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Kolesiński P, McGowan M, Botteaux A, Smeesters PR, Ghosh P. Conservation of C4BP-binding sequence patterns in Streptococcus pyogenes M and Enn proteins. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107478. [PMID: 38879009 PMCID: PMC11292367 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Antigenically sequence variable M proteins of the major bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) are responsible for recruiting human C4b-binding protein (C4BP) to the bacterial surface, which enables Strep A to evade destruction by the immune system. The most sequence divergent portion of M proteins, the hypervariable region (HVR), is responsible for binding C4BP. Structural evidence points to the conservation of two C4BP-binding sequence patterns (M2 and M22) in the HVR of numerous M proteins, with this conservation applicable to vaccine immunogen design. These two patterns, however, only partially explain C4BP binding by Strep A. Here, we identified several M proteins that lack these patterns but still bind C4BP and determined the structures of two, M68 and M87 HVRs, in complex with a C4BP fragment. Mutagenesis of these M proteins led to the identification of amino acids that are crucial for C4BP binding, enabling formulation of new C4BP-binding patterns. Mutagenesis was also carried out on M2 and M22 proteins to refine or generate experimentally grounded C4BP-binding patterns. The M22 pattern was the most prevalent among M proteins, followed by the M87 and M2 patterns, while the M68 pattern was rare. These patterns, except for M68, were also evident in numerous M-like Enn proteins. Binding of C4BP via these patterns to Enn proteins was verified. We conclude that C4BP-binding patterns occur frequently in Strep A strains of differing M types, being present in their M or Enn proteins, or frequently both, providing further impetus for their use as vaccine immunogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Kolesiński
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Matthew McGowan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Anne Botteaux
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology, ULB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre R Smeesters
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology, ULB, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Paediatrics, Brussels University Hospital, Academic Children Hospital Queen Fabiola, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Partho Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California, USA.
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Kolesiński P, McGowan M, Botteaux A, Smeesters PR, Ghosh P. Conservation of C4BP-binding Sequence Patterns in Streptococcus pyogenes M and Enn Proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.22.590534. [PMID: 38712057 PMCID: PMC11071373 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.22.590534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Antigenically sequence variable M proteins of the major bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) are responsible for recruiting human C4b-binding protein (C4BP) to the bacterial surface, which enables Strep A to evade destruction by the immune system. The most sequence divergent portion of M proteins, the hypervariable region (HVR), is responsible for binding C4BP. Structural evidence points to the conservation of two C4BP-binding sequence patterns (M2 and M22) in the HVR of numerous M proteins, with this conservation applicable to vaccine immunogen design. These two patterns, however, only partially explain C4BP-binding by Strep A. Here, we identified several M proteins that lack these patterns but still bind C4BP, and determined the structures of two, M68 and M87 HVRs, in complex with a C4BP fragment. Mutagenesis of these M proteins led to identification of amino acids that are crucial for C4BP-binding, enabling formulation of new C4BP-binding patterns. Mutagenesis was also carried out on M2 and M22 proteins to refine or generate experimentally grounded C4BP-binding patterns. The M22 pattern was the most populated among M proteins, followed by the M87 and M2 patterns, while the M68 pattern was rare. These patterns, except for M68, were also evident in numerous M-like Enn proteins. Binding of C4BP via these patterns to Enn proteins was verified. We conclude that C4BP-binding patterns occur frequently in Strep A strains of differing M types, being present in their M or Enn proteins, or frequently both, providing further impetus for their use as vaccine immunogens.
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Dale JB, Aranha MP, Penfound TA, Salehi S, Smith JC. Structure-guided design of a broadly cross-reactive multivalent group a streptococcal vaccine. Vaccine 2023; 41:5841-5847. [PMID: 37596198 PMCID: PMC10529471 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
The M protein of group A streptococci (Strep A) is a major virulence determinant and protective antigen. The N-terminal region of the M protein is variable in sequence, defines the M/emm type, and contains epitopes that elicit opsonic antibodies that protect animals from challenge infections. Although there are >200 M types of Strep A, there is now evidence that structurally related M proteins can be grouped into clusters and that immunity may be cluster-specific in addition to M type-specific. This observation has led to recent studies of structure-based design of multivalent M peptide vaccines to select peptides predicted to cross-react with heterologous M types to improve vaccine coverage. In the current study, we have applied a refined series of peptide structural algorithms to predict immunological cross-reactivity among 117 N-terminal M peptides representing the most prevalent M types of Strep A. Based on the results of the structural analyses, in combination with global M type prevalence data, we constructed a 32-valent vaccine containing 19 cross-reactive vaccine candidates predicted to cross-react with 37 heterologous M peptides to which were added 13 type-specific M peptides. The 4-protein recombinant vaccine was immunogenic in rabbits and elicited significant levels of antibodies against 31/32 (97%) vaccine peptides and 28/37 (76%) peptides predicted to cross-react. The vaccine antisera also promoted opsonophagocytic killing of vaccine and cross-reactive M types of Strep A. Based on a recent analysis of M type prevalence of Strep A, the potential global coverage of the 32-valent vaccine is ∼90%, ranging from 68% in Africa to 95% in North America. Our results indicate the utility of structure-based design that may be applied to future studies of broadly protective M peptide vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Dale
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States.
| | - Michelle P Aranha
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, United States
| | - Thomas A Penfound
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - Sanaz Salehi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - Jeremy C Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, United States
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4
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Wang KC, Kuliyev E, Nizet V, Ghosh P. A conserved 3D pattern in a Streptococcus pyogenes M protein immunogen elicits M-type crossreactivity. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104980. [PMID: 37390991 PMCID: PMC10400905 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Coiled coil-forming M proteins of the widespread and potentially deadly bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (strep A) are immunodominant targets of opsonizing antibodies. However, antigenic sequence variability of M proteins into >220 M types, as defined by their hypervariable regions (HVRs), is considered to limit M proteins as vaccine immunogens because of type specificity in the antibody response. Surprisingly, a multi-HVR immunogen in clinical vaccine trials was shown to elicit M-type crossreactivity. The basis for this crossreactivity is unknown but may be due in part to antibody recognition of a 3D pattern conserved in many M protein HVRs that confers binding to human complement C4b-binding protein (C4BP). To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether a single M protein immunogen carrying the 3D pattern would elicit crossreactivity against other M types carrying the 3D pattern. We found that a 34-amino acid sequence of S. pyogenes M2 protein bearing the 3D pattern retained full C4BP-binding capacity when fused to a coiled coil-stabilizing sequence from the protein GCN4. We show that this immunogen, called M2G, elicited cross-reactive antibodies against a number of M types that carry the 3D pattern but not against those that lack the 3D pattern. We further show that the M2G antiserum-recognized M proteins displayed natively on the strep A surface and promoted the opsonophagocytic killing of strep A strains expressing these M proteins. As C4BP binding is a conserved virulence trait of strep A, we propose that targeting the 3D pattern may prove advantageous in vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuei-Chen Wang
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Eziz Kuliyev
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Victor Nizet
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Partho Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
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5
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de Neergaard T, Bläckberg A, Ivarsson H, Thomasson S, Kumra Ahnlide V, Chowdhury S, Khakzad H, Bahnan W, Malmström J, Rasmussen M, Nordenfelt P. Invasive Streptococcal Infection Can Lead to the Generation of Cross-Strain Opsonic Antibodies. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0248622. [PMID: 36314947 PMCID: PMC9769875 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02486-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes causes substantial morbidity and mortality. It is unclear if antibodies developed after infections with this pathogen are opsonic and if they are strain specific or more broadly protective. Here, we quantified the opsonic-antibody response following invasive S. pyogenes infection. Four patients with S. pyogenes bacteremia between 2018 and 2020 at Skåne University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, were prospectively enrolled. Acute- and convalescent-phase sera were obtained, and the S. pyogenes isolates were genome sequenced (emm118, emm85, and two emm1 isolates). Quantitative antibody binding and phagocytosis assays were used to evaluate isolate-dependent opsonic antibody function in response to infection. Antibody binding increased modestly against the infecting isolate and across emm types in convalescent- compared to acute-phase sera for all patients. For two patients, phagocytosis increased in convalescent-phase serum both for the infecting isolate and across types. The increase was only across types for one patient, and one had no improvement. No correlation to the clinical outcomes was observed. Invasive S. pyogenes infections result in a modestly increased antibody binding with differential opsonic capacity, both nonfunctional binding and broadly opsonic binding across types. These findings question the dogma that an invasive infection should lead to a strong type-specific antibody increase rather than a more modest but broadly reactive response, as seen in these patients. Furthermore, our results indicate that an increase in antibody titers might not be indicative of an opsonic response and highlight the importance of evaluating antibody function in S. pyogenes infections. IMPORTANCE The bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes is a common cause of both mild and severe human diseases resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality each year. No vaccines are available, and our understanding of the antibody response to this human pathogen is still incomplete. Here, we carefully analyzed the opsonic antibody response following invasive infection in four patients. Unexpectedly, the patients did not always generate opsonic antibodies against the specific infecting strain. Instead, we found that some patients could generate cross-opsonic antibodies, leading to phagocytosis of bacteria across strains. The emergence of cross-opsonic antibodies is likely important for long-term immunity against S. pyogenes. Our findings question the dogma that mostly strain-specific immunity is developed after infection and add to our overall understanding of how immunity to S. pyogenes can evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therese de Neergaard
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Bläckberg
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Skåne University Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hanna Ivarsson
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sofia Thomasson
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Vibha Kumra Ahnlide
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sounak Chowdhury
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hamed Khakzad
- Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering, STI, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Wael Bahnan
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Malmström
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Magnus Rasmussen
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Skåne University Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pontus Nordenfelt
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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6
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Bahnan W, Happonen L, Khakzad H, Kumra Ahnlide V, de Neergaard T, Wrighton S, André O, Bratanis E, Tang D, Hellmark T, Björck L, Shannon O, Malmström L, Malmström J, Nordenfelt P. A human monoclonal antibody bivalently binding two different epitopes in streptococcal M protein mediates immune function. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 15:e16208. [PMID: 36507602 PMCID: PMC9906385 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202216208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A streptococci have evolved multiple strategies to evade human antibodies, making it challenging to create effective vaccines or antibody treatments. Here, we have generated antibodies derived from the memory B cells of an individual who had successfully cleared a group A streptococcal infection. The antibodies bind with high affinity in the central region of the surface-bound M protein. Such antibodies are typically non-opsonic. However, one antibody could effectively promote vital immune functions, including phagocytosis and in vivo protection. Remarkably, this antibody primarily interacts through a bivalent dual-Fab cis mode, where the Fabs bind to two distinct epitopes in the M protein. The dual-Fab cis-binding phenomenon is conserved across different groups of M types. In contrast, other antibodies binding with normal single-Fab mode to the same region cannot bypass the M protein's virulent effects. A broadly binding, protective monoclonal antibody could be a candidate for anti-streptococcal therapy. Our findings highlight the concept of dual-Fab cis binding as a means to access conserved, and normally non-opsonic regions, regions for protective antibody targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael Bahnan
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Lotta Happonen
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Hamed Khakzad
- Equipe Signalisation Calcique et Infections MicrobiennesÉcole Normale Supérieure Paris‐SaclayGif‐sur‐YvetteFrance,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1282Gif‐sur‐YvetteFrance,Present address:
Université de Lorraine, Inria, LORIANancyFrance
| | - Vibha Kumra Ahnlide
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Therese de Neergaard
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Sebastian Wrighton
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Oscar André
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Eleni Bratanis
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Di Tang
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Thomas Hellmark
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of NephrologyLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Lars Björck
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Oonagh Shannon
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Lars Malmström
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Johan Malmström
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Pontus Nordenfelt
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of MedicineLund UniversityLundSweden
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7
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Aranha MP, Penfound TA, Salehi S, Botteaux A, Smeesters P, Dale JB, Smith JC. Design of Broadly Cross-Reactive M Protein-Based Group A Streptococcal Vaccines. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:1138-1149. [PMID: 34341168 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Group A streptococcal infections are a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality. A leading vaccine candidate is the surface M protein, a major virulence determinant and protective Ag. One obstacle to the development of M protein-based vaccines is the >200 different M types defined by the N-terminal sequences that contain protective epitopes. Despite sequence variability, M proteins share coiled-coil structural motifs that bind host proteins required for virulence. In this study, we exploit this potential Achilles heel of conserved structure to predict cross-reactive M peptides that could serve as broadly protective vaccine Ags. Combining sequences with structural predictions, six heterologous M peptides in a sequence-related cluster were predicted to elicit cross-reactive Abs with the remaining five nonvaccine M types in the cluster. The six-valent vaccine elicited Abs in rabbits that reacted with all 11 M peptides in the cluster and functional opsonic Abs against vaccine and nonvaccine M types in the cluster. We next immunized mice with four sequence-unrelated M peptides predicted to contain different coiled-coil propensities and tested the antisera for cross-reactivity against 41 heterologous M peptides. Based on these results, we developed an improved algorithm to select cross-reactive peptide pairs using additional parameters of coiled-coil length and propensity. The revised algorithm accurately predicted cross-reactive Ab binding, improving the Matthews correlation coefficient from 0.42 to 0.74. These results form the basis for selecting the minimum number of N-terminal M peptides to include in potentially broadly efficacious multivalent vaccines that could impact the overall global burden of group A streptococcal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle P Aranha
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; .,Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
| | - Thomas A Penfound
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Sanaz Salehi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Anne Botteaux
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Smeesters
- Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.,Academic Children's Hospital Queen Fabiola, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; and.,Centre for International Child Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - James B Dale
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN;
| | - Jeremy C Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; .,Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
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8
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Nakata M, Kreikemeyer B. Genetics, Structure, and Function of Group A Streptococcal Pili. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:616508. [PMID: 33633705 PMCID: PMC7900414 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.616508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus; GAS) is an exclusively human pathogen. This bacterial species is responsible for a large variety of infections, ranging from purulent but mostly self-limiting oropharynx/skin diseases to streptococcal sequelae, including glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever, as well as life-threatening streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome. GAS displays a wide array of surface proteins, with antigenicity of the M protein and pili utilized for M- and T-serotyping, respectively. Since the discovery of GAS pili in 2005, their genetic features, including regulation of expression, and structural features, including assembly mechanisms and protein conformation, as well as their functional role in GAS pathogenesis have been intensively examined. Moreover, their potential as vaccine antigens has been studied in detail. Pilus biogenesis-related genes are located in a discrete section of the GAS genome encoding fibronectin and collagen binding proteins and trypsin-resistant antigens (FCT region). Based on the heterogeneity of genetic composition and DNA sequences, this region is currently classified into nine distinguishable forms. Pili and fibronectin-binding proteins encoded in the FCT region are known to be correlated with infection sites, such as the skin and throat, possibly contributing to tissue tropism. As also found for pili of other Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, GAS pilin proteins polymerize via isopeptide bonds, while intramolecular isopeptide bonds present in the pilin provide increased resistance to degradation by proteases. As supported by findings showing that the main subunit is primarily responsible for T-serotyping antigenicity, pilus functions and gene expression modes are divergent. GAS pili serve as adhesins for tonsillar tissues and keratinocyte cell lines. Of note, a minor subunit is considered to have a harpoon function by which covalent thioester bonds with host ligands are formed. Additionally, GAS pili participate in biofilm formation and evasion of the immune system in a serotype/strain-specific manner. These multiple functions highlight crucial roles of pili during the onset of GAS infection. This review summarizes the current state of the art regarding GAS pili, including a new mode of host-GAS interaction mediated by pili, along with insights into pilus expression in terms of tissue tropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanobu Nakata
- Department of Oral Microbiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Bernd Kreikemeyer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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9
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Subdominance in Antibody Responses: Implications for Vaccine Development. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2020; 85:85/1/e00078-20. [PMID: 33239435 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00078-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines work primarily by eliciting antibodies, even when recovery from natural infection depends on cellular immunity. Large efforts have therefore been made to identify microbial antigens that elicit protective antibodies, but these endeavors have encountered major difficulties, as witnessed by the lack of vaccines against many pathogens. This review summarizes accumulating evidence that subdominant protein regions, i.e., surface-exposed regions that elicit relatively weak antibody responses, are of particular interest for vaccine development. This concept may seem counterintuitive, but subdominance may represent an immune evasion mechanism, implying that the corresponding region potentially is a key target for protective immunity. Following a presentation of the concepts of immunodominance and subdominance, the review will present work on subdominant regions in several major human pathogens: the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum, two species of pathogenic streptococci, and the dengue and influenza viruses. Later sections are devoted to the molecular basis of subdominance, its potential role in immune evasion, and general implications for vaccine development. Special emphasis will be placed on the fact that a whole surface-exposed protein domain can be subdominant, as demonstrated for all of the pathogens described here. Overall, the available data indicate that subdominant protein regions are of much interest for vaccine development, not least in bacterial and protozoal systems, for which antibody subdominance remains largely unexplored.
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10
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Cunningham MW. Molecular Mimicry, Autoimmunity, and Infection: The Cross-Reactive Antigens of Group A Streptococci and their Sequelae. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7:10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0045-2018. [PMID: 31373269 PMCID: PMC6684244 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0045-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The group A streptococci are associated with a group of diseases affecting the heart, brain, and joints that are collectively referred to as acute rheumatic fever. The streptococcal immune-mediated sequelae, including acute rheumatic fever, are due to antibody and cellular immune responses that target antigens in the heart and brain as well as the group A streptococcal cross-reactive antigens as reviewed in this article. The pathogenesis of acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, Sydenham chorea, and other autoimmune sequelae is related to autoantibodies that are characteristic of autoimmune diseases and result from the immune responses against group A streptococcal infection by the host. The sharing of host and streptococcal epitopes leads to molecular mimicry between the streptococcal and host antigens that are recognized by the autoantibodies during the host response. This article elaborates on the discoveries that led to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of disease and provides an overview of the history and the most current thought about the immune responses against the host and streptococcal cross-reactive antigens in group A streptococcal sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine W Cunningham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73190
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11
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Fischetti VA. Vaccine Approaches To Protect against Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7:10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0010-2018. [PMID: 31111819 PMCID: PMC11026073 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0010-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcal pharyngitis (or strep throat) is a common childhood disease affecting millions of children each year, but it is one of the only childhood diseases for which a vaccine does not exist. While for decades the development of a vaccine has been the center of attention in many laboratories worldwide, with some successes, no corporate development has yet to be initiated. The reason for this probably lies in our inability to conclusively identify the streptococcal molecule or molecules responsible for the heart cross-reactive antibodies observed in the serum of rheumatic fever patients. Without this specific knowledge, any streptococcal vaccine antigen is suspect and thus not the target for a billion-dollar investment, despite the fact that the exact role of cross-reactive antibodies in rheumatic fever is still questionable. This article will describe the development of several approaches to protect against Streptococcus pyogenes infections over the past several decades.
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12
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Jendoubi F, Rohde M, Prinz JC. Intracellular Streptococcal Uptake and Persistence: A Potential Cause of Erysipelas Recurrence. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:6. [PMID: 30761303 PMCID: PMC6361840 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Erysipelas is a severe streptococcal infection of the skin primarily spreading through the lymphatic vessels. Penicillin is the treatment of choice. The most common complication consists in relapses which occur in up to 40% or more of patients despite appropriate antibiotic treatment. They cause lymphatic damage resulting in irreversible lymphedema and ultimately elephantiasis nostras and lead to major health restrictions and high socio-medical costs. Prevention of relapses is an unmet need, because even long-term prophylactic penicillin application does eventually not reduce the risk of recurrence. In this article we assess risk factors and causes of erysipelas recurrence. A systematic literature search for clinical studies addressing potential causes and measures for prevention of erysipelas recurrence was combined with a review of experimental and clinical data assessing the ability and clinical relevance of streptococci for intracellular uptake and persistence. The literature review found that venous insufficiency, lymphedema, and intertrigo from fungal infections are considered to be major risk factors for recurrence of erysipelas but cannot adequately explain the high recurrence rate. As hitherto unrecognized likely cause of erysipelas relapses we identify the ability of streptococci for intracellular uptake into and persistence within epithelial and endothelial cells and macrophages. This creates intracellular streptococcal reservoirs out of reach of penicillins which do not reach sufficient bactericidal intracellular concentrations. Incomplete streptococcal elimination due to intracellular streptococcal persistence has been observed in various deep tissue infections and is considered as cause of relapsing streptococcal pharyngitis despite proper antibiotic treatment. It may also serves as endogenous infectious source of erysipelas relapses. We conclude that the current antibiotic treatment strategies and elimination of conventional risk factors employed in erysipelas management are insufficient to prevent erysipelas recurrence. The reactivation of streptococcal infection from intracellular reservoirs represents a plausible explanation for the frequent occurrence erysipelas relapses. Prevention of erysipelas relapses therefore demands for novel antibiotic strategies capable of eradicating intracellular streptococcal persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Jendoubi
- Department of Dermatology, University Clinics, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Central Facility for Microscopy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jörg Christoph Prinz
- Department of Dermatology, University Clinics, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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13
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Ozberk V, Pandey M, Good MF. Contribution of cryptic epitopes in designing a group A streptococcal vaccine. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 14:2034-2052. [PMID: 29873591 PMCID: PMC6150013 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1462427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A successful vaccine needs to target multiple strains of an organism. Streptococcus pyogenes is an organism that utilizes antigenic strain variation as a successful defence mechanism to circumvent the host immune response. Despite numerous efforts, there is currently no vaccine available for this organism. Here we review and discuss the significant obstacles to vaccine development, with a focus on how cryptic epitopes may provide a strategy to circumvent the obstacles of antigenic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Ozberk
- a Griffith University, Institute for Glycomics , Gold Coast Campus, Queensland , Australia
| | - Manisha Pandey
- a Griffith University, Institute for Glycomics , Gold Coast Campus, Queensland , Australia
| | - Michael F Good
- a Griffith University, Institute for Glycomics , Gold Coast Campus, Queensland , Australia
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14
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Wozniak A, Scioscia N, García PC, Dale JB, Paillavil BA, Legarraga P, Salazar-Echegarai FJ, Bueno SM, Kalergis AM. Protective immunity induced by an intranasal multivalent vaccine comprising 10 Lactococcus lactis strains expressing highly prevalent M-protein antigens derived from Group A Streptococcus. Microbiol Immunol 2018; 62:395-404. [PMID: 29704396 PMCID: PMC6013395 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus) causes diseases ranging from mild pharyngitis to severe invasive infections. The N-terminal fragment of streptococcal M protein elicits protective antibodies and is an attractive vaccine target. However, this N- terminal fragment is hypervariable: there are more than 200 different M types. In this study, an intranasal live bacterial vaccine comprising 10 strains of Lactococcus lactis, each expressing one N-terminal fragment of M protein, has been developed. Live bacterial-vectored vaccines cost less to manufacture because the processes involved are less complex than those required for production of protein subunit vaccines. Moreover, intranasal administration does not require syringes or specialized personnel. Evaluation of individual vaccine types (M1, M2, M3, M4, M6, M9, M12, M22, M28 and M77) showed that most of them protected mice against challenge with virulent S. pyogenes. All 10 strains combined in a 10-valent vaccine (M×10) induced serum and bronchoalveolar lavage IgG titers that ranged from three- to 10-fold those of unimmunized mice. After intranasal challenge with M28 streptococci, survival of M×10-immunized mice was significantly higher than that of unimmunized mice. In contrast, when mice were challenged with M75 streptococci, survival of M×10-immunized mice did not differ significantly from that of unimmunized mice. Mx-10 immunized mice had significantly less S. pyogenes in oropharyngeal washes and developed less severe disease symptoms after challenge than did unimmunized mice. Our L. lactis-based vaccine may provide an alternative solution to development of broadly protective group A streptococcal vaccines.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Intranasal/methods
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial/blood
- Antigens, Bacterial/classification
- Antigens, Bacterial/immunology
- Antigens, Bacterial/metabolism
- Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/classification
- Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/immunology
- Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/metabolism
- Body Weight
- Carrier Proteins/classification
- Carrier Proteins/immunology
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Immunity
- Immunization
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Lactococcus lactis/immunology
- Lactococcus lactis/pathogenicity
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Streptococcal Infections/immunology
- Streptococcal Infections/microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections/prevention & control
- Streptococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Streptococcal Vaccines/immunology
- Streptococcus pyogenes/immunology
- Treatment Outcome
- Vaccination/methods
- Vaccines, Attenuated/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Attenuated/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniela Wozniak
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Natalia Scioscia
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Patricia C. García
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - James B. Dale
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, TN 38163, USA
| | - Braulio A. Paillavil
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Paulette Legarraga
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Francisco J. Salazar-Echegarai
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, 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, 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, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331010, Chile
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15
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Frost HR, Laho D, Sanderson-Smith ML, Licciardi P, Donath S, Curtis N, Kado J, Dale JB, Steer AC, Smeesters PR. Immune Cross-Opsonization Within emm Clusters Following Group A Streptococcus Skin Infection: Broadening the Scope of Type-Specific Immunity. Clin Infect Dis 2018; 65:1523-1531. [PMID: 29020160 PMCID: PMC7263703 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Group AStreptococcus (GAS) skin infections are particularly prevalent in developing nations. The GAS M protein, by which strains are differentiated into >220 differentemm types, is immunogenic and elicits protective antibodies. A major obstacle for vaccine development has been the traditional understanding that immunity following infection is restricted to a singleemm type. However, recent evidence has led to the hypothesis of immune cross-reactivity betweenemm types. Methods We investigated the human serological response to GAS impetigo in Fijian schoolchildren, focusing on 3 majoremm clusters (E4, E6, and D4). Pre- and postinfection sera were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with N-terminal M peptides and bactericidal assays using the infecting-type strain,emm cluster–related strains, and nonrelated strains. Results Twenty of the 53 paired sera demonstrated a ≥4-fold increase in antibody titer against the infecting type. When tested against all cluster-related M peptides, we found that 9 of 17 (53%) paired sera had a ≥4-fold increase in antibody titer to cluster-related strains as well. When grouped by cluster, the mean change to cluster-relatedemm types in E4 and E6 was >4-fold (5.9-fold and 19.5-fold, respectively) but for D4 was 3.8-fold. The 17 paired sera were tested in bactericidal assays against selected cluster-related and nonrelated strains. While the responses were highly variable, numerous instances of cross-reactive killing were observed. Conclusions These data demonstrate that M type–specific and cross-reactive immune responses occur following skin infection. The cross-reactive immune responses frequently align withemm clusters, raising new opportunities to design multivalent vaccines with broad coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Frost
- Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory
| | - Delphine Laho
- Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Pediatrics, Academic Children Hospital Queen Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martina L Sanderson-Smith
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong
| | - Paul Licciardi
- Pneumococcal Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Susan Donath
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Nigel Curtis
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Joseph Kado
- Department of Paediatrics, Colonial War Memorial Hospital.,College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University.,Fiji Rheumatic Heart Disease Control Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - James B Dale
- Medicine.,Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Andrew C Steer
- Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Centre for International Child Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Pierre R Smeesters
- Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory.,Department of Pediatrics, Academic Children Hospital Queen Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Centre for International Child Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
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16
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Ghosh P. Variation, Indispensability, and Masking in the M protein. Trends Microbiol 2017; 26:132-144. [PMID: 28867148 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The M protein is the major surface-associated virulence factor of group A Streptococcus (GAS) and an antigenically variable target of host immunity. How selection pressures to escape immune recognition, maintain indispensable functions, and mask vulnerabilities have shaped the sequences of the >220M protein types is unclear. Recent experiments have shed light on this question by showing that, hidden within the antigenic variability of many M protein types, are sequence patterns conserved for recruiting human C4b-binding protein (C4BP). Other host factors may be recruited in a similar manner by conserved but hidden sequence patterns in the M protein. The identification of such patterns may be applicable to the development of a GAS vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partho Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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17
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Dale JB, Smeesters PR, Courtney HS, Penfound TA, Hohn CM, Smith JC, Baudry JY. Structure-based design of broadly protective group a streptococcal M protein-based vaccines. Vaccine 2016; 35:19-26. [PMID: 27890396 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.11.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A major obstacle to the development of broadly protective M protein-based group A streptococcal (GAS) vaccines is the variability within the N-terminal epitopes that evoke potent bactericidal antibodies. The concept of M type-specific protective immune responses has recently been challenged based on the observation that multivalent M protein vaccines elicited cross-reactive bactericidal antibodies against a number of non-vaccine M types of GAS. Additionally, a new "cluster-based" typing system of 175M proteins identified a limited number of clusters containing closely related M proteins. In the current study, we used the emm cluster typing system, in combination with computational structure-based peptide modeling, as a novel approach to the design of potentially broadly protective M protein-based vaccines. METHODS M protein sequences (AA 16-50) from the E4 cluster containing 17 emm types of GAS were analyzed using de novo 3-D structure prediction tools and the resulting structures subjected to chemical diversity analysis to identify sequences that were the most representative of the 3-D physicochemical properties of the M peptides in the cluster. Five peptides that spanned the range of physicochemical attributes of all 17 peptides were used to formulate synthetic and recombinant vaccines. Rabbit antisera were assayed for antibodies that cross-reacted with E4 peptides and whole bacteria by ELISA and for bactericidal activity against all E4GAS. RESULTS The synthetic vaccine rabbit antisera reacted with all 17 E4M peptides and demonstrated bactericidal activity against 15/17 E4GAS. A recombinant hybrid vaccine containing the same E4 peptides also elicited antibodies that cross-reacted with all E4M peptides. CONCLUSIONS Comprehensive studies using structure-based design may result in a broadly protective M peptide vaccine that will elicit cluster-specific and emm type-specific antibody responses against the majority of clinically relevant emm types of GAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Dale
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, TN, United States.
| | - Pierre R Smeesters
- Department of Pediatrics, Academic Children Hospital Queen Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for International Child Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Harry S Courtney
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Thomas A Penfound
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Claudia M Hohn
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jeremy C Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge, TN, United States; University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Jerome Y Baudry
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge, TN, United States; University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
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18
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Hatzi K, Catera R, Moreno Atanasio C, Fischetti VA, Allen SL, Kolitz JE, Rai KR, Chu CC, Chiorazzi N. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia immunoglobulins display bacterial reactivity that converges and diverges from auto-/poly-reactivity and IGHV mutation status. Clin Immunol 2016; 172:44-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2016.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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19
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Hamula CLA, Peng H, Wang Z, Tyrrell GJ, Li XF, Le XC. An improved SELEX technique for selection of DNA aptamers binding to M-type 11 of Streptococcus pyogenes. Methods 2015; 97:51-7. [PMID: 26678795 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a clinically important pathogen consisting of various serotypes determined by different M proteins expressed on the cell surface. The M type is therefore a useful marker to monitor the spread of invasive S. pyogenes in a population. Serotyping and nucleic acid amplification/sequencing methods for the identification of M types are laborious, inconsistent, and usually confined to reference laboratories. The primary objective of this work is to develop a technique that enables generation of aptamers binding to specific M-types of S. pyogenes. We describe here an in vitro technique that directly used live bacterial cells and the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) strategy. Live S. pyogenes cells were incubated with DNA libraries consisting of 40-nucleotides randomized sequences. Those sequences that bound to the cells were separated, amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), purified using gel electrophoresis, and served as the input DNA pool for the next round of SELEX selection. A specially designed forward primer containing extended polyA20/5Sp9 facilitated gel electrophoresis purification of ssDNA after PCR amplification. A counter-selection step using non-target cells was introduced to improve selectivity. DNA libraries of different starting sequence diversity (10(16) and 10(14)) were compared. Aptamer pools from each round of selection were tested for their binding to the target and non-target cells using flow cytometry. Selected aptamer pools were then cloned and sequenced. Individual aptamer sequences were screened on the basis of their binding to the 10 M-types that were used as targets. Aptamer pools obtained from SELEX rounds 5-8 showed high affinity to the target S. pyogenes cells. Tests against non-target Streptococcus bovis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcus species demonstrated selectivity of these aptamers for binding to S. pyogenes. Several aptamer sequences were found to bind preferentially to the M11 M-type of S. pyogenes. Estimated binding dissociation constants (Kd) were in the low nanomolar range for the M11 specific sequences; for example, sequence E-CA20 had a Kd of 7±1 nM. These affinities are comparable to those of a monoclonal antibody. The improved bacterial cell-SELEX technique is successful in generating aptamers selective for S. pyogenes and some of its M-types. These aptamers are potentially useful for detecting S. pyogenes, achieving binding profiles of the various M-types, and developing new M-typing technologies for non-specialized laboratories or point-of-care testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille L A Hamula
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, 10-102 Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada; Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York City, NY 10029, USA
| | - Hanyong Peng
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, 10-102 Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Zhixin Wang
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, 10-102 Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Gregory J Tyrrell
- The Provincial Laboratory for Public Health for Alberta, Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J2, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 2B3.12 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Xing-Fang Li
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, 10-102 Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada.
| | - X Chris Le
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, 10-102 Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada.
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20
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Reglinski M, Gierula M, Lynskey NN, Edwards RJ, Sriskandan S. Identification of the Streptococcus pyogenes surface antigens recognised by pooled human immunoglobulin. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15825. [PMID: 26508447 PMCID: PMC4623672 DOI: 10.1038/srep15825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunity to common bacteria requires the generation of antibodies that promote opsonophagocytosis and neutralise toxins. Pooled human immunoglobulin is widely advocated as an adjunctive treatment for clinical Streptococcus pyogenes infection however, the protein targets of the reagent remain ill defined. Affinity purification of the anti-streptococcal antibodies present within pooled immunoglobulin resulted in the generation of an IgG preparation that promoted opsonophagocytic killing of S. pyogenes in vitro and provided passive immunity in vivo. Isolation of the streptococcal surface proteins recognised by pooled human immunoglobulin permitted identification and ranking of 94 protein antigens, ten of which were reproducibly identified across four contemporary invasive S. pyogenes serotypes (M1, M3, M12 and M89). The data provide novel insight into the action of pooled human immunoglobulin during invasive S. pyogenes infection, and demonstrate a potential route to enhance the efficacy of antibody based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Reglinski
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Gierula
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola N Lynskey
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J Edwards
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Shiranee Sriskandan
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
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21
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Good MF, Pandey M, Batzloff MR, Tyrrell GJ. Strategic development of the conserved region of the M protein and other candidates as vaccines to prevent infection with group A streptococci. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 14:1459-70. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2015.1081817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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22
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Ambati A, Poiret T, Svahn BM, Valentini D, Khademi M, Kockum I, Lima I, Arnheim-Dahlström L, Lamb F, Fink K, Meng Q, Kumar A, Rane L, Olsson T, Maeurer M. Increased β-haemolytic group A streptococcal M6 serotype and streptodornase B-specific cellular immune responses in Swedish narcolepsy cases. J Intern Med 2015; 278:264-76. [PMID: 25683265 DOI: 10.1111/joim.12355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 1 narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy associated with the HLA allele DQB1*06:02. Genetic predisposition along with external triggering factors may drive autoimmune responses, ultimately leading to the selective loss of hypocretin-positive neurons. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate potential aetiological factors in Swedish cases of postvaccination (Pandemrix) narcolepsy defined by interferon-gamma (IFNγ) production from immune cells in response to molecularly defined targets. METHODS Cellular reactivity defined by IFNγ production was examined in blood from 38 (HLA-DQB1*06:02(+) ) Pandemrix-vaccinated narcolepsy cases and 76 (23 HLA-DQB1*06:02(+) and 53 HLA-DQB1*06:02(-) ) control subjects, matched for age, sex and exposure, using a variety of different antigens: β-haemolytic group A streptococcal (GAS) antigens (M5, M6 and streptodornase B), influenza (the pandemic A/H1N1/California/7/09 NYMC X-179A and A/H1N1/California/7/09 NYMC X-181 vaccine antigens, previous Flu-A and -B vaccine targets, A/H1N1/Brisbane/59/2007, A/H1N1/Solomon Islands/3/2006, A/H3N2/Uruguay/716/2007, A/H3N2/Wisconsin/67/2005, A/H5N1/Vietnam/1203/2004 and B/Malaysia/2506/2004), noninfluenza viral targets (CMVpp65, EBNA-1 and EBNA-3) and auto-antigens (hypocretin peptide, Tribbles homolog 2 peptide cocktail and extract from rat hypothalamus tissue). RESULTS IFN-γ production was significantly increased in whole blood from narcolepsy cases in response to streptococcus serotype M6 (P = 0.0065) and streptodornase B protein (P = 0.0050). T-cell recognition of M6 and streptodornase B was confirmed at the single-cell level by intracellular cytokine (IL-2, IFNγ, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and IL-17) production after stimulation with synthetic M6 or streptodornase B peptides. Significantly, higher (P = 0.02) titres of serum antistreptolysin O were observed in narcolepsy cases, compared to vaccinated controls. CONCLUSION β-haemolytic GAS may be involved in triggering autoimmune responses in patients who developed narcolepsy symptoms after vaccination with Pandemrix in Sweden, characterized by a Streptococcus pyogenes M-type-specific IFN-γ cellular immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ambati
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T Poiret
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B-M Svahn
- Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D Valentini
- Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Khademi
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - I Kockum
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - I Lima
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L Arnheim-Dahlström
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - F Lamb
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - K Fink
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Q Meng
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - L Rane
- Division of Therapeutic Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T Olsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Maeurer
- Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Therapeutic Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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23
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Lannergård J, Kristensen BM, Gustafsson MCU, Persson JJ, Norrby-Teglund A, Stålhammar-Carlemalm M, Lindahl G. Sequence variability is correlated with weak immunogenicity in Streptococcus pyogenes M protein. Microbiologyopen 2015; 4:774-89. [PMID: 26175306 PMCID: PMC4618610 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes, a major bacterial virulence factor, has an amino-terminal hypervariable region (HVR) that is a target for type-specific protective antibodies. Intriguingly, the HVR elicits a weak antibody response, indicating that it escapes host immunity by two mechanisms, sequence variability and weak immunogenicity. However, the properties influencing the immunogenicity of regions in an M protein remain poorly understood. Here, we studied the antibody response to different regions of the classical M1 and M5 proteins, in which not only the HVR but also the adjacent fibrinogen-binding B repeat region exhibits extensive sequence divergence. Analysis of antisera from S. pyogenes-infected patients, infected mice, and immunized mice showed that both the HVR and the B repeat region elicited weak antibody responses, while the conserved carboxy-terminal part was immunodominant. Thus, we identified a correlation between sequence variability and weak immunogenicity for M protein regions. A potential explanation for the weak immunogenicity was provided by the demonstration that protease digestion selectively eliminated the HVR-B part from whole M protein-expressing bacteria. These data support a coherent model, in which the entire variable HVR-B part evades antibody attack, not only by sequence variability but also by weak immunogenicity resulting from protease attack.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Lannergård
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jenny J Persson
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Norrby-Teglund
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Gunnar Lindahl
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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24
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Group A streptococcus expresses a trio of surface proteins containing protective epitopes. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 21:1421-5. [PMID: 25080552 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00448-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Group A streptococci (GAS) (Streptococcus pyogenes) are common causes of infections in humans for which there is no licensed vaccine. Decades of work has focused on the role of the surface M protein in eliciting type-specific protective immunity. Recent studies have identified additional surface proteins of GAS that contain opsonic epitopes. In the present study, we describe a serotype M65 GAS originally isolated during an epidemiologic study in Bamako, Mali, which simultaneously expressed M, M-related protein (Mrp), and streptococcal protective antigen (Spa) on the bacterial surface. The emm, mrp, and spa genes were sequenced from PCR amplicons derived from the M65 chromosome. Rabbit antisera raised against synthetic peptides copying the N-terminal regions of M, Mrp, and Spa were highly specific for each peptide, reacted with the surface of M65 GAS, and promoted bactericidal activity against the organism. A mixture of antisera against all three peptides was most effective in the bactericidal assays. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the M, Mrp, and Spa antisera bound to the bacterial surface in the presence of human plasma proteins and resulted in the deposition of complement. Five additional spa genes were identified in the Mrp-positive GAS serotypes, and their sequences were determined. Our results indicate that there are multiple antigens on the surface of GAS that evoke antibodies that promote bacterial killing. A more complete understanding of the relative contributions of M, Mrp, and Spa in eliciting protective immunity may aid in the development of GAS vaccines with enhanced coverage and efficacy.
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25
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Klonoski JM, Hurtig HR, Juber BA, Schuneman MJ, Bickett TE, Svendsen JM, Burum B, Penfound TA, Sereda G, Dale JB, Chaussee MS, Huber VC. Vaccination against the M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes prevents death after influenza virus: S. pyogenes super-infection. Vaccine 2014; 32:5241-9. [PMID: 25077423 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.06.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Revised: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Influenza virus infections are associated with a significant number of illnesses and deaths on an annual basis. Many of the deaths are due to complications from secondary bacterial invaders, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The β-hemolytic bacteria S. pyogenes colonizes both skin and respiratory surfaces, and frequently presents clinically as strep throat or impetigo. However, when these bacteria gain access to normally sterile sites, they can cause deadly diseases including sepsis, necrotizing fasciitis, and pneumonia. We previously developed a model of influenza virus:S. pyogenes super-infection, which we used to demonstrate that vaccination against influenza virus can limit deaths associated with a secondary bacterial infection, but this protection was not complete. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of a vaccine that targets the M protein of S. pyogenes to determine whether immunity toward the bacteria alone would allow the host to survive an influenza virus:S. pyogenes super-infection. Our data demonstrate that vaccination against the M protein induces IgG antibodies, in particular those of the IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes, and that these antibodies can interact with macrophages. Ultimately, this vaccine-induced immunity eliminated death within our influenza virus:S. pyogenes super-infection model, despite the fact that all M protein-vaccinated mice showed signs of illness following influenza virus inoculation. These findings identify immunity against bacteria as an important component of protection against influenza virus:bacteria super-infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Klonoski
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - Heather R Hurtig
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - Brian A Juber
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - Margaret J Schuneman
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - Thomas E Bickett
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - Joshua M Svendsen
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - Brandon Burum
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - Thomas A Penfound
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Research Service, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Grigoriy Sereda
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - James B Dale
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Research Service, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Michael S Chaussee
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
| | - Victor C Huber
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States.
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26
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A novel live vector group A streptococcal emm type 9 vaccine delivered intranasally protects mice against challenge infection with emm type 9 group A streptococci. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 21:1343-9. [PMID: 25056362 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00330-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The availability of a protective vaccine against Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) is a priority for public health worldwide. Here, we have generated six live vaccine strains, each engineered to express an N-terminal M protein peptide from one of six of the most prevalent emm types of GAS (M1, M2, M4, M9, M12, and M28). The vaccine strains are based on a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain and do not bear any antibiotic resistance. Mice immunized with the vaccine strain expressing the M9 peptide (termed here the L. lactis M9 strain) showed high titers of serum antibodies when delivered intranasally. Mice immunized with the L. lactis M9 strain were protected against infection after intranasal challenge with type 9 streptococci. Several parameters of disease, such as weight loss, body temperature, colony counts in mouth washes, and lung histology, were significantly improved in immunized mice compared to naive control mice. Our results indicate that intranasal delivery of the L. lactis M9 strain live bacterial vaccine induced GAS-specific IgG titers, prevented pharyngeal colonization of GAS, and protected mice from disease upon challenge. The design of this vaccine prototype may provide a lower cost alternative to vaccines comprised of purified recombinant proteins.
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27
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Kotloff KL. Streptococcus group A vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4557-0090-5.00061-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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28
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Ding Y, Ni Q, Liu J, Yu B. Immunogenicity of a divalent group A streptococcal vaccine. Rheumatol Int 2012; 33:1013-20. [PMID: 22872049 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-012-2455-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We designed and recombined the polypeptide based on the M protein of group A streptococci (GAS)--the causative pathogen of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, which would be a divalent vaccine to prevent and defend the diseases in relation to the different GAS strains. A divalent vaccine comprising three different peptide epitopes of the antiphagocytic M protein of GAS--an aminoterminal specific sequences, respectively, from the M1 and M12 proteins and J14 peptide (ASREAKKQVEKALE) within the highly conserved C-terminal repeat region of the M1 and M12 proteins--was subcutaneously delivered to mice with the adjuvant. Furthermore, the antisera titers of mice inoculated with the divalent vaccine were assayed by ELISA, and then opsonization and percentage killing against two different GAS serotypes were completed. Our data demonstrated that antisera raised against the divalent vaccine containing amino acids and M-protein-conserved C repeat region are able to kill several GAS strains isolated from the Guangzhou population. Therefore, the divalent vaccine can be used to prevent those diseases caused by GAS in an endemic area. We successfully construct the M-protein-based divalent vaccine that can bring out a high-level antisera titer of mice vaccinated with it. So, the vaccine has the potential to be used to prevent diseases caused by GAS in our country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexia Ding
- Department of Cardiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510700, China
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29
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Protein A-specific monoclonal antibodies and prevention of Staphylococcus aureus disease in mice. Infect Immun 2012; 80:3460-70. [PMID: 22825452 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00230-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of human soft tissue infections and bacterial sepsis. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains (methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) has prompted research into staphylococcal vaccines and preventive measures. The envelope of S. aureus is decorated with staphylococcal protein A (SpA), which captures the Fcγ portion of immunoglobulins to prevent opsonophagocytosis and associates with the Fab portion of V(H)3-type B cell receptors to trigger B cell superantigen activity. Nontoxigenic protein A (SpA(KKAA)), when used as an immunogen in mice, stimulates humoral immune responses that neutralize the Fcγ and the V(H)3(+) Fab binding activities of SpA and provide protection from staphylococcal abscess formation in mice. Here, we isolated monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against SpA(KKAA) that, by binding to the triple-helical bundle fold of its immunoglobulin binding domains (IgBDs), neutralize the Fcγ and Fab binding activities of SpA. SpA(KKAA) MAbs promoted opsonophagocytic killing of MRSA in mouse and human blood, provided protection from abscess formation, and stimulated pathogen-specific immune responses in a mouse model of staphylococcal disease. Thus, SpA(KKAA) MAbs may be useful for the prevention and therapy of staphylococcal disease in humans.
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30
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Henningham A, Gillen CM, Walker MJ. Group a streptococcal vaccine candidates: potential for the development of a human vaccine. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2012; 368:207-42. [PMID: 23250780 DOI: 10.1007/82_2012_284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Currently there is no commercial Group A Streptococcus (GAS; S. pyogenes) vaccine available. The development of safe GAS vaccines is challenging, researchers are confronted with obstacles such as the occurrence of many unique serotypes (there are greater than 150 M types), antigenic variation within the same serotype, large variations in the geographical distribution of serotypes, and the production of antibodies cross-reactive with human tissue which can lead to host auto-immune disease. Cell wall anchored, cell membrane associated, secreted and anchorless proteins have all been targeted as GAS vaccine candidates. As GAS is an exclusively human pathogen, the quest for an efficacious vaccine is further complicated by the lack of an animal model which mimics human disease and can be consistently and reproducibly colonized by multiple GAS strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Henningham
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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31
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Ghosh P. The nonideal coiled coil of M protein and its multifarious functions in pathogenesis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2011; 715:197-211. [PMID: 21557065 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-0940-9_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The M protein is a major virulence factor of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus, GAS). This gram-positive bacterial pathogen is responsible for mild infections, such as pharyngitis, and severe invasive disease, like streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. M protein contributes to GAS virulence in multifarious ways, including blocking deposition of antibodies and complement, helping formation of microcolonies, neutralizing antimicrobial peptides, and triggering a proinflammatory and procoagulatory state. These functions are specified by interactions between M protein and many host components, especially C4BP and fibrinogen. The former interaction is conserved among many antigenically variant M protein types but occurs in a strikingly sequence-independent manner, and the latter is associated in the M1 protein type with severe invasive disease. Remarkably for a protein of such diverse interactions, the M protein has a relatively simple but nonideal α-helical coiled coil sequence. This sequence nonideality is a crucial feature of M protein. Nonideal residues give rise to specific irregularities in its coiled-coil structure, which are essential for interactions with fibrinogen and establishment of a proinflammatory state. In addition, these structural irregularities are reminiscent of those in myosin and tropomyosin, which are targets for crossreactive antibodies in patients suffering from autoimmune sequelae of GAS infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partho Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92093-0375, USA.
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32
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Steer AC, Batzloff MR, Mulholland K, Carapetis JR. Group A streptococcal vaccines: facts versus fantasy. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2010; 22:544-52. [PMID: 19797947 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0b013e328332bbfe] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review provides an overview of progress of the development of group A streptococcal (GAS) vaccines with a focus on recent advances. RECENT FINDINGS Historically, GAS vaccine development has focused on the N-terminus of the M protein, which ultimately led to successful phase I/II clinical trials of a 26-valent recombinant M protein vaccine in 2004-2005. More recently, interest in antigens conserved among most, if not all, group A streptococci has increased. However, no vaccines containing these antigens have reached clinical trials. Three strategies have been used to develop conserved antigen vaccine candidates: use of the conserved region of the M protein; use of well described virulence factors as antigens, including streptococcal C5a peptidase, streptococcal carbohydrate, fibronectin-binding proteins, cysteine protease and streptococcal pili; and use of reverse vaccinology to identify novel antigens. SUMMARY Several vaccine candidates against GAS infection are in varying stages of preclinical and clinical development. Although there is great hope that one of these vaccine candidates will reach licensure in the next decade, only one, the multivalent N-terminal vaccine, has entered clinical trials in the last 30 years. Although strong advocacy for GAS vaccine development is important, there remains an urgent need to institute available public health control measures against GAS diseases globally, particularly in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Steer
- Centre for International Child Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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33
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Sortase A localizes to distinct foci on the Streptococcus pyogenes membrane. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:18549-54. [PMID: 19017791 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0808301105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell wall peptidoglycan-anchored surface proteins are essential virulence factors in many gram-positive bacteria. The attachment of these proteins to the peptidoglycan is achieved through a transpeptidation reaction, whereby sortase cleaves a conserved C-terminal LPXTG motif and covalently attaches the protein to the peptidoglycan precursor lipid II. It is unclear how the sorting reaction is regulated spatially and what part sortase localization plays in determining the distribution of surface proteins. This is mainly the result of inadequate immunofluorescence techniques required to resolve these issues in certain bacterial pathogens. Here we describe the utilization of the phage lysin PlyC to permeabilize the cell wall of Streptococcus pyogenes to antibodies, thereby allowing the localization of sortase A using deconvolution immunofluorescence microscopy. We find that sortase localizes within distinct membranal foci, the majority of which are associated with the division septum and colocalize with areas of active M protein anchoring. Sortase distribution to the new septum begins at a very early stage, culminates during septation, and decays after division is completed. This implies that the sorting reaction is a dynamic, highly regulated process, intimately associated with cell division. The ability to study cytoplasmic and membrane antigens using deconvolution immunofluorescence microscopy will facilitate further study of cellular processes in S. pyogenes.
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34
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Dale JB. Current status of group A streptococcal vaccine development. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2008; 609:53-63. [PMID: 18193657 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-73960-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
We now have a much more detailed understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of GAS infections. These discoveries have led to the identification of several vaccine candidates which are in various stages of development. One of the leading candidate antigens is the surface M protein, which confers protection against infection in animal models. In addition, M antibodies in human serum correlate with protection against infection with the homologous serotype of GAS. Molecular techniques have been used to genetically engineer highly complex multivalent M protein-based vaccines that appear to be free of potentially harmful tissue crossreactive epitopes. A 26-valent vaccine has been shown to be well-tolerated and immunogenic in adult volunteers and is now being considered for pediatric trials, which is the primary target group for the vaccine. Ongoing efforts are now addressing the epidemiology of GAS infections in developing countries so that new vaccines can be designed to prevent the infections that may trigger ARF and RHD. Successful deployment of safe and effective vaccines to prevent GAS infections and their complications could potentially have a significant impact on the health of millions of people around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Dale
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis 38104, USA.
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35
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Kotloff KL. Streptococcus group A vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4160-3611-1.50062-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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36
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Dinkla K, Sastalla I, Godehardt AW, Janze N, Chhatwal GS, Rohde M, Medina E. Upregulation of capsule enables Streptococcus pyogenes to evade immune recognition by antigen-specific antibodies directed to the G-related α2-macroglobulin-binding protein GRAB located on the bacterial surface. Microbes Infect 2007; 9:922-31. [PMID: 17544803 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2007.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2006] [Revised: 03/07/2007] [Accepted: 03/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
One of the major problems associated with the development of a vaccine against Streptococcus pyogenes is the ability of this pathogen to escape recognition by antibodies directed against conserved surface-associated determinants and to establish infection in the setting of an acquired immune response. Identification of the mechanism(s) used by S. pyogenes to avoid recognition by antigen-specific antibodies and escape killing in blood was the focus of this study. We showed here that S. pyogenes was capable of surviving in human blood containing high levels of antibodies directed against the G-related alpha2-macroglobulin-binding protein GRAB, a highly conserved bacterial surface protein. S. pyogenes upregulated the hyaluronic acid capsule production during incubation with human blood, suggesting that the capsule may structurally minimize antibody access to protein GRAB. This hypothesis was confirmed by the ability of anti-GRAB antibodies to promote opsonophagocytosis of a capsule-deficient mutant of S. pyogenes but not of the encapsulated wild-type strain. Capsule upregulation and protection of S. pyogenes from opsonophagocytosis in the presence of anti-GRAB antibodies was also observed in a murine model of streptococcal infection. Thus, masking of surface immunogenic determinants by the hyaluronic acid capsule may constitute a novel mechanism of S. pyogenes for evasion of antigen-specific antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Dinkla
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
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37
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Bae SY, Kim JS, Kwon JA, Yoon SY, Lim CS, Lee KN, Cho Y, Kim YK, Lee CK. Phenotypes and genotypes of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes isolated in Seoul, Korea. J Med Microbiol 2007; 56:229-235. [PMID: 17244805 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46825-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms of resistance to macrolides in 51 erythromycin-resistant clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes collected from 1997 through 2003 in Seoul, Korea were evaluated. They were characterized by their antimicrobial susceptibility, phenotype (using triple-disc and induction tests), resistance genotype, emm genotyping (M typing) and phylogenetic analysis. Erythromycin resistance was observed in 23 % of isolates. Inducible phenotype was the most common (iMLS, 51 %, 26 strains), followed by the constitutive phenotype (cMLS, 31 %, 16 strains) and the M phenotype (18 %, 9 strains). Eight of twenty-six iMLS isolates exhibited the iMLS-C phenotype. The remaining 18 isolates gave small inhibition zones (<12 mm) around all three discs, and mild blunting of the spiramycin and clindamycin zones of inhibition proximal to the erythromycin disc. They showed remarkable inducibility in erythromycin and clindamycin resistance. The MIC90 of erythromycin and clindamycin rose from 8 to >128 μg ml−1 and from 0.5 to >128 μg ml−1, respectively. Their resistance characteristics did not fit into any known iMLS subtype reported so far in the literature. So, it was named as an iMLS-D, new subtype. All of these iMLS-D strains harboured the erm(B) gene, demonstrated the emm12 genotype, except one, and formed a tight cluster in a phylogenetic tree, with 89.2 to 100 % sequence homology, suggesting that they are closely related. Nine of sixteen cMLS strains had the emm28 genotype, which had been reported to be associated with multiple drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sook Young Bae
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang Su Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Ah Kwon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Young Yoon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae Seung Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kap No Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunjung Cho
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Kee Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Kyu Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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38
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Sandin C, Carlsson F, Lindahl G. Binding of human plasma proteins to Streptococcus pyogenes M protein determines the location of opsonic and non-opsonic epitopes. Mol Microbiol 2006; 59:20-30. [PMID: 16359315 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04913.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies directed against a pathogenic microorganism may recognize either protective or non-protective epitopes. Because antibodies elicited by a vaccine must be directed against protective epitopes, it is essential to understand the molecular properties that distinguish the two types of epitope. Here we analyse this problem for the antiphagocytic M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes, using the opsonizing capacity of antibodies to estimate their ability to confer protection in vivo. Our studies were focused on the M5 protein, which has three surface-exposed regions: the amino-terminal hypervariable region (HVR) and the B- and C-repeat regions. We first analysed the role of different M5 regions in phagocytosis resistance under non-immune conditions, employing chromosomal mutants expressing M5 proteins with internal deletions, and demonstrate that only the B-repeat region is essential for phagocytosis resistance. However, only antibodies to the HVR were opsonic. This apparent paradox could be explained by the ability of fibrinogen and albumin to specifically bind to the B- and C-repeats, respectively, causing inhibition of antibody binding under physiological conditions, while antibodies to the HVR could bind and promote deposition of complement. These data indicate that binding of human plasma proteins plays an important role in determining the location of opsonic and non-opsonic epitopes in streptococcal M protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotta Sandin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 23, SE-22362, Lund, Sweden
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39
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Carlsson F, Sandin C, Lindahl G. Human fibrinogen bound to Streptococcus pyogenes M protein inhibits complement deposition via the classical pathway. Mol Microbiol 2005; 56:28-39. [PMID: 15773976 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04527.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Human fibrinogen (Fg) binds to surface proteins expressed by many pathogenic bacteria and has been implicated in different host-pathogen interactions, but the role of bound Fg remains unclear. Here, we analyse the role of Fg bound to Streptococcus pyogenes M protein, a major virulence factor that confers resistance to phagocytosis. Studies of the M5 system showed that a chromosomal mutant lacking the Fg-binding region was completely unable to resist phagocytosis, indicating that bound Fg plays a key role in virulence. Deposition of complement on S. pyogenes occurred via the classical pathway even under non-immune conditions, but was blocked by M5-bound Fg, which reduced the amount of classical pathway C3 convertase on the bacterial surface. This property of M protein-bound Fg may explain its role in phagocytosis resistance. Previous studies have shown that many M proteins do not bind Fg, but interfere with complement deposition and phagocytosis by recruiting human C4b-binding protein (C4BP), an inhibitor of the classical pathway. Thus, all M proteins may share ability to recruit a human plasma protein, Fg or C4BP, which inhibits complement deposition via the classical pathway. Our data identify a novel function for surface-bound Fg and allow us to propose a unifying mechanism by which M proteins interfere with innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredric Carlsson
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Dermatology and Infection, Lund University, Sölvegatan 23, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
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Areschoug T, Carlsson F, Stålhammar-Carlemalm M, Lindahl G. Host-pathogen interactions in Streptococcus pyogenes infections, with special reference to puerperal fever and a comment on vaccine development. Vaccine 2005; 22 Suppl 1:S9-S14. [PMID: 15576204 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) causes a variety of diseases, including acute pharyngitis, impetigo, rheumatic fever and the streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Moreover, S. pyogenes was responsible for the classical example of a nosocomial infection, the epidemics of puerperal fever (childbed fever) that caused the death of numerous women in earlier centuries. The most extensively studied virulence factor of S. pyogenes is the surface M protein, which inhibits phagocytosis and shows antigenic variation. Recent data indicate that many M proteins confer phagocytosis resistance because the variable N-terminal region has non-overlapping sites that specifically bind two components of the human immune system, the complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein (C4BP) and IgA-Fc. Concerning puerperal fever, molecular and epidemiological analysis suggests that the S. pyogenes surface protein R28 may have played a pathogenetic role in these epidemics. This article summarizes the properties of M protein and the R28 protein and considers a potential problem encountered in connection with the use of animal models for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Areschoug
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Dermatology and Infection, Lund University, Sölvegatan 23, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
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McGregor KF, Spratt BG. Identity and prevalence of multilocus sequence typing-defined clones of group A streptococci within a hospital setting. J Clin Microbiol 2005; 43:1963-7. [PMID: 15815033 PMCID: PMC1081391 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.43.4.1963-1967.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Between July and October 2003, 121 clinical isolates of group A streptococci (GAS) were collected from a London hospital and characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to determine the identity and prevalence of clones circulating within this setting. A total of 39 sequence types (ST), of which 20 were represented by a single isolate, were identified. The eight most prevalent clones among the 121 GAS were ST117/emm81 (16%), ST39/emm4 (9%), ST62/emm87 (7%), ST28/emm1 (6%), ST36/emm12 (6%), ST46/emm22 (5%), ST334/emm82 (5%), and ST101/emm89 (4%). Compared to those in the MLST database (http://spyogenes.mlst.net), 12 (31%) of the 39 STs had not been previously identified, although 7 of these differed from recognized STs at only a single locus, suggesting they were closely related to previously recognized strains. Resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline was seen in 7 and 20% of isolates, respectively, with four isolates resistant to both agents. GAS strains with higher (>80) emm types accounted for 45% of GAS isolates collected during this study. Continuing GAS surveillance, using easily comparable methods, is important for detecting changes in the character of disease-causing isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen F McGregor
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK
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Gladstone P, Varghese G, Brahmadathan KN. Dynamics of anti-M antibody response in a mouse model following intranasal infection with group A Streptococcus M-18. J Med Microbiol 2005; 54:305-308. [PMID: 15713616 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.45555-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamics of anti-M antibody response following intranasal infection with group A Streptococcus (GAS) M-18 were investigated in a Swiss albino mouse model. Mice arranged in three groups were inoculated intranasally with 2.0x10(7) c.f.u. ml-1 of GAS M-18 on 1, 2 alternate and 3 alternate days. Plasma collected from the retro-orbital plexus was tested for antibodies by an in-house indirect ELISA. The antibody titres of the plasma samples varied from 1 : 8 to 1 : 1024 in the 1 day dose, from 1 : 4 to 1 : 256 in the 2 day dose and from 1 : 4 to 1 : 128 in the 3 day dose. Peak titres were seen on day 42 or 56 and in all cases the titres had declined by day 84. Swiss albino mouse can thus serve as a useful animal model to study different aspects of type-specific anti-M immune responses against GAS disease when designing candidate streptococcal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Gladstone
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore - 632004, Tamil Nadu, India 2Department of Microbiology, Pushpagiri Medical College, Tiruvalla - 689 101, Kerala, India
| | - George Varghese
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore - 632004, Tamil Nadu, India 2Department of Microbiology, Pushpagiri Medical College, Tiruvalla - 689 101, Kerala, India
| | - K N Brahmadathan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore - 632004, Tamil Nadu, India 2Department of Microbiology, Pushpagiri Medical College, Tiruvalla - 689 101, Kerala, India
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Mannam P, Jones KF, Geller BL. Mucosal vaccine made from live, recombinant Lactococcus lactis protects mice against pharyngeal infection with Streptococcus pyogenes. Infect Immun 2004; 72:3444-50. [PMID: 15155651 PMCID: PMC415684 DOI: 10.1128/iai.72.6.3444-3450.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel vaccine (LL-CRR) made from live, nonpathogenic Lactococcus lactis that expresses the conserved C-repeat region (CRR) of M protein from Streptococcus pyogenes serotype 6 was tested in mice. Nasally vaccinated mice produced CRR-specific salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) and serum IgG. Subcutaneously vaccinated mice produced CRR-specific serum IgG but not salivary IgA. A combined regimen produced responses similar to the salivary IgA of nasally vaccinated mice and serum IgG of subcutaneously vaccinated mice. Mice vaccinated nasally or with the combined regimen were significantly protected against pharyngeal infection following a nasal challenge with S. pyogenes M serotype 14. Mice vaccinated subcutaneously were not protected against pharyngeal infection. Mice in all three LL-CRR vaccination groups were significantly protected against the lethal effects of S. pyogenes. Only 1 of 77 challenged mice that were vaccinated with LL-CRR died, whereas 60 of 118 challenged mice that were vaccinated with a control strain or phosphate-buffered saline died. In conclusion, mucosal vaccination with LL-CRR produced CRR-specific salivary IgA and serum IgG, prevented pharyngeal infection with S. pyogenes, and promoted survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Mannam
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97330-3804, USA
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Carlsson F, Berggård K, Stålhammar-Carlemalm M, Lindahl G. Evasion of phagocytosis through cooperation between two ligand-binding regions in Streptococcus pyogenes M protein. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003; 198:1057-68. [PMID: 14517274 PMCID: PMC2194224 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20030543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes is a major bacterial virulence factor that confers resistance to phagocytosis. To analyze how M protein allows evasion of phagocytosis, we used the M22 protein, which has features typical of many M proteins and has two well-characterized regions binding human plasma proteins: the hypervariable NH2-terminal region binds C4b-binding protein (C4BP), which inhibits the classical pathway of complement activation; and an adjacent semivariable region binds IgA-Fc. Characterization of chromosomal S. pyogenes mutants demonstrated that each of the ligand-binding regions contributed to phagocytosis resistance, which could be fully explained as cooperation between the two regions. Deposition of complement on S. pyogenes occurred almost exclusively via the classical pathway, even under nonimmune conditions, but was down-regulated by bacteria-bound C4BP, providing an explanation for the ability of bound C4BP to inhibit phagocytosis. Different opsonizing antisera shared the ability to block binding of both C4BP and IgA, suggesting that the two regions in M22 play important roles also under immune conditions, as targets for protective antibodies. These data indicate that M22 and similar M proteins confer resistance to phagocytosis through ability to bind two components of the human immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredric Carlsson
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Dermatology, and Infection, Lund University, Sölvegatan 23, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
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Hu MC, Walls MA, Stroop SD, Reddish MA, Beall B, Dale JB. Immunogenicity of a 26-valent group A streptococcal vaccine. Infect Immun 2002; 70:2171-7. [PMID: 11895984 PMCID: PMC127884 DOI: 10.1128/iai.70.4.2171-2177.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2001] [Revised: 12/19/2001] [Accepted: 01/18/2002] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A multivalent vaccine containing amino-terminal M protein fragments from 26 different serotypes of group A streptococci was constructed by recombinant techniques. The vaccine consisted of four different recombinant proteins that were formulated with alum to contain 400 microg of protein per dose. Rabbits were immunized via the intramuscular route at 0, 4, and 16 weeks. Immune sera were assayed for the presence of type-specific antibodies against the individual recombinant M peptides by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for opsonic antibodies by in vitro opsonization tests and indirect bactericidal tests. The 26-valent vaccine was highly immunogenic and elicited fourfold or greater increases in antibody levels against 25 of the 26 serotypes represented in the vaccine. The immune sera were broadly opsonic and were bactericidal against the majority of the 26 different serotypes. Importantly, none of the immune sera cross-reacted with human tissues. Our results indicate that type-specific, protective M protein epitopes can be incorporated into complex, multivalent vaccines designed to elicit broadly protective opsonic antibodies in the absence of tissue-cross-reactive antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Hu
- ID Biomedical Corporation, Bothell, Washington, USA
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46
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Facklam RF, Martin DR, Lovgren M, Johnson DR, Efstratiou A, Thompson TA, Gowan S, Kriz P, Tyrrell GJ, Kaplan E, Beall B. Extension of the Lancefield classification for group A streptococci by addition of 22 new M protein gene sequence types from clinical isolates: emm103 to emm124. Clin Infect Dis 2002; 34:28-38. [PMID: 11731942 DOI: 10.1086/324621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2001] [Revised: 07/24/2001] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Classic M protein serotyping has been invaluable during the past 60 years for the determination of relationships between different group A streptococci (GAS) strains and the varied clinical manifestations inflicted by these organisms worldwide. Nonetheless, during the past 20 years, the difficulties of continued expansion of the serology-based Lancefield classification scheme for GAS have become increasingly apparent. By use of a less demanding sequence-based methodology that closely adheres to previously established strain criteria while being predictive of known M protein serotypes, we recently added types emm94-emm102 to the Lancefield scheme. Continued expansion by the addition of types emm103 to emm124 are now proposed. As with types emm94-emm102, each of these new emm types was represented by multiple independent isolates recovered from serious disease manifestations, each was M protein nontypeable with all typing sera stocks available to international GAS reference laboratories, and each demonstrated antiphagocytic properties in vitro by multiplying in normal human blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard F Facklam
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Streptococci, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
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Berggård K, Johnsson E, Morfeldt E, Persson J, Stålhammar-Carlemalm M, Lindahl G. Binding of human C4BP to the hypervariable region of M protein: a molecular mechanism of phagocytosis resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes. Mol Microbiol 2001; 42:539-51. [PMID: 11703674 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02664.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The amino-terminal hypervariable region (HVR) of streptococcal M protein is required for the ability of this virulence factor to confer phagocytosis resistance. The function of the HVR has remained unknown, but the finding that many HVRs with extremely divergent sequences bind the human complement regulator C4b-binding protein (C4BP) has suggested that this ligand may play a role in phagocytosis resistance. We used the M22 system to study the function of bound C4BP and provide several lines of evidence that C4BP indeed contributes to phagocytosis resistance. First, the ability of anti-HVR antibodies to cause opsonization correlated with their ability to inhibit binding of C4BP. Secondly, a short deletion in the HVR eliminated C4BP binding and also reduced the ability of M22 to confer phagocytosis resistance. Thirdly, the addition of an excess of pure C4BP to a phagocytosis system almost completely blocked the effect of opsonizing anti-HVR antibodies. Together, our data indicate that binding of C4BP to the HVR of M22 plays an important role in phagocytosis resistance, but other properties of M22 also contribute. This study provides the first molecular insight into the mechanisms by which the HVR of an M protein confers phagocytosis resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Berggård
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Dermatology and Infection, Lund University, Sölvegatan 23, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
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Abstract
Group A streptococci are model extracellular gram-positive pathogens responsible for pharyngitis, impetigo, rheumatic fever, and acute glomerulonephritis. A resurgence of invasive streptococcal diseases and rheumatic fever has appeared in outbreaks over the past 10 years, with a predominant M1 serotype as well as others identified with the outbreaks. emm (M protein) gene sequencing has changed serotyping, and new virulence genes and new virulence regulatory networks have been defined. The emm gene superfamily has expanded to include antiphagocytic molecules and immunoglobulin-binding proteins with common structural features. At least nine superantigens have been characterized, all of which may contribute to toxic streptococcal syndrome. An emerging theme is the dichotomy between skin and throat strains in their epidemiology and genetic makeup. Eleven adhesins have been reported, and surface plasmin-binding proteins have been defined. The strong resistance of the group A streptococcus to phagocytosis is related to factor H and fibrinogen binding by M protein and to disarming complement component C5a by the C5a peptidase. Molecular mimicry appears to play a role in autoimmune mechanisms involved in rheumatic fever, while nephritis strain-associated proteins may lead to immune-mediated acute glomerulonephritis. Vaccine strategies have focused on recombinant M protein and C5a peptidase vaccines, and mucosal vaccine delivery systems are under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M W Cunningham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA
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Dale JB, Chiang EY, Liu S, Courtney HS, Hasty DL. New protective antigen of group A streptococci. J Clin Invest 1999; 103:1261-8. [PMID: 10225969 PMCID: PMC408353 DOI: 10.1172/jci5118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely believed that the surface M protein of group A streptococci is the predominant surface protein of these organisms containing opsonic epitopes. In the present study, we identified a new surface protein, distinct from M protein, that evokes protective antibodies. A type 18 M-negative mutant was found to be both resistant to phagocytosis in human blood and virulent in mice. The wild-type strain, but not the M-negative mutant, was opsonized by antisera against purified recombinant M18 protein or a synthetic peptide copying the NH2-terminus of M18. However, antisera raised against a crude pepsin extract of the M-negative mutant opsonized both strains, indicating the presence of a protective antigen in addition to type 18 M protein. This antiserum was used to identify and purify a 24-kDa protein fragment (Spa, streptococcal protective antigen) that evoked antibodies that opsonized the M18 parent and the M-negative mutant. The results of passive mouse protection tests confirmed the presence of protective epitopes within Spa. The deduced amino acid sequence of a 636-bp 5' fragment of the spa18 gene showed no homology with sequences in GenBank. These studies reveal the presence of a new protective antigen of certain strains of group A streptococci that may prove to be an important component of vaccines to prevent streptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Dale
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, USA.
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50
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Brandt ER, Hayman WA, Currie B, Carapetis J, Jackson DC, Do KA, Good MF. Functional analysis of IgA antibodies specific for a conserved epitope within the M protein of group A streptococci from Australian Aboriginal endemic communities. Int Immunol 1999; 11:569-76. [PMID: 10323210 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/11.4.569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mucosa is one of the initial sites of group A streptococcal (GAS) infection and salivary IgA (sIgA) is thought to be critical to immunity. However, the target epitopes of sIgA and the function of sIgA in GAS immunity, in particular the role of accessory cells and complement, is largely unknown. We studied the aquisition and the function of sIgA specific for a conserved region epitope, p145 (sequence: LRRDLDASREAKKQVEKALE) of the M protein. Peptide 145-specific sIgA is highly prevalent within an Aboriginal population living in an area endemic for GAS and acquisition of p145-specific sIgA increases with age, consistent with a role for such antibodies in immunity to GAS. Human sIgA and IgG specific for p145 were affinity purified and shown to opsonize M5 GAS in vitro. Opsonization could be specifically inhibited by the addition of free p145 to the antibodies during assay. Opsonization of GAS was totally dependent on the presence of both complement and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and, moreover, affinity-purified p145-specific sIgA was shown to fix complement in the presence of M5 GAS. These data show that mucosal IgA to this conserved region peptide within the M protein has an important role in human immunity against GAS and may be useful in a broad-based cross-protective anti-streptococcal vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R Brandt
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory and CRC for Vaccine Technology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
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