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Lê-Bury P, Echenique-Rivera H, Pizarro-Cerdá J, Dussurget O. Determinants of bacterial survival and proliferation in blood. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae013. [PMID: 38734892 PMCID: PMC11163986 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae013] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Bloodstream infection is a major public health concern associated with high mortality and high healthcare costs worldwide. Bacteremia can trigger fatal sepsis whose prevention, diagnosis, and management have been recognized as a global health priority by the World Health Organization. Additionally, infection control is increasingly threatened by antimicrobial resistance, which is the focus of global action plans in the framework of a One Health response. In-depth knowledge of the infection process is needed to develop efficient preventive and therapeutic measures. The pathogenesis of bloodstream infection is a dynamic process resulting from the invasion of the vascular system by bacteria, which finely regulate their metabolic pathways and virulence factors to overcome the blood immune defenses and proliferate. In this review, we highlight our current understanding of determinants of bacterial survival and proliferation in the bloodstream and discuss their interactions with the molecular and cellular components of blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Lê-Bury
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Autoimmune, Hematological and Bacterial Diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), 18 route du Panorama, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Hebert Echenique-Rivera
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Javier Pizarro-Cerdá
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Yersinia National Reference Laboratory, WHO Collaborating Research & Reference Centre for Plague FRA-146, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Olivier Dussurget
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
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Maynard-Smith L, Derrick JP, Borrow R, Lucidarme J, Maiden MCJ, Heyderman RS, Harrison OB. Genome-Wide Association Studies Identify an Association of Transferrin Binding Protein B Variation and Invasive Serogroup Y Meningococcal Disease in Older Adults. J Infect Dis 2022; 226:2204-2214. [PMID: 36322504 PMCID: PMC9748998 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y, especially ST-23 clonal complex (Y:cc23), represents a larger proportion of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in older adults compared to younger individuals. This study explored the meningococcal genetic variation underlying this association. METHODS Maximum-likelihood phylogenies and the pangenome were analyzed using whole-genome sequence (WGS) data from 200 Y:cc23 isolates in the Neisseria PubMLST database. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed on WGS data from 250 Y:cc23 isolates from individuals with IMD aged ≥65 years versus < 65 years. RESULTS Y:cc23 meningococcal variants did not cluster by age group or disease phenotype in phylogenetic analyses. Pangenome comparisons found no differences in presence or absence of genes in IMD isolates from the different age groups. GWAS identified differences in nucleotide polymorphisms within the transferrin-binding protein B (tbpB) gene in isolates from individuals ≥65 years of age. TbpB structure modelling suggests these may impact binding of human transferrin. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest differential iron scavenging capacity amongst Y:cc23 meningococci isolated from older compared to younger patients. Iron acquisition is essential for many bacterial pathogens including the meningococcus. These polymorphisms may facilitate colonization, thereby increasing the risk of disease in vulnerable older people with altered nasopharyngeal microbiomes and nutritional status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Maynard-Smith
- Correspondence: Laura Maynard-Smith, MBBS, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK ()
| | - Jeremy P Derrick
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jay Lucidarme
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Robert S Heyderman
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Ali YM, Lynch NJ, Khatri P, Bamigbola IE, Chan ACY, Yabuki M, Demopulos GA, Heeney JL, Pai S, Baxendale H, Schwaeble WJ. Secondary Complement Deficiency Impairs Anti-Microbial Immunity to Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus During Severe Acute COVID-19. Front Immunol 2022; 13:841759. [PMID: 35572551 PMCID: PMC9094484 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.841759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A high incidence of secondary Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus infection were observed in patients with severe COVID-19. The cause of this predisposition to infection is unclear. Our data demonstrate consumption of complement in acute COVID-19 patients reflected by low levels of C3, C4, and loss of haemolytic activity. Given that the elimination of Gram-negative bacteria depends in part on complement-mediated lysis, we hypothesised that secondary hypocomplementaemia is rendering the antibody-dependent classical pathway activation inactive and compromises serum bactericidal activity (SBA). 217 patients with severe COVID-19 were studied. 142 patients suffered secondary bacterial infections. Klebsiella species were the most common Gram-negative organism, found in 58 patients, while S. aureus was the dominant Gram-positive organism found in 22 patients. Hypocomplementaemia was observed in patients with acute severe COVID-19 but not in convalescent survivors three months after discharge. Sera from patients with acute COVID-19 were unable to opsonise either K. pneumoniae or S. aureus and had impaired complement-mediated killing of Klebsiella. We conclude that hyperactivation of complement during acute COVID-19 leads to secondary hypocomplementaemia and predisposes to opportunistic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssif M. Ali
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Nicholas J. Lynch
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Priyanka Khatri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ifeoluwa E. Bamigbola
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew C. Y. Chan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Jonathan L. Heeney
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sumita Pai
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Baxendale
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Wilhelm J. Schwaeble
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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4
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Cole GB, Bateman TJ, Moraes TF. The surface lipoproteins of gram-negative bacteria: Protectors and foragers in harsh environments. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100147. [PMID: 33277359 PMCID: PMC7857515 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.008745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-negative pathogens are enveloped by an outer membrane that serves as a double-edged sword: On the one hand, it provides a layer of protection for the bacterium from environmental insults, including other bacteria and the host immune system. On the other hand, it restricts movement of vital nutrients into the cell and provides a plethora of antigens that can be detected by host immune systems. One strategy used to overcome these limitations is the decoration of the outer surface of gram-negative bacteria with proteins tethered to the outer membrane through a lipid anchor. These surface lipoproteins (SLPs) fulfill critical roles in immune evasion and nutrient acquisition, but as more bacterial genomes are sequenced, we are beginning to discover their prevalence and their different roles and mechanisms and importantly how we can exploit them as antimicrobial targets. This review will focus on representative SLPs that gram-negative bacteria use to overcome host innate immunity, specifically the areas of nutritional immunity and complement system evasion. We elaborate on the structures of some notable SLPs required for binding target molecules in hosts and how this information can be used alongside bioinformatics to understand mechanisms of binding and in the discovery of new SLPs. This information provides a foundation for the development of therapeutics and the design of vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory B Cole
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Thomas J Bateman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Trevor F Moraes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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5
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Topaz N, Kristiansen PA, Schmink S, Congo-Ouédraogo M, Kambiré D, Mbaeyi S, Paye M, Sanou M, Sangaré L, Ouédraogo R, Wang X. Molecular insights into meningococcal carriage isolates from Burkina Faso 7 years after introduction of a serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Microb Genom 2020; 6:mgen000486. [PMID: 33332261 PMCID: PMC8116689 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2010, Burkina Faso completed the first nationwide mass-vaccination campaign of a meningococcal A conjugate vaccine, drastically reducing the incidence of disease caused by serogroup A meningococci. Since then, other strains, such as those belonging to serogroups W, X and C, have continued to cause outbreaks within the region. A carriage study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 in the country to characterize the meningococcal strains circulating among healthy individuals following the mass-vaccination campaign. Four cross-sectional carriage evaluation rounds were conducted in two districts of Burkina Faso, Kaya and Ouahigouya. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected for the detection of Neisseria meningitidis by culture. Confirmed N. meningitidis isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing for molecular characterization. Among 13 758 participants, 1035 (7.5 %) N. meningitidis isolates were recovered. Most isolates (934/1035; 90.2 %) were non-groupable and primarily belonged to clonal complex (CC) 192 (822/934; 88 %). Groupable isolates (101/1035; 9.8 %) primarily belonged to CCs associated with recent outbreaks in the region, such as CC11 (serogroup W) and CC10217 (serogroup C); carried serogroup A isolates were not detected. Phylogenetic analysis revealed several CC11 strains circulating within the country, several of which were closely related to invasive isolates. Three sequence types (STs) were identified among eleven CC10217 carriage isolates, two of which have caused recent outbreaks in the region (ST-10217 and ST-12446). Our results show the importance of carriage studies to track the outbreak-associated strains circulating within the population in order to inform future vaccination strategies and molecular surveillance programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav Topaz
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D11, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Paul Arne Kristiansen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Present address: Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Oslo, Norway
| | - Susanna Schmink
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D11, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | | | - Dinanibè Kambiré
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Sarah Mbaeyi
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D11, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Marietou Paye
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D11, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Mahamoudou Sanou
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Lassana Sangaré
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Yalgado Ouédraogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Rasmata Ouédraogo
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Xin Wang
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D11, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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Yadav R, Noinaj N, Ostan N, Moraes T, Stoudenmire J, Maurakis S, Cornelissen CN. Structural Basis for Evasion of Nutritional Immunity by the Pathogenic Neisseriae. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:2981. [PMID: 31998268 PMCID: PMC6965322 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic Neisseria species are human-adapted pathogens that cause quite distinct diseases. Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes the common sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea, while Neisseria meningitidis causes a potentially lethal form of bacterial meningitis. During infection, both pathogens deploy a number of virulence factors in order to thrive in the host. The focus of this review is on the outer membrane transport systems that enable the Neisseriae to utilize host-specific nutrients, including metal-binding proteins such as transferrin and calprotectin. Because acquisition of these critical metals is essential for growth and survival, understanding the structures of receptor-ligand complexes may be an important step in developing preventative or therapeutic strategies focused on thwarting these pathogens. Much can also be learned by comparing structures with antigenic diversity among the transporter sequences, as conserved functional domains in these essential transporters could represent the pathogens' "Achilles heel." Toward this goal, we present known or modeled structures for the transport systems produced by the pathogenic Neisseria species, overlapped with sequence diversity derived by comparing hundreds of neisserial protein sequences. Given the concerning increase in N. gonorrhoeae incidence and antibiotic resistance, these outer membrane transport systems appear to be excellent targets for new therapies and preventative vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Yadav
- Markey Center for Structural Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Nicholas Noinaj
- Markey Center for Structural Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Nicholas Ostan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Trevor Moraes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julie Stoudenmire
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Stavros Maurakis
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Phase-variable bacterial loci: how bacteria gamble to maximise fitness in changing environments. Biochem Soc Trans 2019; 47:1131-1141. [PMID: 31341035 DOI: 10.1042/bst20180633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Phase-variation of genes is defined as the rapid and reversible switching of expression - either ON-OFF switching or the expression of multiple allelic variants. Switching of expression can be achieved by a number of different mechanisms. Phase-variable genes typically encode bacterial surface structures, such as adhesins, pili, and lipooligosaccharide, and provide an extra contingency strategy in small-genome pathogens that may lack the plethora of 'sense-and-respond' gene regulation systems found in other organisms. Many bacterial pathogens also encode phase-variable DNA methyltransferases that control the expression of multiple genes in systems called phasevarions (phase-variable regulons). The presence of phase-variable genes allows a population of bacteria to generate a number of phenotypic variants, some of which may be better suited to either colonising certain host niches, surviving a particular environmental condition and/or evading an immune response. The presence of phase-variable genes complicates the determination of an organism's stably expressed antigenic repertoire; many phase-variable genes are highly immunogenic, and so would be ideal vaccine candidates, but unstable expression due to phase-variation may allow vaccine escape. This review will summarise our current understanding of phase-variable genes that switch expression by a variety of mechanisms, and describe their role in disease and pathobiology.
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Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) is a member of the normal nasopharyngeal microbiome in healthy individuals, but can cause septicemia and meningitis in susceptible individuals. In this chapter we provide an overview of the disease caused by N. meningitidis and the schemes used to type the meningococcus. We also review the adhesions, virulence factors, and phase variable genes that enable it to successfully colonize the human host. Finally, we outline the history and current status of meningococcal vaccines and highlight the importance of continued molecular investigation of the epidemiology and the structural analysis of the antigens of this pathogen to aid future vaccine development.
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Sevestre J, Diene SM, Aouiti-Trabelsi M, Deghmane AE, Tournier I, François P, Caron F, Taha MK. Differential expression of hemoglobin receptor, HmbR, between carriage and invasive isolates of Neisseria meningitidis contributes to virulence: lessons from a clonal outbreak. Virulence 2018; 9:923-929. [PMID: 29638173 PMCID: PMC5955449 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1460064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Carriage and invasion balance in the pathogenesis of Neisseria meningitidis was analyzed during a recent clonal outbreak of meningococcal B in Normandy, France, that offered the opportunity to compare six isolates undistinguable by conventional typing (B:14:P1.7,16:F3-3/ST-32) isolated from invasive disease or pharyngeal asymptomatic carriage. Data from animal model (transgenic mice rendered susceptible to N. meningitidis infection) showed an absence of virulence for two non-capsulated carriage isolates, an intermediate virulence for two capsulated carriage isolates and a marked virulence for two capsulated invasive isolates. This differential pathogenesis well correlated with whole genome sequencing analysis that clustered both isolates of each group together, forming their own arm within the Norman cluster. Gene-by-gene analysis specified that genes involved in iron acquisition were among the elements differentially represented in cluster of invasive isolates compared to cluster of capsulated carriage isolates. The hemoglobin receptor encoding gene hmbR was in an ON-phase in the capsulated invasive isolates while carriage capsulated isolates were in an OFF-phase. An ON-phase variant of a capsulated carriage isolate showed enhanced virulence. These data underline the role of phase variation (ON/OFF) of HmbR in the balance between disease isolates/carriage isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Sevestre
- a Research group on microbial adaptation (EA 2656) Normandie University, UNIROUEN , Rouen , France.,b Invasive bacterial Infections Unit and National reference center on meningococci , Institut Pasteur , Paris , France
| | - Seydina M Diene
- c Genomic research laboratory, Service of infectious diseases , Geneva University Hospitals , Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Myriam Aouiti-Trabelsi
- b Invasive bacterial Infections Unit and National reference center on meningococci , Institut Pasteur , Paris , France
| | - Ala-Eddine Deghmane
- b Invasive bacterial Infections Unit and National reference center on meningococci , Institut Pasteur , Paris , France
| | - Isabelle Tournier
- d Inserm U1245 , UNIROUEN, Normandie University, Normandy center for genomic and personalized medicine , Rouen , France
| | - Patrice François
- c Genomic research laboratory, Service of infectious diseases , Geneva University Hospitals , Geneva , Switzerland
| | - François Caron
- a Research group on microbial adaptation (EA 2656) Normandie University, UNIROUEN , Rouen , France.,e Infectious diseases department , Rouen University Hospital , Rouen , France
| | - Muhamed-Kheir Taha
- b Invasive bacterial Infections Unit and National reference center on meningococci , Institut Pasteur , Paris , France
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10
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Bidmos FA, Nadel S, Screaton GR, Kroll JS, Langford PR. Cross-Reactive Bactericidal Antimeningococcal Antibodies Can Be Isolated From Convalescing Invasive Meningococcal Disease Patients Using Reverse Vaccinology 2.0. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1621. [PMID: 30061891 PMCID: PMC6055031 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The threat from invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) remains a serious source of concern despite the licensure and availability of vaccines. A limitation of current serogroup B vaccines is the breadth of coverage afforded, resulting from the capacity for extensive variation of the meningococcus and its huge potential for the generation of further diversity. Thus, the continuous search for candidate antigens that will compose supplementary or replacement vaccines is mandated. Here, we describe successful efforts to utilize the reverse vaccinology 2.0 approach to identify novel functional meningococcal antigens. In this study, eight broadly cross-reactive sequence-specific antimeningococcal human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) were cloned from 4 ml of blood taken from a 7-month-old sufferer of IMD. Three of these hmAbs possessed human complement-dependent bactericidal activity against meningococcal serogroup B strains of disparate PorA and 4CMenB antigen sequence types, strongly suggesting that the target(s) of these bactericidal hmAbs are not PorA (the immunodominant meningococcal antigen), factor-H binding protein, or other components of current meningococcal vaccines. Reactivity of the bactericidal hmAbs was confirmed to a single ca. 35 kDa protein in western blots. Unequivocal identification of this antigen is currently ongoing. Collectively, our results provide proof-of-principle for the use of reverse vaccinology 2.0 as a powerful tool in the search for alternative meningococcal vaccine candidate antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadil A Bidmos
- Section of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Nadel
- Section of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin R Screaton
- Section of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - J Simon Kroll
- Section of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R Langford
- Section of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Christodoulides M, Heckels J. Novel approaches to Neisseria meningitidis vaccine design. Pathog Dis 2018; 75:3078540. [PMID: 28369428 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftx033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A range of vaccines is available for preventing life-threatening diseases caused by infection with Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus, Men). Capsule polysaccharide (CPS)-conjugate vaccines are successful prophylactics for serogroup MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY infections, and outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines have been used successfully for controlling clonal serogroup MenB infections. MenB vaccines based on recombinant proteins identified by reverse vaccinology (Bexsero™) and proteomics (Trumenba™) approaches have recently been licensed and Bexsero™ has been introduced into the UK infant immunisation programme. In this review, we chart the development of these licensed vaccines. In addition, we discuss the plethora of novel vaccinology approaches that have been applied to the meningococcus with varying success in pre-clinical studies, but which provide technological platforms for application to other pathogens. These strategies include modifying CPS, lipooligosaccharide and OMV; the use of recombinant proteins; structural vaccinology approaches of designing synthetic peptide/mimetope vaccines, DNA vaccines and engineered proteins; epitope presentation on biological and synthetic particles; through vaccination with live-attenuated pathogen(s), or with heterologous bacteria expressing vaccine antigens, or to competitive occupation of the nasopharyngeal niche by commensal bacterial spp. After close to a century of vaccine research, it is possible that meningococcal disease may be added, shortly, to the list of diseases to have been eradicated worldwide by rigorous vaccination campaigns.
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12
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Cornelissen CN. Subversion of nutritional immunity by the pathogenic Neisseriae. Pathog Dis 2018; 76:4553517. [PMID: 29045638 PMCID: PMC6251569 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftx112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic Neisseria species, including Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, are obligate human pathogens that cause significant morbidity and mortality. The success of these pathogens, with regard to causing disease in humans, is inextricably linked to their ability to acquire necessary nutrients in the hostile environment of the host. Humans deploy a significant arsenal of weaponry to defend against bacterial pathogens, not least of which are the metal-sequestering proteins that entrap and withhold transition metals, including iron, zinc and manganese, from invaders. This review will discuss the general strategies that bacteria employ to overcome these metal-sequestering attempts by the host, and then will focus on the relatively uncommon 'metal piracy' approaches utilized by the pathogenic Neisseria for this purpose. Because acquiring metals from the environment is critical to microbial survival, interfering with this process could impede growth and therefore disease initiation or progression. This review will also discuss how interfering with metal uptake by the pathogenic Neisseriae could be deployed in the development of novel or improved preventative or therapeutic measures against these important pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Nau Cornelissen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Box 980678, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA
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13
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Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a harmless commensal bacterium finely adapted to humans. Unfortunately, under “privileged” conditions, it adopts a “devious” lifestyle leading to uncontrolled behavior characterized by the unleashing of molecular weapons causing potentially lethal disease such as sepsis and acute meningitis. Indeed, despite the lack of a classic repertoire of virulence genes in
N. meningitidis separating commensal from invasive strains, molecular epidemiology and functional genomics studies suggest that carriage and invasive strains belong to genetically distinct populations characterized by an exclusive pathogenic potential. In the last few years, “omics” technologies have helped scientists to unwrap the framework drawn by
N. meningitidis during different stages of colonization and disease. However, this scenario is still incomplete and would benefit from the implementation of physiological tissue models for the reproduction of mucosal and systemic interactions
in vitro. These emerging technologies supported by recent advances in the world of stem cell biology hold the promise for a further understanding of
N. meningitidis pathogenesis.
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