1
|
Hiller NL, Orihuela CJ. Biological puzzles solved by using Streptococcus pneumoniae: a historical review of the pneumococcal studies that have impacted medicine and shaped molecular bacteriology. J Bacteriol 2024:e0005924. [PMID: 38809015 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00059-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The major human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae has been the subject of intensive clinical and basic scientific study for over 140 years. In multiple instances, these efforts have resulted in major breakthroughs in our understanding of basic biological principles as well as fundamental tenets of bacterial pathogenesis, immunology, vaccinology, and genetics. Discoveries made with S. pneumoniae have led to multiple major public health victories that have saved the lives of millions. Studies on S. pneumoniae continue today, where this bacterium is being used to dissect the impact of the host on disease processes, as a powerful cell biology model, and to better understand the consequence of human actions on commensal bacteria at the population level. Herein we review the major findings, i.e., puzzle pieces, made with S. pneumoniae and how, over the years, they have come together to shape our understanding of this bacterium's biology and the practice of medicine and modern molecular biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Luisa Hiller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Carlos J Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li S, Liang H, Zhao SH, Yang XY, Guo Z. Recent progress in pneumococcal protein vaccines. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1278346. [PMID: 37818378 PMCID: PMC10560988 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1278346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumococcal infections continue to pose a significant global health concern, necessitating the development of effective vaccines. Despite the progress shown by pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines, their limited coverage and the emergence of non-vaccine serotypes have highlighted the need for alternative approaches. Protein-based pneumococcal vaccines, targeting conserved surface proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae, have emerged as a promising strategy. In this review, we provide an overview of the advancements made in the development of pneumococcal protein vaccines. We discuss the key protein vaccine candidates, highlight their vaccination results in animal studies, and explore the challenges and future directions in protein-based pneumococcal vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sha Li
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Hangeri Liang
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Shui-Hao Zhao
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Yang
- Zhuhai Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, School of Bioengineering, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhong Guo
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Duke JA, Avci FY. Emerging vaccine strategies against the incessant pneumococcal disease. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:122. [PMID: 37591986 PMCID: PMC10435554 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00715-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by infection with the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) has been on a downward trend for decades due to worldwide vaccination programs. Despite the clinical successes observed, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the continued global burden of S. pneumoniae will be in the millions each year, with a case-fatality rate hovering around 5%. Thus, it is a top priority to continue developing new Spn vaccination strategies to harness immunological insight and increase the magnitude of protection provided. As emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is also crucial to broaden the implementation of vaccines that are already obtainable in the clinical setting. This review focuses on the immune mechanisms triggered by existing pneumococcal vaccines and provides an overview of the current and upcoming clinical strategies being employed. We highlight the associated challenges of serotype selectivity and using pneumococcal-derived proteins as alternative vaccine antigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Duke
- Sanofi, Suite 300, 2501 Discovery Drive, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA
| | - Fikri Y Avci
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shafaghi M, Bahadori Z, Madanchi H, Ranjbar MM, Shabani AA, Mousavi SF. Immunoinformatics-aided design of a new multi-epitope vaccine adjuvanted with domain 4 of pneumolysin against Streptococcus pneumoniae strains. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:67. [PMID: 36829109 PMCID: PMC9951839 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) has remained a leading cause of fatal infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. Moreover, this pathogen plays a major role in bacterial co-infection in patients with life-threatening respiratory virus diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. High morbidity and mortality in over one million cases, especially in very young children and the elderly, are the main motivations for pneumococcal vaccine development. Due to the limitations of the currently marketed polysaccharide-based vaccines, non-serotype-specific protein-based vaccines have received wide research interest in recent years. One step further is to identify high antigenic regions within multiple highly-conserved proteins in order to develop peptide vaccines that can affect various stages of pneumococcal infection, providing broader serotype coverage and more effective protection. In this study, immunoinformatics tools were used to design an effective multi-epitope vaccine in order to elicit neutralizing antibodies against multiple strains of pneumococcus. RESULTS The B- and T-cell epitopes from highly protective antigens PspA (clades 1-5) and PhtD were predicted and immunodominant peptides were linked to each other with proper linkers. The domain 4 of Ply, as a potential TLR4 agonist adjuvant candidate, was attached to the end of the construct to enhance the immunogenicity of the epitope vaccine. The evaluation of the physicochemical and immunological properties showed that the final construct was stable, soluble, antigenic, and non-allergenic. Furthermore, the protein was found to be acidic and hydrophilic in nature. The protein 3D-structure was built and refined, and the Ramachandran plot, ProSA-web, ERRAT, and Verify3D validated the quality of the final model. Molecular docking analysis showed that the designed construct via Ply domain 4 had a strong interaction with TLR4. The structural stability of the docked complex was confirmed by molecular dynamics. Finally, codon optimization was performed for gene expression in E. coli, followed by in silico cloning in the pET28a(+) vector. CONCLUSION The computational analysis of the construct showed acceptable results, however, the suggested vaccine needs to be experimentally verified in laboratory to ensure its safety and immunogenicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mona Shafaghi
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Bahadori
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.486769.20000 0004 0384 8779Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran ,grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ranjbar
- grid.418970.3Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Shabani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. .,Research Center of Biotechnology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Afshari E, Cohan RA, Sotoodehnejadnematalahi F, Mousavi SF. In-silico design and evaluation of an epitope-based serotype-independent promising vaccine candidate for highly cross-reactive regions of pneumococcal surface protein A. J Transl Med 2023; 21:13. [PMID: 36627666 PMCID: PMC9830136 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03864-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathogenicity of pneumococcus with high morbidity, mortality, and multi-drug resistance patterns has been increasing. The limited coverage of the licensed polysaccharide-based vaccines and the replacement of the non-vaccine serotypes are the main reasons for producing a successful serotype-independent vaccine. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is an extremely important virulence factor and an interesting candidate for conserved protein-based pneumococcal vaccine classified into two prominent families containing five clades. PspA family-elicited immunity is clade-dependent, and the level of the PspA cross-reactivity is restricted to the same family. METHODS To cover and overcome the clade-dependent immunity of the PspAs in this study, we designed and tested a PspA1-5c+p vaccine candidate composed of the highest immunodominant coverage of B- and T-cell epitope truncated domain of each clade focusing on two cross-reactive B and C regions of the PspAs. The antigenicity, toxicity, physicochemical properties, 3D structure prediction, stability and flexibility of the designed protein using molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, molecular docking of the construct withHLADRB1*(01:01) and human lactoferrin N-lop, and immune simulation were assessed using immunoinformatics tools. In the experimental section, after intraperitoneal immunization of the mice with Alum adjuvanted recombinant PspA1-5c+p, we evaluated the immune response, cross-reactivity, and functionality of the Anti-PspA1-5c+p antibody using ELISA, Opsonophagocytic killing activity, and serum bactericidal assay. RESULTS For the first time, this work suggested a novel PspA-based vaccine candidate using immunoinformatics tools. The designed PspA1-5c+p protein is predicted to be highly antigenic, non-toxic, soluble, stable with low flexibility in MD simulation, and able to stimulate both humoral and cellular immune responses. The designed protein also could interact strongly with HLADRB1*(01:01) and human lactoferrin N-lop in the docking study. Our immunoinformatics predictions were validated using experimental data. Results showed that the anti-PspA1-5c+p IgG not only had a high titer with strong and same cross-reactivity coverage against all pneumococcal serotypes used but also had high and effective bioactivity for pneumococcal clearance using complement system and phagocytic cells. CONCLUSION Our findings elucidated the potential application of the PspA1-5c+p vaccine candidate as a serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine with a strong cross-reactivity feature. Further in-vitro and in-vivo investigations against other PspA clades should be performed to confirm the full protection of the PspA1-5c+p vaccine candidate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Afshari
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ahangari Cohan
- grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Department of Nanobiotechnology, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fattah Sotoodehnejadnematalahi
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Fazlollah Mousavi
- grid.420169.80000 0000 9562 2611Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, 69 Pasteur Ave., Tehran, 13164 Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Silva PH, Vázquez Y, Campusano C, Retamal-Díaz A, Lay MK, Muñoz CA, González PA, Kalergis AM, Bueno SM. Non-capsular based immunization approaches to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:949469. [PMID: 36225231 PMCID: PMC9548657 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.949469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium and the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia in children and the elderly worldwide. Currently, two types of licensed vaccines are available to prevent the disease caused by this pathogen: the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide-based vaccine and the 7-, 10, 13, 15 and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. However, these vaccines, composed of the principal capsular polysaccharide of leading serotypes of this bacterium, have some problems, such as high production costs and serotype-dependent effectiveness. These drawbacks have stimulated research initiatives into non-capsular-based vaccines in search of a universal vaccine against S. pneumoniae. In the last decades, several research groups have been developing various new vaccines against this bacterium based on recombinant proteins, live attenuated bacterium, inactivated whole-cell vaccines, and other newer platforms. Here, we review and discuss the status of non-capsular vaccines against S. pneumoniae and the future of these alternatives in a post-pandemic scenario.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H. Silva
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yaneisi Vázquez
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Campusano
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Angello Retamal-Díaz
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Margarita K. Lay
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Christian A. Muñoz
- Unidad de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Pablo A. González
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Susan M. Bueno
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Susan M. Bueno,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Aceil J, Avci FY. Pneumococcal Surface Proteins as Virulence Factors, Immunogens, and Conserved Vaccine Targets. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:832254. [PMID: 35646747 PMCID: PMC9133333 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.832254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that causes over 1 million deaths annually despite the availability of several multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). Due to the limitations surrounding PCVs along with an evolutionary rise in antibiotic-resistant and unencapsulated strains, conserved immunogenic proteins as vaccine targets continue to be an important field of study for pneumococcal disease prevention. In this review, we provide an overview of multiple classes of conserved surface proteins that have been studied for their contribution to pneumococcal virulence. Furthermore, we discuss the immune responses observed in response to these proteins and their promise as vaccine targets.
Collapse
|
8
|
Lane JR, Tata M, Briles DE, Orihuela CJ. A Jack of All Trades: The Role of Pneumococcal Surface Protein A in the Pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:826264. [PMID: 35186799 PMCID: PMC8847780 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.826264] [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: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), or the pneumococcus, is a Gram-positive bacterium that colonizes the upper airway. Spn is an opportunistic pathogen capable of life-threatening disease should it become established in the lungs, gain access to the bloodstream, or disseminate to vital organs including the central nervous system. Spn is encapsulated, allowing it to avoid phagocytosis, and current preventative measures against infection include polyvalent vaccines composed of capsular polysaccharide corresponding to its most prevalent serotypes. The pneumococcus also has a plethora of surface components that allow the bacteria to adhere to host cells, facilitate the evasion of the immune system, and obtain vital nutrients; one family of these are the choline-binding proteins (CBPs). Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is one of the most abundant CBPs and confers protection against the host by inhibiting recognition by C-reactive protein and neutralizing the antimicrobial peptide lactoferricin. Recently our group has identified two new roles for PspA: binding to dying host cells via host-cell bound glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and co-opting of host lactate dehydrogenase to enhance lactate availability. These properties have been shown to influence Spn localization and enhance virulence in the lower airway, respectively. Herein, we review the impact of CBPs, and in particular PspA, on pneumococcal pathogenesis. We discuss the potential and limitations of using PspA as a conserved vaccine antigen in a conjugate vaccine formulation. PspA is a vital component of the pneumococcal virulence arsenal - therefore, understanding the molecular aspects of this protein is essential in understanding pneumococcal pathogenesis and utilizing PspA as a target for treating or preventing pneumococcal pneumonia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Carlos J. Orihuela
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
McDaniel LS, Swiatlo E. If Not Now, When? Nonserotype Pneumococcal Protein Vaccines. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021; 8:ofab576. [PMID: 34934775 PMCID: PMC8684483 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The sudden emergence and global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have greatly accelerated the adoption of novel vaccine strategies, which otherwise would have likely languished for years. In this light, vaccines for certain other pathogens could certainly benefit from reconsideration. One such pathogen is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), an encapsulated bacterium that can express >100 antigenically distinct serotypes. Current pneumococcal vaccines are based exclusively on capsular polysaccharide—either purified alone or conjugated to protein. Since the introduction of conjugate vaccines, the valence of pneumococcal vaccines has steadily increased, as has the associated complexity and cost of production. There are many pneumococcal proteins invariantly expressed across all serotypes, which have been shown to induce robust immune responses in animal models. These proteins could be readily produced using recombinant DNA technology or by mRNA technology currently used in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. A door may be opening to new opportunities in affordable and broadly protective vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Larry S McDaniel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Edwin Swiatlo
- Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care Network, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|