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Richardson S, Medhavi F, Tanner T, Lundy S, Omosun Y, Igietseme JU, Carroll D, Eko FO. Cellular Basis for the Enhanced Efficacy of the Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Ligand (FL) Adjuvanted VCG-Based Chlamydia abortus Vaccine. Front Immunol 2021; 12:698737. [PMID: 34249004 PMCID: PMC8264281 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.698737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficacious vaccines are needed to control genital chlamydial diseases in humans and the veterinary industry. We previously reported a C. abortus (Cab) vaccine comprising recombinant Vibrio cholerae ghosts (rVCG) expressing the conserved and immunogenic N-terminal region of the Cab polymorphic membrane protein D (rVCG-Pmp18.1) protein that protected mice against intravaginal challenge. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effect of the hematopoietic progenitor activator cytokine, Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3-ligand (FL) when co-administered with the rVCG-Pmp18.1 vaccine as a strategy to enhance the protective efficacy and the potential mechanism of immunomodulation. Groups of female C57BL/6J mice were immunized and boosted twice intranasally (IN) with rVCG-PmpD18.1 with and without FL or purified rPmp18.1 or rVCG-gD2 (antigen control) or PBS (medium) per mouse. The results revealed that co-administration of the vaccine with FL enhanced antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses and protected against live Cab genital infection. Comparative analysis of immune cell phenotypes infiltrating mucosal and systemic immune inductive tissue sites following immunization revealed that co-administration of rVCG-Pmp18.1 with FL significantly enhanced the number of macrophages, dendritic and NK cells, γδ and NK T cells in the spleen (systemic) and iliac lymph nodes (ILN) draining the genital tract (mucosal) tissues compared to rVCG-Pmp18.1 alone. Furthermore, FL enhanced monocyte infiltration in the ILN, while CD19+ B cells and CD4+ T cells were enhanced in the spleen. These results indicate that the immunomodulatory effect of FL is associated with its ability to mobilize innate immune cells and subsequent activation of robust antigen-specific immune effectors in mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakyra Richardson
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Fnu Medhavi
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tayhlor Tanner
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Stephanie Lundy
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yusuf Omosun
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph U. Igietseme
- National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Darin Carroll
- National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Francis O. Eko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Proteomic characterisation of the Chlamydia abortus outer membrane complex (COMC) using combined rapid monolithic column liquid chromatography and fast MS/MS scanning. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224070. [PMID: 31647835 PMCID: PMC6812762 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Data are presented on the identification and partial characterisation of proteins comprising the chlamydial outer membrane complex (COMC) fraction of Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus)—the aetiological agent of ovine enzootic abortion. Inoculation with the COMC fraction is known to be highly effective in protecting sheep against experimental challenge and its constituent proteins are therefore of interest as potential vaccine candidates. Sodium N-lauroylsarcosine (sarkosyl) insoluble COMC proteins resolved by SDS-PAGE were interrogated by mass spectrometry using combined rapid monolithic column liquid chromatography and fast MS/MS scanning. Downstream database mining of processed tandem MS data revealed the presence of 67 proteins in total, including putative membrane associated proteins (n = 36), such as porins, polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps), chaperonins and hypothetical membrane proteins, in addition to others (n = 22) that appear more likely to have originated from other subcellular compartments. Electrophoretic mobility data combined with detailed amino acid sequence information derived from secondary fragmentation spectra for 8 Pmps enabled peptides originating from protein cleavage fragments to be mapped to corresponding regions of parent precursor molecules yielding preliminary evidence in support of endogenous post-translational processing of outer membrane proteins in C. abortus. The data presented here will facilitate a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of C. abortus infection and represent an important step towards the elucidation of the mechanisms of immunoprotection against C. abortus infection and the identification of potential target vaccine candidate antigens.
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The Chlamydia trachomatis PmpD adhesin forms higher order structures through disulphide-mediated covalent interactions. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198662. [PMID: 29912892 PMCID: PMC6005502 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen, and the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide. We have recently shown that immunization with the highly conserved antigenic passenger domain of recombinant Ct polymorphic membrane protein D (rPmpD) is protective in the mouse model of Ct genital tract infection, and previously, that ocular anti-rPmpD antibodies are elicited following vaccination. However, the mechanisms governing the assembly and structure-function relationship of PmpD are unknown. Here, we provide a biophysical analysis of this immunogenic 65 kDa passenger domain fragment of PmpD. Using differential cysteine labeling coupled with LC-MS/MS analysis, we show that widespread intra- and intermolecular disulphide interactions play important roles in the preservation of native monomeric secondary structure and the formation of higher-order oligomers. While it has been proposed that FxxN and GGA(I, L,V) repeat motifs in the Pmp21 ortholog in Chlamydia pneumoniae mediate self-interaction, no such role has previously been identified for cysteine residues in chlamydial Pmps. Further characterisation reveals that oligomeric proteoforms and rPmpD monomers adopt β-sheet folds, consistent with previously described Gram-negative bacterial type V secretion systems (T5SSs). We also highlight adhesin-like properties of rPmpD, showing that both soluble rPmpD and anti-rPmpD serum from immunized mice abrogate binding of rPmpD-coated beads to mammalian cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Hence, our study provides further evidence that chlamydial Pmps may function as adhesins, while elucidating yet another important mechanism of self-association of bacterial T5SS virulence factors that may be unique to the Chlamydiaceae.
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Berry IJ, Jarocki VM, Tacchi JL, Raymond BBA, Widjaja M, Padula MP, Djordjevic SP. N-terminomics identifies widespread endoproteolysis and novel methionine excision in a genome-reduced bacterial pathogen. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11063. [PMID: 28894154 PMCID: PMC5593965 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11296-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolytic processing alters protein function. Here we present the first systems-wide analysis of endoproteolysis in the genome-reduced pathogen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. 669 N-terminal peptides from 164 proteins were identified, demonstrating that functionally diverse proteins are processed, more than half of which 75 (53%) were accessible on the cell surface. Multiple cleavage sites were characterised, but cleavage with arginine in P1 predominated. Putative functions for a subset of cleaved fragments were assigned by affinity chromatography using heparin, actin, plasminogen and fibronectin as bait. Binding affinity was correlated with the number of cleavages in a protein, indicating that novel binding motifs are exposed, and protein disorder increases, after a cleavage event. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase was used as a model protein to demonstrate this. We define the rules governing methionine excision, show that several aminopeptidases are involved, and propose that through processing, genome-reduced organisms can expand protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain J Berry
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.,Proteomics Core Facility, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Veronica M Jarocki
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.,Proteomics Core Facility, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Jessica L Tacchi
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.,Proteomics Core Facility, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Benjamin B A Raymond
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.,Proteomics Core Facility, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Michael Widjaja
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.,Proteomics Core Facility, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Matthew P Padula
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.,Proteomics Core Facility, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Steven P Djordjevic
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia. .,Proteomics Core Facility, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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5
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Van Lent S, De Vos WH, Huot Creasy H, Marques PX, Ravel J, Vanrompay D, Bavoil P, Hsia RC. Analysis of Polymorphic Membrane Protein Expression in Cultured Cells Identifies PmpA and PmpH of Chlamydia psittaci as Candidate Factors in Pathogenesis and Immunity to Infection. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162392. [PMID: 27631978 PMCID: PMC5025070 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The polymorphic membrane protein (Pmp) paralogous families of Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia abortus are putative targets for Chlamydia vaccine development. To determine whether this is also the case for Pmp family members of C. psittaci, we analyzed transcription levels, protein production and localization of several Pmps of C. psittaci. Pmp expression profiles were characterized using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), immunofluorescence (IF) and immuno-electron microscopy (IEM) under normal and stress conditions. We found that PmpA was highly produced in all inclusions as early as 12 hpi in all biological replicates. In addition, PmpA and PmpH appeared to be unusually accessible to antibody as determined by both immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy. Our results suggest an important role for these Pmps in the pathogenesis of C. psittaci, and make them promising candidates in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Van Lent
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Winnok H. De Vos
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Heather Huot Creasy
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of America
| | - Patricia X. Marques
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of America
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of America
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrik Bavoil
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of America
| | - Ru-ching Hsia
- University of Maryland, Baltimore, Electron Microscopy Core Imaging Facility, Maryland, Unites States of America
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Van Lent S, Creasy HH, Myers GS, Vanrompay D. The Number, Organization, and Size of Polymorphic Membrane Protein Coding Sequences as well as the Most Conserved Pmp Protein Differ within and across Chlamydia Species. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 26:333-44. [DOI: 10.1159/000447092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation is a central trait of the polymorphic membrane protein (Pmp) family. The number of <i>pmp</i> coding sequences differs between <i>Chlamydia</i> species, but it is unknown whether the number of <i>pmp</i> coding sequences is constant within a <i>Chlamydia</i> species. The level of conservation of the Pmp proteins has previously only been determined for <i>Chlamydia trachomatis.</i> As different Pmp proteins might be indispensible for the pathogenesis of different <i>Chlamydia </i>species, this study investigated the conservation of Pmp proteins both within and across <i>C. trachomatis,</i><i>C. pneumoniae,</i><i>C. abortus,</i> and <i>C. psittaci.</i> The <i>pmp</i> coding sequences were annotated in 16 <i>C. trachomatis,</i> 6 <i>C. pneumoniae,</i> 2 <i>C. abortus,</i> and 16 <i>C. psittaci</i> genomes. The number and organization of polymorphic membrane coding sequences differed within and across the analyzed <i>Chlamydia </i>species. The length of coding sequences of <i>pmpA,</i><i>pmpB,</i> and <i>pmpH</i> was conserved among all analyzed genomes, while the length of <i>pmpE/F</i> and <i>pmpG,</i> and remarkably also of the subtype <i>pmpD,</i> differed among the analyzed genomes. PmpD, PmpA, PmpH, and PmpA were the most conserved Pmp in <i>C. trachomatis,</i><i>C. pneumoniae,</i><i>C. abortus,</i> and <i>C. psittaci</i>, respectively. PmpB was the most conserved Pmp across the 4 analyzed <i>Chlamydia</i> species.
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7
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Berry IJ, Steele JR, Padula MP, Djordjevic SP. The application of terminomics for the identification of protein start sites and proteoforms in bacteria. Proteomics 2015; 16:257-72. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201500319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Iain J. Berry
- The ithree Institute; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW Australia
- Proteomics Core Facility; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW Australia
| | - Joel R. Steele
- Proteomics Core Facility; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW Australia
| | - Matthew P. Padula
- The ithree Institute; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW Australia
- Proteomics Core Facility; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW Australia
| | - Steven P. Djordjevic
- The ithree Institute; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW Australia
- Proteomics Core Facility; University of Technology Sydney; Broadway NSW Australia
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8
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Vasilevsky S, Stojanov M, Greub G, Baud D. Chlamydial polymorphic membrane proteins: regulation, function and potential vaccine candidates. Virulence 2015; 7:11-22. [PMID: 26580416 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1111509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pmps (Polymorphic Membrane Proteins) are a group of membrane bound surface exposed chlamydial proteins that have been characterized as autotransporter adhesins and are important in the initial phase of chlamydial infection. These proteins all contain conserved GGA (I, L, V) and FxxN tetrapeptide motifs in the N-terminal portion of each protein. All chlamydial species express Pmps. Even in the chlamydia-related bacteria Waddlia chondrophila, a Pmp-like adhesin has been identified, demonstrating the importance of Pmps in Chlamydiales biology. Chlamydial species vary in the number of pmp genes and their differentially regulated expression during the infectious cycle or in response to stress. Studies have also demonstrated that Pmps are able to induce innate immune functional responses in infected cells, including production of IL-8, IL-6 and MCP-1, by activating the transcription factor NF-κB. Human serum studies have indicated that although anti-Pmp specific antibodies are produced in response to a chlamydial infection, the response is variable depending on the Pmp protein. In C. trachomatis, PmpB, PmpC, PmpD and PmpI were the proteins eliciting the strongest immune response among adolescents with and without pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In contrast, PmpA and PmpE elicited the weakest antibody response. Interestingly, there seems to be a gender bias for Pmp recognition with a stronger anti-Pmp reactivity in male patients. Furthermore, anti-PmpA antibodies might contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes, at least among women with PID. In vitro studies indicated that dendritic cells infected with C. muridarum were able to present PmpG and PmpF on their MHC class II receptors and T cells were able to recognize the MHC class-II bound peptides. In addition, vaccination with PmpEFGH and Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) significantly protected mice against a genital tract C. muridarum infection, suggesting that Pmps may be an important component of a multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine. Thus, Pmps might be important not only for the pathogenesis of chlamydial infection, but also as potential candidate vaccine proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Vasilevsky
- a Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Maternity; University Hospital ; Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Milos Stojanov
- a Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Maternity; University Hospital ; Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Gilbert Greub
- b Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria; Institute of Microbiology; Faculty of Biology and Medicine; University of Lausanne and University Hospital ; Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - David Baud
- a Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Maternity; University Hospital ; Lausanne , Switzerland
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Construction of Recombinant HVT Expressing PmpD, and Immunological Evaluation against Chlamydia psittaci and Marek's Disease Virus. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124992. [PMID: 25893439 PMCID: PMC4404326 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) is an obligate intracellular zoonotic pathogen that can be transmitted to humans from birds. No efficacious commercial vaccine is available for clearing chlamydial infection due to lack of potential vaccine candidates and effective delivery vehicles. Herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) is an efficacious commercially available vaccine against Marek’s Disease virus (MDV). In this study, a recombinant HVT-delivered vaccine against C. psittaci and Marek’s disease was developed and examined. The 5'-terminus of pmpD gene (pmpD-N) encoding the N-terminal fragment of polymorphic membrane protein D of C. psittaci was inserted into a nonessential region of HVT genome using reverse genetics based on an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone of HVT. The recombinant virus (rHVT-pmpD-N) was recovered from primary chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells by transfection of modified HVT BAC DNA containing the pmpD-N gene. The rHVT-pmpD-N construct was confirmed to express PmpD-N by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. The rHVT-pmpD-N was stable during 20 passages in vitro. The growth kinetics of rHVT-pmpD-N was comparable to that of parental HVT in vitro and in vivo. One-day-old SPF chickens inoculated subcutaneously with rHVT-pmpD-N displayed increased PmpD-specific antibody levels and a vigorous PmpD-specific lymphocyte proliferation response using HVT vector or CEF cells as control. Furthermore, the percentage of CD4+ cells was significantly elevated in rHVT-pmpD-N-immunized birds as compared to the parental HVT. All chickens vaccinated with rHVT-pmpD-N or parental HVT were protected completely against challenge with a very virulent strain of Marek’s Disease virus (MDV) RB-1B. Post challenge with C. psittaci CB7 strain, a significant decrease in respiratory distress, lesions and Chlamydia load was found in the rHVT-pmpD-N-vaccinated group compared to the parental HVT. In conclusion, our study suggests that the rHVT-pmpD-N live vaccine may be viable as a candidate dual vaccine that provides protection against both very virulent MDV and C. psittaci.
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Chlamydia abortus: New Aspects of Infectious Abortion in Sheep and Potential Risk for Pregnant Women. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-015-0014-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Pan Q, Pais R, Ohandjo A, He C, He Q, Omosun Y, Igietseme JU, Eko FO. Comparative evaluation of the protective efficacy of two formulations of a recombinant Chlamydia abortus subunit candidate vaccine in a mouse model. Vaccine 2015; 33:1865-72. [PMID: 25698486 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus) is the causative agent of ovine enzootic abortion (OEA) and poses a zoonotic risk to pregnant women. Current live attenuated 1B vaccines are efficacious but cause disease in vaccinated animals and inactivated vaccines are only marginally protective. We tested the ability of a new C. abortus subunit vaccine candidate based on the conserved and immunogenic polymorphic membrane protein D (Pmp18D) formulated in CpG1826+FL (Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 Ligand; Flt3L) or Vibrio cholerae ghosts (VCG) to induce innate and cross protective immunity against genital C. abortus infection. We found that delivery of rPmp18D with VCG was more effective than with CpG+FL in up-regulating the expression of molecules critically involved in T cell activation and differentiation, including MHC II, CD40, CD80, and CD86, activation of TLRs and NLRP3 inflammasome engagement, and secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α but not IL-10 and IL-4. rVCG-Pmp18D-immunized mice elicited more robust antigen-specific IFN-γ, IgA and IgG2c antibody responses compared to CpG+FL-delivered rPmp18D. Based on the number of mice with positive vaginal cultures, length of vaginal shedding, and number of inclusion forming units recovered following challenge with the heterologous C. abortus strain B577, vaccine delivery with VCG induced superior protective immunity than delivery with a combination of CpG1826 and FL, a nasal DC-targeting adjuvant. These results demonstrate that the ability of VCG to enhance protective immunity against genital C. abortus infection is superior to that of CpG+FL adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Pan
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Roshan Pais
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adaugo Ohandjo
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cheng He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qing He
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yusuf Omosun
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - J U Igietseme
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - F O Eko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Becker E, Hegemann JH. All subtypes of the Pmp adhesin family are implicated in chlamydial virulence and show species-specific function. Microbiologyopen 2014; 3:544-56. [PMID: 24985494 PMCID: PMC4287181 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis and C. pneumoniae are obligate intracellular parasites, cause a number of serious diseases, and can infect various cell types in humans. Chlamydial infections are probably initiated by binding of the bacterial outer membrane protein OmcB to host cell glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Here, we show that all nine members of the polymorphic membrane protein (Pmp) family of C. trachomatis mediate adhesion to human epithelial and endothelial cells. Importantly, exposure of infectious particles to soluble recombinant Pmps blocks subsequent infection, thus implicating an important function of the entire protein family in the infection process. Analogous experiments with pairs of recombinant Pmps or a combination of Pmp and OmcB revealed that all Pmps probably act in an adhesion pathway that is distinct from the OmcB-GAG pathway. Finally, we provide evidence that the Pmps of C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae exhibit species and tissue specificity. These findings argue for the involvement of C. trachomatis Pmps in the initial phase of infection and suggest that they may interact with a receptor other than the epidermal growth factor receptor recently identified for their counterparts in C. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Becker
- Funktionelle Genomforschung der Mikroorganismen, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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13
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Dicker AJ, Inglis NF, Manson EDT, Subhadra S, Illangopathy M, Muthusamy R, Knox DP. Proteomic analysis of Mecistocirrus digitatus and Haemonchus contortus intestinal protein extracts and subsequent efficacy testing in a vaccine trial. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2909. [PMID: 24901227 PMCID: PMC4046941 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal nematode infections, such as Haemonchus contortus and Mecistocirrus digitatus, are ranked in the top twenty diseases affecting small-holder farmers' livestock, yet research into M. digitatus, which infects cattle and buffalo in Asia is limited. Intestine-derived native protein vaccines are effective against Haemonchus, yet the protective efficacy of intestine-derived M. digitatus proteins has yet to be determined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A simplified protein extraction protocol (A) is described and compared to an established method (B) for protein extraction from H. contortus. Proteomic analysis of the H. contortus and M. digitatus protein extracts identified putative vaccine antigens including aminopeptidases (H11), zinc metallopeptidases, glutamate dehydrogenase, and apical gut membrane polyproteins. A vaccine trial compared the ability of the M. digitatus extract and two different H. contortus extracts to protect sheep against H. contortus challenge. Both Haemonchus fractions (A and B) were highly effective, reducing cumulative Faecal Egg Counts (FEC) by 99.19% and 99.89% and total worm burdens by 87.28% and 93.64% respectively, compared to the unvaccinated controls. There was no effect on H. contortus worm burdens following vaccination with the M. digitatus extract and the 28.2% reduction in cumulative FEC was not statistically significant. However, FEC were consistently lower in the M. digitatus extract vaccinates compared to the un-vaccinated controls from 25 days post-infection. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Similar, antigenically cross-reactive proteins are found in H. contortus and M. digitatus; this is the first step towards developing a multivalent native vaccine against Haemonchus species and M. digitatus. The simplified protein extraction method could form the basis for a locally produced vaccine against H. contortus and, possibly M. digitatus, in regions where effective cold chains for vaccine distribution are limited. The application of such a vaccine in these regions would reduce the need for anthelmintic treatment and the resultant selection for anthelmintic resistant parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J. Dicker
- Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Neil F. Inglis
- Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | | | - Subhra Subhadra
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India
| | - Manikkavasagan Illangopathy
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India
| | - Raman Muthusamy
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India
| | - David P. Knox
- Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Midlothian, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Pilloux L, Greub G. ESCMID postgraduate technical workshop on intracellular bacteria: From biology to clinic. Microbes Infect 2014; 16:454-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2014.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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