Two Novel Salmonella Bivalent Vaccines Confer Dual Protection against Two Salmonella Serovars in Mice

Klebicin E, a pore-forming bacteriocin of Klebsiella pneumoniae, exploits the porin OmpC and the Ton system for translocation

Bacteriocins, which have narrow-spectrum activity and limited adverse effects, are promising alternatives to antibiotics. In this study, we identified klebicin E (KlebE), a small bacteriocin derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae. KlebE exhibited strong efficacy against multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates and conferred a significant growth advantage to the producing strain during intraspecies competition. A giant unilamellar vesicle leakage assay demonstrated the unique membrane permeabilization effect of KlebE, suggesting that it is a pore-forming toxin. In addition to a C-terminal toxic domain, KlebE also has a disordered N-terminal domain and a globular central domain. Pulldown assays and soft agar overlay experiments revealed the essential role of the outer membrane porin OmpC and the Ton system in KlebE recognition and cytotoxicity. Strong binding between KlebE and both OmpC and TonB was observed. The TonB-box, a crucial component of the toxin-TonB interaction, was identified as the 7-amino acid sequence (E3ETLTVV9) located in the N-terminal region. Further studies showed that a region near the bottom of the central domain of KlebE plays a primary role in recognizing OmpC, with eight residues surrounding this region identified as essential for KlebE toxicity. Finally, based on the discrepancies in OmpC sequences between the KlebE-resistant and sensitive strains, it was found that the 91st residue of OmpC, an aspartic acid residue, is a key determinant of KlebE toxicity. The identification and characterization of this toxin will facilitate the development of bacteriocin-based therapies targeting multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections.

Understanding the Immunomodulatory Effects of Bovine Colostrum: Insights into IL-6/IL-10 Axis-Mediated Inflammatory Control

Bovine colostrum (COL), the first milk secreted by lactating cows postpartum, is a rich source of bioactive compounds that exert a significant role in the survival, growth, and immune development of neonatal calves. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of COL on cytokine production in vitro using a Caco-2/THP-1 macrophage co-culture model stimulated with Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). COL pretreatment significantly reduced IL-6 (241.3 pg/mL) production induced by PMA (p < 0.05), while increasing IL-10 production (45.3 pg/mL), in comparison to PMA control (441.1 and 12.5 pg/mL, respectively). Further investigations revealed that the IL-6 suppressive effect of colostrum was heat-sensitive and associated with components of higher molecular mass (100 kDa). Moreover, colostrum primarily influenced THP-1 macrophages rather than Caco-2 epithelial cells. The effects of colostrum on IL-6 production were associated with reduced NF-κB activation in THP-1 macrophages. In calf-FMT transplanted C57BL/6 murine model, colostrum decreased intestinal permeability, reduced immune cell infiltration and intestinal score, and suppressed IL-6 (142.0 pg/mL) production during S. typhimurium infection, in comparison to control animals (215.2 pg/mL). These results suggest the immunomodulatory activity of bovine colostrum and its potential applications in inflammatory disorders. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and validate the findings in bovine models.

Immunogenicity and protection of a Pasteurella multocida strain with a truncated lipopolysaccharide outer core in ducks

Pasteurella multocida infection frequently causes fowl cholera outbreaks, leading to huge economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. This study developed a novel live attenuated P. multocida vaccine strain for ducks named PMZ2 with deletion of the gatA gene and first four bases of the hptE gene, both of which are required for the synthesis of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) outer core. PMZ2 produced a truncated LPS phenotype and was highly attenuated in ducks with a > 10⁵-fold higher LD₅₀ than the wild-type strain. PMZ2 colonized the blood and organs, including the spleen, liver and lung, at remarkably reduced levels, and its high dose of oral infection did not cause adverse effects on body temperatures and body weights in ducks. To evaluate the vaccine efficacy of the mutant, ducklings were inoculated orally or intranasally with PMZ2 or PBS twice and subsequently subjected to a lethal challenge. Compared with the PBS control, PMZ2 immunization stimulated significantly elevated serum IgG, bile IgA and tracheal IgA responses, especially after the boost immunization in both the oral and intranasal groups, and the induced serum had significant bactericidal effects against the wild-type strain. Furthermore, the two PMZ2 immunization groups exhibited alleviated tissue lesions and significantly decreased bacterial loads in the blood and organs compared with the PBS group post-challenge. All the ducks in the PMZ2 oral and intranasal groups survived the challenge, while 70% of ducks in the PBS group succumbed to the challenge. Thus, the P. multocida mutant with mutation of the gatA gene and part of the hptE gene proved to be an effective live attenuated vaccine candidate for prevention of fowl cholera in ducks.

Secretory System Components as Potential Prophylactic Targets for Bacterial Pathogens

Bacterial secretory systems are essential for virulence in human pathogens. The systems have become a target of alternative antibacterial strategies based on small molecules and antibodies. Strategies to use components of the systems to design prophylactics have been less publicized despite vaccines being the preferred solution to dealing with bacterial infections. In the current review, strategies to design vaccines against selected pathogens are presented and connected to the biology of the system. The examples are given for Y. pestis, S. enterica, B. anthracis, S. flexneri, and other human pathogens, and discussed in terms of effectiveness and long-term protection.

Genomic investigation of antimicrobial resistance determinants and virulence factors in Salmonella enterica serovars isolated from contaminated food and human stool samples in Brazil

This study investigated the antimicrobial resistance determinants, virulence factors and identified serovars in 37 Salmonella enterica strains isolated from human stool and contaminated foods linked to outbreaks that occurred in Brazil over 7 years using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Phylogenetic analysis of selected serovars (S. Typhimurium, S. Infantis, S. London, and S. Johannesburg) was performed. Ten distinct serovars were identified and, 51% of the tested strains (n = 19) showed disagreement with the previous conventional serotyping. The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants or plasmids varied among the strains. Resistome analysis revealed the presence of resistance genes to aminoglycosides [aac (6')-laa, aph (3″)-lb, aph (6)-ld, aadA1 and aadA2], sulfonamides (sul1), trimethoprin (dfrA8), fosfomycin (fosA7) and tetracyclines (tetA, tetB, tetC), as well as point mutations in parC (T57S) and gyrA (S83F). Plasmidome showed the presence of IncHI2, IncHI2A, IncFIB (S), IncFII (S), IncI1 and p0111 plasmids. Eight Salmonella pathogenicity islands and up to 102 stress and/or virulence genes were identified in the evaluated genomes. Virulence genes of K88 fimbrial adhesin were first reported in S. enterica (S. Pomona, S. Bredeney and S. Mbandaka strains). pilW gene was first identified in S. Pomona. Phylogenetic analysis showed that some serovars circulated in Brazil for decades, primarily within the poultry production chain. Findings highlighted the virulence and AMR determinants in strains that may lead to recurring food outbreaks.

Immunogenicity and protection efficacy of a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium fnr, arcA and fliC mutant

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a major food-borne pathogen that can cause self-limited gastroenteritis or life-threatening invasive diseases in humans. There is no licensed S. Typhimurium vaccine for humans to date. In this study, we attempted to construct a live attenuated vaccine strain of S. Typhimurium based on three genes, namely, the two global regulator genes fnr and arcA and the flagellin subunit gene fliC. The S. Typhimurium three-gene mutant, named SLT39 (ΔfnrΔarcAΔfliC), exhibited a high level of attenuation with a colonization defect in mouse tissues and approximately 10⁴-fold decreased virulence compared with that of the wild-type strain. To evaluate the immunogenicity and protection efficacy of STL39, mice were inoculated twice with a dose of 10⁷ CFU or 10⁸ CFU at a 28-day interval, and the immunized mice were challenged with a lethal dose of the wild-type S. Typhimurium strain one month post second immunization. Compared with mock immunization, SLT39 immunization with either dose elicited significant serum total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a and faecal IgA responses against inactivated S. Typhimurium antigens at a comparable level post second immunization, whereas the 10⁸ CFU group induced higher levels of duodenal and caecal IgA than the 10⁷ CFU group. Furthermore, the bacterial loads in mouse tissues, including Peyer's patches, spleen and liver, significantly decreased in the two SLT39 immunization groups compared to those in the control group post challenge. Additionally, all mice in the SLT39 (10⁸ CFU) group and 80% of the mice in the SLT39 (10⁷ CFU) group survived the lethal challenge, suggesting full protection and 80% protection efficacy, respectively. Thus, the S. Typhimurium fnr, arcA and fliC mutant proved to be a potential attenuated live vaccine candidate for prevention of homologous infection.

Pathogenic signature of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella in Africa: implications for vaccine development

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) infections are a leading cause of bacteremia in Sub-Saharan Africa (sSA), thereby representing a major public health threat. Salmonella Typhimurium clade ST313 and Salmonella Enteriditis lineages associated with Western and Central/Eastern Africa are among the iNTS serovars which are of the greatest concern due to their case-fatality rate, especially in children and in the immunocompromised population. Identification of pathogen-associated features and host susceptibility factors that increase the risk for invasive non-typhoidal salmonellosis would be instrumental for the design of targeted prevention strategies, which are urgently needed given the increasing spread of multidrug-resistant iNTS in Africa. This review summarizes current knowledge of bacterial traits and host immune responses associated with iNTS infections in sSA, then discusses how this knowledge can guide vaccine development while providing a summary of vaccine candidates in preclinical and early clinical development.

Progress in the overall understanding of typhoid fever: implications for vaccine development

INTRODUCTION

Typhoid fever continues to have a substantial impact on human health, especially in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Access to safe water, and adequate sanitation and hygiene remain the cornerstone of prevention, but these are not widely available in many impoverished settings. The emergence of antibiotic resistance affects typhoid treatment and adds urgency to typhoid control efforts. Vaccines provide opportunities to prevent and control typhoid fever in endemic settings.

AREAS COVERED

Literature search was performed looking for evidence concerning the global burden of typhoid and strategies for the prevention and treatment of typhoid fever. Cost of illness, available typhoid and paratyphoid vaccines and cost-effectiveness were also reviewed. The objective was to provide a critical overview of typhoid fever, in order to assess the current understanding and potential future directions for typhoid treatment and control.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

Our understanding of typhoid burden and methods of prevention has grown over recent years. However, typhoid fever still has a significant impact on health in low and middle-income countries. Introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccines to the immunization schedule is expected to make a major contribution to control of typhoid fever in endemic countries, although vaccination alone is unlikely to eliminate the disease.

Adhesive mechanism of different Salmonella fimbrial adhesins

Salmonellosis is a serious threat to human and animal health. Salmonella adhesion to the host cell is an initial and most crucial step in the pathogenesis of salmonellosis. Many factors are involved in the adhesion process of Salmonella infection. Fimbriae are one of the most important factors in the adhesion of Salmonella. The Salmonella fimbriae are assembled in three types of assembly pathways: chaperon-usher, nucleation-precipitation, and type IV fimbriae. These assembly pathways lead to multiple types of fimbriae. Salmonella fimbriae bind to host cell receptors to initiate adhesion. So far, many receptors have been identified, such as Toll-like receptors. However, several receptors that may be involved in the adhesive mechanism of Salmonella fimbriae are still un-identified. This review aimed to summarize the types of Salmonella fimbriae produced by different assembly pathways and their role in adhesion. It also enlisted previously discovered receptors involved in adhesion. This review might help readers to develop a comprehensive understanding of Salmonella fimbriae, their role in adhesion, and recently developed strategies to counter Salmonella infection.

Deletions in guaBA and htrA but not clpX or rfaL constitute a live-attenuated vaccine strain of Salmonella Newport to protect against serogroup C2-C3 Salmonella in mice

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) are a leading cause of foodborne infections worldwide, and serogroups B, C₁, C_2-C₃ and D are the most common serogroups associated with human disease. While live vaccine candidates that protect against S. Typhimurium (serogroup B) and S. Enteritidis (serogroup D) have been described by us and others, far less effort has been directed towards vaccines that target either serogroup C₁ or C_2-C₃Salmonella. Here we describe a Salmonella Newport-based live-attenuated vaccine (serogroup C_2-C₃). Deletion of the genes clpX or rfaL, previously used in live vaccines to attenuate S. Typhimurium and/or S. Enteritidis, failed to attenuate S. Newport. However, we found that deletion of either guaBA or htrA raised the 50% lethal dose of S. Newport in an intraperitoneal infection model in BALB/c mice. Our live-attenuated vaccine candidate CVD 1966 (S. Newport ΔguaBA ΔhtrA) elicited strong antibody responses against COPS, flagellin and outer membrane proteins when administered intraperitoneally or orally. Following lethal challenge with the parental virulent strain of S. Newport, we observed vaccine efficacies of 53% for immunization via the intraperitoneal route and 47% for immunization via the oral route. Following intraperiteonal immunization, the vaccine also significantly reduced the bacterial burden of challenge organisms in the liver and spleen. Interestingly, reducing the LPS chain length by deleting rfaL did not induce a stronger immune response towards surface antigens, and failed to elicit any protection against lethal homologous challenge. In conclusion, we have developed a live-attenuated Salmonella serogroup C_2-C₃ vaccine that we are further evaluating.

A bivalent vaccine derived from attenuated Salmonella expressing O-antigen polysaccharide provides protection against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli O1 and O2 infection

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), a leading cause of avian airsacculitis and colibacillosis, is responsible for significant economic loss in the poultry industry. APEC serogroups O1, O2, and O78 are predominantly associated with disease. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen has been shown to be a potent antigen for inducing specific protective immune responses. Therefore, we sought to develop a multivalent polysaccharide vaccine to prevent most APEC infections. We previously reported the stable expression of plasmid pSS27 encoding the APEC O1 O-antigen gene cluster (10.8 kb) in attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium S740 provided excellent protection against APEC O1 challenge. In this study, the plasmid pSS28 harboring the APEC O2 O-antigen polysaccharide gene cluster (15.5 kb) was constructed. Biosynthesis of pSS28-encoded APEC O2 O-antigen in Salmonella vaccine strain S740 was validated by Western blot. The recombinant Salmonella vaccine strain S740 (pSS28) elicited homologous protection against virulent wild-type APEC O2 challenge in a chicken model. Furthermore, through equal-volume mixing the two monovalent vaccine strains S740 (pSS27) and S740 (pSS28), a bivalent vaccine candidate against both APEC O1 and O2 was developed. Immunization of chickens with the bivalent vaccine elicited production of serum IgG and mucosal sIgA antibodies against the LPS of both APEC O1 and O2. Moreover, antibodies induced by the bivalent vaccine promoted opsonization, provoked complement-mediated bactericidal activity, and elicited protection against lethal challenge with both virulent APEC O1 and O2 strains. These results demonstrate that the bivalent vaccine comprised of S740 (pSS27) and S740 (pSS28) is a promising vaccine candidate against APEC O1 and O2 infection.