells grown in air interface culture to study how meningococci colonize the nasopharyngeal niche. We report that the airway mucus is both a niche for meningococcal growth and a protective barrier against N. meningitidis infection. As such, N. meningitidis behaves like commensal bacteria and is unlikely to induce infection without an external trigger.
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26
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Rivero-Calle I, Raguindin PF, Gómez-Rial J, Rodriguez-Tenreiro C, Martinón-Torres F. Meningococcal Group B Vaccine For The Prevention Of Invasive Meningococcal Disease Caused By Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B. Infect Drug Resist 2019; 12:3169-3188. [PMID: 31632103 PMCID: PMC6793463 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s159952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a major public health concern because of its high case fatality, long-term morbidity, and potential to course with outbreaks. IMD caused by Nesseira meningitidis serogroup B has been predominant in different regions of the world like Europe and only recently broadly protective vaccines against B serogroup have become available. Two protein-based vaccines, namely 4CMenB (Bexsero®) and rLP2086 (Trumenba®) are currently licensed for use in different countries against MenB disease. These vaccines came from a novel technology on vaccine design (or antigen selection) using highly specific antigen targets identified through whole-genome sequence analysis. Moreover, it has the potential to confer protection against non-B meningococcus and against other Neisserial species such as gonococcus. Real-world data on the vaccine-use are rapidly accumulating from the UK and other countries which used the vaccine for control of outbreak or as part of routine immunization program, reiterating its safety and efficacy. Additional data on real-life effectiveness, long-term immunity, and eventual herd effects, including estimates on vaccine impact for cost-effectiveness assessment are further needed. Given the predominance of MenB in Europe and other parts of the world, these new vaccines are crucial for the prevention and public health control of the disease, and should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Rivero-Calle
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.,Genetics, Vaccines and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Galicia, Spain
| | - Peter Francis Raguindin
- Genetics, Vaccines and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Galicia, Spain
| | - Jose Gómez-Rial
- Genetics, Vaccines and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Galicia, Spain
| | - Carmen Rodriguez-Tenreiro
- Genetics, Vaccines and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Galicia, Spain
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.,Genetics, Vaccines and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Galicia, Spain
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27
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Martinón-Torres F, Nolan T, Toneatto D, Banzhoff A. Persistence of the immune response after 4CMenB vaccination, and the response to an additional booster dose in infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:2940-2951. [PMID: 31246520 PMCID: PMC6930112 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1627159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine, 4CMenB, has demonstrated effectiveness in preventing invasive MenB disease in infants and in controlling MenB outbreaks. The need for/timing of additional booster doses is not yet established. We reviewed eight studies that evaluated antibody persistence and booster following primary 4CMenB vaccination of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Putative seroprotective hSBA titers for ≥1 vaccine antigen were maintained by 76-100% of children 24-36 months after priming during infancy and in 84-100% after priming in the second year of life. hSBA levels were higher in vaccinees at 4 and 7.5 years following priming during adolescence than in vaccine-naïve individuals of a similar age. Antibodies persisted at higher levels to NHBA and NadA than to PorA or fHbp. Booster vaccination induced robust anamnestic responses, demonstrating effective priming by 4CMenB across age-groups. These data can inform decision-making to optimize vaccination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Martinón-Torres
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases Section, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Terry Nolan
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, and Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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28
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McDaniel A, Dempsey A, Srivastava A. A physician's guide to the 2-dose schedule of MenB-FHbp vaccine. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 15:2729-2737. [PMID: 30932730 PMCID: PMC6930067 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1596711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) is the predominant cause of invasive meningococcal disease in the United States, with older adolescents and young adults attending college at increased risk. Notably, MenB caused all meningococcal disease outbreaks at US colleges between 2011 and 2018. MenB disease is vaccine-preventable. The MenB-FHbp vaccine can be administered on a 2-dose (0 and 6 months) schedule to healthy adolescents and young adults or as a tailored 3-dose (0, 1-2, and 6 months) schedule for individuals at increased risk. This review focuses on the 2-dose schedule (0 and 6 months) of MenB-FHbp. Clinical evidence demonstrating strong and broadly protective immunogenicity in adolescents after primary vaccination, immune persistence up to 48 months post-primary vaccination (18-61% of subjects across schedules), and immune memory evidenced by robust response to a single booster dose are described. Implementation approaches to ensure adolescents and young adults are fully vaccinated against meningococcal disease are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angee McDaniel
- Medical Development, Scientific & Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Amanda Dempsey
- University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Amit Srivastava
- Medical Development, Scientific & Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA
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29
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Awanye AM, Chang CM, Wheeler JX, Chan H, Marsay L, Dold C, Rollier CS, Bird LE, Nettleship JE, Owens RJ, Pollard AJ, Derrick JP. Immunogenicity profiling of protein antigens from capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6843. [PMID: 31048732 PMCID: PMC6497663 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43139-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Outer membrane vesicle (OMV)- based vaccines have been used to provide strain-specific protection against capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis infections, but the full breadth of the immune response against the components of the OMV has not been established. Sera from adults vaccinated with an OMV vaccine were used to screen 91 outer membrane proteins (OMPs) incorporated in an antigen microarray panel. Antigen-specific IgG levels were quantified pre-vaccination, and after 12 and 18 weeks. These results were compared with IgG levels from mice vaccinated with the same OMV vaccine. The repertoires of highly responding antigens in humans and mice overlapped, but were not identical. The highest responding antigens to human IgG comprised four integral OMPs (PorA, PorB, OpcA and PilQ), a protein which promotes the stability of PorA and PorB (RmpM) and two lipoproteins (BamC and GNA1162). These observations will assist in evaluating the role of minor antigen components within OMVs in providing protection against meningococcal infection. In addition, the relative dominance of responses to integral OMPs in humans emphasizes the importance of this subclass and points to the value of maintaining conformational epitopes from integral membrane proteins in vaccine formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaka M Awanye
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Chun-Mien Chang
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jun X Wheeler
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Hannah Chan
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Leanne Marsay
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Christina Dold
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Christine S Rollier
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Louise E Bird
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Joanne E Nettleship
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Raymond J Owens
- Oxford Protein Production Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Jeremy P Derrick
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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30
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MenB-FHbp Meningococcal Group B Vaccine (Trumenba ®): A Review in Active Immunization in Individuals Aged ≥ 10 Years. Drugs 2019; 78:257-268. [PMID: 29380290 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-018-0869-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
MenB-FHbp (bivalent rLP2086; Trumenba®) is a recombinant protein-based vaccine targeting Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB), which has recently been licensed in the EU for active immunization to prevent invasive disease caused by MenB in individuals ≥ 10 years of age. The vaccine, which contains a variant from each of the two identified subfamilies of the meningococcal surface protein factor H-binding protein (fHBP), has been licensed in the USA for active immunization in individuals 10-25 years of age since 2014. This article reviews the immunogenicity, reactogenicity and tolerability of MenB-FHbp, with a focus on the EU label and the European setting. As demonstrated in an extensive program of clinical trials in adolescents and young adults, a two-dose or three-dose series of MenB-FHbp elicits a strong immune response against a range of MenB test strains selected to be representative of strains prevalent in Europe and the USA. Follow-up studies investigating the persistence of the MenB-FHbp immune response and the effect of a booster dose of the vaccine indicate that a booster dose should be considered (following a primary vaccine series) in individuals at continued risk of invasive meningococcal disease. MenB-FHbp vaccine appears to be moderately reactogenic but, overall, is generally well tolerated, with most adverse reactions being mild to moderate in severity. Although post-marketing, population-based data will be required to establish the true effectiveness of the vaccine, currently available data indicate that MenB-FHbp, in a two-dose or three-dose series, is likely to provide broad protection against MenB strains circulating in Europe.
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31
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Findlow J, Nuttens C, Kriz P. Introduction of a second MenB vaccine into Europe – needs and opportunities for public health. Expert Rev Vaccines 2019; 18:225-239. [DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2019.1578217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Findlow
- Medical & Scientific Affairs – International Developed Markets, Pfizer Limited, Tadworth, UK
| | - Charles Nuttens
- Medical & Scientific Affairs – International Developed Markets, Pfizer, Paris, France
| | - Paula Kriz
- Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology – National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
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32
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Host Defenses to Extracellular Bacteria. Clin Immunol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-6896-6.00027-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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33
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Rappuoli R, Pizza M, Masignani V, Vadivelu K. Meningococcal B vaccine (4CMenB): the journey from research to real world experience. Expert Rev Vaccines 2018; 17:1111-1121. [DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2018.1547637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rino Rappuoli
- Chief Scientist & Head of External Research and Development, GSK, Siena, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- Senior Scientific Director, Bacterial Vaccines, Chief Scientist & Head of External Research and Development, Siena, Italy
| | - Vega Masignani
- Discovery Project Leader, Research and Development Centre, Siena, Italy
| | - Kumaran Vadivelu
- Vaccine Development Leader, Research and Development Centre, Rockville, MD, USA
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34
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Invasive meningococcal disease in Shanghai, China from 1950 to 2016: implications for serogroup B vaccine implementation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12334. [PMID: 30120257 PMCID: PMC6098053 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30048-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is increasing in China, but little is known about the causative meningococci. Here, IMD and carriage isolates in Shanghai characterised and the applicability of different vaccines assessed. Seven IMD epidemic periods have been observed in Shanghai since 1950, with 460 isolates collected including 169 from IMD and 291 from carriage. Analyses were divided according to the period of meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPV) introduction: (i) pre-MPV-A, 1965–1980; (ii) post-MPV-A, 1981–2008; and (iii) post-MPV-A + C, 2009–2016. Over this period, IMD incidence decreased from 55.4/100,000 to 0.71 then to 0.02, corresponding to successive changes in meningococcal type from serogroup A ST-5 complex (MenA:cc5) to MenC:cc4821, and finally MenB:cc4821. MenB IMD became predominant (63.2%) in the post-MPV-A + C period, and 50% of cases were caused by cc4821, with the highest incidence in infants (0.45/100,000) and a case-fatality rate of 9.5%. IMD was positively correlated with population carriage rates. Using the Bexsero Antigen Sequence Type (BAST) system, fewer than 25% of MenB isolates in the post-MPV-A + C period contained exact or predicted cross reactive matches to the vaccines Bexsero, Trumenba, or an outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-based vaccine, NonaMen. A unique IMD epidemiology was seen in China, changing periodically from epidemic to hyperepidemic and low-level endemic disease. At the time of writing, MenB IMD dominated IMD in Shanghai, with isolates potentially beyond coverage with licenced OMV- and protein-based MenB vaccines.
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35
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Ma J, Wang Y, Xu N, Jin L, Liu J, Xing S, Li X. Potential large scale production of meningococcal vaccines by stable overexpression of fHbp in the rice seeds. Protein Expr Purif 2018; 152:1-6. [PMID: 29953946 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Factor H binding protein (fHbp) is the most promising vaccine candidate against serogroup B of Neisseria meningitidis which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. In order to facilitate large scale production of a commercial vaccine, we previously used transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, but plant-derived fHbp is still far away from a commercial vaccine due to less biomass production. Herein, we presented an alternative route for the production of recombinant fHbp from the seeds of transgenic rice. The OsrfHbp gene encoding recombinant fHbp fused protein was introduced into the genome of rice via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The both stable integration and transcription of the foreign OsrfHbp were confirmed by Southern blotting and RT-PCR analysis respectively. Further, the expression of fHbp protein was measured by immunoblotting analysis and quantified by ELISA. The results indicated that fHbp was successfully expressed and the highest yield of fHbp was 0.52 ± 0.03% of TSP in the transgenic rice seeds. The purified fHbp protein showed good antigenicity and immunogenicity in the animal model. The results of this experiment offer a novel approach for large-scale production of plant-derived commercial vaccine fHbp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Ma
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, Jilin, China.
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130033, Jilin, China.
| | - Nuo Xu
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Libo Jin
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jia Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China.
| | - Shaochen Xing
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130033, Jilin, China; Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, Jilin, China.
| | - Xiaokun Li
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, Jilin, China; College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
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36
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Perez JL, Absalon J, Beeslaar J, Balmer P, Jansen KU, Jones TR, Harris S, York LJ, Jiang Q, Radley D, Anderson AS, Crowther G, Eiden JJ. From research to licensure and beyond: clinical development of MenB-FHbp, a broadly protective meningococcal B vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 2018; 17:461-477. [DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2018.1483726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John L. Perez
- Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Judith Absalon
- Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | | | - Paul Balmer
- Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | | | - Thomas R. Jones
- Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Shannon Harris
- Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Laura J. York
- Pfizer Vaccines Medical Development, Scientific & Clinical Affairs, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Qin Jiang
- Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - David Radley
- Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Joseph J. Eiden
- Pfizer Vaccines Research and Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
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Yarian F, Kazemi B, Bandehpour M. Identification and characterization of a novel single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against Neisseria meningitidis factor H-binding protein (fHbp). J Med Microbiol 2018; 67:820-827. [PMID: 29737965 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose. Neisseria meningitidis is the leading global cause of meningitis and sepsis. Detection, followed by identification, of bacterial pathogens is important in medicine and public health. In the present study, we used the ribosome display technique to select single-chain variable fragments (scFv) that are specific to the surface-exposed fHbp antigen of N. meningitidis. Methodology. The recombinant fHbp protein was used as the antigen for the immunization of BALB/c mice. Anti-fHbp VH/k chain ribosome display libraries were assembled by joining VH and k into the VH/k chain with a specially constructed linker by PCR overlap extension. The scFv library was panned against the recombinant fHbp protein by using a single round of the ribosome display method via a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system.Results/Key findings. The selected anti-fHbp antibody exhibited high affinity and specificity in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the whole bacterial cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Bact-ELISA).Conclusion. The affinity of the selected scFv was ~8.65×109 M-1. The isolated scFv can provide the basis for developing a diagnostic kit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Yarian
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojgan Bandehpour
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Brookes C, Freire-Martin I, Cavell B, Alexander F, Taylor S, Persaud R, Fry N, Preston A, Diavatopoulos D, Gorringe A. Bordetella pertussis isolates vary in their interactions with human complement components. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:81. [PMID: 29739922 PMCID: PMC5940884 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0084-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Whooping cough is a re-emerging respiratory tract infection. It has become clear that there is a need for better understanding of protective immune responses and variation between Bordetella pertussis strains to aid the development of improved vaccines. In order to survive in the host, B. pertussis has evolved mechanisms to evade complement-mediated killing, including the ability to bind complement-regulatory proteins. Here we evaluate the variation in interactions with the complement system among recently isolated strains. Isolates whose genomes appear highly similar and cluster together on a SNP-based dendrogram were found to vary significantly in resistance to complement-mediated killing and in the deposition of C3b/iC3b, C5b-9 and C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). The key role of Vag8 as a receptor for C1-INH was confirmed and its expression was shown to vary in a panel of isolates. A Vag8 knockout mutant showed increased sensitivity to complement-mediated killing. Antibodies in convalescent sera blocked C1-INH binding to B. pertussis and may play an important role in natural immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ruby Persaud
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK
| | - Norman Fry
- Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, UK
| | - Andrew Preston
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, The Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Dimitri Diavatopoulos
- Laboratory of Medical immunology, Nijmegen Medical Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Predicting the Susceptibility of Meningococcal Serogroup B Isolates to Bactericidal Antibodies Elicited by Bivalent rLP2086, a Novel Prophylactic Vaccine. mBio 2018. [PMID: 29535195 PMCID: PMC5850321 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00036-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bivalent rLP2086 (Trumenba), a vaccine for prevention of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (NmB) disease, was licensed for use in adolescents and young adults after it was demonstrated that it elicits antibodies that initiate complement-mediated killing of invasive NmB isolates in a serum bactericidal assay with human complement (hSBA). The vaccine consists of two factor H binding proteins (fHBPs) representing divergent subfamilies to ensure broad coverage. Although it is the surrogate of efficacy, an hSBA is not suitable for testing large numbers of strains in local laboratories. Previously, an association between the in vitro fHBP surface expression level and the susceptibility of NmB isolates to killing was observed. Therefore, a flow cytometric meningococcal antigen surface expression (MEASURE) assay was developed and validated by using an antibody that binds to all fHBP variants from both fHBP subfamilies and accurately quantitates the level of fHBP expressed on the cell surface of NmB isolates with mean fluorescence intensity as the readout. Two collections of invasive NmB isolates (n = 1,814, n = 109) were evaluated in the assay, with the smaller set also tested in hSBAs using individual and pooled human serum samples from young adults vaccinated with bivalent rLP2086. From these data, an analysis based on fHBP variant prevalence in the larger 1,814-isolate set showed that >91% of all meningococcal serogroup B isolates expressed sufficient levels of fHBP to be susceptible to bactericidal killing by vaccine-induced antibodies.IMPORTANCE Bivalent rLP2086 (Trumenba) vaccine, composed of two factor H binding proteins (fHBPs), was recently licensed for the prevention of N. meningitidis serogroup B (NmB) disease in individuals 10 to 25 years old in the United States. This study evaluated a large collection of NmB isolates from the United States and Europe by using a flow cytometric MEASURE assay to quantitate the surface expression of the vaccine antigen fHBP. We find that expression levels and the proportion of strains above the level associated with susceptibility in an hSBA are generally consistent across these geographic regions. Thus, the assay can be used to predict which NmB isolates are susceptible to killing in the hSBA and therefore is able to demonstrate an fHBP vaccine-induced bactericidal response. This work significantly advances our understanding of the potential for bivalent rLP2086 to provide broad coverage against diverse invasive-disease-causing NmB isolates.
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Abstract
I would like to comment on the article “Commentary: Impact of meningococcal group B OMV vaccines, beyond their brief”, DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1381810. The author states that meningococcal group B OMVs vaccines –such as VA-MENGOC-BC®– may induce moderate protection against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. I agree. However, the author states that “there was no evidence of effectiveness in the younger children.” The effectiveness of VA-MENGOC-BC® in heterologous contexts has been higher than 80% in individuals older than 4 years old, but the effectiveness in younger children should not be undervalued; it has usually been higher than 60%, and results markedly higher when evaluated based on mortality rates. There is strong evidence that VA-MENGOC-BC® may induce cross-protection against heterologous N. meningitidis strains and N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolando Felipe Ochoa-Azze
- a Department of Immunology , Institute of Basic and Preclinical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Senior Researcher at the Finlay Institute of Vaccines , Havana , Cuba
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41
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Price GA, Bash MC. Development of an FHbp-CTB holotoxin-like chimera and the elicitation of bactericidal antibodies against serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis. Vaccine 2018; 36:644-652. [PMID: 29287682 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Neisseria meningitidis factor H binding protein (FHbp) is an important virulence factor and vaccine antigen contained in both USA licensed serogroup B meningococcal vaccines. Recent studies in human factor H (hFH) transgenic mice suggest that hFH-FHbp interactions lower FHbp-elicited immunogenicity. To provide tools with which to characterize and potentially improve FHbp immunogenicity, we developed an FHbp-cholera holotoxin-like chimera vaccine expression system in Escherichia coli that utilizes cholera toxin B (CTB) as both a scaffold and adjuvant for FHbp. We developed FHbp-CTB chimeras using a wild-type (WT) FHbp and a low hFH-binding FHbp mutant R41S. Both chimeras bound to GM1 ganglioside and were recognized by the FHbp-specific monoclonal antibody JAR4. The R41S mutant had greatly reduced hFH binding compared to the WT FHbp-CTB chimera. WT and R41S FHbp-CTB chimeric antigens were compared to equimolar amounts of FHbp admixed with CTB or FHbp alone in mouse immunogenicity studies. The chimeras were significantly more immunogenic than FHbp alone or mixed with CTB, and elicited bactericidal antibodies against a panel of MenB isolates. This study demonstrates a unique and simple method for studying FHbp immunogenicity. The chimeric approach may facilitate studies of other protein-based antigens targeting pathogenic Neisseria and lay groundwork for the development of new protein based vaccines against meningococcal and gonococcal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Price
- Laboratory of Bacterial Polysaccharides, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.
| | - Margaret C Bash
- Laboratory of Bacterial Polysaccharides, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
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Fernández FJ, Gómez S, Vega MC. Pathogens' toolbox to manipulate human complement. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 85:98-109. [PMID: 29221973 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The surveillance and pathogen fighting functions of the complement system have evolved to protect mammals from life-threatening infections. In turn, pathogens have developed complex molecular mechanisms to subvert, divert and evade the effector functions of the complement. The study of complement immunoevasion by pathogens sheds light on their infection drivers, knowledge that is essential to implement therapies. At the same time, complement evasion also acts as a discovery ground that reveals important aspects of how complement works under physiological conditions. In recent years, complex interrelationships between infection insults and the onset of autoimmune and complement dysregulation diseases have led to propose that encounters with pathogens can act as triggering factors for disease. The correct management of these diseases involves the recognition of their triggering factors and the development and administration of complement-associated molecular therapies. Even more recently, unsuspected proteins from pathogens have been shown to possess moonlighting functions as virulence factors, raising the possibility that behind the first line of virulence factors there be many more pathogen proteins playing secondary, helping and supporting roles for the pathogen to successfully establish infections. In an era where antibiotics have a progressively reduced effect on the management and control of infectious diseases worldwide, knowledge on the mechanisms of pathogenic invasion and evasion look more necessary and pressing than ever.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Gómez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - M Cristina Vega
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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43
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Getting oriented with antibodies. Biochem J 2017; 474:517-519. [PMID: 28159897 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium capable of causing deadly invasive disease. Two recently developed vaccines against N. meningitidis serogroup B include recombinant factor H binding protein (fHbp), a surface protein that meningococci use to evade the host immune system. Many anti-fHbp monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) produced against fHbp fail to trigger complement-mediated bacteriolysis when used alone in vitro, but are highly synergistic and bactericidal when used in combination. This opened the door to defining the structural basis by which mAbs activate complement synergistically when binding to different epitopes on the same antigen, a story that is told by Malito et al. in a recent issue of the Biochemical Journal. Using two separate crystal structures of fHbp bound to Fabs from synergistic mAbs, they were able to model the structure of both full length antibodies bound simultaneously to fHbp. This revealed that the bound antibodies orient their Fc domains 115-130 Å apart, a distance that is compatible with multivalent C1q binding. The need for a precise orientation of Fc domains in order to efficiently activate effector functions is an emerging theme across multiple fields, and its implications could have broad impacts on vaccinology and immunotherapy.
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Frequent capsule switching in 'ultra-virulent' meningococci - Are we ready for a serogroup B ST-11 complex outbreak? J Infect 2017; 75:95-103. [PMID: 28579305 PMCID: PMC5522521 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2017.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The meningococcal ST-11 complex (cc11) causes large invasive disease outbreaks with high case fatality rates, such as serogroup C (MenC) epidemics in industrialised nations in the 1990s and the serogroup W epidemic currently expanding globally. Glycoconjugate vaccines are available for serogroups A, C, W and Y. Broad coverage protein-based vaccines have recently been licensed against serogroup B meningococci (MenB), however, these do not afford universal MenB protection. Capsular switching from MenC to MenB among cc11 organisms is concerning because a large MenB cc11 (B:cc11) outbreak has the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the potential for licensed and developmental non-capsular meningococcal vaccines to protect against B:cc11. The population structure and vaccine antigen distribution was determined for a panel of >800 geo-temporally diverse, predominantly MenC cc11 and B:cc11 genomes. The two licensed vaccines potentially protect against many but not all B:cc11 meningococci. Furthermore, strain coverage by these vaccines is often due to a single vaccine antigen and both vaccines are highly susceptible to vaccine escape owing to the apparent dispensability of key proteins used as vaccine antigens. cc11 strains with MenB and MenC capsules warrant special consideration when formulating future non-capsular meningococcal vaccines. The meningococcal ST-11 complex (cc11) is highly virulent and has caused large serogroup C and W outbreaks. Serogroup C to B capsular switching is concerning owing to a lack of a universal vaccine against serogroup B meningococci. Diverse serogroup B and C cc11 meningococci are predicted not to be covered by non-capsular vaccines targeting MenB. Dispensability of multiple antigens raises the prospect of vaccine-escape by potentially covered outbreak strains. Serogroup B and C cc11 meningococci merit special consideration when formulating future non-capsular meningococcal vaccines.
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Abstract
The majority of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in the developed world is caused by capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis, however success with vaccination against organisms bearing this capsule has previously been restricted to control of geographically limited clonal outbreaks. As we enter a new era, with the first routine program underway to control endemic group B meningococcal disease for infants in the UK, it is timely to review the key landmarks in group B vaccine development, and discuss the issues determining whether control of endemic group B disease will be achieved. Evidence of a reduction in carriage acquisition of invasive group B meningococcal strains, after vaccination among adolescents, is imperative if routine immunization is to drive population control of disease beyond those who are vaccinated (i.e. through herd immunity). The need for multiple doses to generate a sufficiently protective response and reactogenicity remain significant problems with the new generation of vaccines. Despite these limitations, early data from the UK indicate that new group B meningococcal vaccines have the potential to have a major impact on meningococcal disease, and to provide new insight into how we might do better in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Y Wang
- a School of Medicine , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.,b Department of Paediatrics , Oxford Vaccine Group , Oxford , UK
| | - A J Pollard
- b Department of Paediatrics , Oxford Vaccine Group , Oxford , UK.,c NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
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Patton ME, Stephens D, Moore K, MacNeil JR. Updated Recommendations for Use of MenB-FHbp Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine - Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2016. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2017; 66:509-513. [PMID: 28520709 PMCID: PMC5657641 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6619a6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Recent Progress in the Prevention of Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:CVI.00566-16. [PMID: 28356256 PMCID: PMC5424234 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00566-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The widespread use of meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccines has highlighted the challenge of providing protection against serogroup B disease. Over a period of 4 decades, vaccine development has focused on subcapsular protein antigens, first with outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines against epidemic outbreaks, and more recently on new multicomponent vaccines designed to offer better cross-protection against the antigenically diverse strains responsible for endemic disease. Because of the low incidence of meningococcal disease, the protective efficacy of these vaccines has not been determined in clinical studies, and their licensure has been based on serological data; however, the serological assays used to predict protective coverage have limitations. As a result, evidence of the effectiveness of these vaccines against different strains and the contribution of specific antigens to protection can only be provided by epidemiological analyses following their implementation in sufficiently large populations. The recent inclusion of the four-component meningococcal serogroup B (4CMenB) vaccine, Bexsero, in the infant immunization program in the UK has provided preliminary evidence that the vaccine is effective. Ongoing surveillance will provide valuable data on its longer-term impact and antigenic coverage. Further development of protein-based vaccines against meningococcal disease is anticipated to improve antigenic coverage and adjust to changes in circulating strains. At the same time, alternative immunization strategies may be explored to improve overall vaccine effectiveness by, for example, protecting the youngest infants or providing herd protection.
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48
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Bandehpour M, Yarian F, Ahangarzadeh S. Bioinformatics evaluation of novel ribosome display-selected single chain variable fragment (scFv) structure with factor H binding protein through docking. JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL & COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY 2017. [DOI: 10.1142/s0219633617500213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies play a significant role in the immunotherapy, basic research and the pharmaceutical industry. Nowadays, both DNA recombinant technology and antibody engineering technology are widely used in many fields such as diagnostics, therapeutics, drug targeted delivery, and research reagents. Computational docking of antigen-antibody complexes and analysis of atomic interactions are important to find effective B-cell epitopes and new antibodies with appropriate properties. In the present study, by using ClusPro 2.0 webserver, docking the antigen (factor H binding protein (fHbp)) to the novel-selected scFv antibody was performed. By analyzing the fHbp-scFv complexes, important amino acids were identified. After docking, peptides Ala192-His198, Asp 211-216, and Gly229-Ser228 of the fHbp antigen were recognized as essential interactive regions to the scFv antibody. Results obtained from our bioinformatics study are important and give us the basis for the favored designs of new molecules such as effective B-cell epitopes targeted by neutralizing antibodies for vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Bandehpour
- Cellular & Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Yarian
- Cellular & Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrzad Ahangarzadeh
- Cellular & Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Toneatto D, Pizza M, Masignani V, Rappuoli R. Emerging experience with meningococcal serogroup B protein vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 2017; 16:433-451. [PMID: 28375029 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2017.1308828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The successful development of two broadly protective vaccines targeting Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB); 4CMenB and rLP2086, is the most significant recent advance in meningococcal disease prevention. Areas covered: Here we review the principles underlying the development of each vaccine and the novel methods used to estimate vaccine coverage. We update clinical and post-licensure experience with 4CMenB and rLP2086. Expert commentary: The immunogenicity and acceptable safety profile of 4CMenB and rLP2086 has been demonstrated in clinical trials. Continuing uncertainties exist around the appropriate age groups to be immunized, the degree and duration of efficacy, and the impact on nasopharyngeal carriage which has implications for strategies to interrupt transmission and maximize herd protection effects. Universal vaccination programs such as those undertaken in Quebec and the United Kingdom are providing important information on these issues. The potential for MenB vaccines to prevent infection by other serogroups appears promising, and the impact of MenB vaccines on other pathogenic neisserial species with similar surface proteins warrants further investigation.
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50
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da Silva RAG, Churchward CP, Karlyshev AV, Eleftheriadou O, Snabaitis AK, Longman MR, Ryan A, Griffin R. The role of apolipoprotein N-acyl transferase, Lnt, in the lipidation of factor H binding protein of Neisseria meningitidis strain MC58 and its potential as a drug target. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 174:2247-2260. [PMID: 27784136 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The level of cell surface expression of the meningococcal vaccine antigen, Factor H binding protein (FHbp) varies between and within strains and this limits the breadth of strains that can be targeted by FHbp-based vaccines. The molecular pathway controlling expression of FHbp at the cell surface, including its lipidation, sorting to the outer membrane and export, and the potential regulation of this pathway have not been investigated until now. This knowledge will aid our evaluation of FHbp vaccines. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH A meningococcal transposon library was screened by whole cell immuno-dot blotting using an anti-FHbp antibody to identify a mutant with reduced binding and the disrupted gene was determined. KEY RESULTS In a mutant with markedly reduced binding, the transposon was located in the lnt gene which encodes apolipoprotein N-acyl transferase, Lnt, responsible for the addition of the third fatty acid to apolipoproteins prior to their sorting to the outer membrane. We provide data indicating that in the Lnt mutant, FHbp is diacylated and its expression within the cell is reduced 10 fold, partly due to inhibition of transcription. Furthermore the Lnt mutant showed 64 fold and 16 fold increase in susceptibility to rifampicin and ciprofloxacin respectively. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS We speculate that the inefficient sorting of diacylated FHbp in the meningococcus results in its accumulation in the periplasm inducing an envelope stress response to down-regulate its expression. We propose Lnt as a potential novel drug target for combination therapy with antibiotics. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Drug Metabolism and Antibiotic Resistance in Micro-organisms. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.14/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A G da Silva
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, UK
| | - C P Churchward
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, UK
| | - A V Karlyshev
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, UK
| | - O Eleftheriadou
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, UK
| | - A K Snabaitis
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, UK
| | - M R Longman
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, UK
| | - A Ryan
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, UK
| | - R Griffin
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, UK
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