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Russell FA, Trim L, Bryan E, Fisher MA, Leahy D, Harris JM, Hutmacher D, Dargaville TR, Beagley KW. Stability and antigenicity of Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein antigen at body temperature. Vaccine 2024:S0264-410X(24)00674-1. [PMID: 38897891 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.06.015] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen responsible for disease and infertility across multiple species. Currently vaccines are being studied to help reduce the prevalence of this disease. The main advantage of protein subunit vaccines is their high degree of safety although this is traded off with the requirement for multiple booster doses to achieve complete protection. Although in certain populations the booster dose can be difficult and costly to administer, development of delayed vaccine delivery techniques, such as a vaccine capsule, could be the solution to this problem. One of the main drawbacks in this technology is that the antigen must remain stable at body temperature (37 °C) until release is achieved. Here we elucidate the stability of a recombinant chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) antigen and assess its antigenic and immunogenic properties after subjecting the antigen to 37 °C for four to six weeks. Through in vitro and in vivo assessment we found that the aged chlamydial MOMP was able to produce equivalent humoral and cell-mediated immune responses when compared with the unaged vaccine. It was also found that vaccines formulated with the aged antigen conferred equivalent protection against a live infection challenge as the unaged antigen. Thus ageing chlamydial MOMP antigens at 37 °C for four to six weeks did not cause any significant structural or antigenic/immunogenic degradation and recombinant C. muridarum MOMP is suitable for use in a delayed vaccine delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya A Russell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Centre for Immunology and Infection Control (CIIC), 300 Herston Road, QLD 4006, Australia.
| | - Logan Trim
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Centre for Immunology and Infection Control (CIIC), 300 Herston Road, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Emily Bryan
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Centre for Immunology and Infection Control (CIIC), 300 Herston Road, QLD 4006, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Herston 4006, Australia
| | - Mark A Fisher
- Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia
| | - Darren Leahy
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Jonathan M Harris
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Dietmar Hutmacher
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Centre for Immunology and Infection Control (CIIC), 300 Herston Road, QLD 4006, Australia; Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Tim R Dargaville
- Centre for Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
| | - Kenneth W Beagley
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Centre for Immunology and Infection Control (CIIC), 300 Herston Road, QLD 4006, Australia
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2
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Rosenkrands I, Olsen AW, Knudsen S, Dehari N, Juel HB, Cheeseman HM, Andersen P, Shattock RJ, Follmann F. Human antibody signatures towards the Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein after natural infection and vaccination. EBioMedicine 2024; 104:105140. [PMID: 38744110 PMCID: PMC11108849 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105140] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) holds a neutralising epitope in the Variable Domain 4 (VD4), and this region's immune dominance during infection is well known. This study aimed to assess the antibody response induced after infection and compare it for specificity and functionality to the response following vaccination with the vaccine CTH522, which contains VD4's from serovars D, E, F, and G. METHODS We assessed the antibody epitopes in MOMP by a high density peptide array. Furthermore, the role of the VD4 epitope in neutralisation was explored by competitive inhibition experiments with a fusion protein holding the neutralising VD4 linear epitope. This was done in two independent groups: 1) MOMP seropositive individuals infected with CT (n = 10, from case-control study) and 2) CTH522/CAF®01-vaccinated females (n = 14) from the CHLM-01 clinical trial. FINDINGS We identified the major antigenic regions in MOMP as VD4 and the conserved region just before VD3 in individuals infected with CT. The same regions, with the addition of VD1, were identified in vaccine recipients. Overall, the VD4 peptide responses were uniform in vaccinated individuals and led to inhibition of infection in vitro in all tested samples, whereas the VD4 responses were more heterogenous in individuals infected with CT, and only 2 out of 10 samples had VD4-mediated neutralising antibody responses. INTERPRETATION These data provide insights into the role of antibodies against MOMP VD4 induced after infection and vaccination, and show that their functionality differs. The induction of functional VD4-specific antibodies in vaccine recipients mimics previous results from animal models. FUNDING This work was supported by the European Commission through contract FP7-HEALTH-2011.1.4-4-280873 (ADITEC) and Fonden til Lægevidenskabens Fremme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Rosenkrands
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Anja W Olsen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Knudsen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nida Dehari
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Helene Bæk Juel
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hannah M Cheeseman
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Andersen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Fonden, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Robin J Shattock
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Follmann
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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3
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Olsen AW, Rosenkrands I, Jacobsen CS, Cheeseman HM, Kristiansen MP, Dietrich J, Shattock RJ, Follmann F. Immune signature of Chlamydia vaccine CTH522/CAF®01 translates from mouse-to-human and induces durable protection in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1665. [PMID: 38396019 PMCID: PMC10891140 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45526-2] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical development of an effective Chlamydia vaccine requires in-depth understanding of how well protective pre-clinical immune signatures translate to humans. Here, we report a comparative immunological characterization of CTH522/CAF®01 in female mice and humans. We find a range of immune signatures that translate from mouse to human, including a Th1/Th17 cytokine profile and antibody functionality. We identify vaccine-induced T cell epitopes, conserved among Chlamydia serovars, and previously found in infected individuals. Using the mouse model, we show that the common immune signature protected against ascending infection in mice, and vaccine induced antibodies could delay bacterial ascension to the oviduct, as well as development of pathology, in a T cell depleted mouse model. Finally, we demonstrate long-lasting immunity and protection of mice one year after vaccination. Based on the results obtained in the present study, we propose to further investigate CTH522/CAF®01 in a phase IIb study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja W Olsen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ida Rosenkrands
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina S Jacobsen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- PharmaRelations, Virum, Denmark
| | | | - Max P Kristiansen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jes Dietrich
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robin J Shattock
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Frank Follmann
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sachse K, Hölzer M, Vorimore F, Barf LM, Sachse C, Laroucau K, Marz M, Lamkiewicz K. Genomic analysis of 61 Chlamydia psittaci strains reveals extensive divergence associated with host preference. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:288. [PMID: 37248517 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09370-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlamydia (C.) psittaci, the causative agent of avian chlamydiosis and human psittacosis, is a genetically heterogeneous species. Its broad host range includes parrots and many other birds, but occasionally also humans (via zoonotic transmission), ruminants, horses, swine and rodents. To assess whether there are genetic markers associated with host tropism we comparatively analyzed whole-genome sequences of 61 C. psittaci strains, 47 of which carrying a 7.6-kbp plasmid. RESULTS Following clean-up, reassembly and polishing of poorly assembled genomes from public databases, phylogenetic analyses using C. psittaci whole-genome sequence alignment revealed four major clades within this species. Clade 1 represents the most recent lineage comprising 40/61 strains and contains 9/10 of the psittacine strains, including type strain 6BC, and 10/13 of human isolates. Strains from different non-psittacine hosts clustered in Clades 2- 4. We found that clade membership correlates with typing schemes based on SNP types, ompA genotypes, multilocus sequence types as well as plasticity zone (PZ) structure and host preference. Genome analysis also revealed that i) sequence variation in the major outer membrane porin MOMP can result in 3D structural changes of immunogenic domains, ii) past host change of Clade 3 and 4 strains could be associated with loss of MAC/perforin in the PZ, rather than the large cytotoxin, iii) the distinct phylogeny of atypical strains (Clades 3 and 4) is also reflected in their repertoire of inclusion proteins (Inc family) and polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps). CONCLUSIONS Our study identified a number of genomic features that can be correlated with the phylogeny and host preference of C. psittaci strains. Our data show that intra-species genomic divergence is associated with past host change and includes deletions in the plasticity zone, structural variations in immunogenic domains and distinct repertoires of virulence factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Sachse
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany.
| | - Martin Hölzer
- Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Bioinformatics, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabien Vorimore
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Identypath, ANSES Maisons-Alfort, Paris-Est University, 94706, Paris, France
| | - Lisa-Marie Barf
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten Sachse
- Ernst-Ruska Centre 3 / Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Biological Information Processing 6 / Structural Cellular Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karine Laroucau
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, ANSES Maisons-Alfort, Paris-Est University, 94706, Paris, France
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Kevin Lamkiewicz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
- JRG Analytical MicroBioinformatics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
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5
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Huynh DT, Jong WSP, Oudejans MAH, van den Berg van Saparoea HB, Luirink J, van Ulsen P. Heterologous Display of Chlamydia trachomatis PmpD Passenger at the Surface of Salmonella OMVs. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:366. [PMID: 37103793 PMCID: PMC10145130 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13040366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacterial pathogen that causes most cases of sexually transmitted diseases annually. To combat the global spread of asymptomatic infection, development of effective (mucosal) vaccines that offer both systemic and local immune responses is considered a high priority. In this study, we explored the expression of C. trachomatis full-length (FL) PmpD, as well as truncated PmpD passenger constructs fused to a "display" autotransporter (AT) hemoglobin protease (HbpD) and studied their inclusion into outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium. OMVs are considered safe vaccine vectors well-suited for mucosal delivery. By using E. coli AT HbpD-fusions of chimeric constructs we improved surface display and successfully generated Salmonella OMVs decorated with a secreted and immunogenic PmpD passenger fragment (aa68-629) to 13% of the total protein content. Next, we investigated whether a similar chimeric surface display strategy could be applied to other AT antigens, i.e., secreted fragments of Prn (aa35-350) of Bordetella pertussis and VacA (aa65-377) of Helicobacter pylori. The data provided information on the complexity of heterologous expression of AT antigens at the OMV surface and suggested that optimal expression strategies should be developed on an antigen-to-antigen basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dung T. Huynh
- Abera Bioscience AB, 750 26 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Manon A. H. Oudejans
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Joen Luirink
- Abera Bioscience AB, 750 26 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter van Ulsen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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6
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Overexpression of the Bam Complex Improves the Production of Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP in the E. coli Outer Membrane. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137393. [PMID: 35806397 PMCID: PMC9266984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137393] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A licensed Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) vaccine is not yet available. Recombinant Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein (Ct-MOMP), the most abundant constituent of the chlamydial outer membrane complex, is considered the most attractive candidate for subunit-based vaccine formulations. Unfortunately, Ct-MOMP is difficult to express in its native structure in the E. coli outer membrane (OM). Here, by co-expression of the Bam complex, we improved the expression and localization of recombinant Ct-MOMP in the E. coli OM. Under these conditions, recombinant Ct-MOMP appeared to assemble into a β-barrel conformation and express domains at the cell surface indicative of correct folding. The data indicate that limited availability of the Bam complex can be a bottleneck for the production of heterologous OM vaccine antigens, information that is also relevant for strategies aimed at producing recombinant OMV-based vaccines.
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7
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Epitope-Based Vaccines against the Chlamydia trachomatis Major Outer Membrane Protein Variable Domain 4 Elicit Protection in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10060875. [PMID: 35746483 PMCID: PMC9227494 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common bacterial sexual transmitted pathogen, yet a vaccine is not currently available. Here, we used the immunogenic bacteriophage MS2 virus-like particle (VLP) technology to engineer vaccines against the Ct major outer membrane protein variable domain 4 (MOMP-VD4), which contains a conserved neutralizing epitope (TTLNPTIAG). A previously described monoclonal antibody to the MOMP-VD4 (E4 mAb) is capable of neutralizing all urogenital Ct serovars and binds this core epitope, as well as several non-contiguous amino acids. This suggests that this core epitope may require conformational context in order to elicit neutralizing antibodies to Ct. In order to identify immunogens that could elicit neutralizing antibodies to the TTLNPTIAG epitope, we used two approaches. First, we used affinity selection with a bacteriophage MS2-VLP library displaying random peptides in a constrained, surface-exposed loop to identify potential E4 mAb mimotopes. After four rounds of affinity selection, we identified a VLP-displayed peptide (HMVGSTKWTN) that could bind to the E4 mAb and elicited serum IgG that bound weakly to Ct elementary bodies by ELISA. Second, two versions of the core conserved TTLNPTIAG epitope (TTLNPTIAG and TTLNPTIAGA) were recombinantly expressed on the coat protein of the MS2 VLP in a constrained, surface-exposed loop. Mouse immune sera IgG bound to Ct elementary bodies by ELISA. Immunization with these MS2 VLPs provided protection from vaginal Chlamydia infection in a murine challenge model. These data suggest that short peptide epitopes targeting the MOMP-VD4 could be appropriate for Ct vaccine design when displayed on an immunogenic bacteriophage VLP vaccine platform.
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8
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Seth-Smith HMB, Bénard A, Bruisten SM, Versteeg B, Herrmann B, Kok J, Carter I, Peuchant O, Bébéar C, Lewis DA, Puerta T, Keše D, Balla E, Zákoucká H, Rob F, Morré SA, de Barbeyrac B, Galán JC, de Vries HJC, Thomson NR, Goldenberger D, Egli A. Ongoing evolution of Chlamydia trachomatis lymphogranuloma venereum: exploring the genomic diversity of circulating strains. Microb Genom 2021; 7. [PMID: 34184981 PMCID: PMC8461462 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), the invasive infection of the sexually transmissible infection (STI) Chlamydia trachomatis, is caused by strains from the LGV biovar, most commonly represented by ompA-genotypes L2b and L2. We investigated the diversity in LGV samples across an international collection over seven years using typing and genome sequencing. LGV-positive samples (n=321) from eight countries collected between 2011 and 2017 (Spain n=97, Netherlands n=67, Switzerland n=64, Australia n=53, Sweden n=37, Hungary n=31, Czechia n=30, Slovenia n=10) were genotyped for pmpH and ompA variants. All were found to contain the 9 bp insertion in the pmpH gene, previously associated with ompA-genotype L2b. However, analysis of the ompA gene shows ompA-genotype L2b (n=83), ompA-genotype L2 (n=180) and several variants of these (n=52; 12 variant types), as well as other/mixed ompA-genotypes (n=6). To elucidate the genomic diversity, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed from selected samples using SureSelect target enrichment, resulting in 42 genomes, covering a diversity of ompA-genotypes and representing most of the countries sampled. A phylogeny of these data clearly shows that these ompA-genotypes derive from an ompA-genotype L2b ancestor, carrying up to eight SNPs per isolate. SNPs within ompA are overrepresented among genomic changes in these samples, each of which results in an amino acid change in the variable domains of OmpA (major outer membrane protein, MOMP). A reversion to ompA-genotype L2 with the L2b genomic backbone is commonly seen. The wide diversity of ompA-genotypes found in these recent LGV samples indicates that this gene is under immunological selection. Our results suggest that the ompA-genotype L2b genomic backbone is the dominant strain circulating and evolving particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM) populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena M B Seth-Smith
- Clinical Bacteriology & Mycology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Switzerland.,Applied Microbiology Research, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Angèle Bénard
- Present address: Healthcare Systems Research Group, VHIR, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sylvia M Bruisten
- Department of Infectious Diseases, GGD Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity (AII), Location Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Versteeg
- Department of Infectious Diseases, GGD Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Björn Herrmann
- Section of Clinical Bacteriology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jen Kok
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity & Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian Carter
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Olivia Peuchant
- CHU Bordeaux, Department of Bacteriology, French National Reference Center for bacterial STIs, Bordeaux, France
| | - Cécile Bébéar
- CHU Bordeaux, Department of Bacteriology, French National Reference Center for bacterial STIs, Bordeaux, France
| | - David A Lewis
- Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Western Sydney Local Health District, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.,Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity & Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Teresa Puerta
- Unidad de ITS/VIH, Centro Sanitario Sandoval, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Darja Keše
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eszter Balla
- Bacterial STI Reference Laboratory, National Public Health Center (former National Center for Epidemiology), Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hana Zákoucká
- National Reference Laboratory for Diagnostics of Syphilis and Chlamydia Infections, National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 48, 100 42, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Rob
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Hospital Bulovka, Budinova 2, 180 81, Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Servaas A Morré
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Institute for Public Health Genomics (IPHG), Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research Institute GROW, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Bertille de Barbeyrac
- CHU Bordeaux, Department of Bacteriology, French National Reference Center for bacterial STIs, Bordeaux, France
| | - Juan Carlos Galán
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal. Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain. CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP)
| | - Henry J C de Vries
- Department of Infectious Diseases, GGD Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity (AII), Location Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R Thomson
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK.,Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Daniel Goldenberger
- Clinical Bacteriology & Mycology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Egli
- Clinical Bacteriology & Mycology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Switzerland.,Applied Microbiology Research, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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9
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Olsen AW, Rosenkrands I, Holland MJ, Andersen P, Follmann F. A Chlamydia trachomatis VD1-MOMP vaccine elicits cross-neutralizing and protective antibodies against C/C-related complex serovars. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:58. [PMID: 33875654 PMCID: PMC8055873 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00312-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocular and urogenital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis (C.t.) are caused by a range of different serovars. The first C.t. vaccine in clinical development (CTH522/CAF®01) induced neutralizing antibodies directed to the variable domain 4 (VD4) region of major outer membrane protein (MOMP), covering predominantly B and intermediate groups of serovars. The VD1 region of MOMP contains neutralizing B-cell epitopes targeting serovars of the C and C-related complex. Using an immuno-repeat strategy, we extended the VD1 region of SvA and SvJ to include surrounding conserved segments, extVD1A and extVD1J, and repeated this region four times. The extVD1A*4 was most immunogenic with broad cross-surface and neutralizing reactivity against representative members of the C and C-related complex serovars. Importantly, in vitro results for extVD1A*4 translated into in vivo biological effects, demonstrated by in vivo neutralization of SvA and protection/cross-protection against intravaginal challenge with both SvA and the heterologous SvIa strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Weinreich Olsen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ida Rosenkrands
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin J Holland
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Andersen
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Frank Follmann
- Center for Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Generation of a novel affibody molecule targeting Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:1477-1487. [PMID: 33521848 PMCID: PMC7880956 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11128-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide and the most prevalent cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases. At present, there is no available vaccine, and recurrences after antibiotics treatment are substantial problems. Major outer membrane protein (MOMP) accounts for 60% of the outer mass of C. trachomatis, functioning as trimeric porin, and it is highly antigenic. Therefore, MOMP is the most promising candidate for vaccine developing and target therapy of Chlamydia. Affibody, a new class of affinity ligands derived from the Z-domain in the binding region of Staphylococcus aureus protein A, has been the focus of researchers as a viable alternative to antibodies. In this study, the MOMP-targeted affibody molecule (ZMOMP:461) was screened by phage-displayed peptide library. Further, the affinity and specificity were characterized by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and Western blot. Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) indicated that the MOMP-binding affibody could recognize native MOMP in HeLa229 cells infected C. trachomatis. Immunoprecipitation assay confirmed further that ZMOMP:461 molecule specifically recognizes the epitope on relaxed trimer MOMP. Our findings provide strong evidence that affibody molecule (ZMOMP:461) serves as substitute for MOMP antibody for biological applications and has a great potential for delivering drugs for target therapy. Key points • We screened a novel affibody molecule ZMOMP:461 targeting Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP. • ZMOMP:461 recognizes the recombinant and native MOMP with high affinity and specificity. • ZMOMP:461 could be internalized into live target cells. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-021-11128-x.
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11
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Stojanovic M, Lukic I, Marinkovic E, Kovacevic A, Miljkovic R, Tobias J, Schabussova I, Zlatović M, Barisani-Asenbauer T, Wiedermann U, Inic-Kanada A. Cross-Reactive Effects of Vaccines: Heterologous Immunity between Tetanus and Chlamydia. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040719. [PMID: 33271962 PMCID: PMC7712554 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines can have heterologous effects on the immune system, i.e., effects other than triggering an immune response against the disease targeted by the vaccine. We investigated whether monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for tetanus could cross-react with Chlamydia and confer heterologous protection against chlamydial infection. The capability of two tetanus-specific mAbs, namely mAb26 and mAb51, to prevent chlamydial infection has been assessed: (i) in vitro, by performing a neutralization assay using human conjunctival epithelial (HCjE) cells infected with Chlamydia trachomatis serovar B, and (ii) in vivo, by using a guinea pig model of Chlamydiacaviae-induced inclusion conjunctivitis. The mAb26 has been superior in comparison with mAb51 in the prevention of chlamydial infection in HCjE cells. The mAb26 has conferred ≈40% inhibition of the infection, compared to less than 5% inhibition in the presence of the mAb51. In vivo, mAb26 significantly diminished ocular pathology intensity in guinea pigs infected with C. caviae compared to either the mAb51-treated or sham-treated guinea pigs. Our data provide insights that tetanus immunization generates antibodies which induce heterologous chlamydial immunity and promote protection beyond the intended target pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijana Stojanovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Ivana Lukic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Emilija Marinkovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Ana Kovacevic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Radmila Miljkovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Joshua Tobias
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
| | - Irma Schabussova
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
| | - Mario Zlatović
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Talin Barisani-Asenbauer
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
| | - Ursula Wiedermann
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
| | - Aleksandra Inic-Kanada
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-40160-33-154
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Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy Reveals Clustering Behaviour of Chlamydia pneumoniae's Major Outer Membrane Protein. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9100344. [PMID: 33092039 PMCID: PMC7589890 DOI: 10.3390/biology9100344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for a number of human respiratory diseases and linked to some chronic inflammatory diseases. The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia is a conserved immunologically dominant protein located in the outer membrane, which, together with its surface exposure and abundance, has led to MOMP being the main focus for vaccine and antimicrobial studies in recent decades. MOMP has a major role in the chlamydial outer membrane complex through the formation of intermolecular disulphide bonds, although the exact interactions formed are currently unknown. Here, it is proposed that due to the large number of cysteines available for disulphide bonding, interactions occur between cysteine-rich pockets as opposed to individual residues. Such pockets were identified using a MOMP homology model with a supporting low-resolution (~4 Å) crystal structure. The localisation of MOMP in the E. coli membrane was assessed using direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM), which showed a decrease in membrane clustering with cysteine-rich regions containing two mutations. These results indicate that disulphide bond formation was not disrupted by single mutants located in the cysteine-dense regions and was instead compensated by neighbouring cysteines within the pocket in support of this cysteine-rich pocket hypothesis.
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Shelby M, Gilbile D, Grant T, Bauer W, Segelke B, He W, Evans A, Crespo N, Fischer P, Pakendorf T, Hennicke V, Hunter M, Batyuk A, Barthelmess M, Meents A, Kuhl T, Frank M, Coleman M. Crystallization of ApoA1 and ApoE4 nanolipoprotein particles and initial XFEL-based structural studies. CRYSTALS 2020; 10. [PMID: 35686136 PMCID: PMC9175823 DOI: 10.3390/cryst10100886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs), also called “nanodiscs”, are discoidal particles with a patch of lipid bilayer corralled by apolipoproteins. NLPs have long been of interest due to both their utility as membrane-model systems into which membrane proteins can be inserted and solubilized and their physiological role in lipid and cholesterol transport via HDL and LDL maturation, which are important for human health. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) at X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) is a powerful approach for structural biology of membrane proteins, which are traditionally difficult to crystallize as large single crystals capable of producing high-quality diffraction suitable for structure determination. To facilitate understanding of the specific role of two apolipoprotein/lipid complexes, ApoA1 and ApoE4, in lipid binding and HDL/LDL particle maturation dynamics and develop new SFX methods involving NLP membrane protein encapsulation, we have prepared and crystallized homogeneous populations of ApoA1 and ApoE4 NLPs. Crystallization of empty NLPs yields semi-ordered objects that appear crystalline and give highly anisotropic and diffuse X-ray diffraction, similar in characteristics to fiber diffraction. Several unit cell parameters were approximately determined for both NLPs from these measurements. Thus, low-background, sample conservative methods of delivery are critical. Here we implemented a fixed target sample delivery scheme utilizing the Roadrunner fast-scanning system and ultra-thin polymer/graphene support films, providing a low-volume, low-background approach to membrane protein SFX. This study represents initial steps in obtaining structural information for ApoA1 and ApoE4 NLPs and developing this system as a supporting scaffold for future structural studies of membrane proteins crystalized in a native lipid environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.L. Shelby
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - D. Gilbile
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - T.D. Grant
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - W.J. Bauer
- Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - B. Segelke
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - W. He
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - A.C. Evans
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - N. Crespo
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - P. Fischer
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - T. Pakendorf
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - V. Hennicke
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - M.S. Hunter
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - A. Batyuk
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - M. Barthelmess
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - A. Meents
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - T.L. Kuhl
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - M. Frank
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel: +1-925-423-7687 or ; Tel: 1-925-423-5068
| | - M.A. Coleman
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel: +1-925-423-7687 or ; Tel: 1-925-423-5068
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Tifrea DF, Pal S, Fairman J, Massari P, de la Maza LM. Protection against a chlamydial respiratory challenge by a chimeric vaccine formulated with the Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein variable domains using the Neisseria lactamica porin B as a scaffold. NPJ Vaccines 2020; 5:37. [PMID: 32411400 PMCID: PMC7210953 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-0182-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequently detected sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen in the world. Attempts to control these infections with screening programs and antibiotics have failed and, therefore, a vaccine is the best approach to control this epidemic. The Chlamydia major outer membrane protein (MOMP) is the most protective subunit vaccine so far tested. Protection induced by MOMP is, in part, dependent on its tertiary structure. We have previously described new recombinant antigens composed of the Neisseria lactamica PorB engineered to express the variable domains (VD) from Chlamydia muridarum MOMP. Here we tested antigens containing each individual MOMP VD and different VD combinations. Following immunization, mice were challenged intranasally with C. muridarum. Our results show that three constructs, PorB/VD1-3, PorB/VD1-4, and PorB/VD1-2-4, elicited high serum IgG titers in vivo, significant IFN-γ levels upon T cells re-stimulation in vitro, and evidence of protective immunity in vivo. PorB/VD1-3, PorB/VD1-4, and PorB/VD1-2-4 immunized mice lost less body weight, had lighter lungs, and decreased numbers of inclusion forming units (IFUs) in lungs than other PorB/VD construct tested and mock PBS-immunized mice. These results suggest that this approach may be a promising alternative to the use of MOMP in a Chlamydia vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delia F. Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, Irvine, California 92697-4800 USA
| | - Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, Irvine, California 92697-4800 USA
| | - Jeff Fairman
- Sutrovax, Inc., 400 E Jamie Court, Suite 205, South San Francisco, California 94080 USA
| | - Paola Massari
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Jaharis, 512C 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02111 USA
| | - Luis M. de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Medical Sciences I, Room D440, Irvine, California 92697-4800 USA
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15
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Hepler RW, Nahas DD, Lucas B, Kaufhold R, Flynn JA, Galli JD, Swoyer R, Wagner JM, Espeseth AS, Joyce JG, Cook JC, Durr E. Spectroscopic analysis of chlamydial major outer membrane protein in support of structure elucidation. Protein Sci 2019; 27:1923-1941. [PMID: 30144190 PMCID: PMC6201732 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) is the major protein constituent of the bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia trachomatis Serovars D–K are the leading cause of genital tract infections which can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancies. A vaccine against Chlamydia is highly desirable but currently not available. MOMP accounts for ~ 60% of the chlamydial protein mass and is considered to be one of the lead vaccine candidates against C. trachomatis. We report on the spectroscopic analysis of C. trachomatis native MOMP Serovars D, E, F, and J as well as C. muridarum MOMP by size exclusion chromatography multi angle light scattering (SEC MALS), circular dichroism (CD) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). MOMP was purified from the native bacterium grown in either adherent HeLa cells or in different suspension cell lines. Our results confirm that MOMP forms homo‐trimers in detergent micelles. The secondary structure composition of C. trachomatis MOMP was conserved across serovars, but different from composition of C. muridarum MOMP with a 13% (CD) to 18% (ATR‐FTIR) reduction in β‐sheet conformation for C. trachomatis MOMP. When Serovar E MOMP was isolated from suspension cell lines the α‐helix content increased by 7% (CD) to 13% (ATIR‐FTIR). Maintenance of a native‐like tertiary and quaternary structure in subunit vaccines is important for the generation of protective antibodies. This biophysical characterization of MOMP presented here serves, in the absence of functional assays, as a method for monitoring the structural integrity of MOMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Hepler
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Debbie D Nahas
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Bob Lucas
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Robin Kaufhold
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Jessica A Flynn
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Jennifer D Galli
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Ryan Swoyer
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - James M Wagner
- Vaccine Process Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Amy S Espeseth
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Joseph G Joyce
- Vaccine Process Development, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - James C Cook
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
| | - Eberhard Durr
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Discovery, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey
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16
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Christensen S, McMahon RM, Martin JL, Huston WM. Life inside and out: making and breaking protein disulfide bonds in Chlamydia. Crit Rev Microbiol 2019; 45:33-50. [PMID: 30663449 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2018.1538933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Disulphide bonds are widely used among all domains of life to provide structural stability to proteins and to regulate enzyme activity. Chlamydia spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria that are especially dependent on the formation and degradation of protein disulphide bonds. Members of the genus Chlamydia have a unique biphasic developmental cycle alternating between two distinct cell types; the extracellular infectious elementary body (EB) and the intracellular replicating reticulate body. The proteins in the envelope of the EB are heavily cross-linked with disulphides and this is known to be critical for this infectious phase. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of what is known about the redox state of chlamydial envelope proteins throughout the developmental cycle. We focus especially on the factors responsible for degradation and formation of disulphide bonds in Chlamydia and how this system compares with redox regulation in other organisms. Focussing on the unique biology of Chlamydia enables us to provide important insights into how specialized suites of disulphide bond (Dsb) proteins cater for specific bacterial environments and lifecycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Christensen
- a Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology , Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland , St. Lucia , QLD , Australia.,b Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University , Nathan , QLD , Australia
| | - Róisín M McMahon
- b Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University , Nathan , QLD , Australia
| | - Jennifer L Martin
- b Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University , Nathan , QLD , Australia
| | - Wilhelmina M Huston
- c School of Life Sciences , University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo , NSW , Australia
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17
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Lopes-Rodrigues M, Zanuy D, Alemán C, Michaux C, Perpète EA. 3D structure of a Brucella melitensis porin: molecular modelling in lipid membranes. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2018; 37:3923-3935. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2018.1529627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilien Lopes-Rodrigues
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique des Biomolécules, Unité de Chimie Physique Théorique et Structurale (UCPTS), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
- Namur Institute of Structured Matter, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
- Departament d’Enginyeria Química, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Zanuy
- Departament d’Enginyeria Química, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Alemán
- Departament d’Enginyeria Química, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Catherine Michaux
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique des Biomolécules, Unité de Chimie Physique Théorique et Structurale (UCPTS), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
- Namur Institute of Structured Matter, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
- Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Eric A. Perpète
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique des Biomolécules, Unité de Chimie Physique Théorique et Structurale (UCPTS), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
- Namur Institute of Structured Matter, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
- Institute of Life-Earth-Environment, University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
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Poston TB, O'Connell CM, Girardi J, Sullivan JE, Nagarajan UM, Marinov A, Scurlock AM, Darville T. T Cell-Independent Gamma Interferon and B Cells Cooperate To Prevent Mortality Associated with Disseminated Chlamydia muridarum Genital Tract Infection. Infect Immun 2018; 86:e00143-18. [PMID: 29661927 PMCID: PMC6013674 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00143-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4 T cells and antibody are required for optimal acquired immunity to Chlamydia muridarum genital tract infection, and T cell-mediated gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production is necessary to clear infection in the absence of humoral immunity. However, the role of T cell-independent immune responses during primary infection remains unclear. We investigated this question by inoculating wild-type and immune-deficient mice with C. muridarum CM001, a clonal isolate capable of enhanced extragenital replication. Genital inoculation of wild-type mice resulted in transient dissemination to the lungs and spleen that then was rapidly cleared from these organs. However, CM001 genital infection proved lethal for STAT1-/- and IFNG-/- mice, in which IFN-γ signaling was absent, and for Rag1-/- mice, which lacked T and B cells and in which innate IFN-γ signaling was retained. In contrast, B cell-deficient muMT mice, which can generate a Th1 response, and T cell-deficient mice with intact B cell and innate IFN-γ signaling survived. These data collectively indicate that IFN-γ prevents lethal CM001 dissemination in the absence of T cells and suggests a B cell corequirement. Adoptive transfer of convalescent-phase immune serum but not naive IgM to Rag1-/- mice infected with CM001 significantly increased the survival time, while transfer of naive B cells completely rescued Rag1-/- mice from CM001 lethality. Protection was associated with a significant reduction in the lung chlamydial burden of genitally infected mice. These data reveal an important cooperation between T cell-independent B cell responses and innate IFN-γ in chlamydial host defense and suggest that interactions between T cell-independent antibody and IFN-γ are essential for limiting extragenital dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor B Poston
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Catherine M O'Connell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jenna Girardi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeanne E Sullivan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Uma M Nagarajan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anthony Marinov
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amy M Scurlock
- Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Toni Darville
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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19
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Madico G, Gursky O, Fairman J, Massari P. Structural and Immunological Characterization of Novel Recombinant MOMP-Based Chlamydial Antigens. Vaccines (Basel) 2017; 6:vaccines6010002. [PMID: 29295593 PMCID: PMC5874643 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines6010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide. While infections resolve with antibiotic treatment, this is often neglected in women due to frequent asymptomatic infections, leading to disease progression and severe sequelae (pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility). Development of a vaccine against Chlamydia is crucial. Whole organism-based vaccines have short-lived activity, serovar/subgroup-specific immunity and can cause adverse reactions in vaccinated subjects. The Chlamydia major outer membrane protein (MOMP) is a prime candidate for a subunit vaccine. MOMP contains four regions of sequence variability (variable domains, VDs) with B-cell and T-cell epitopes that elicit protective immunity. However, barriers for developing a MOMP-based vaccine include solubility, yield and refolding. We have engineered novel recombinant antigens in which the VDs are expressed into a carrier protein structurally similar to MOMP and suitable for recombinant expression at a high yield in a correctly folded and detergent-free form. Using a carrier such as the PorB porin from the human commensal organism N. lactamica, we show that PorB/VD chimeric proteins are immunogenic, antigenic and cross-reactive with MOMP. VDs are unique for each serovar but if combined in a single vaccine, a broad coverage against the major Chlamydia serovars can be ensured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Madico
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Olga Gursky
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics and the Amyloidosis Treatment and Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | | | - Paola Massari
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
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Olsen AW, Lorenzen EK, Rosenkrands I, Follmann F, Andersen P. Protective Effect of Vaccine Promoted Neutralizing Antibodies against the Intracellular Pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1652. [PMID: 29312283 PMCID: PMC5732375 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an unmet need for a vaccine to control Chlamydia trachomatis (C.t.) infections. We have recently designed a multivalent heterologous immuno-repeat 1 (Hirep1) vaccine construct based on major outer membrane protein variable domain (VD) 4 regions from C.t. serovars (Svs) D–F. Hirep1 administered in the Cationic Adjuvant Formulation no. 1 (CAF01) promoted neutralizing antibodies in concert with CD4+ T cells and protected against genital infection. In the current study, we examined the protective role of the antibody (Ab) response in detail. Mice were vaccinated with either Hirep1 or a vaccine construct based on a homologous multivalent construct of extended VD4’s from SvF (extVD4F*4), adjuvanted in CAF01. Hirep1 and extVD4F*4 induced similar levels of Ab and cell-mediated immune responses but differed in the fine specificity of the B cell epitopes targeted in the VD4 region. Hirep1 induced a strong response toward a neutralizing epitope (LNPTIAG) and the importance of this epitope for neutralization was demonstrated by competitive inhibition with the corresponding peptide. Immunization with extVD4F*4 skewed the response to a non-neutralizing epitope slightly upstream in the sequence. Vaccination with Hirep1 as opposed to extVD4F*4 induced significant protection against infection in mice both in short- and long-term vaccination experiments, signifying a key role for Hirep1 neutralizing antibodies during protection against C.t. Finally, we show that passive immunization of Rag1 knockout mice with Hirep1 antibodies completely prevented the establishment of infection in 48% of the mice, demonstrating an isolated role for neutralizing antibodies in controlling infection. Our data emphasize the role of antibodies in early protection against C.t. and support the inclusion of neutralizing targets in chlamydia vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Weinreich Olsen
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emma Kathrine Lorenzen
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Rosenkrands
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Frank Follmann
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Andersen
- Chlamydia Vaccine Research, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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21
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He W, Felderman M, Evans AC, Geng J, Homan D, Bourguet F, Fischer NO, Li Y, Lam KS, Noy A, Xing L, Cheng RH, Rasley A, Blanchette CD, Kamrud K, Wang N, Gouvis H, Peterson TC, Hubby B, Coleman MA. Cell-free production of a functional oligomeric form of a Chlamydia major outer-membrane protein (MOMP) for vaccine development. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:15121-15132. [PMID: 28739800 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.784561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia is a prevalent sexually transmitted disease that infects more than 100 million people worldwide. Although most individuals infected with Chlamydia trachomatis are initially asymptomatic, symptoms can arise if left undiagnosed. Long-term infection can result in debilitating conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and blindness. Chlamydia infection, therefore, constitutes a significant public health threat, underscoring the need for a Chlamydia-specific vaccine. Chlamydia strains express a major outer-membrane protein (MOMP) that has been shown to be an effective vaccine antigen. However, approaches to produce a functional recombinant MOMP protein for vaccine development are limited by poor solubility, low yield, and protein misfolding. Here, we used an Escherichia coli-based cell-free system to express a MOMP protein from the mouse-specific species Chlamydia muridarum (MoPn-MOMP or mMOMP). The codon-optimized mMOMP gene was co-translated with Δ49apolipoprotein A1 (Δ49ApoA1), a truncated version of mouse ApoA1 in which the N-terminal 49 amino acids were removed. This co-translation process produced mMOMP supported within a telodendrimer nanolipoprotein particle (mMOMP-tNLP). The cell-free expressed mMOMP-tNLPs contain mMOMP multimers similar to the native MOMP protein. This cell-free process produced on average 1.5 mg of purified, water-soluble mMOMP-tNLP complex in a 1-ml cell-free reaction. The mMOMP-tNLP particle also accommodated the co-localization of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide 1826, a single-stranded synthetic DNA adjuvant, eliciting an enhanced humoral immune response in vaccinated mice. Using our mMOMP-tNLP formulation, we demonstrate a unique approach to solubilizing and administering membrane-bound proteins for future vaccine development. This method can be applied to other previously difficult-to-obtain antigens while maintaining full functionality and immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei He
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
| | | | - Angela C Evans
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
| | - Jia Geng
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550.,School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, California 95343
| | - David Homan
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
| | - Feliza Bourguet
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
| | - Nicholas O Fischer
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
| | - Yuanpei Li
- the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and
| | - Kit S Lam
- the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and
| | - Aleksandr Noy
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550.,School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, California 95343
| | - Li Xing
- the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95618
| | - R Holland Cheng
- the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95618
| | - Amy Rasley
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
| | - Craig D Blanchette
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
| | - Kurt Kamrud
- Synthetic Genomics Vaccine Inc., La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Nathaniel Wang
- Synthetic Genomics Vaccine Inc., La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Heather Gouvis
- Synthetic Genomics Vaccine Inc., La Jolla, California 92037
| | | | - Bolyn Hubby
- Synthetic Genomics Vaccine Inc., La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Matthew A Coleman
- From the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, .,Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California 95817, and
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22
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Immunization of a wild koala population with a recombinant Chlamydia pecorum Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (PMP) based vaccine: New insights into immune response, protection and clearance. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178786. [PMID: 28575080 PMCID: PMC5456371 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We assessed the effects of two different single-dose anti-Chlamydia pecorum (C. pecorum) vaccines (containing either Major Outer Membrane Protein (3MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (Pmp) as antigens) on the immune response of a group of wild koalas. Both vaccines elicited a systemic humoral response as seen by the production of anti-chlamydial IgG antibodies in more than 90% of vaccinated koalas. A mucosal immune response was also observed, with an increase in Chlamydia-specific mucosal IgG and/or IgA antibodies in some koalas post-vaccination. Both vaccines elicited a cell-mediated immune response as measured by the production of the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17 post-vaccination. To determine the level of protection provided by the vaccines under natural conditions we assessed C. pecorum infection loads and chlamydial disease status of all vaccinated koalas pre- and post-vaccination, compared to a non-vaccinated cohort from the same habitat. The MOMP vaccinated koalas that were infected on the day of vaccination showed significant clearance of their infection at 6 months post-vaccination. In contrast, the number of new infections in the PMP vaccine was similar to the control group, with some koalas progressing to disease. Genotyping of the ompA gene from the C. pecorum strains infecting the vaccinated animals, identified genetic variants of ompA-F genotype and a new genotype ompA-O. We found that those animals that were the least well protected became infected with strains of C. pecorum not covered by the vaccine. In conclusion, a single dose vaccine formulated with either recombinant PmpG or MOMP can elicit both cell-mediated and humoral (systemic and mucosal) immune responses, with the MOMP vaccine showing clearance of infection in all infected koalas. Although the capability of our vaccines to stimulate an adaptive response and be protective needs to be fully evaluated, this work illustrates the necessity to combine epitopes most relevant to a large panel of variable strains with an efficient adjuvant.
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23
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Nunes A, Gomes JP, Karunakaran KP, Brunham RC. Bioinformatic Analysis of Chlamydia trachomatis Polymorphic Membrane Proteins PmpE, PmpF, PmpG and PmpH as Potential Vaccine Antigens. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131695. [PMID: 26131720 PMCID: PMC4488443 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most important infectious cause of infertility in women with important implications in public health and for which a vaccine is urgently needed. Recent immunoproteomic vaccine studies found that four polymorphic membrane proteins (PmpE, PmpF, PmpG and PmpH) are immunodominant, recognized by various MHC class II haplotypes and protective in mouse models. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate genetic and protein features of Pmps (focusing on the N-terminal 600 amino acids where MHC class II epitopes were mapped) in order to understand antigen variation that may emerge following vaccine induced immune selection. We used several bioinformatics platforms to study: i) Pmps' phylogeny and genetic polymorphism; ii) the location and distribution of protein features (GGA(I, L)/FxxN motifs and cysteine residues) that may impact pathogen-host interactions and protein conformation; and iii) the existence of phase variation mechanisms that may impact Pmps' expression. We used a well-characterized collection of 53 fully-sequenced strains that represent the C. trachomatis serovars associated with the three disease groups: ocular (N=8), epithelial-genital (N=25) and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) (N=20). We observed that PmpF and PmpE are highly polymorphic between LGV and epithelial-genital strains, and also within populations of the latter. We also found heterogeneous representation among strains for GGA(I, L)/FxxN motifs and cysteine residues, suggesting possible alterations in adhesion properties, tissue specificity and immunogenicity. PmpG and, to a lesser extent, PmpH revealed low polymorphism and high conservation of protein features among the genital strains (including the LGV group). Uniquely among the four Pmps, pmpG has regulatory sequences suggestive of phase variation. In aggregate, the results suggest that PmpG may be the lead vaccine candidate because of sequence conservation but may need to be paired with another protective antigen (like PmpH) in order to prevent immune selection of phase variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Nunes
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João P. Gomes
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Karuna P. Karunakaran
- Vaccine Research Laboratory, University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Robert C. Brunham
- Vaccine Research Laboratory, University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
- * E-mail:
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24
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Folding and stability of integral membrane proteins in amphipols. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 564:327-43. [PMID: 25449655 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Revised: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Amphipols (APols) are a family of amphipathic polymers designed to keep transmembrane proteins (TMPs) soluble in aqueous solutions in the absence of detergent. APols have proven remarkably efficient at (i) stabilizing TMPs, as compared to detergent solutions, and (ii) folding them from a denatured state to a native, functional one. The underlying physical-chemical mechanisms are discussed.
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25
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Frohlich KM, Hua Z, Quayle AJ, Wang J, Lewis ME, Chou CW, Luo M, Buckner LR, Shen L. Membrane vesicle production by Chlamydia trachomatis as an adaptive response. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:73. [PMID: 24959424 PMCID: PMC4050530 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved specific adaptive responses to cope with changing environments. These adaptations include stress response phenotypes with dynamic modifications of the bacterial cell envelope and generation of membrane vesicles (MVs). The obligate intracellular bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, typically has a biphasic lifestyle, but can enter into an altered growth state typified by morphologically aberrant chlamydial forms, termed persistent growth forms, when induced by stress in vitro. How C. trachomatis can adapt to a persistent growth state in host epithelial cells in vivo is not well understood, but is an important question, since it extends the host-bacterial relationship in vitro and has thus been indicated as a survival mechanism in chronic chlamydial infections. Here, we review recent findings on the mechanistic aspects of bacterial adaptation to stress with a focus on how C. trachomatis remodels its envelope, produces MVs, and the potential important consequences of MV production with respect to host-pathogen interactions. Emerging data suggest that the generation of MVs may be an important mechanism for C. trachomatis intracellular survival of stress, and thus may aid in the establishment of a chronic infection in human genital epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyla M Frohlich
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Ziyu Hua
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA ; Department of Neonatology, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorder, The Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University Chongqing, China
| | - Alison J Quayle
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Maria E Lewis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Chau-wen Chou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia Athens, GA, USA
| | - Miao Luo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Lyndsey R Buckner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, USA
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26
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Tifrea DF, Pal S, Popot JL, Cocco MJ, de la Maza LM. Increased immunoaccessibility of MOMP epitopes in a vaccine formulated with amphipols may account for the very robust protection elicited against a vaginal challenge with Chlamydia muridarum. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 192:5201-13. [PMID: 24778450 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1303392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
There is a need to implement a vaccine to protect against Chlamydia trachomatis infections. To test a new vaccine, mice were immunized with the Chlamydia muridarum native major outer membrane protein (nMOMP) solubilized with either amphipol A8-35 or the detergent Z3-14. OVA was used as a negative control, and mice were inoculated intranasally with C. muridarum as positive controls. Animals vaccinated with nMOMP mounted strong Chlamydia-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Mice vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 had a higher ratio of Abs to denatured elementary bodies (EB) over live EB, recognized more synthetic MOMP peptides and had higher neutralizing titers than sera from mice immunized with nMOMP/Z3-14. T cell lymphoproliferative responses and levels of IFN-γ were also higher in mice vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 than with nMOMP/Z3-14. Following immunization, animals were challenged intravaginally with C. muridarum. On the basis of the number of mice with positive vaginal cultures, length of vaginal shedding, total number of positive vaginal cultures, and number of Chlamydia inclusion forming units recovered, nMOMP/A8-35 elicited a more robust protection than nMOMP/Z3-14. By depleting T cells with Abs, we determined that CD4(+) and not CD8(+) T cells mediated the protection elicited by nMOMP/A8-35. Mice were subsequently mated, and based on the number of pregnant mice and number of embryos, animals that were vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 or nMOMP/Z3-14 had fertility rates equivalent to the positive control group immunized with live EB and the fertility controls. In conclusion, increased accessibility of epitopes in the nMOMP/A8-35 preparation may account for the very robust protection against infection and disease elicited by this vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Jean-Luc Popot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université Paris-7 Unité Mixte de Recherche 7099, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, F-75005 Paris, France; and
| | - Melanie J Cocco
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697;
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27
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Zhou X, Lin P, Yamazaki D, Park KH, Komazaki S, Chen SRW, Takeshima H, Ma J. Trimeric intracellular cation channels and sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium homeostasis. Circ Res 2014; 114:706-16. [PMID: 24526676 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.114.301816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Trimeric intracellular cation channels (TRIC) represents a novel class of trimeric intracellular cation channels. Two TRIC isoforms have been identified in both the human and the mouse genomes: TRIC-A, a subtype predominantly expressed in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of muscle cells, and TRIC-B, a ubiquitous subtype expressed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of all tissues. Genetic ablation of either TRIC-A or TRIC-B leads to compromised K(+) permeation and Ca(2+) release across the SR/ER membrane, supporting the hypothesis that TRIC channels provide a counter balancing K(+) flux that reduces SR/ER membrane depolarization for maintenance of the electrochemical gradient that drives SR/ER Ca(2+) release. TRIC-A and TRIC-B seem to have differential functions in Ca(2+) signaling in excitable and nonexcitable cells. Tric-a(-/-) mice display defective Ca(2+) sparks and spontaneous transient outward currents in arterial smooth muscle and develop hypertension, in addition to skeletal muscle dysfunction. Knockout of TRIC-B results in abnormal IP3 receptor-mediated Ca(2+) release in airway epithelial cells, respiratory defects, and neonatal lethality. Double knockout mice lacking both TRIC-A and TRIC-B show embryonic lethality as a result of cardiac arrest. Such an aggravated lethality indicates that TRIC-A and TRIC-B share complementary physiological functions in Ca(2+) signaling in embryonic cardiomyocytes. Tric-a(-/-) and Tric-b(+/-) mice are viable and susceptible to stress-induced heart failure. Recent evidence suggests that TRIC-A directly modulates the function of the cardiac ryanodine receptor 2 Ca(2+) release channel, which in turn controls store-overload-induced Ca(2+) release from the SR. Thus, the TRIC channels, in addition to providing a countercurrent for SR/ER Ca(2+) release, may also function as accessory proteins that directly modulate the ryanodine receptor/IP3 receptor channel functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhou
- From the Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus (X.Z., P.L., K.H.P., J.M.); Department of Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto, Japan (D.Y., H.T.); Department of Anatomy, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan (S.K.); and Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (W.C.)
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