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Afshari E, Ahangari Cohan R, Shams Nosrati MS, Mousavi SF. Development of a bivalent protein-based vaccine candidate against invasive pneumococcal diseases based on novel pneumococcal surface protein A in combination with pneumococcal histidine triad protein D. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1187773. [PMID: 37680628 PMCID: PMC10480505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1187773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive efforts have been made toward improving effective strategies for pneumococcal vaccination, focusing on evaluating the potential of multivalent protein-based vaccines and overcoming the limitations of pneumococcal polysaccharide-based vaccines. In this study, we investigated the protective potential of mice co-immunization with the pneumococcal PhtD and novel rPspA proteins against pneumococcal sepsis infection. The formulations of each antigen alone or in combination were administered intraperitoneally with alum adjuvant into BALB/c mice three times at 14-day intervals. The production of antigen-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a subclasses, and IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines, were analyzed. Two in vitro complement- and opsonophagocytic-mediated killing activities of raised antibodies on day 42 were also assessed. Finally, the protection against an intraperitoneal challenge with 106 CFU/mouse of multi-drug resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC49619 was investigated. Our findings showed a significant increase in the anti-PhtD and anti-rPspA sera IgG levels in the immunized group with the PhtD+rPspA formulation compared to each alone. Moreover, the results demonstrated a synergistic effect with a 6.7- and 1.3- fold increase in anti-PhtD and anti-rPspA IgG1, as well as a 5.59- and 1.08- fold increase in anti-PhtD and anti-rPspA IgG2a, respectively. Co-administration of rPspA+PhtD elicited a mixture of Th-2 and Th-1 immune responses, more towards Th-2. In addition, the highest complement-mediated killing activity was observed in the sera of the immunized group with PhtD+rPspA at 1/16 dilution, and the opsonophagocytic activity was increased from 74% to 86.3%. Finally, the survival rates showed that mice receiving the rPspA+PhtD formulation survived significantly longer (100%) than those receiving protein alone or PBS and exhibited the strongest clearance with a 2 log10 decrease in bacterial load in the blood 24h after challenge compared to the control group. In conclusion, the rPspA+PhtD formulation can be considered a promising bivalent serotype-independent vaccine candidate for protection against invasive pneumococcal infection in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Afshari
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ahangari Cohan
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Bahadori Z, Shafaghi M, Madanchi H, Ranjbar MM, Shabani AA, Mousavi SF. In silico designing of a novel epitope-based candidate vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae with introduction of a new domain of PepO as adjuvant. J Transl Med 2022; 20:389. [PMID: 36059030 PMCID: PMC9440865 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03590-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading reason for invasive diseases including pneumonia and meningitis, and also secondary infections following viral respiratory diseases such as flu and COVID-19. Currently, serotype-dependent vaccines, which have several insufficiency and limitations, are the only way to prevent pneumococcal infections. Hence, it is plain to need an alternative effective strategy for prevention of this organism. Protein-based vaccine involving conserved pneumococcal protein antigens with different roles in virulence could provide an eligible alternative to existing vaccines. METHODS In this study, PspC, PhtD and PsaA antigens from pneumococcus were taken to account to predict B-cell and helper T-cell epitopes, and epitope-rich regions were chosen to build the construct. To enhance the immunogenicity of the epitope-based vaccine, a truncated N-terminal fragment of pneumococcal endopeptidase O (PepO) was used as a potential TLR2/4 agonist which was identified by molecular docking studies. The ultimate construct was consisted of the chosen epitope-rich regions, along with the adjuvant role (truncated N-PepO) and suitable linkers. RESULTS The epitope-based vaccine was assessed as regards physicochemical properties, allergenicity, antigenicity, and toxicity. The 3D structure of the engineered construct was modeled, refined, and validated. Molecular docking and simulation of molecular dynamics (MD) indicated the proper and stable interactions between the vaccine and TLR2/4 throughout the simulation periods. CONCLUSIONS For the first time this work presents a novel vaccine consisting of epitopes of PspC, PhtD, and PsaA antigens which is adjuvanted with a new truncated domain of PepO. The computational outcomes revealed that the suggested vaccine could be deemed an efficient therapeutic vaccine for S. pneumoniae; nevertheless, in vitro and in vivo examinations should be performed to prove the potency of the candidate vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Bahadori
- 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.,Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Shafaghi
- 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.,Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- 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.,Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ranjbar
- Agricultural 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.
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André GO, Borges MT, Assoni L, Ferraz LFC, Sakshi P, Adamson P, Gordon DL, Ogunniyi AD, Venter H, Converso TR, Darrieux M. Protective role of PhtD and its amino and carboxyl fragments against pneumococcal sepsis. Vaccine 2021; 39:3626-3632. [PMID: 34045100 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.04.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The implementation of polysaccharide-based vaccines has massively reduced the incidence of invasive pneumococcal diseases. However, there is great concern regarding serotype replacement and the increase in antibiotic resistant strains expressing non-vaccine capsular types. In addition, conjugate vaccines have high production costs, a limiting factor for their implementation in mass immunization programs in developing countries. These limitations have prompted the development of novel vaccine strategies for prevention of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. The use of conserved pneumococcal antigens such as recombinant proteins or protein fragments presents an interesting serotype-independent alternative. Pht is a family of surface-exposed proteins which have been evaluated as potential vaccine candidates with encouraging results. The present work investigated the immune responses elicited by subcutaneous immunization of mice with the polyhistidine triad protein D (PhtD) and its amino and carboxyl terminal fragments. The proteins were immunogenic and protective against pneumococcal sepsis in mice. Antibodies raised against PhtD increased complement C3b deposition on the pneumococcal surface, mainly mediated by the alternative pathway. Sera from mice immunized with PhtD and PhtD_Cter promoted an increase in bacterial uptake by mouse phagocytes. The interaction of PhtD with the complement system regulator factor H was investigated in silico and in vitro by ELISA and western blot, confirming PhtD as a factor-H binding protein. Our results support the inclusion of PhtD and more specifically, its C-terminal fragment in a multicomponent serotype independent vaccine and suggests a role for the complement system in PhtD-mediated protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greiciely O André
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular e Clínica, Universidade São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | - Mayara T Borges
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular e Clínica, Universidade São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | - Lucas Assoni
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular e Clínica, Universidade São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | - Lucio F C Ferraz
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular e Clínica, Universidade São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | - Piplani Sakshi
- College of Medicine and Public Health. Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Penelope Adamson
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - David L Gordon
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Abiodun D Ogunniyi
- Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Henrietta Venter
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Thiago R Converso
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular e Clínica, Universidade São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, Brazil
| | - Michelle Darrieux
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular e Clínica, Universidade São Francisco, Bragança Paulista, Brazil.
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André GO, Assoni L, Rodriguez D, Leite LCC, Dos Santos TEP, Ferraz LFC, Converso TR, Darrieux M. Immunization with PhtD truncated fragments reduces nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Vaccine 2020; 38:4146-53. [PMID: 32362528 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite the undeniable success of polysaccharide vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, there is a consensus on the scientific field that this approach should be revised in order to overpass the problems related with these formulations, such as serotype replacement and high production costs. The study of conserved pneumococcal proteins or its truncated fragments has emerged as a serotype independent alternative. In this work, we have characterized the immune response elicited by systemic immunization of mice with the Histidine triad protein D (PhtD) and its' amino and carboxyl terminal fragments. The proteins were shown to be immunogenic and protective against pneumococcal colonization, with increased IL-17 production, and induction of antibodies able to limit pneumococcal adhesion to human respiratory cells. Antiserum against PhtD_Nter, but not C_ter or PhtD, promoted an increase in bacterial phagocytosis in vitro. Interestingly, antibodies against the PhtD_Nter displayed cross-reactivity with two other pneumococcal proteins, PspA and PspC, due to sequence similarities in the proline rich region of the molecules. On a whole, our results support the inclusion of PhtD, and more specifically, its N-terminal fragment, in a multicomponent serotype independent vaccine.
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Luo Z, Pederick VG, Paton JC, McDevitt CA, Kobe B. Structural characterisation of the HT3 motif of the polyhistidine triad protein D from Streptococcus pneumoniae. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:2341-2350. [PMID: 29856892 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a major human pathogen that requires Zn2+ for its survival and virulence in the host environment. Polyhistidine triad protein D (PhtD) has a known role in pneumococcal Zn2+ homeostasis. However, the mechanistic basis of PhtD function remains unclear, partly due to a lack of structural information. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the fragment PhtD269-339 , containing the third Zn2+ -binding histidine triad (HT) motif of the protein. Analysis of the structure suggests that Zn2+ binding occurs at the surface of the protein and that all five HT motifs in the protein bind Zn2+ and share similar structures. These new structural insights aid in our understanding of how the Pht proteins facilitate pneumococcal Zn2+ acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyao Luo
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Victoria G Pederick
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - James C Paton
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher A McDevitt
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Prymula R, Szenborn L, Silfverdal SA, Wysocki J, Albrecht P, Traskine M, Gardev A, Song Y, Borys D. Safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of two investigational pneumococcal protein-based vaccines: Results from a randomized phase II study in infants. Vaccine 2017; 35:4603-4611. [PMID: 28729019 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vaccination with formulations containing pneumococcal protein antigens such as pneumolysin toxoid (dPly) and histidine-triad protein D (PhtD) may extend serotype-related protection of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) against Streptococcus pneumoniae. METHODS This phase II, multi-center, observer-blind trial conducted in Europe (NCT01204658) assessed 2 investigational vaccines containing 10 serotype-specific polysaccharide conjugates of PHiD-CV and either 10 or 30µg of dPly and PhtD each. Infants randomized 1:1:1:1 received 4 doses of PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-10, PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30, PHiD-CV, or 13-valent PCV (PCV13), co-administered with DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib, at ages ∼2, 3, 4 and 12-15months. Occurrences of fever >40.0°C following primary vaccination with PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD vaccines compared to PHiD-CV (non-inferiority objective), dose superiority, safety and immunogenicity were assessed. RESULTS 575 children received primary vaccination, and 564 booster vaccination. The non-inferiority objective was met; no fever >40.0°C causally related to vaccination was reported during primary vaccination. Incidence of adverse events appeared similar between the 3 PHiD-CV groups. Serious adverse events were reported in 13, 9, 21 (1 related to vaccination), and 17 children in the PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-10, PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30, PHiD-CV, and PCV13 groups, respectively. PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-30 was superior to PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD-10 in terms of post-dose 3 anti-Ply and Anti-PhtD antibody levels. Anti-Ply and anti-PhtD antibody levels were higher in both PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD groups than in controls and increased from post-primary to post-booster timepoint. Post-primary and booster vaccination, for each PHiD-CV serotype, ≥98.5% of participants in PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD groups had antibody concentrations ≥ 0.2μg/mL, except for 6B (≥72.3%) and 23F (≥82.7%) post-primary vaccination. Similar results were observed in the PHiD-CV group. Immune responses to protein D and DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib were within similar ranges for the 3 PHiD-CV groups. CONCLUSION Both PHiD-CV/dPly/PhtD formulations co-administered with DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib in infants were well-tolerated and immunogenic for dPly and PhtD antigens, while immune responses to serotype-specific, protein D and co-administered antigens did not appear altered in comparison to PHiD-CV group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Prymula
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University in Prague, Šimkova 870, 500 38 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Leszek Szenborn
- Department and Clinic of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, 2-2A, Chalubinskiego, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | | | - Jacek Wysocki
- Poznań University of Medical Sciences, ul. H.Święcickiego 6, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; Regional Medical Center for Mother and Child, ul. Smoluchowskiego 11, 60-179 Poznań, Poland.
| | - Piotr Albrecht
- Medical University of Warsaw, Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 63A, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
| | | | | | - Yue Song
- GSK, Av. Fleming 20, 1300 Wavre, Belgium.
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Leroux-Roels I, Devaster JM, Leroux-Roels G, Verlant V, Henckaerts I, Moris P, Hermand P, Van Belle P, Poolman JT, Vandepapelière P, Horsmans Y. Adjuvant system AS02V enhances humoral and cellular immune responses to pneumococcal protein PhtD vaccine in healthy young and older adults: randomised, controlled trials. Vaccine 2013; 33:577-84. [PMID: 24176494 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Revised: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protection elicited by polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines against community-acquired pneumonia in older adults remains debatable. Alternative vaccine targets include well-conserved pneumococcal protein antigens, such as pneumococcal histidine triad protein D (PhtD). OBJECTIVE To evaluate humoral and cellular immune responses and safety/reactogenicity following immunisation with PhtD vaccine with or without adjuvant (alum or AS02V) in older (≥65 years) and young (18-45 years) healthy adults. METHODS Two phase I/II, single-blind, parallel-group studies were conducted in 150 older and 147 young adults. Participants were randomised to receive 2 doses (months 0 and 2) of PhtD 30 μg, PhtD 10 μg plus alum, PhtD 30 μg plus alum, PhtD 10 μg plus AS02V or PhtD 30 μg plus AS02V, or the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (23PPV) at month 0 with placebo (saline solution) at month 2. Safety/reactogenicity was assessed. PhtD-specific antibody, T cell and memory B cell responses were evaluated. RESULTS Solicited adverse events were more common in young participants and with adjuvanted vaccines. No vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported. Although anti-PhtD geometric mean antibody concentrations (GMCs) were consistently lower in the older adult cohort than in young adults, GMCs in the older cohort following PhtD 30 μg plus AS02V were comparable to those induced by plain PhtD or PhtD 30 μg plus alum in the young cohort. Compared with alum adjuvant, AS02V adjuvant system was associated with an increased frequency of PhtD-specific CD4 cells in both cohorts and a significantly higher specific memory B cell response in the older cohort, similar to responses obtained in the young cohort. CONCLUSION The improved immune response to PhtD vaccine containing the AS02V adjuvant system in comparison to alum suggests that the reduced immune response to vaccines in older adults can be partially restored to the response level observed in young adults. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT00307528/NCT01767402.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Leroux-Roels
- Centre for Vaccinology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | | | - Geert Leroux-Roels
- Centre for Vaccinology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jan T Poolman
- GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Rixensart, Belgium; Crucell, PO Box 2048, 2301 CA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Pierre Vandepapelière
- GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Rixensart, Belgium; Neovacs S.A., 3-5, Impasse Reille, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Yves Horsmans
- Unité de Pharmacologie Clinique, University Hospital St-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
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