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Cramer NA, Socarras KM, Earl J, Ehrlich GD, Marconi RT. Borreliella burgdorferi factor H-binding proteins are not required for serum resistance and infection in mammals. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0052923. [PMID: 38289123 PMCID: PMC10929407 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00529-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The causative agent of Lyme disease (LD), Borreliella burgdorferi, binds factor H (FH) and other complement regulatory proteins to its surface. B. burgdorferi B31 (type strain) encodes five FH-binding proteins (FHBPs): CspZ, CspA, and the OspE paralogs OspEBBN38, OspEBBL39, and OspEBBP38. This study assessed potential correlations between the production of individual FHBPs, FH-binding ability, and serum resistance using a panel of infectious B. burgdorferi clonal populations recovered from dogs. FHBP production was assessed in cultivated spirochetes and by antibody responses in naturally infected humans, dogs, and eastern coyotes (wild canids). FH binding specificity and sensitivity to dog and human serum were also assessed and compared. No correlation was observed between the production of individual FHBPs and FH binding with serum resistance, and CspA was determined to not be produced in animals. Notably, one or more clones isolated from dogs lacked CspZ or the OspE proteins (a finding confirmed by genome sequence determination) and did not bind FH derived from canines. The data presented do not support a correlation between FH binding and the production of individual FHBPs with serum resistance and infectivity. In addition, the limited number and polymorphic nature of cp32s in B. burgdorferi clone DRI85A that were identified through genome sequencing suggest no strict requirement for a defined set of these replicons for infectivity. This study reveals that the immune evasion mechanisms employed by B. burgdorferi are diverse, complex, and yet to be fully defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A. Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Kalya M. Socarras
- Department of Microbiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joshua Earl
- Department of Microbiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Garth D. Ehrlich
- Department of Microbiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Schuler EJ, Patel DT, Marconi RT. The leptospiral OmpA-like protein (Loa22) is a surface-exposed antigen that elicits bactericidal antibody against heterologous Leptospira. Vaccine X 2023; 15:100382. [PMID: 37727366 PMCID: PMC10506094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2023.100382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis, affecting over 1 million humans each year, with more than 60,000 deaths worldwide. Leptospirosis poses a significant health threat to dogs, horses, cattle, and wildlife. The disease may be self-limiting or progress to a life-threatening multi-system disorder affecting the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Currently, bacterin vaccine formulations that consist of one or more laboratory-cultivated strains are used for prevention. However, the antibody response elicited by these vaccines is directed primarily at lipopolysaccharide and is generally serovar-specific. The development of broadly protective subunit vaccines for veterinary and human applications would be a significant step forward in efforts to combat this emerging and antigenically variable pathogen. This study assessed the properties and potential utility of the Leptospira Loa22 (Leptospira OmpA-like 22 kDa protein) protein as a vaccine antigen. Loa22 is a virulence factor that is predicted to transverse the outer membrane and present its N-terminal domain on the cell surface. This report demonstrates that diverse Leptospira strains express Loa22 in vitro and that the protein is antigenic during infection in dogs. Immunoblot and size exclusion chromatography revealed that Loa22 exists in monomeric and trimeric forms. Immunization of rats with recombinant Loa22 elicited bactericidal antibodies against diverse Leptospira strains. The immunodominant bactericidal epitopes were localized within the N-terminal domain using protein-blocking bactericidal assays. This study supports the utility of Loa22, or subfragments thereof, in developing a multivalent chimeric subunit vaccine to prevent leptospirosis and sheds new light on the cellular localization of Loa22.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J.A. Schuler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 E Clay St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Dhara T. Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 E Clay St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 E Clay St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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Narasimhan S, Fish D, Pedra JHF, Pal U, Fikrig E. A ticking time bomb hidden in plain sight. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadi7829. [PMID: 37851823 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi7829] [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] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The deer tick transmits nearly half of the known tick-borne pathogens in the United States, and its expanding geographic range increases the risk of human infection. To decrease the abundance of and infection risk from deer ticks, approaches that include vaccines for human use and for animal hosts are desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Narasimhan
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Durland Fish
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06420, USA
- American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc., New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Joao H F Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Pfeifle A, Thulasi Raman SN, Lansdell C, Zhang W, Tamming L, Cecillon J, Laryea E, Patel D, Wu J, Gravel C, Frahm G, Gao J, Chen W, Chaconas G, Sauve S, Rosu-Myles M, Wang L, Johnston MJW, Li X. DNA lipid nanoparticle vaccine targeting outer surface protein C affords protection against homologous Borrelia burgdorferi needle challenge in mice. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1020134. [PMID: 37006299 PMCID: PMC10060826 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1020134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionThe incidence of Lyme disease (LD) in Canada and the United States has risen over the last decade, nearing 480,000 cases each year. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agent of LD, is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick, resulting in flu-like symptoms and often a characteristic bull’s-eye rash. In more severe cases, disseminated bacterial infection can cause arthritis, carditis and neurological impairments. Currently, no vaccine is available for the prevention of LD in humans.MethodsIn this study, we developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated DNA vaccine encoding outer surface protein C type A (OspC-type A) of B. burgdorferi.ResultsVaccination of C3H/HeN mice with two doses of the candidate vaccine induced significant OspC-type A-specific antibody titres and borreliacidal activity. Analysis of the bacterial burden following needle challenge with B. burgdorferi (OspC-type A) revealed that the candidate vaccine afforded effective protection against homologous infection across a range of susceptible tissues. Notably, vaccinated mice were protected against carditis and lymphadenopathy associated with Lyme borreliosis.DiscussionOverall, the results of this study provide support for the use of a DNA-LNP platform for the development of LD vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Pfeifle
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sathya N. Thulasi Raman
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Casey Lansdell
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Wanyue Zhang
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Levi Tamming
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathon Cecillon
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Laryea
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Devina Patel
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jianguo Wu
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Caroline Gravel
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Grant Frahm
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jun Gao
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Centre for Vaccines, Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Wangxue Chen
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - George Chaconas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Simon Sauve
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Rosu-Myles
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lisheng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael J. W. Johnston
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Michael J. W. Johnston, ; Xuguang Li,
| | - Xuguang Li
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada and World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Michael J. W. Johnston, ; Xuguang Li,
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Narasimhan S, Booth CJ, Philipp MT, Fikrig E, Embers ME. Repeated Tick Infestations Impair Borrelia burgdorferi Transmission in a Non-Human Primate Model of Tick Feeding. Pathogens 2023; 12:132. [PMID: 36678479 PMCID: PMC9861725 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is the predominant vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease in the USA. Natural hosts of I. scapularis such as Peromyscus leucopus are repeatedly infested by these ticks without acquiring tick resistance. However, upon repeated tick infestations, non-natural hosts such as guinea pigs, mount a robust immune response against critical tick salivary antigens and acquire tick resistance able to thwart tick feeding and Borrelia burgdorferi transmission. The salivary targets of acquired tick resistance could serve as vaccine targets to prevent tick feeding and the tick transmission of human pathogens. Currently, there is no animal model able to demonstrate both tick resistance and diverse clinical manifestations of Lyme disease. Non-human primates serve as robust models of human Lyme disease. By evaluating the responses to repeated tick infestation, this animal model could accelerate our ability to define the tick salivary targets of acquired resistance that may serve as vaccines to prevent the tick transmission of human pathogens. Towards this goal, we assessed the development of acquired tick resistance in non-human primates upon repeated tick infestations. We report that following repeated tick infestations, non-human primates do not develop the hallmarks of acquired tick resistance observed in guinea pigs. However, repeated tick infestations elicit immune responses able to impair the tick transmission of B. burgdorferi. A mechanistic understanding of the protective immune responses will provide insights into B. burgdorferi-tick-host interactions and additionally contribute to anti-tick vaccine discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Narasimhan
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Carmen J. Booth
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Mario T. Philipp
- Division of Bacteriology & Parasitology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Monica E. Embers
- Division of Bacteriology & Parasitology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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FtlA and FtlB Are Candidates for Inclusion in a Next-Generation Multiantigen Subunit Vaccine for Lyme Disease. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0036422. [PMID: 36102656 PMCID: PMC9584329 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00364-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is a tick-transmitted bacterial infection caused by Borreliella burgdorferi and other closely related species collectively referred to as the LD spirochetes. The LD spirochetes encode an uncharacterized family of proteins originally designated protein family twelve (PF12). In B. burgdorferi strain B31, PF12 consists of four plasmid-carried genes, encoding BBK01, BBG01, BBH37, and BBJ08. Henceforth, we designate the PF12 proteins family twelve lipoprotein (Ftl) A (FtlA) (BBK01), FtlB (BBG01), FtlC (BBH37), and FtlD (BBJ08). The goal of this study was to assess the potential utility of the Ftl proteins in subunit vaccine development. Immunoblot analyses of LD spirochete cell lysates demonstrated that one or more of the Ftl proteins are produced by most LD isolates during cultivation. The Ftl proteins were verified to be membrane associated, and nondenaturing PAGE revealed that FtlA, FtlB, and FtlD formed dimers, while FtlC formed hexamers. Analysis of serum samples from B. burgdorferi antibody (Ab)-positive client-owned dogs (n = 50) and horses (n = 90) revealed that a majority were anti-Ftl Ab positive. Abs to the Ftl proteins were detected in serum samples from laboratory-infected dogs out to 497 days postinfection. Anti-FtlA and FtlB antisera displayed potent complement-dependent Ab-mediated killing activity, and epitope localization revealed that the bactericidal epitopes reside within the N-terminal domain of the Ftl proteins. This study suggests that FtlA and FtlB are potential candidates for inclusion in a multivalent vaccine for LD.
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7
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Chen WH, Strych U, Bottazzi ME, Lin YP. Past, present, and future of Lyme disease vaccines: antigen engineering approaches and mechanistic insights. Expert Rev Vaccines 2022; 21:1405-1417. [PMID: 35836340 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2102484] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Transmitted by ticks, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere. Despite the geographical expansion of human Lyme disease cases, no effective preventive strategies are currently available. Developing an efficacious and safe vaccine is therefore urgently needed. Efforts have previously been taken to identify vaccine targets in the causative pathogen (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato) and arthropod vector (Ixodes spp.). However, progress was impeded due to a lack of consumer confidence caused by the myth of undesired off-target responses, low immune responses, a limited breadth of immune reactivity, as well as by the complexities of the vaccine process development.Area covered: In this review, we summarize the antigen engineering approaches that have been applied to overcome those challenges and the underlying mechanisms that can be exploited to improve both safety and efficacy of future Lyme disease vaccines.Expert opinion: Over the past two decades, several new genetically redesigned Lyme disease vaccine candidates have shown success in both preclinical and clinical settings and built a solid foundation for further development. These studies have greatly informed the protective mechanisms of reducing Lyme disease burdens and ending the endemic of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hsiang Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, NYSDOH, Albany, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, NY, USA
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8
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Vaccines for Lyme Borreliosis: Facts and Challenges. FOLIA VETERINARIA 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/fv-2022-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a multisystem infectious disease abundant in the northern countries of the world and is caused by Borrelia species. Vaccination against LB is an effective way to prevent and reduce the number of diseases in endemic areas. Several vaccines have been developed and tested in the past, but no human LB vaccine is currently available on the market. This review aims to uncover and delineate various strategies and diverse technological approaches related to vaccine production. Furthermore, we characterize already tested vaccines, possibilities for their future development, and reasons for their failure.
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9
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Abstract
The immune response elicited by vaccines against microorganisms makes it the most successful medical interventions against infectious diseases. Conventional vaccines have limitations in inducing immunity against many types of pathogenic microorganism. The genetic diversity of microorganisms, coupled with the high degree of sequence variability in antigenic proteins, presents a challenge to developing broadly effective conventional vaccines. Atomic-resolution structure determination is crucial for understanding antigenic protein function. Cryo-electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy coupled with bioinformatics provide three-dimensional structure of the antigenic proteins and provide a wealth of information about the organization of individual atoms and their chemical makeup. The atomic detail information of proteins offers enormous potential to rationally engineer proteins to enhance their properties and act as effective immunogens to induce immunity. The observation that whole protein antigens are not necessarily essential for inducing immunity has led to the emergence "structural vaccinology." Structure-based vaccines are designed on the rationale that protective epitopes should be sufficient to induce immune responses and provide protection against pathogens. In 2013 we published a review on structure-based vaccines (Thomas and Luxon. Expert Rev Vaccines 12 1301-11, 2013). This review states the progress in development of structure-based vaccines since the first review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Thomas
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA.
| | - Ann Abraham
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA
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10
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Bobe JR, Jutras BL, Horn EJ, Embers ME, Bailey A, Moritz RL, Zhang Y, Soloski MJ, Ostfeld RS, Marconi RT, Aucott J, Ma'ayan A, Keesing F, Lewis K, Ben Mamoun C, Rebman AW, McClune ME, Breitschwerdt EB, Reddy PJ, Maggi R, Yang F, Nemser B, Ozcan A, Garner O, Di Carlo D, Ballard Z, Joung HA, Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR, Baumgarth N, Fallon BA. Recent Progress in Lyme Disease and Remaining Challenges. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:666554. [PMID: 34485323 PMCID: PMC8416313 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.666554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with an estimated 476,000 cases per year. While historically, the long-term impact of Lyme disease on patients has been controversial, mounting evidence supports the idea that a substantial number of patients experience persistent symptoms following treatment. The research community has largely lacked the necessary funding to properly advance the scientific and clinical understanding of the disease, or to develop and evaluate innovative approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Given the many outstanding questions raised into the diagnosis, clinical presentation and treatment of Lyme disease, and the underlying molecular mechanisms that trigger persistent disease, there is an urgent need for more support. This review article summarizes progress over the past 5 years in our understanding of Lyme and tick-borne diseases in the United States and highlights remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Bobe
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brandon L. Jutras
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | | | - Monica E. Embers
- Tulane University Health Sciences, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Allison Bailey
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mark J. Soloski
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - John Aucott
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Avi Ma'ayan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Kim Lewis
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Alison W. Rebman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mecaila E. McClune
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Edward B. Breitschwerdt
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | | | - Ricardo Maggi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Bennett Nemser
- Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Stamford, CT, United States
| | - Aydogan Ozcan
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Omai Garner
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Zachary Ballard
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hyou-Arm Joung
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Albert Garcia-Romeu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Roland R. Griffiths
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nicole Baumgarth
- Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brian A. Fallon
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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11
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Orientia tsutsugamushi Nucleomodulin Ank13 Exploits the RaDAR Nuclear Import Pathway To Modulate Host Cell Transcription. mBio 2021; 12:e0181621. [PMID: 34340535 PMCID: PMC8406279 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01816-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Orientia tsutsugamushi is the etiologic agent of scrub typhus, the deadliest of all diseases caused by obligate intracellular bacteria. Nucleomodulins, bacterial effectors that dysregulate eukaryotic transcription, are being increasingly recognized as key virulence factors. How they translocate into the nucleus and their functionally essential domains are poorly defined. We demonstrate that Ank13, an O. tsutsugamushi effector conserved among clinical isolates and expressed during infection, localizes to the nucleus in an importin β1-independent manner. Rather, Ank13 nucleotropism requires an isoleucine at the thirteenth position of its fourth ankyrin repeat, consistent with utilization of eukaryotic RaDAR (RanGDP-ankyrin repeats) nuclear import. RNA-seq analyses of cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Ank13, nucleotropism-deficient Ank13I127R, or Ank13ΔF-box, which lacks the F-box domain essential for interacting with SCF ubiquitin ligase, revealed Ank13 to be a nucleomodulin that predominantly downregulates transcription of more than 2,000 genes. Its ability to do so involves its nucleotropism and F-box in synergistic and mutually exclusive manners. Ank13 also acts in the cytoplasm to dysregulate smaller cohorts of genes. The effector’s toxicity in yeast heavily depends on its F-box and less so on its nucleotropism. Genes negatively regulated by Ank13 include those involved in the inflammatory response, transcriptional control, and epigenetics. Importantly, the majority of genes that GFP-Ank13 most strongly downregulates are quiescent or repressed in O. tsutsugamushi-infected cells when Ank13 expression is strongest. Ank13 is the first nucleomodulin identified to coopt RaDAR and a multifaceted effector that functions in the nucleus and cytoplasm via F-box-dependent and -independent mechanisms to globally reprogram host cell transcription.
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Camire AC, Hatke AL, King VL, Millership J, Ritter DM, Sobell N, Weber A, Marconi RT. Comparative analysis of antibody responses to outer surface protein (Osp)A and OspC in dogs vaccinated with Lyme disease vaccines. Vet J 2021; 273:105676. [PMID: 34148599 PMCID: PMC8254658 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD), the most common tick-borne disease of canines and humans in N. America, is caused by the spirochete Borreliella burgdorferi. Subunit and bacterin vaccines are available for the prevention of LD in dogs. LD bacterin vaccines, which are comprised of cell lysates of two strains of B. burgdorferi, contain over 1000 different proteins and cellular constituents. In contrast, subunit vaccines are defined in composition and consist of either outer surface protein (Osp)A or OspA and an OspC chimeritope. In this study, we comparatively assessed antibody responses to OspA and OspC induced by vaccination with all canine bacterin and subunit LD vaccines that are commercially available in North America. Dogs were administered a two-dose series of the vaccine to which they were assigned (3 weeks apart): Subunit-AC, Subunit-A, Bacterin-1, and Bacterin-2. Antibody titers to OspA and OspC were determined by ELISA and the ability of each vaccine to elicit antibodies that recognize diverse OspC proteins (referred to as OspC types) assessed by immunoblot. While all of the vaccines elicited similar OspA antibody responses, only Subunit-AC triggered a robust and broadly cross-reactive antibody response to divergent OspC proteins. The data presented within provide new information regarding vaccination-induced antibody responses to key tick and mammalian phase antigens by both subunit and bacterin LD canine vaccine formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Camire
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, McGuire Hall Room 101, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA
| | - A L Hatke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, McGuire Hall Room 101, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA
| | - V L King
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, USA
| | - J Millership
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, USA
| | - D M Ritter
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, USA
| | - N Sobell
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, USA
| | - A Weber
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, USA
| | - R T Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, McGuire Hall Room 101, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA.
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13
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Schuler EJA, Marconi RT. The Leptospiral General Secretory Protein D (GspD), a secretin, elicits complement-independent bactericidal antibody against diverse Leptospira species and serovars. Vaccine X 2021; 7:100089. [PMID: 33733085 PMCID: PMC7941034 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2021.100089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis, the most common zoonotic infection worldwide, is a multi-system disorder affecting the kidney, liver, and lungs. Infections can be asymptomatic, self-limiting or progress to multi-organ system failure and pulmonary hemorrhage. The incidence of canine and human leptospirosis is steadily increasing worldwide. At least sixty-four Leptospira species and several hundred lipopolysaccharide-based serovars have been defined. Preventive vaccines are available for use in veterinary medicine and limited use in humans in some countries. All commercially available vaccines are bacterin formulations that consist of a combination of laboratory cultivated strains of different lipopolysaccharide serotypes. The development of a broadly protective subunit vaccine would represent a significant step forward in efforts to combat leptospirosis in humans, livestock, and companion animals worldwide. Here we investigate the potential of General secretory protein D (GspD; LIC11570), a secretin, to serve as a possible antigen in a multi-valent vaccine formulation. GspD is conserved, expressed in vitro, antigenic during infection and elicits antibody with complement independent bactericidal activity. Importantly, antibody to GspD is bactericidal against diverse Leptospira species of the P1 subclade. Epitope mapping localized the bactericidal epitopes to the N-terminal N0 domain of GspD. The data within support further exploration of GspD as a candidate for inclusion in a next generation multi-protein subunit vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- EJA. Schuler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 E Clay St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - RT. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 E Clay St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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14
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O'Bier NS, Patel DT, Oliver LD, Miller DP, Marconi RT. Development of an FhbB based chimeric vaccinogen that elicits antibodies that block Factor H binding and cleavage by the periopathogen Treponema denticola. Mol Oral Microbiol 2020; 36:50-57. [PMID: 33219611 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Treponema denticola is a proteolytic anaerobic spirochete and key contributor to periodontal disease of microbial etiology. As periodontal disease develops and progresses, T. denticola thrives in the hostile environment of the subgingival crevice by exploiting the negative regulatory activity of the complement protein, factor H (FH). FH bound to the cell surface receptor, FhbB (FH binding protein B), is competent to serve as a cofactor for the Factor I mediated-cleavage of the opsonin C3b. However, bound FH is ultimately cleaved by the T. denticola protease, dentilisin. As the T. denticola population expands, the rate of FH cleavage may exceed its rate of replenishment leading to local FH depletion and immune dysregulation culminating in tissue and ligament destruction and tooth loss. The goal of this study was to develop a T. denticola FhbB based-vaccine antigen that can block FH binding and cleavage and kill cells via antibody-mediated bactericidal activity. Tetra (FhbB-ch4) and pentavalent fhbB (FhbB-ch5) chimerics were engineered to have attenuated FH binding ability. The chimerics were immunogenic and elicited high-titer bactericidal and agglutinating antibody. Anti-Fhb-ch4 antisera blocked FH binding and cleavage by the T. denticola protease, dentilisin, in a dose dependent manner. Precedent for the use of FH binding proteins comes from the successful development of two FDA approved vaccines for type B Neiserria meningitidis. This study is the first to extend this approach to the development of a preventive or therapeutic vaccine (or monoclonal Ab) for periodontal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel S O'Bier
- Department Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Dhara T Patel
- Department Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Lee D Oliver
- Department Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Daniel P Miller
- Department Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Richard T Marconi
- Department Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
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15
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O'Bier NS, Hatke AL, Camire AC, Marconi RT. Human and Veterinary Vaccines for Lyme Disease. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2020; 42:191-222. [PMID: 33289681 DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is an emerging zoonotic infection that is increasing in incidence in North America, Europe, and Asia. With the development of safe and efficacious vaccines, LD can potentially be prevented. Vaccination offers a cost-effective and safe approach for decreasing the risk of infection. While LD vaccines have been widely used in veterinary medicine, they are not available as a preventive tool for humans. Central to the development of effective vaccines is an understanding of the enzootic cycle of LD, differential gene expression of Borrelia burgdorferi in response to environmental variables, and the genetic and antigenic diversity of the unique bacteria that cause this debilitating disease. Here we review these areas as they pertain to past and present efforts to develop human, veterinary, and reservoir targeting LD vaccines. In addition, we offer a brief overview of additional preventative measures that should employed in conjunction with vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel S O'Bier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Amanda L Hatke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Andrew C Camire
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Richard T Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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Bernard Q, Phelan JP, Hu LT. Controlling Lyme Disease: New Paradigms for Targeting the Tick-Pathogen-Reservoir Axis on the Horizon. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:607170. [PMID: 33344266 PMCID: PMC7744311 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.607170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Linden T. Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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Marconi RT, Honsberger N, Teresa Winkler M, Sobell N, King VL, Wappel S, Hoevers J, Xu Z, Millership J. Field safety study of VANGUARD®crLyme: A vaccine for the prevention of Lyme disease in dogs. Vaccine X 2020; 6:100080. [PMID: 33336186 PMCID: PMC7733143 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2020.100080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we report the results of a large-scale pre-license safety study in which two serials of VANGUARD®crLyme, a vaccine for canine Lyme disease, were tested in its target population (dogs) under the conditions of its intended use. Six-hundred and twenty dogs, from three distinct geographic regions of the United States were enrolled in this study with each receiving two doses of vaccine by subcutaneous injection 3 to 4 weeks apart. Approximately one-third of the dogs were of minimum age (≤8 weeks of age) to meet regulatory requirements. Safety was evaluated by observation of local and systemic reactions for at least 10 days after each vaccination. Abnormal health events (AHEs) occurred at low frequencies and no serious AHEs were observed. The results demonstrated that VANGUARD®crLyme is safe for use in healthy dogs 8 weeks of age or older.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, United States
| | - Nicole Honsberger
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - M Teresa Winkler
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Nikki Sobell
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Vickie L King
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Sharon Wappel
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | | | - Zach Xu
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Jason Millership
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
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Marconi RT, Garcia-Tapia D, Hoevers J, Honsberger N, King VL, Ritter D, Schwahn DJ, Swearingin L, Weber A, Winkler MTC, Millership J. VANGUARD®crLyme: A next generation Lyme disease vaccine that prevents B. burgdorferi infection in dogs. Vaccine X 2020; 6:100079. [PMID: 33336185 PMCID: PMC7733144 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2020.100079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease, a public health threat of significance to both veterinary and human medicine, is caused by the tick (Ixodes) transmitted spirochete, Borreliella burgdorferi. Here we report on the immunogenicity and efficacy of VANGUARD®crLyme (Zoetis), the most recent canine Lyme disease vaccine to be approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. VANGUARD®crLyme is a subunit vaccine consisting of outer surface protein A (OspA) and a recombinant outer surface protein C (OspC) based-chimeric epitope protein (chimeritope) that consists of at least 14 different linear epitopes derived from diverse OspC proteins. The combination of OspA and the OspC chimeritope (Ch14) in the vaccine formulation allows for the development of humoral immune responses that work synergistically to target spirochetes in both ticks and in mammals. Immunogenicity was assessed in purpose-bred dogs. A two-dose vaccination protocol resulted in high antibody titers to OspA and Ch14 and vaccinal antibody reacted with 25 different recombinant OspC variants. Efficacy was demonstrated using an Ixodes scapularis -purpose bred dog challenge model. Vaccination with VANGUARD®crLyme provided protection against infection and prevented the development of clinical manifestations and histopathological changes associated with Lyme disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, United States
| | | | | | - Nicole Honsberger
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Vickie L King
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Dianne Ritter
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Denise J Schwahn
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Leroy Swearingin
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | - Angela Weber
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
| | | | - Jason Millership
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4931, United States
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19
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Green RS, Izac JR, Naimi WA, O'Bier N, Breitschwerdt EB, Marconi RT, Carlyon JA. Ehrlichia chaffeensis EplA Interaction With Host Cell Protein Disulfide Isomerase Promotes Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:500. [PMID: 33072622 PMCID: PMC7538545 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that invades monocytes to cause the emerging and potentially severe disease, monocytic ehrlichiosis. Ehrlichial invasion of host cells, a process that is essential for the bacterium's survival and pathogenesis, is incompletely understood. In this study, we identified ECH_0377, henceforth designated as EplA (E. chaffeensis PDI ligand A) as an E. chaffeensis adhesin that interacts with host cell protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) to mediate bacterial entry into host cells. EplA is an outer membrane protein that E. chaffeensis expresses during growth in THP-1 monocytic cells. Canine sera confirmed to be positive for exposure to Ehrlichia spp. recognized recombinant EplA, indicating that it is expressed during infection in vivo. EplA antiserum inhibited the bacterium's ability to infect monocytic cells. The EplA-PDI interaction was confirmed via co-immunoprecipitation. Treating host cell surfaces with antibodies that inhibit PDI and/or thioredoxin-1 thiol reductase activity impaired E. chaffeensis infection. Chemical reduction of host cell surfaces, but not bacterial surfaces with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) restored ehrlichial infectivity in the presence of the PDI-neutralizing antibody. Antisera specific for EplA C-terminal residues 95-104 (EplA95−104) or outer membrane protein A amino acids 53-68 (OmpA53−68) reduced E. chaffeensis infection of THP-1 cells. Notably, TCEP rescued ehrlichial infectivity of bacteria that had been treated with anti-EplA95−104, but not anti-EcOmpA53−68. These results demonstrate that EplA contributes to E. chaffeensis infection of monocytic cells by engaging PDI and exploiting the enzyme's reduction of host cell surface disulfide bonds in an EplA C-terminus-dependent manner and identify EplA95−104 and EcOmpA53−68 as novel ehrlichial receptor binding domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Green
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Jerilyn R Izac
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Waheeda A Naimi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Nathaniel O'Bier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Edward B Breitschwerdt
- Department of Clinical Sciences and the Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Richard T Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Jason A Carlyon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
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Immunization against Anaplasma phagocytophilum Adhesin Binding Domains Confers Protection against Infection in the Mouse Model. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00106-20. [PMID: 32661123 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00106-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes granulocytic anaplasmosis, a debilitating infection that can be fatal in the immunocompromised. It also afflicts animals, including dogs, horses, and sheep. No granulocytic anaplasmosis vaccine exists. Because A. phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium, inhibiting microbe-host cell interactions that facilitate invasion can disrupt infection. The binding domains of A. phagocytophilum adhesins A. phagocytophilum invasion protein A (AipA), A. phagocytophilum surface protein (Asp14), and outer membrane protein A (OmpA) are essential for optimal bacterial entry into host cells, but their relevance to infection in vivo is undefined. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with a cocktail of keyhole limpet hemocyanin-conjugated peptides corresponding to the AipA, Asp14, and OmpA binding domains in alum followed by challenge with A. phagocytophilum The bacterial peripheral blood burden was pronouncedly reduced in immunized mice compared to controls. Examination of pre- and postchallenge sera from these mice revealed that immunization elicited antibodies against AipA and Asp14 peptides but not OmpA peptide. Nonetheless, pooled sera from pre- and postchallenge groups, but not from control groups, inhibited A. phagocytophilum infection of HL-60 cells. Adhesin domain immunization also elicited interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-producing CD8-positive (CD8+) T cells. A follow-up study confirmed that immunization against only the AipA or Asp14 binding domain was sufficient to reduce the bacterial peripheral blood load in mice following challenge and elicit antibodies that inhibit A. phagocytophilum cellular infection in vitro These data demonstrate that AipA and Asp14 are critical for A. phagocytophilum to productively infect mice, and immunization against their binding domains elicits a protective immune response.
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Antibody profiling of a Borreliella burgdorferi (Lyme disease) C6 antibody positive, symptomatic Rottweiler and her pups. Vet J 2020; 262:105504. [PMID: 32792093 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2020.105504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is a tick-transmitted disease caused by Borreliella burgdorferi (Bb). Temporal studies of maternal antibody (Ab) profiles in Bb infected pregnant dogs and their pups have not been conducted. In this study, Ab profiles of a client-owned Bb C6 Ab positive Rottweiler and her nine pups were assessed. The dam presented with lameness 12 days prior to parturition and was C6 Ab positive with a Quant C6 Ab concentration of 237U/mL. Treatment with amoxicillin was initiated and 11 days later nine pups were delivered. Screening of the sera from the dam and pups against Bb cell lysates and a panel of antigens revealed similar immunoreactivity profiles. While antigen-specific IgG and IgM reactivity persisted in the dam for at least 7 months, a rapid decline in IgG specific for BBA36, BBK53, BB0238, BBA73 and outer surface protein (Osp) E in the pups occurred between days 29 and 52 post-parturition. In contrast, Ab specific for DbpA and the diagnostic antigens VlsE (C6) and OspF, remained elevated in the pups. Sera from the dam displayed potent complement-dependent bactericidal activity against Bb. Sera from the pups was also bactericidal but primarily through a complement-independent mechanism. Lastly, single dose vaccination of the dam at day 51 post-parturition with a LD subunit vaccine consisting of OspA and an OspC chimeritope triggered a broad anti-OspC Ab response indicative of an anamnestic response. Although this study focused on a single case, these findings add to our knowledge of maternal Ab profiles and will aid the interpretation of serological assays in pups delivered by a Bb C6 Ab positive dog.
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