MRI Based Localisation and Quantification of Abscesses following Experimental S. aureus Intravenous Challenge: Application to Vaccine Evaluation

Protective efficacy of Alum adjuvanted Amidase protein vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus infection in multiple mouse models

AIMS

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen of humans. No commercial vaccine is available to combat S. aureus infections. In this study, we have investigated the protective immune response generated by S. aureus non-covalently associated cell wall surface protein N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase (AM) in combination with Alum (Al) and heat-killed S. aureus (hkSA) using murine models.

METHODS AND RESULTS

BALB/c mice were immunized with increasing concentrations of AM antigen or hkSA to determine their optimum concentration for vaccination. Fifty micrograms of AM and hkSA each were found to generate maximum anti-AM IgG antibody production. BALB/c mice were immunized next with 50 µg of AM, 50 µg of hKSA and 1 mg Al vaccine formulation. Vaccine efficacy was validated by challenging immunized BALB/c mice with S. aureus Newman and three clinical methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains. AM-hkSA-Al-immunized mice generated high anti-AM IgG antibody response with IgG1 and IgG2b as the predominant immunoglobulin subtypes. Increased survival (60%-90%) with decreased clinical disease symptoms was observed in the vaccinated BALB/c mice group. A significantly lower bacterial load and decreased kidney abscess formation was observed following the challenge with S. aureus in the vaccinated BALB/c mice group. Furthermore, the efficacy of AM-hkSA-Al vaccine was also validated using C57 BL/6 and Swiss albino mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Using murine infection models, we have demonstrated that AM-hkSA-Al vaccine would be effective in preventing S. aureus infections.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

AM-hkSA-Al vaccine elicited strong immune response and may be considered for future vaccine design against S. aureus infections.

Vaccination with the Staphylococcus aureus secreted proteins EapH1 and EapH2 impacts both S. aureus carriage and invasive disease

INTRODUCTION

There is a need for an efficacious vaccine reducing infections due to Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of community and hospital infection. Infecting organisms originate from S. aureus populations colonising the nares and bowel. Antimicrobials are widely used to transiently reduce S. aureus colonisation prior to surgery, a practice which is selecting for resistant S. aureus isolates. S. aureus secretes multiple proteins, including the protease inhibitors extracellular adhesion protein homologue 1 and 2 (EapH1 and EapH2).

METHODS

Mice were vaccinated intramuscularly or intranasally with Adenovirus serotype 5 and Modified Vaccinia Ankara viral vectors expressing EapH1 and EapH2 proteins, or with control viruses. Using murine S. aureus colonisation models, we monitored S. aureus colonisation by sequential stool sampling. Monitoring of S. aureus invasive disease after intravenous challenge was performed using bacterial load and abscess numbers in the kidney.

RESULTS

Intramuscular vaccination with Adenovirus serotype 5 and Modified Vaccinia Ankara viral vectors expressing EapH1 and EapH2 proteins significantly reduces bacterial recovery in the murine renal abscess model of infection, but the magnitude of the effect is small. A single intranasal vaccination with an adenoviral vaccine expressing these proteins reduced S. aureus gastrointestinal (GI) tract colonisation.

CONCLUSION

Vaccination against EapH1 / EapH2 proteins may offer an antibiotic independent way to reduce S. aureus colonisation, as well as contributing to protection against S. aureus invasive disease.