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Xing Y, Clark JR, Chang JD, Zulk JJ, Chirman DM, Piedra FA, Vaughan EE, Hernandez Santos HJ, Patras KA, Maresso AW. Progress toward a vaccine for extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) II: efficacy of a toxin-autotransporter dual antigen approach. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0044023. [PMID: 38591882 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00440-23] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a leading cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality, the top cause of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections, and the most frequent cause of life-threatening sepsis and urinary tract infections (UTI) in adults. The development of an effective and universal vaccine is complicated by this pathogen's pan-genome, its ability to mix and match virulence factors and AMR genes via horizontal gene transfer, an inability to decipher commensal from pathogens, and its intimate association and co-evolution with mammals. Using a pan virulome analysis of >20,000 sequenced E. coli strains, we identified the secreted cytolysin α-hemolysin (HlyA) as a high priority target for vaccine exploration studies. We demonstrate that a catalytically inactive pure form of HlyA, expressed in an autologous host using its own secretion system, is highly immunogenic in a murine host, protects against several forms of ExPEC infection (including lethal bacteremia), and significantly lowers bacterial burdens in multiple organ systems. Interestingly, the combination of a previously reported autotransporter (SinH) with HlyA was notably effective, inducing near complete protection against lethal challenge, including commonly used infection strains ST73 (CFT073) and ST95 (UTI89), as well as a mixture of 10 of the most highly virulent sequence types and strains from our clinical collection. Both HlyA and HlyA-SinH combinations also afforded some protection against UTI89 colonization in a murine UTI model. These findings suggest recombinant, inactive hemolysin and/or its combination with SinH warrant investigation in the development of an E. coli vaccine against invasive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikun Xing
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Justin R Clark
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - James D Chang
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jacob J Zulk
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Dylan M Chirman
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Felipe-Andres Piedra
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ellen E Vaughan
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Haroldo J Hernandez Santos
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kathryn A Patras
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony W Maresso
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- TAILOR Labs, Vaccine Development Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Hibbert T, Krpetic Z, Latimer J, Leighton H, McHugh R, Pottenger S, Wragg C, James CE. Antimicrobials: An update on new strategies to diversify treatment for bacterial infections. Adv Microb Physiol 2024; 84:135-241. [PMID: 38821632 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.12.002] [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] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Ninety-five years after Fleming's discovery of penicillin, a bounty of antibiotic compounds have been discovered, modified, or synthesised. Diversification of target sites, improved stability and altered activity spectra have enabled continued antibiotic efficacy, but overwhelming reliance and misuse has fuelled the global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). An estimated 1.27 million deaths were attributable to antibiotic resistant bacteria in 2019, representing a major threat to modern medicine. Although antibiotics remain at the heart of strategies for treatment and control of bacterial diseases, the threat of AMR has reached catastrophic proportions urgently calling for fresh innovation. The last decade has been peppered with ground-breaking developments in genome sequencing, high throughput screening technologies and machine learning. These advances have opened new doors for bioprospecting for novel antimicrobials. They have also enabled more thorough exploration of complex and polymicrobial infections and interactions with the healthy microbiome. Using models of infection that more closely resemble the infection state in vivo, we are now beginning to measure the impacts of antimicrobial therapy on host/microbiota/pathogen interactions. However new approaches are needed for developing and standardising appropriate methods to measure efficacy of novel antimicrobial combinations in these contexts. A battery of promising new antimicrobials is now in various stages of development including co-administered inhibitors, phages, nanoparticles, immunotherapy, anti-biofilm and anti-virulence agents. These novel therapeutics need multidisciplinary collaboration and new ways of thinking to bring them into large scale clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Hibbert
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Zeljka Krpetic
- School of Science, Engineering, and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Joe Latimer
- School of Science, Engineering, and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Hollie Leighton
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rebecca McHugh
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sian Pottenger
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Charlotte Wragg
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Chloë E James
- School of Science, Engineering, and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK.
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Qiu L, Chirman D, Clark JR, Xing Y, Hernandez Santos H, Vaughan EE, Maresso AW. Vaccines against extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC): progress and challenges. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2359691. [PMID: 38825856 PMCID: PMC11152113 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2359691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a principal global health crisis projected to cause 10 million deaths annually worldwide by 2050. While the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli is commonly found as a commensal microbe in the human gut, some strains are dangerously pathogenic, contributing to the highest AMR-associated mortality. Strains of E. coli that can translocate from the gastrointestinal tract to distal sites, called extraintestinal E. coli (ExPEC), are particularly problematic and predominantly afflict women, the elderly, and immunocompromised populations. Despite nearly 40 years of clinical trials, there is still no vaccine against ExPEC. One reason for this is the remarkable diversity in the ExPEC pangenome across pathotypes, clades, and strains, with hundreds of genes associated with pathogenesis including toxins, adhesins, and nutrient acquisition systems. Further, ExPEC is intimately associated with human mucosal surfaces and has evolved creative strategies to avoid the immune system. This review summarizes previous and ongoing preclinical and clinical ExPEC vaccine research efforts to help identify key gaps in knowledge and remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Qiu
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dylan Chirman
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Justin R. Clark
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yikun Xing
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Haroldo Hernandez Santos
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ellen E. Vaughan
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony W. Maresso
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research (TAILΦR), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Soto Perezchica MM, Guerrero Barrera AL, Avelar Gonzalez FJ, Quezada Tristan T, Macias Marin O. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, surface proteins and virulence: a review. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1276712. [PMID: 38098987 PMCID: PMC10720984 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1276712] [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: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) is a globally distributed Gram-negative bacterium that produces porcine pleuropneumonia. This highly contagious disease produces high morbidity and mortality in the swine industry. However, no effective vaccine exists to prevent it. The infection caused by App provokes characteristic lesions, such as edema, inflammation, hemorrhage, and necrosis, that involve different virulence factors. The colonization and invasion of host surfaces involved structures and proteins such as outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), pili, flagella, adhesins, outer membrane proteins (OMPs), also participates proteases, autotransporters, and lipoproteins. The recent findings on surface structures and proteins described in this review highlight them as potential immunogens for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- María M. Soto Perezchica
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Tisular, Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Alma L. Guerrero Barrera
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Tisular, Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Francisco J. Avelar Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Estudios Ambientales, Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Teodulo Quezada Tristan
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinaria, Centro de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Osvaldo Macias Marin
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Tisular, Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
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Jiang Z, Kang X, Song Y, Zhou X, Yue M. Identification and Evaluation of Novel Antigen Candidates against Salmonella Pullorum Infection Using Reverse Vaccinology. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040865. [PMID: 37112777 PMCID: PMC10143441 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pullorum disease, caused by the Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum, is a highly contagious disease in the poultry industry, leading to significant economic losses in many developing countries. Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, immediate attention is required to prevent their endemics and global spreading. To mitigate the prevalence of MDR Salmonella Pullorum infections in poultry farms, it is urgent to develop effective vaccines. Reverse vaccinology (RV) is a promising approach using expressed genomic sequences to find new vaccine targets. The present study used the RV approach to identify new antigen candidates against Pullorum disease. Initial epidemiological investigation and virulent assays were conducted to select strain R51 for presentative and general importance. An additional complete genome sequence (4.7 Mb) for R51 was resolved using the Pacbio RS II platform. The proteome of Salmonella Pullorum was analyzed to predict outer membrane and extracellular proteins, and was further selected for evaluating transmembrane domains, protein prevalence, antigenicity, and solubility. Twenty-two high-scored proteins were identified among 4713 proteins, with 18 recombinant proteins successfully expressed and purified. The chick embryo model was used to assess protection efficacy, in which vaccine candidates were injected into 18-day-old chick embryos for in vivo immunogenicity and protective effects. The results showed that the PstS, SinH, LpfB, and SthB vaccine candidates were able to elicit a significant immune response. Particularly, PstS confers a significant protective effect, with a 75% survival rate compared to 31.25% for the PBS control group, confirming that identified antigens can be promising targets against Salmonella Pullorum infection. Thus, we offer RV to discover novel effective antigens in an important veterinary infectious agent with high priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Jiang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiamei Kang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yan Song
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiao Zhou
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Min Yue
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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