An autotransporter display platform for the development of multivalent recombinant bacterial vector vaccines

Outer membrane vesicles from genetically engineered Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium presenting Helicobacter pylori antigens UreB and CagA induce protection against Helicobacter pylori infection in mice

Helicobacter pylori causes globally prevalent infections that are highly related to chronic gastritis and even development of gastric carcinomas. With the increase of antibiotic resistance, scientists have begun to search for better vaccine design strategies to eradicate H. pylori colonization. However, while current strategies prefer to formulate vaccines with a single H. pylori antigen, their potential has not yet been fully realized. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are a potential platform since they could deliver multiple antigens. In this study, we engineered three crucial H. pylori antigen proteins (UreB, CagA, and VacA) onto the surface of OMVs derived from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) mutant strains using the hemoglobin protease (Hbp) autotransporter system. In various knockout strategies, we found that OMVs isolated from the ΔrfbP ΔfliC ΔfljB ΔompA mutants could cause distinct increases in immunoglobulin G (IgG) and A (IgA) levels and effectively trigger T helper 1- and 17-biased cellular immune responses, which perform a vital role in protecting against H. pylori. Next, OMVs derived from ΔrfbP ΔfliC ΔfljB ΔompA mutants were used as a vector to deliver different combinations of H. pylori antigens. The antibody and cytokine levels and challenge experiments in mice model indicated that co-delivering UreB and CagA could protect against H. pylori and antigen-specific T cell responses. In summary, OMVs derived from the S. Typhimurium ΔrfbP ΔfliC ΔfljB ΔompA mutant strain as the vector while importing H. pylori UreB and CagA as antigenic proteins using the Hbp autotransporter system would greatly benefit controlling H. pylori infection.

A Novel Thermo-Alkaline Stable GDSL/SGNH Esterase with Broad Substrate Specificity from a Deep-Sea Pseudomonas sp

Marine environments harbor a plethora of microorganisms that represent a valuable source of new biomolecules of biotechnological interest. In particular, enzymes from marine bacteria exhibit unique properties due to their high catalytic activity under various stressful and fluctuating conditions, such as temperature, pH, and salinity, fluctuations which are common during several industrial processes. In this study, we report a new esterase (EstGoM) from a marine Pseudomonas sp. isolated at a depth of 1000 m in the Gulf of Mexico. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that EstGoM is an autotransporter esterase (type Va) and belongs to the lipolytic family II, forming a new subgroup. The purified recombinant EstGoM, with a molecular mass of 67.4 kDa, showed the highest hydrolytic activity with p-nitrophenyl octanoate (p-NP C8), although it was also active against p-NP C4, C5, C10, and C12. The optimum pH and temperature for EstGoM were 9 and 60 °C, respectively, but it retained more than 50% of its activity over the pH range of 7-11 and temperature range of 10-75 °C. In addition, EstGoM was tolerant of up to 1 M NaCl and resistant to the presence of several metal ions, detergents, and chemical reagents, such as EDTA and β-mercaptoethanol. The enzymatic properties of EstGoM make it a potential candidate for several industrial applications.

The Trimeric Autotransporter Adhesin SadA from Salmonella spp. as a Novel Bacterial Surface Display System

Bacterial surface display platforms have been developed for applications such as vaccine delivery and peptide library screening. The type V secretion system is an attractive anchoring motif for the surface expression of foreign proteins in gram-negative bacteria. SadA belongs to subtype C of the type V secretion system derived from Salmonella spp. and promotes biofilm formation and host cell adherence. The inner membrane lipoprotein SadB is important for SadA translocation. In this study, SadA was used as an anchoring motif to expose heterologous proteins in Salmonella typhimurium using SadB. The ability of SadA to display heterologous proteins on the S. typhimurium surface in the presence of SadB was approximately three-fold higher than that in its absence of SadB. Compared to full-length SadA, truncated SadAs (SadA877 and SadA269) showed similar display capacities when exposing the B-cell epitopes of urease B from Helicobacter pylori (UreB158-172aa and UreB349-363aa). We grafted different protein domains, including mScarlet (red fluorescent protein), the urease B fragment (UreBm) from H. pylori SS1, and/or protective antigen domain 4 from Bacillus anthracis A16R (PAD4), onto SadA877 or SadA1292. Whole-cell dot blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometric analyses confirmed the localization of Flag×3-mScarlet (~30 kDa) and Flag×3-UreBm-mScarlet (~58 kDa) to the S. typhimurium surface using truncated SadA877 or SadA1292 as an anchoring motif. However, Flag×3-UreBm-PAD4-mScarlet (~75 kDa) was displayed on S. typhimurium using SadA1292. The oral administrated pSadBA1292-FUM/StmΔygeAΔmurI and pSadBA877-FUM/StmΔygeAΔmurI could elicit a significant mucosal and humoral immunity response. SadA could thus be used as an anchoring motif for the surface expression of large heterologous proteins as a potential strategy for attenuated bacterial vaccine development.

Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine Platforms

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spontaneously released by many gram-negative bacteria during their growth and constitute an important virulence factor for bacteria, helping them to survive through harsh environmental conditions. Native OMVs, naturally-released from bacteria, are produced at a level too low for vaccine manufacturing, requiring chemical treatment (detergent-extracted) or genetic manipulation, resulting in generalized modules for membrane antigens (GMMAs). Over the years, the nature and properties of OMVs have made them a viable platform for vaccine development. There are a few licensed OMV vaccines mainly for the prevention of meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). There are several candidates in clinical development against other gram-negative organisms from which the OMVs are derived, but also against heterologous targets in which the OMVs are used as carriers (e.g. coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). The use of OMVs for targets other than those from which they are derived is a major advancement in OMV technology, improving its versatility by being able to deliver protein or polysaccharide antigens. Other advances include the range of genetic modifications that can be made to improve their safety, reduce reactogenicity, and increase immunogenicity and protective efficacy. However, significant challenges remain, such as identification of general tools for high-content surface expression of heterologous proteins on the OMV surface. Here, we outline the progress of OMV vaccines to date, particularly discussing licensed OMV-based vaccines and candidates in clinical development. Recent trends in preclinical research are described, mainly focused on genetic manipulation and chemical conjugation for the use of OMVs as carriers for heterologous protein and polysaccharide antigens. Remaining challenges with the use of OMVs and directions for future research are also discussed.

Molecular imaging of bacterial outer membrane vesicles based on bacterial surface display

The important roles of bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in various diseases and their emergence as a promising platform for vaccine development and targeted drug delivery necessitates the development of imaging techniques suitable for quantifying their biodistribution with high precision. To address this requirement, we aimed to develop an OMV specific radiolabeling technique for positron emission tomography (PET). A novel bacterial strain (E. coli BL21(DE3) ΔnlpI, ΔlpxM) was created for efficient OMV production, and OMVs were characterized using various methods. SpyCatcher was anchored to the OMV outer membrane using autotransporter-based surface display systems. Synthetic SpyTag-NODAGA conjugates were tested for OMV surface binding and 64Cu labeling efficiency. The final labeling protocol shows a radiochemical purity of 100% with a ~ 29% radiolabeling efficiency and excellent serum stability. The in vivo biodistribution of OMVs labeled with 64Cu was determined in mice using PET/MRI imaging which revealed that the biodistribution of radiolabeled OMVs in mice is characteristic of previously reported data with the highest organ uptakes corresponding to the liver and spleen 3, 6, and 12 h following intravenous administration. This novel method can serve as a basis for a general OMV radiolabeling scheme and could be used in vaccine- and drug-carrier development based on bioengineered OMVs.

Antigen Delivery Systems: Past, Present, and Future

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for safe and effective vaccines. Research to develop vaccines against diseases including Middle East respiratory syndrome, Ebolavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, and various cancers would also contribute to global well-being. For successful vaccine development, the advancement of technologies such as antigen (Ag) screening, Ag delivery systems and adjuvants, and manufacturing processes is essential. Ag delivery systems are required not only to deliver a sufficient amount of Ag for vaccination, but also to enhance immune response. In addition, Ag types and their delivery systems determine the manufacturing processes of the vaccine product. Here, we analyze the characteristics of various Ag delivery systems: plasmids, viral vectors, bacterial vectors, nanoparticles, self-assembled particles, natural and artificial cells, and extracellular vesicles. This review provides insight into the current vaccine landscape and highlights promising avenues of research for the development and improvement of Ag delivery systems.

Detoxified synthetic bacterial membrane vesicles as a vaccine platform against bacteria and SARS-CoV-2

The development of vaccines based on outer membrane vesicles (OMV) that naturally bud off from bacteria is an evolving field in infectious diseases. However, the inherent inflammatory nature of OMV limits their use as human vaccines. This study employed an engineered vesicle technology to develop synthetic bacterial vesicles (SyBV) that activate the immune system without the severe immunotoxicity of OMV. SyBV were generated from bacterial membranes through treatment with detergent and ionic stress. SyBV induced less inflammatory responses in macrophages and in mice compared to natural OMV. Immunization with SyBV or OMV induced comparable antigen-specific adaptive immunity. Specifically, immunization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa-derived SyBV protected mice against bacterial challenge, and this was accompanied by significant reduction in lung cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokines. Further, immunization with Escherichia coli-derived SyBV protected mice against E. coli sepsis, comparable to OMV-immunized group. The protective activity of SyBV was driven by the stimulation of B-cell and T-cell immunity. Also, SyBV were engineered to display the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein on their surface, and these vesicles induced specific S1 protein antibody and T-cell responses. Collectively, these results demonstrate that SyBV may be a safe and efficient vaccine platform for the prevention of bacterial and viral infections.

Engineered bacterial membrane vesicles are promising carriers for vaccine design and tumor immunotherapy

Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) have emerged as novel and promising platforms for the development of vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies against infectious and noninfectious diseases. The rich microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and nanoscale membrane vesicle structure of BMVs make them highly immunogenic. In addition, BMVs can be endowed with more functions via genetic and chemical modifications. This article reviews the immunological characteristics and effects of BMVs, techniques for BMV production and modification, and the applications of BMVs as vaccines or vaccine carriers. In summary, given their versatile characteristics and immunomodulatory properties, BMVs can be used for clinical vaccine or immunotherapy applications.

Overproducing the BAM complex improves secretion of difficult-to-secrete recombinant autotransporter chimeras

Monomeric autotransporters have been used extensively to transport recombinant proteins or protein domains to the cell surface of Gram-negative bacteria amongst others for antigen display. Genetic fusion of such antigens into autotransporters has yielded chimeras that can be used for vaccination purposes. However, not every fusion construct is transported efficiently across the cell envelope. Problems occur in particular when the fused antigen attains a relatively complex structure in the periplasm, prior to its translocation across the outer membrane. The latter step requires the interaction with periplasmic chaperones and the BAM (β-barrel assembly machinery) complex in the outer membrane. This complex catalyzes insertion and folding of β-barrel outer membrane proteins, including the β-barrel domain of autotransporters. Here, we investigated whether the availability of periplasmic chaperones or the BAM complex is a limiting factor for the surface localization of difficult-to-secrete chimeric autotransporter constructs. Indeed, we found that overproduction of in particular the BAM complex, increases surface display of difficult-to-secrete chimeras. Importantly, this beneficial effect appeared to be generic not only for a number of monomeric autotransporter fusions but also for fusions to trimeric autotransporters. Therefore, overproduction of BAM might be an attractive strategy to improve the production of recombinant autotransporter constructs.

Pan-proteome profiling of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi for getting insight into microbial pathogenesis

With the occurrence and evolution of antibiotic and multidrug resistance in bacteria most of the existing remedies are becoming ineffective. The pan-proteome exploration of the bacterial pathogens helps to identify the wide spectrum therapeutic targets which will be effective against all strains in a species. The current study is focused on the pan-proteome profiling of zoonotic pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ott) for the identification of potential therapeutic targets. The pan-proteome of Ott is estimated to be extensive in nature that has 1429 protein clusters, out of which 694 were core, 391 were accessory, and 344 were unique. It was revealed that 622 proteins were essential, 222 proteins were virulent factors, and 42 proteins were involved in antibiotic resistance. The potential therapeutic targets were further classified into eleven broad classes among which gene expression and regulation, transport, and metabolism were dominant. The biological interactome analysis of therapeutic targets revealed that an ample amount of interactions were present among the proteins involved in DNA replication, ribosome assembly, cellwall metabolism, cell division, and antimicrobial resistance. The predicted therapeutic targets from the pan-proteome of Ott are involved in various biological processes, virulence, and antibiotic resistance; hence envisioned as potential candidates for drug discovery to combat scrub typhus.

Surface Labeling with Adhesion Protein FimH Improves Binding of Immunotherapeutic Agent Salmonella Ty21a to the Bladder Epithelium

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer in men. 70% of these tumors are classified as non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and those patients receive 6 intravesical instillations with Mycobacterium bovis BCG after transurethral resection. However, 30% of patients show recurrences after treatment and experience severe side effects that often lead to therapy discontinuation. Recently, another vaccine strain, Salmonella enterica typhi Ty21a, demonstrated promising antitumor activity in vivo. Here we focus on increasing bacterial retention in the bladder in order to reduce the number of instillations required and improve antitumor activity.

OBJECTIVE

To increase the binding of Ty21a to the bladder wall by surface labeling of the bacteria with adhesion protein FimH and to study its effect in a bladder cancer mouse model.

METHODS

Binding of Ty21a with surface-labeled FimH to the bladder wall was analyzed in vitro and in vivo. The antitumor effect of a single instillation of Ty21a+FimH in treatment was determined in a survival experiment.

RESULTS

FimH-labeled Ty21a showed significant (p < 0.0001) improved binding to mouse and human cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, FimH labeled bacteria showed ∼5x more binding to the bladder than controls in vivo. Enhanced binding to the bladder via FimH labeling induced a modest improvement in median but not in overall mice survival.

CONCLUSIONS

FimH labeling of Ty21a significantly improved binding to bladder tumor cells in vitro and the bladder wall in vivo. The improved binding leads to a modest increase in median survival in a single bladder cancer mouse study.

Outer Membrane Vesicle Induction and Isolation for Vaccine Development

Gram-negative bacteria release vesicular structures from their outer membrane, so called outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). OMVs have a variety of functions such as waste disposal, communication, and antigen or toxin delivery. These vesicles are the promising structures for vaccine development since OMVs carry many surface antigens that are identical to the bacterial surface. However, isolation is often difficult and results in low yields. Several methods to enhance OMV yield exist, but these do affect the resulting OMVs. In this review, our current knowledge about OMVs will be presented. Different methods to induce OMVs will be reviewed and their advantages and disadvantages will be discussed. The effects of the induction and isolation methods used in several immunological studies on OMVs will be compared. Finally, the challenges for OMV-based vaccine development will be examined and one example of a successful OMV-based vaccine will be presented.

Immunogenicity of trimeric autotransporter adhesins and their potential as vaccine targets

The current problem of increasing antibiotic resistance and the resurgence of numerous infections indicate the need for novel vaccination strategies more than ever. In vaccine development, the search for and the selection of adequate vaccine antigens is the first important step. In recent years, bacterial outer membrane proteins have become of major interest, as they are the main proteins interacting with the extracellular environment. Trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs) are important virulence factors in many Gram-negative bacteria, are localised on the bacterial surface, and mediate the first adherence to host cells in the course of infection. One example is the Neisseria adhesin A (NadA), which is currently used as a subunit in a licensed vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis. Other TAAs that seem promising vaccine candidates are the Acinetobacter trimeric autotransporter (Ata), the Haemophilus influenzae adhesin (Hia), and TAAs of the genus Bartonella. Here, we review the suitability of various TAAs as vaccine candidates.

Combining Protein Ligation Systems to Expand the Functionality of Semi-Synthetic Outer Membrane Vesicle Nanoparticles

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) attract increasing interest as immunostimulatory nanoparticles for the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents. We previously engineered the autotransporter protein Hemoglobin protease (Hbp) into a surface display carrier that can be expressed to high density on the surface of Salmonella OMVs. Moreover, we implemented Tag-Catcher protein ligation technology, to obtain dense display of single heterologous antigens and nanobodies on the OMVs through coupling to the distal end of the Hbp passenger domain. Here, we aimed to further expand the versatility of the Hbp platform by enabling the coupling of heterologous proteins to internal sites of the Hbp passenger. Inserted SpyTags were shown to be accessible at the Salmonella OMV surface and to efficiently couple SpyCatcher-equipped fusion proteins. Next, we combined distally placed SnoopCatcher or SnoopTag sequences with internal SpyTags in a single Hbp molecule. This allowed the coupling of two heterologous proteins to a single Hbp carrier molecule without obvious steric hindrance effects. Since coupling occurs to Hbp that is already exposed on the OMVs, there are no limitations to the size and complexity of the partner proteins. In conclusion, we constructed a versatile modular platform for the development of bivalent recombinant OMV-based vaccines and therapeutics.

Design of Outer Membrane Vesicles as Cancer Vaccines: A New Toolkit for Cancer Therapy

Cancer vaccines have been extensively studied in recent years and have contributed to exceptional achievements in cancer treatment. They are some of the most newly developed vaccines, although only two are currently approved for use, Provenge and Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC). Despite the approval of these two vaccines, most vaccines have been terminated at the clinical trial stage, which indicates that although they are effective in theory, concerns still exist, including low antigenicity of targeting antigens and tumor heterogeneity. In recent years, with new understanding of the biological function and vaccine potential of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), their potential application in cancer vaccine design deserves our attention. Therefore, this review focuses on the mechanisms, advantages, and prospects of OMVs as antigen-carrier vaccines in cancer vaccine development. We believe that OMV-based vaccines present a safe and effective cancer therapeutic option with broad application prospects.

Outer membrane vesicles engineered to express membrane-bound antigen program dendritic cells for cross-presentation to CD8+ T cells

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are vesicular nano-particles produced by Gram-negative bacteria that are recently being explored as vaccine vector. The fact that OMVs can be efficiently produced by a hypervesiculating Salmonella typhimurium strain, are packed with naturally-occurring adjuvants like lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and can be engineered to express any antigen of choice, makes them ideal candidates for vaccinology. However, it is unclear whether OMVs induce dendritic cell (DC)-mediated antigen-specific T cell responses and how immune activation is coordinated. Here, we show that OMVs induce maturation of human monocyte-derived DCs, murine bone marrow-derived DCs and CD11c+ splenic DCs. OMV-induced DC maturation was dependent on the presence of LPS and the myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) adapter protein downstream of toll-like receptor signaling. Importantly, OMVs did not induce pyroptosis/cell death, but instead provided a significant survival benefit in DCs over non-stimulated DCs. OMVs displaying a sizeable ovalbumin fragment at the vesicle surface induce potent cross-presentation in BMDCs and splenic CD11c⁺ DCs to OTI CD8⁺ T cells, dependent on MyD88. Interestingly, the OMV-induced preference to cross-presentation was only partly dependent on the BATF3-dependent CD8a⁺ professional cross-presenting DC subset. Hence, an OMV-specific programming of DCs that induces maturation and provides a survival benefit for antigen presentation to T cells is identified. Additionally, for the first time, antigen-specific and potent cross-presentation of antigen-loaded OMVs to CD8⁺ T cells is demonstrated. These data provide mechanistical insight into the processes needed for the DC-mediated cross-presentation of OMV-derived antigens to CD8⁺ T cells with implications for therapeutic strategies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bacteria are primarily known to cause disease. However, recent research has focused on using engineered bacteria and its byproducts as vaccine agents. In particular, outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) have shown promise in eliciting potent immunity against a variety of pathogens. While most vaccines rely on the generation of antibodies, the control of viral replication and tumor growth is driven by cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells induced by dendritic cells (DCs). As such, there is a dire need for vaccines that use DCs to elicit CD8⁺ T cell responses. Studying OMVs as engineered biomaterial and its interaction with DCs allows tailored induction of immunity. This study includes important findings on OMV-dendritic cell interactions and for the first time supports OMVs as vehicles for the induction of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses. Additionally, important mechanistical insight into the molecular pathways needed for the cross-presentation of OMV-derived antigens to CD8⁺ T cells is provided.

Novel approaches for the design, delivery and administration of vaccine technologies

It is easy to argue that vaccine development represents humankind's most important and successful endeavour, such is the impact that vaccination has had on human morbidity and mortality over the last 200 years. During this time the original method of Jenner and Pasteur, i.e. that of injecting live-attenuated or inactivated pathogens, has been developed and supplemented with a wide range of alternative approaches which are now in clinical use or under development. These next-generation technologies have been designed to produce a vaccine that has the effectiveness of the original live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines, but without the associated risks and limitations. Indeed, the method of development has undoubtedly moved away from Pasteur's three Is paradigm (isolate, inactivate, inject) towards an approach of rational design, made possible by improved knowledge of the pathogen-host interaction and the mechanisms of the immune system. These novel vaccines have explored methods for targeted delivery of antigenic material, as well as for the control of release profiles, so that dosing regimens can be matched to the time-lines of immune system stimulation and the realities of health-care delivery in dispersed populations. The methods by which vaccines are administered are also the subject of intense research in the hope that needle and syringe dosing, with all its associated issues regarding risk of injury, cross-infection and patient compliance, can be replaced. This review provides a detailed overview of new vaccine vectors as well as information pertaining to the novel delivery platforms under development.

Application of built-in adjuvants for epitope-based vaccines

Several studies have shown that epitope vaccines exhibit substantial advantages over conventional vaccines. However, epitope vaccines are associated with limited immunity, which can be overcome by conjugating antigenic epitopes with built-in adjuvants (e.g., some carrier proteins or new biomaterials) with special properties, including immunologic specificity, good biosecurity and biocompatibility, and the ability to vastly improve the immune response of epitope vaccines. When designing epitope vaccines, the following types of built-in adjuvants are typically considered: (1) pattern recognition receptor ligands (i.e., toll-like receptors); (2) virus-like particle carrier platforms; (3) bacterial toxin proteins; and (4) novel potential delivery systems (e.g., self-assembled peptide nanoparticles, lipid core peptides, and polymeric or inorganic nanoparticles). This review primarily discusses the current and prospective applications of these built-in adjuvants (i.e., biological carriers) to provide some references for the future design of epitope-based vaccines.

Metabolic engineering of lipid pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and staged bioprocess for enhanced lipid production and cellular physiology

Microbially produced lipids have attracted attention for their environmental benefits and commercial value. We have combined lipid pathway engineering in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast with bioprocess design to improve productivity and explore barriers to enhanced lipid production. Initially, individual gene expression was tested for impact on yeast growth and lipid production. Then, two base strains were prepared for enhanced lipid accumulation and stabilization steps by combining DGAT1, ΔTgl3 with or without Atclo1, which increased lipid content ~ 1.8-fold but reduced cell viability. Next, fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis genes Ald6-SEACS^L641P alone or with ACC1** were co-expressed in base strains, which significantly improved lipid content (8.0% DCW, 2.6-fold than control), but severely reduced yeast growth and cell viability. Finally, a designed two-stage process convincingly ameliorated the negative effects, resulting in normal cell growth, very high lipid productivity (307 mg/L, 4.6-fold above control) and improved cell viability.

Immunization With Skp Delivered on Outer Membrane Vesicles Protects Mice Against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Challenge

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are promising vaccine components because they combine antigen and adjuvant in a single formulation. Detoxified Salmonella enterica strains that express penta-acylated lipid A retain OMV immunogenicity but with reduced reactogenicity. We have previously shown that a recombinant form of the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) 17 kilodalton protein (Skp) protects mice in a pulmonary challenge model, when fused to the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) epitope and combined with cholera toxin. Here we compared directly the efficacy of expressing Skp in detoxified Salmonella OMVs to GST-Skp for their ability to protect mice against ETEC challenge. We observed that the display of Skp on OMVs, in the absence of exogenous adjuvant, protects the mice as well as the recombinant GST-Skp with adjuvant, showing that we can achieve protection when antigen and adjuvant are administered as a single formulation. Collectively, these data demonstrate the utility of using OMVs for the expression and display of antigens for use in vaccine development and validate previously published work demonstrating that immunization with Skp is efficacious in protecting mice against ETEC challenge.

Display of Recombinant Proteins on Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles by Using Protein Ligation

The Escherichia coli virulence factor hemoglobin protease (Hbp) has been engineered into a surface display system that can be expressed to high density on live E. coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium cells or derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Multiple antigenic sequences can be genetically fused into the Hbp core structure for optimal exposure to the immune system. Although the Hbp display platform is relatively tolerant, increasing the number, size, and complexity of integrated sequences generally lowers the expression of the fused constructs and limits the density of display. This is due to the intricate mechanism of Hbp secretion across the outer membrane and the efficient quality control of translocation-incompetent chimeric Hbp molecules in the periplasm. To address this shortcoming, we explored the coupling of purified proteins to the Hbp carrier after its translocation across the outer membrane using the recently developed SpyTag/SpyCatcher protein ligation system. As expected, fusion of the small SpyTag to Hbp did not hamper display on OMVs. Subsequent addition of purified proteins fused to the SpyCatcher domain resulted in efficient covalent coupling to Hbp-SpyTag. Using in addition the orthogonal SnoopTag/SnoopCatcher system, multiple antigen modules could be coupled to Hbp in a sequential ligation strategy. Not only antigens proved suitable for Spy-mediated ligation but also nanobodies. Addition of this functionality to the platform might allow the targeting of live bacterial or OMV vaccines to certain tissues or immune cells to tailor immune responses.IMPORTANCE Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from Gram-negative bacteria attract increasing interest in the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents. We aim to construct a semisynthetic OMV platform for recombinant antigen presentation on OMVs derived from attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium cells displaying an adapted Escherichia coli autotransporter, Hbp, at the surface. Although this autotransporter accepts substantial modifications, its capacity with respect to the number, size, and structural complexity of the antigens genetically fused to the Hbp carrier is restricted. Here we describe the application of SpyCatcher/SpyTag protein ligation technology to enzymatically link antigens to Hbp present at high density in OMVs. Protein ligation was apparently unobstructed by the membrane environment and allowed a high surface density of coupled antigens, a property we have shown to be important for vaccine efficacy. The OMV coupling procedure appears versatile and robust, allowing fast production of experimental vaccines and therapeutic agents through a modular plug-and-display procedure.

Comparing autotransporter β-domain configurations for their capacity to secrete heterologous proteins to the cell surface

Monomeric autotransporters have been extensively used for export of recombinant proteins to the cell surface of Gram-negative bacteria. A bottleneck in the biosynthesis of such constructs is the passage of the outer membrane, which is facilitated by the β-domain at the C terminus of an autotransporter in conjunction with the Bam complex in the outer membrane. We have evaluated eight β-domain constructs for their capacity to secrete fused proteins to the cell surface. These constructs derive from the monomeric autotransporters Hbp, IgA protease, Ag43 and EstA and the trimeric autotransporter Hia, which all were selected because they have been previously used for secretion of recombinant proteins. We fused three different protein domains to the eight β-domain constructs, being a Myc-tag, the Hbp passenger and a nanobody or V_HH domain, and assessed expression, membrane insertion and surface exposure. Our results show that expression levels differed considerably between the constructs tested. The constructs that included the β-domains of Hbp and IgA protease appeared the most efficient and resulted in expression levels that were detectable on Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE gels. The V_HH domain appeared the most difficult fusion partner to export, probably due to its complex immunoglobulin-like structure with a tertiary structure stabilized by an intramolecular disulfide bond. Overall, the Hbp β-domain compared favorably in exporting the fused recombinant proteins, because it showed in every instance tested a good level of expression, stable membrane insertion and clear surface exposure.

Antigen Localization Influences the Magnitude and Kinetics of Endogenous Adaptive Immune Response to Recombinant Salmonella Vaccines

The use of recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccine (RASV) strains is a promising strategy for presenting heterologous antigens to the mammalian immune system to induce both cellular and humoral immune responses. However, studies on RASV development differ on where heterologous antigens are expressed and localized within the bacterium, and it is unclear how antigen localization modulates the immune response. Previously, we exploited the plasmid-encoded toxin (Pet) autotransporter system for accumulation of heterologous antigens in cell culture supernatant. In the present study, this Pet system was used to express early secretory antigen 6 (ESAT-6), an immunodominant and diagnostic antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain SL3261. Three strains were generated, whereby ESAT-6 was expressed as a cytoplasmic (SL3261/cyto), surface-bound (SL3261/surf), or secreted (SL3261/sec) antigen. Using these RASVs, the relationship between antigen localization and immunogenicity in infected C57BL/6 mice was systematically examined. Using purified antigen and specific tetramers, we showed that mice infected with the SL3261/surf or SL3261/sec strain generated large numbers of Th1 CD4⁺ ESAT-6⁺ splenic T cells compared to those of mice infected with SL3261/cyto. While all mice showed ESAT-6-specific antibody responses when infected with SL3261/surf or SL3261/sec, peak total serum IgG antibody titers were reached more rapidly in mice that received SL3261/sec. Thus, how antigen is localized after production within bacteria has a more marked effect on the antibody response than on the CD4⁺ T cell response, which might influence the chosen strategy to localize recombinant antigen in RASVs.

Designer outer membrane vesicles as immunomodulatory systems - Reprogramming bacteria for vaccine delivery

Vaccines often require adjuvants to be effective. Traditional adjuvants, like alum, activate the immune response but in an uncontrolled way. Newer adjuvants help to direct the immune response in a more coordinated fashion. Here, we review the opportunity to use the outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of bacteria as a way to modulate the immune response toward making more effective vaccines. This review outlines the different types of OMVs that have been investigated for vaccine delivery and how they are produced. Because OMVs are derived from bacteria, they have compositions that may not be compatible with parenteral delivery in humans; therefore, we also review the strategies brought to bear to detoxify OMVs while maintaining an adjuvant profile. OMV-based vaccines can be derived from the pathogens themselves, or can be used as surrogate constructs to mimic a pathogen through the heterologous expression of specific antigens in a desired host source strain, and approaches to doing so are reviewed. Additionally, the emerging area of engineered pathogen-specific carbohydrate sequences, or glycosylated OMVs is reviewed and contrasted with protein antigen delivery. Existing OMV-based vaccines as well as their routes of administration round out the text. Overall, this is an exciting time in the OMV field as it matures and leads to more effective and targeted ways to induce desired pathogen-specific immune responses.

Bioengineering bacterial outer membrane vesicles as vaccine platform

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are naturally non-replicating, highly immunogenic spherical nanoparticles derived from Gram-negative bacteria. OMVs from pathogenic bacteria have been successfully used as vaccines against bacterial meningitis and sepsis among others and the composition of the vesicles can easily be engineered. OMVs can be used as a vaccine platform by engineering heterologous antigens to the vesicles. The major advantages of adding heterologous proteins to the OMV are that the antigens retain their native conformation, the ability of targeting specific immune responses, and a single production process suffices for many vaccines. Several promising vaccine platform concepts have been engineered based on decorating OMVs with heterologous antigens. This review discusses these vaccine concepts and reviews design considerations as the antigen location, the adjuvant function, physiochemical properties, and the immune response.

Biobased production of alkanes and alkenes through metabolic engineering of microorganisms

Advancement in metabolic engineering of microorganisms has enabled bio-based production of a range of chemicals, and such engineered microorganism can be used for sustainable production leading to reduced carbon dioxide emission there. One area that has attained much interest is microbial hydrocarbon biosynthesis, and in particular, alkanes and alkenes are important high-value chemicals as they can be utilized for a broad range of industrial purposes as well as ‘drop-in’ biofuels. Some microorganisms have the ability to biosynthesize alkanes and alkenes naturally, but their production level is extremely low. Therefore, there have been various attempts to recruit other microbial cell factories for production of alkanes and alkenes by applying metabolic engineering strategies. Here we review different pathways and involved enzymes for alkane and alkene production and discuss bottlenecks and possible solutions to accomplish industrial level production of these chemicals by microbial fermentation.

Surface display of a borrelial lipoprotein on meningococcal outer membrane vesicles

Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) are gaining attention as vaccine candidates. The successful expression of heterologous antigens in OMVs, with the OMV functioning both as adjuvant and delivery vehicle, has greatly enhanced their vaccine potential. Since there are indications that surface exposed antigens might induce a superior immune response, targeting of heterologous antigens to the OMV surface is of special interest. Several systems for surface display of heterologous antigens on OMVs have been developed. However, these systems have not been used to display lipidated membrane-associated proteins known as lipoproteins, which are emerging as key targets for protective immunity. We were therefore interested to see whether we could express a foreign lipoprotein on the outer surface of OMVs. When outer surface protein A (OspA), a borrelial surface-exposed lipoprotein, was expressed in meningococci, it was found that although OspA was present in OMVs, it was no longer surface-exposed. Therefore, a set of fusions of OspA to different regions of factor H binding protein (fHbp), a meningococcal surface-exposed lipoprotein, were designed and tested for their surface-exposure. An N-terminal part of fHbp was found to be necessary for the successful surface display of OspA on meningococcal OMVs. When mice were immunized with this set of OMVs, an OspA-specific antibody response was only elicited by OMVs with clearly surface-exposed OspA, strengthening the idea that the exact positioning of an antigen in the OMV affects the immune response. This method for the surface display of heterologous lipoproteins on OMVs is a step forward in the development of OMVs as a vaccine platform.

Extracellular protease digestion to evaluate membrane protein cell surface localization

Membrane proteins have crucial roles in signaling and as anchors for cell surface display. Proper secretion of a membrane protein can be evaluated by its susceptibility to digestion by an extracellular protease, but this requires a crucial control to confirm membrane integrity during digestion. This protocol describes how to use this approach to determine how efficiently a protein is secreted to the outer surface of Gram-negative bacteria. Its success relies upon careful selection of an appropriate intracellular reporter protein that will remain undigested if the membrane barrier remains intact, but that is rapidly digested when cells are lysed before evaluation. Reporter proteins that are resistant to proteases (e.g., maltose-binding protein) do not return accurate results; in contrast, proteins that are more readily digested (e.g., SurA) serve as more sensitive reporters of membrane integrity, yielding more accurate measurements of membrane protein localization. Similar considerations apply when evaluating membrane protein localization in other contexts, including eukaryotic cells and organelle membranes. Evaluating membrane protein localization using this approach requires only standard biochemistry laboratory equipment for cell lysis, gel electrophoresis and western blotting. After expression of the protein of interest, this procedure can be completed in 4 h.

Outer membrane vesicles as platform vaccine technology

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are released spontaneously during growth by many Gram-negative bacteria. They present a range of surface antigens in a native conformation and have natural properties like immunogenicity, self-adjuvation and uptake by immune cells which make them attractive for application as vaccines against pathogenic bacteria. In particular with Neisseria meningitidis, they have been investigated extensively and an OMV-containing meningococcal vaccine has recently been approved by regulatory agencies. Genetic engineering of the OMV-producing bacteria can be used to improve and expand their usefulness as vaccines. Recent work on meningitis B vaccines shows that OMVs can be modified, such as for lipopolysaccharide reactogenicity, to yield an OMV product that is safe and effective. The overexpression of crucial antigens or simultaneous expression of multiple antigenic variants as well as the expression of heterologous antigens enable expansion of their range of applications. In addition, modifications may increase the yield of OMV production and can be combined with specific production processes to obtain high amounts of well-defined, stable and uniform OMV particle vaccine products. Further improvement can facilitate the development of OMVs as platform vaccine product for multiple applications.

New findings on the function and potential applications of the trimeric autotransporter adhesin

Trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs) are located on the surface of many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. TAAs belong to the autotransporter protein family and consist of three identical monomers. These obligate homotrimeric proteins are secreted through the bacterial type Vc secretion system and share a common molecular organization that each monomer consists of a N-terminal "passenger" domain and a C-terminal translocation domain. TAAs are important virulence factors that are involved in bacterial life cycle and participate in mediating infection, invasion, dissemination and evasion of host immune responses. TAAs have also proved to be useful for many applications, such as vaccines and disease biomarkers. We here mainly focused on new findings on bio-function and application of TAAs in addition to their common structure and secretion mechanisms.

Looks can be deceiving: recent insights into the mechanism of protein secretion by the autotransporter pathway

Autotransporters are a large superfamily of cell surface proteins produced by Gram-negative bacteria that consist of an N-terminal extracellular domain ('passenger domain') and a C-terminal β-barrel domain that resides in the outer membrane (OM). Although it was originally proposed that the passenger domain is translocated across the OM through a channel formed exclusively by the covalently linked β-barrel domain, this idea has been strongly challenged by a variety of observations. Recent experimental results have suggested a new model in which both the translocation of the passenger domain and the membrane integration of the β-barrel domain are facilitated by the Bam complex, a highly conserved heteroligomer that plays a general role in OM protein assembly. Other factors, including periplasmic chaperones and inner membrane proteins, have also recently been implicated in the biogenesis of at least some members of the autotransporter superfamily. New results have raised intriguing questions about the energetics of the secretion reaction and the relationship between the assembly of autotransporters and the assembly of other classes of OM proteins. Concomitantly, new mechanistic and structural insights have expanded the utility of the autotransporter pathway for the surface display of heterologous peptides and proteins of interest.