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Di Azevedo MIN, Borges ALDSB, Kremer F, de Melo JDSL, Carvalho-Costa FA, Lilenbaum W. Genetic Analysis of LigA, LipL32, Loa22, and OmpL1 Antigens from Leptospira spp. Sejroe Serogroup: How Close We Are To a Vaccine Against Bovine Leptospirosis? Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:310. [PMID: 37535179 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03414-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Bovine leptospirosis has as main causative agents Leptospira spp. from Sejroe serogroup. Vaccination is a crucial step to control this infection. The use of conserved proteins among Leptospira spp. is of great importance for a protective immune response. The aim of the present study is to genetically analyze antigens of Leptospira spp. from Sejroe serogroup strains isolated from cattle for a preliminary evaluation of vaccine candidates. Genes associated with antigenicity-LigA, LipL32, Loa22, and OmpL1-were analyzed through bioinformatic and immunoinformatic tools. Despite high diversity observed in strains, on an amino acid level, highly conserved regions were observed (> 90%), particularly in LipL32 gene. Moreover, highly conserved amino acid regions (> 30 aa) were observed in all genes, regardless of species, geographical origin or biological source of isolation. Superposed structures of protein fragments including all the predicted MHC-II and B-Cell epitopes were demonstrated. Results presented herein are preliminary, but a fundamental step towards the development of an efficient vaccine against bovine leptospirosis, a silent but enormously concerning disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Frederico Kremer
- Technological Development Center, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Filipe Anibal Carvalho-Costa
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Walter Lilenbaum
- Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology, Fluminense Federal University, Biomedical Institute, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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de Oliveira NR, Santos FDS, Dos Santos VAC, Maia MAC, Oliveira TL, Dellagostin OA. Challenges and Strategies for Developing Recombinant Vaccines against Leptospirosis: Role of Expression Platforms and Adjuvants in Achieving Protective Efficacy. Pathogens 2023; 12:787. [PMID: 37375478 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The first leptospiral recombinant vaccine was developed in the late 1990s. Since then, progress in the fields of reverse vaccinology (RV) and structural vaccinology (SV) has significantly improved the identification of novel surface-exposed and conserved vaccine targets. However, developing recombinant vaccines for leptospirosis faces various challenges, including selecting the ideal expression platform or delivery system, assessing immunogenicity, selecting adjuvants, establishing vaccine formulation, demonstrating protective efficacy against lethal disease in homologous challenge, achieving full renal clearance using experimental models, and reproducibility of protective efficacy against heterologous challenge. In this review, we highlight the role of the expression/delivery system employed in studies based on the well-known LipL32 and leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (Lig) proteins, as well as the choice of adjuvants, as key factors to achieving the best vaccine performance in terms of protective efficacy against lethal infection and induction of sterile immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Rodrigues de Oliveira
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - Francisco Denis Souza Santos
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Mara Andrade Colares Maia
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - Thaís Larré Oliveira
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
| | - Odir Antônio Dellagostin
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil
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Varma VP, Kadivella M, Kumar A, Kavela S, Faisal SM. LigA formulated in AS04 or Montanide ISA720VG induced superior immune response compared to alum, which correlated to protective efficacy in a hamster model of leptospirosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:985802. [PMID: 36300125 PMCID: PMC9590693 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.985802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance. The current vaccine provides serovar-specific and short-term immunity and does not prevent bacterial shedding in infected animals. Subunit vaccines based on surface proteins have shown to induce protection in an animal model. However, these proteins were tested with non-clinical adjuvants and induced low to moderate protective efficacy. We formulated a variable region of Leptospira immunoglobulin-like protein A (LAV) in clinical adjuvants, AS04 and Montanide ISA720VG, and then evaluated the immune response in mice and protective efficacy in a hamster model. Our results show that animals immunized with LAV-AS04 and LAV-Montanide ISA720VG (LAV-M) induced significantly higher levels of LAV-specific antibodies than LAV-Alum. While LAV-Alum induced Th2 response with the induction of IgG1 and IL-4, AS04 and LAV-M induced a mixed Th1/Th2 response with significant levels of both IgG1/IL-4 and IgG2c/IFN-γ. Both LAV-AS04 and LAV-M induced the generation of a significantly higher number of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs). The immune response in LAV-AS04- and LAV-M-immunized animals was maintained for a long period (>180 days) with the generation of a significant level of B- and T-cell memory. The strong immune response by both vaccines correlated to enhanced recruitment and activation of innate immune cells particularly DCs at draining lymph nodes and the formation of germinal centers (GCs). Furthermore, the immune response generated in mice correlated to protective efficacy in the hamster model of leptospirosis. These results indicate that LAV-AS04 and LAV-M are promising vaccines and can be further evaluated in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek P. Varma
- Laboratory of Vaccine Immunology, National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- Graduate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohammad Kadivella
- Laboratory of Vaccine Immunology, National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Laboratory of Vaccine Immunology, National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
| | - Sridhar Kavela
- Laboratory of Vaccine Immunology, National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Syed M. Faisal
- Laboratory of Vaccine Immunology, National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
- *Correspondence: Syed M. Faisal,
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Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic and vector-borne infectious disease that is caused by the genus Leishmania belonging to the trypanosomatid family. The protozoan parasite has a digenetic life cycle involving a mammalian host and an insect vector. Leishmaniasisis is a worldwide public health problem falling under the neglected tropical disease category, with over 90 endemic countries, and approximately 1 million new cases and 20,000 deaths annually. Leishmania infection can progress toward the development of species–specific pathologic disorders, ranging in severity from self-healing cutaneous lesions to disseminating muco-cutaneous and fatal visceral manifestations. The severity and the outcome of leishmaniasis is determined by the parasite’s antigenic epitope characteristics, the vector physiology, and most importantly, the immune response and immune status of the host. This review examines the nature of host–pathogen interaction in leishmaniasis, innate and adaptive immune responses, and various strategies that have been employed for vaccine development.
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5
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Haake DA, Matsunaga J. Leptospiral Immunoglobulin-Like Domain Proteins: Roles in Virulence and Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 11:579907. [PMID: 33488581 PMCID: PMC7821625 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.579907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The virulence mechanisms required for infection and evasion of immunity by pathogenic Leptospira species remain poorly understood. A number of L. interrogans surface proteins have been discovered, lying at the interface between the pathogen and host. Among these proteins, the functional properties of the Lig (leptospiral immunoglobulin-like domain) proteins have been examined most thoroughly. LigA, LigB, and LigC contain a series of, 13, 12, and 12 closely related domains, respectively, each containing a bacterial immunoglobulin (Big) -like fold. The multidomain region forms a mostly elongated structure that exposes a large surface area. Leptospires wield the Lig proteins to promote interactions with a range of specific host proteins, including those that aid evasion of innate immune mechanisms. These diverse binding events mediate adhesion of L. interrogans to the extracellular matrix, inhibit hemostasis, and inactivate key complement proteins. These interactions may help L. interrogans overcome the physical, hematological, and immunological barriers that would otherwise prevent the spirochete from establishing a systemic infection. Despite significant differences in the affinities of the LigA and LigB proteins for host targets, their functions overlap during lethal infection of hamsters; virulence is lost only when both ligA and ligB transcription is knocked down simultaneously. Lig proteins have been shown to be promising vaccine antigens through evaluation of a variety of different adjuvant strategies. This review serves to summarize current knowledge of Lig protein roles in virulence and immunity and to identify directions needed to better understand the precise functions of the Lig proteins during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Haake
- Division of Infectious Diseases, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Departments of Medicine, and Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - James Matsunaga
- Research Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Zheng X, Yu X, Wang Y, Turtle L, Cui M, Wang R, Yin C. Complete protection for mice conferred by a DNA vaccine based on the Japanese encephalitis virus P3 strain used to prepare the inactivated vaccine in China. Virol J 2020; 17:126. [PMID: 32831096 PMCID: PMC7444069 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-01400-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of Japanese encephalitis (JE) has been dramatically reduced in China after sufficient vaccine coverage. The live-attenuated Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccine SA14-14-2 is believed to have strongly contribute to this decrease. Another vaccine that seems to have decreased in importance is an inactivated vaccine based on the JEV P3 strain, which is considered to be modifiable, such as being transformed into a DNA vaccine to improve its immunogenicity. METHODS In this study, the protective efficacy induced by the Japanese encephalitis DNA vaccine candidate pV-JP3ME encoding the premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins of the P3 strain was assessed in BALB/c mice. The prM/E genes of the JEV P3 strain were subcloned into the vector pVAX1 (pV) to construct pV-JP3ME. RESULTS The plasmid DNA was immunized into BALB/c mice, and high titers of IgG antibody and neutralizing antibody (nAb) against JEV were detected. The key cytokines in splenocytes were secreted upon stimulation with JEV antigens. Finally, complete protective efficacy was generated after challenge with the JEV P3 strain in the mice. CONCLUSIONS The DNA vaccine pV-JP3ME based on the JEV P3 strain in this study can induce specific humoral immune and cytokine responses and provide complete protection against JEV in mice.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- China
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Cytokines/immunology
- Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/classification
- Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/genetics
- Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/immunology
- Encephalitis, Japanese/immunology
- Encephalitis, Japanese/prevention & control
- Female
- Immunization
- Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Plasmids/genetics
- Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, Inactivated/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Inactivated/immunology
- Vero Cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zheng
- Beijing Institute of Tropical Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Research on Prevention and Treatment of Tropical Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xiaozheng Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Outpatient Department, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Lance Turtle
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Tropical and Infectious Disease Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital (member of Liverpool Health Partners), Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK
| | - Min Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Infection diseases, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Research Unit of Critical Infection in Children, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU016, Laboratory of Infection and Virology, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045, China.
| | - Chenghong Yin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100026, China.
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7
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Teixeira AF, Fernandes LG, Cavenague MF, Takahashi MB, Santos JC, Passalia FJ, Daroz BB, Kochi LT, Vieira ML, Nascimento AL. Adjuvanted leptospiral vaccines: Challenges and future development of new leptospirosis vaccines. Vaccine 2019; 37:3961-3973. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.05.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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8
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da Cunha CEP, Bettin EB, Bakry AFAAY, Seixas Neto ACP, Amaral MG, Dellagostin OA. Evaluation of different strategies to promote a protective immune response against leptospirosis using a recombinant LigA and LigB chimera. Vaccine 2019; 37:1844-1852. [PMID: 30826147 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, caused by infection with pathogenic Leptospira species. The vaccines that are currently available are bacterins, with limited human use, that confer short-term, serovar-specific immunity. Lig proteins are considered to be the best vaccine candidates to date. Here, we aimed to construct a recombinant Lig chimera (LC) comprised of LigAni and LigBrep fragments, and to evaluate it as subunit or DNA vaccine using different administration strategies. Vaccines were formulated with 50 µg of recombinant LC associated with different adjuvants or with 100 µg of pTARGET/LC. Four-week-old hamsters received two doses of vaccine with different strategies and were challenged with 5 × DL50Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1-130. The immune response generated by Lig chimera conferred 100% protection to hamsters treated with at least one dose of recombinant LC. Despite the high levels of antibodies that vaccinated animals produced, a sterilizing immunity was not achieved. The lack of a sterilizing immunity could indicate the importance of a mixed humoral and cellular immune response. The present study generated insights that will be useful in the future development of improved subunit vaccines against leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marta Gonçalves Amaral
- Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Odir Antonio Dellagostin
- Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
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9
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Garba B, Bahaman AR, Zakaria Z, Bejo SK, Mutalib AR, Bande F, Suleiman N. Antigenic potential of a recombinant polyvalent DNA vaccine against pathogenic leptospiral infection. Microb Pathog 2018; 124:136-144. [PMID: 30138761 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a serious epidemic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira species. The disease is endemic in most tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Currently, there is no effective polyvalent vaccine for prevention against most of the circulating serovars. Moreover, development of an efficient leptospiral vaccine capable of stimulating cross-protective immune responses against a wide range of serovars remains a daunting challenge. This, in part, is associated with the extensive diversity and variation of leptospiral serovars from region to region. In this study, a multi-epitope DNA vaccine encoding highly immunogenic epitopes from LipL32 and LipL41 was designed using in-silico approach. The DNA encoding antigenic epitopes was constructed from conserved pathogenic Leptospira genes (LipL32 and LipL41). Immunization of golden Syrian hamsters with the multi-epitope chimeric DNA vaccine resulted in the production of both agglutinating and neutralizing antibodies as evidence by MAT and in-vitro growth inhibition tests respectively. The antibodies produced reacted against eight different serovars and significantly reduced renal colonization following in vivo challenge. The vaccine was also able to significantly reduce renal colonization which is a very important factor responsible for persistence of leptospires among susceptible and reservoir animal hosts. In conclusion, the leptospiral multi-epitope chimeric DNA vaccine can serve as a potentially effective and safe vaccine against infection with different pathogenic leptospiral serovars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashiru Garba
- Veterinary Public Health Lab, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Bacteriology Lab, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Abdul Rani Bahaman
- Bacteriology Lab, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Zunita Zakaria
- Bacteriology Lab, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Khairani Bejo
- Bacteriology Lab, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Abdul Rahim Mutalib
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics Services Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Faruku Bande
- Bacteriology Lab, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Usman Faruk Secretariat Complex, 840245, Sokoto State, Nigeria
| | - Nasiru Suleiman
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
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10
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Heterologous DNA prime-protein boost immunization with RecA and FliD offers cross-clade protection against leptospiral infection. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6447. [PMID: 29691454 PMCID: PMC5915591 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24674-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of >300 serovars of Leptospira confounded the use of generalized bacterin, the whole cell lysate, as vaccines to control leptospirosis. Because of substantial genetic and geographic heterogeneity among circulating serovars, one vaccine strain per serovar cannot be efficacious against all the serovars. We have performed heterologous DNA prime-protein boost vaccination challenge studies in hamsters using in vivo expressed, leptospiral recombinase A (RecA) and flagellar hook associated protein (FliD). We prepared the monovalent recombinant protein, plasmid DNA, and DNA prime protein boost adjuvant vaccines. The whole cell bacterin served as a control. Our data show that (i) RecA and FliD have multiple immunogenic B and T-cell epitopes with highly conserved domains among most prevalent pathogenic Leptospira spp., (ii) humoral and cell mediated immune responses were induced remarkably, (iii) provides significant protection against homologous (Autumnalis strain N2) and cross-clade heterologous (Canicola strain PAI-1) challenge infection for the heterologous prime-protein boost (∼91–100%) and, the DNA vaccine (∼75–83%). Recombinant protein vaccine shows only partial protection (∼58–66%), (iv) RecA prime-protein boost vaccine shows sterilizing immunity, with heterologous protection. This RecA/FliD prime-protein boost strategy holds potential for vaccination against animal leptospirosis and for a better control of zoonotic transmission.
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11
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Jorge S, Kremer FS, Oliveira NRD, Navarro GDOSV, Guimarães AM, Sanchez CD, Woloski RDDS, Ridieri KF, Campos VF, Pinto LDS, Dellagostin OA. Whole-genome sequencing of Leptospira interrogans from southern Brazil: genetic features of a highly virulent strain. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018; 113:80-86. [PMID: 29236923 PMCID: PMC5722262 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760170130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease. It is caused by
infection with pathogenic Leptospira species, of which over
300 serovars have been described. The accurate identification of the
causative Leptospira spp. is required to ascertain the
pathogenic status of the local isolates. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to obtain the complete genome sequence of a virulent
Leptospira interrogans strain isolated from southern
Brazil and to describe its genetic features. METHODS The whole genome was sequenced by next-generation sequencing (Ion Torrent).
The genome was assembled, scaffolded, annotated, and manually reviewed.
Mutations were identified based on a variant calling analysis using the
genome of L. interrogans strain Fiocruz L1-130 as a
reference. FINDINGS The entire genome had an average GC content of 35%. The variant calling
analysis identified 119 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), from which
30 led to a missense mutation. The structural analyses identified potential
evidence of genomic inversions, translocations, and deletions in both the
chromosomes. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The genome properties provide comprehensive information about the local
isolates of Leptospira spp., and thereby, could facilitate
the identification of new targets for the development of diagnostic kits and
vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Jorge
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Karine Forster Ridieri
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Vinícius Farias Campos
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Luciano da Silva Pinto
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
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12
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DNA vaccines against leptospirosis: A literature review. Vaccine 2017; 35:5559-5567. [PMID: 28882437 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.08.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira species. The vaccines that are currently available for leptospirosis are composed of whole-cell preparations and suffer from limitations such as low efficacy, multiple side-effects, poor immunological memory and lack of cross-protection against different serovars of Leptospira spp. In light of the global prevalence of this disease, the development of a more effective vaccine against leptospirosis is of paramount importance. Genetic immunization is a promising alternative to conventional vaccine development. In the last 25years, several novel strategies have been developed for increasing the efficacy of DNA vaccines. Examples of such strategies include the introduction of novel plasmid vectors, adjuvants, alternate delivery routes, and prime-boost regimens. Herein we discuss the latest and most promising advances that have been made in developing DNA vaccines against leptospirosis. We also deliberate over the future directions that must be undertaken in order to improve results in this field.
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13
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Evangelista KV, Lourdault K, Matsunaga J, Haake DA. Immunoprotective properties of recombinant LigA and LigB in a hamster model of acute leptospirosis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180004. [PMID: 28704385 PMCID: PMC5509140 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis and is considered a major public health problem worldwide. Currently, there is no widely available vaccine against leptospirosis for use in humans. A purified, recombinant subunit vaccine that includes the last six immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domains of the leptospiral protein LigA (LigA7'-13) protects against lethal infection but not renal colonization after challenge by Leptospira interrogans. In this study, we examined whether the addition of the first seven Ig-like domains of LigB (LigB0-7) to LigA7'-13, can enhance immune protection and confer sterilizing immunity in the Golden Syrian hamster model of acute leptospirosis. Hamsters were subcutaneously immunized with soluble, recombinant LigA7'-13, LigB0-7, or a combination of LigA7'-13 and LigB0-7 in Freund's adjuvant. Immunization with Lig proteins generated a strong humoral immune response with high titers of IgG that recognized homologous protein, and cross-reacted with the heterologous protein as assessed by ELISA. LigA7'-13 alone, or in combination with LigB0-7, protected all hamsters from intraperitoneal challenge with a lethal dose of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1-130. However, bacteria were recovered from the kidneys of all animals. Of eight animals immunized with LigB0-7, only three survived Leptospira challenge, one of which lacked renal colonization and had antibodies to native LigB by immunoblot. In addition, sera from two of the three LigB0-7 immunized survivors cross-reacted with LigA11-13, a region of LigA that is sufficient for protection. In summary, we confirmed that LigA7'-13 protects hamsters from death but not infection, and immunization with LigB0-7, either alone or in combination with LigA7'-13, did not confer sterilizing immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen V. Evangelista
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Kristel Lourdault
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - James Matsunaga
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - David A. Haake
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Control of bovine leptospirosis: Aspects for consideration in a tropical environment. Res Vet Sci 2017; 112:156-160. [PMID: 28391058 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Due to the complex and dynamic epidemiology of leptospirosis on livestock, control is still controversial and frustrating. In this context, this paper discusses the main challenges and perspectives for the control of bovine leptospirosis, particularly under tropical conditions. In order to reduce the effects of the disease in cattle, it has been proposed that the control should integrate the trinomial antibiotic therapy (mainly streptomycin); vaccination (whole-cell bacterins); and environmental management. This last element should be carefully considered in tropics. Despite the enormous economic impact of the disease, mainly on its chronic and silent reproductive presentation, research on control programs is not proportional. Conversely, the number of studies regarding the new vaccine strategies, such as recombinant antigens has been increasing and should be encouraged.
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15
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Grassmann AA, Souza JD, McBride AJA. A Universal Vaccine against Leptospirosis: Are We Going in the Right Direction? Front Immunol 2017; 8:256. [PMID: 28337203 PMCID: PMC5343615 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world and a neglected tropical disease estimated to cause severe infection in more than one million people worldwide every year that can be combated by effective immunization. However, no significant progress has been made on the leptospirosis vaccine since the advent of bacterins over 100 years. Although protective against lethal infection, particularly in animals, bacterin-induced immunity is considered short term, serovar restricted, and the vaccine can cause serious side effects. The urgent need for a new vaccine has motivated several research groups to evaluate the protective immune response induced by recombinant vaccines. Significant protection has been reported with several promising outer membrane proteins, including LipL32 and the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like proteins. However, efficacy was variable and failed to induce a cross-protective response or sterile immunity among vaccinated animals. As hundreds of draft genomes of all known Leptospira species are now available, this should aid novel target discovery through reverse vaccinology (RV) and pangenomic studies. The identification of surface-exposed vaccine candidates that are highly conserved among infectious Leptospira spp. is a requirement for the development of a cross-protective universal vaccine. However, the lack of immune correlates is a major drawback to the application of RV to Leptospira genomes. In addition, as the protective immune response against leptospirosis is not fully understood, the rational use of adjuvants tends to be a process of trial and error. In this perspective, we discuss current advances, the pitfalls, and possible solutions for the development of a universal leptospirosis vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Alex Grassmann
- Biotechnology Unit, Technological Development Centre, Federal University of Pelotas , Pelotas , Brazil
| | - Jéssica Dias Souza
- Biotechnology Unit, Technological Development Centre, Federal University of Pelotas , Pelotas , Brazil
| | - Alan John Alexander McBride
- Biotechnology Unit, Technological Development Centre, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Brazil
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