Characterization of T-cell immunogenicity of two PE/PPE proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Autologous Human Dendritic Cells from XDR-TB Patients Polarize a Th1 Response Which Is Bactericidal to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is a public health concern as drug resistance is outpacing the drug development pipeline. Alternative immunotherapeutic approaches are needed. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from pre-XDR/XDR-TB (n = 25) patients and LTBI (n = 18) participants. Thereafter, monocytic-derived dendritic cells (mo-DCs) were co-cultured with M. tb antigens, with/without a maturation cocktail (interferon-γ, interferon-α, CD40L, IL-1β, and TLR3 and TLR7/8 agonists). Two peptide pools were evaluated: (i) an ECAT peptide pool (ESAT6, CFP10, Ag85B, and TB10.4 peptides) and (ii) a PE/PPE peptide pool. Sonicated lysate of the M. tb HN878 strain served as a control. Mo-DCs were assessed for DC maturation markers, Th1 cytokines, and the ability of the DC-primed PBMCs to restrict the growth of M. tb-infected monocyte-derived macrophages. In pre-XDR/XDR-TB, mo-DCs matured with M. tb antigens (ECAT or PE/PPE peptide pool, or HN878 lysate) + cocktail, compared to mo-DCs matured with M. tb antigens only, showed higher upregulation of co-stimulatory molecules and IL-12p70 (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). The matured mo-DCs had enhanced antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses to ESAT-6 (p = 0.05) and Ag85B (p = 0.03). Containment was higher with mo-DCs matured with the PE/PPE peptide pool cocktail versus mo-DCs matured with the PE/PPE peptide pool (p = 0.0002). Mo-DCs matured with the PE/PPE peptide pool + cocktail achieved better containment than the ECAT peptide pool + cocktail [50%, (IQR:39-75) versus 46%, (IQR:15-62); p = 0.02]. In patients with pre-XDR/XDR-TB, an effector response primed by mo-DCs matured with an ECAT or PE/PPE peptide pool + cocktail was capable of restricting the growth of M. tb in vitro.

Peptide-Based Vaccines for Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. As a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the global TB mortality rate in 2020 is rising, making TB prevention and control more challenging. Vaccination has been considered the best approach to reduce the TB burden. Unfortunately, BCG, the only TB vaccine currently approved for use, offers some protection against childhood TB but is less effective in adults. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new TB vaccines that are more effective than BCG. Accumulating data indicated that peptides or epitopes play essential roles in bridging innate and adaptive immunity and triggering adaptive immunity. Furthermore, innovations in bioinformatics, immunoinformatics, synthetic technologies, new materials, and transgenic animal models have put wings on the research of peptide-based vaccines for TB. Hence, this review seeks to give an overview of current tools that can be used to design a peptide-based vaccine, the research status of peptide-based vaccines for TB, protein-based bacterial vaccine delivery systems, and animal models for the peptide-based vaccines. These explorations will provide approaches and strategies for developing safer and more effective peptide-based vaccines and contribute to achieving the WHO's End TB Strategy.

Proline-Glutamate/Proline-Proline-Glutamate (PE/PPE) proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: The multifaceted immune-modulators

The PE/PPE proteins encoded by seven percent (7%) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) genome are the chief constituents to pathogen's virulence reservoir. The fact that these genes have evolved along ESX secretory system in pathogenic Mtb strains make their investigation very intriguing. There is lot of speculation about the prominent role of these proteins at host pathogen interface and in disease pathogenesis. Nevertheless, the exact function of PE/PPE proteins still remains a mystery which calls for further research targeting these proteins. This article is an effort to document all the facts known so far with regard to these unique proteins which involves their origin, evolution, transcriptional control, and most important their role as host immune-modulators. Our understanding strongly points towards the versatile nature of these PE/PPE proteins as Mtb's host immune sensors and as decisive factors in shaping the outcome of infection. Further investigation on these proteins will surely pave way for newer and effective vaccines and therapeutics to control Tuberculosis (TB).

MMP-7 derived peptides with MHC class-I binding motifs from canine mammary tumor tissue elicit strong antigen-specific T-cell responses in BALB/c mice

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs)-induced altered proteolysis of extracellular matrix proteins and basement membrane holds the key for tumor progression and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases-7 (Matrilysin), the smallest member of the MMP family also performs quite alike; thus serves as a potential candidate for anti-tumor immunotherapy. Conversely, being an endogenous tumor-associated antigen (TAA), targeting MMP-7 for immunization is challenging. But MMP-7-based xenovaccine can surmount the obstacle of poor immunogenicity and immunological tolerance, often encountered in TAA-based conventional vaccine for anti-tumor immunotherapy. This paves the way for investigating the potential of MMP-7-derived major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-binding peptides to elicit precise epitope-specific T-cell responses towards their possible inclusion in anti-tumor vaccine formulations. Perhaps it also ushers the path of achieving multiple epitope-based broad and universal cellular immunity. In current experiment, an immunoinformatics approach has been employed to identify the putative canine matrix matelloproteinases-7 (cMMP-7)-derived peptides with MHC class-I-binding motifs which can elicit potent antigen-specific immune responses in BALB/c mice. Immunization with the cMMP-7 DNA vaccine induced a strong CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and Th1- type response, with high level of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production in BALB/c mice. The two identified putative MHC-I-binding nonameric peptides (Peptide_32-40 and Peptide_175-183) from cMMP-7 induced significant lymphocyte proliferation along with the production of IFN-γ from CD8⁺ T-cells in mice immunized with cMMP-7 DNA vaccine. The current observation has depicted the immunogenic potential of the two cMMP-7-derived nonapeptides for their possible exploitation in xenovaccine-mediated anti-tumor immunotherapy in mouse model.

Genetic screening for the protective antigenic targets of BCG vaccination

Bovine tuberculosis is an important animal health problem and the predominant cause of zoonotic tuberculosis worldwide. It results in serious economic burden due to losses in productivity and the cost of control programmes. Control could be greatly improved by the introduction of an efficacious cattle vaccine but the most likely candidate, BCG, has several limitations including variable efficacy. Augmentation of BCG with a subunit vaccine booster has been shown to increase protection but the selection of antigens has hitherto been left largely to serendipity. In the present study, we take a rational approach to identify the protective antigens of BCG, selecting a BCG transposon mutant library in naïve and BCG-vaccinated cattle. Ten mutants had increased relative survival in vaccinated compared to naïve cattle, consistent with loss of protective antigen targets making the mutants less visible to the BCG immune response. The immunogenicity of three putative protective antigens, BCG_0116, BCG_0205 (YrbE1B) and BCG_1448 (PPE20) was investigated using peptide pools and PBMCs from BCG vaccinated cattle. BCG vaccination induced PBMC to release elevated levels of IP10, IL-17a and IL-10 in response to all three antigens. Taken together, the data supports the further study of these antigens for use in subunit vaccines.

Protective Vaccine Efficacy of the Complete Form of PPE39 Protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing/K Strain in Mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of MTBK_24820, a complete form of PPE39 protein derived from a predominant Beijing/K strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in South Korea. Mice were immunized with MTKB_24820, M. bovis Bacilli Calmette-Guérin (BCG), or adjuvant prior to a high-dosed Beijing/K strain aerosol infection. After 4 and 9 weeks, bacterial loads were determined and histopathologic and immunologic features in the lungs and spleens of the M. tuberculosis-infected mice were analyzed. Putative immunogenic T-cell epitopes were examined using synthetic overlapping peptides. Successful immunization of MTBK_24820 in mice was confirmed by increased IgG responses (P < 0.05) and recalled gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, and IL-17 responses (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) to MTBK_24820. After challenge with the Beijing/K strain, an approximately 0.5 to 1.0 log₁₀ reduction in CFU in lungs and fewer lung inflammation lesions were observed in MTBK_24820-immunized mice compared to those for control mice. Moreover, MTBK_24820 immunization elicited significantly higher numbers of CD4⁺ T cells producing protective cytokines, such as IFN-γ and IL-17, in lungs and spleens (P < 0.01) and CD4⁺ multifunctional T cells producing IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and/or IL-17 (P < 0.01) than in control mice, suggesting protection comparable to that of BCG against the hypervirulent Beijing/K strain. The dominant immunogenic T-cell epitopes that induced IFN-γ production were at the N terminus (amino acids 85 to 102 and 217 to 234). Its vaccine potential, along with protective immune responses in vivo, may be informative for vaccine development, particularly in regions where the M. tuberculosis Beijing/K-strain is frequently isolated from TB patients.

Pathogen-mimicking vaccine delivery system designed with a bioactive polymer (inulin acetate) for robust humoral and cellular immune responses

New and improved vaccines are needed against challenging diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, Ebola, influenza, AIDS, and cancer. The majority of existing vaccine adjuvants lack the ability to significantly stimulate the cellular immune response, which is required to prevent the aforementioned diseases. This study designed a novel particulate based pathogen-mimicking vaccine delivery system (PMVDS) to target antigen-presenting-cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells. The uniqueness of PMVDS is that the polymer used to prepare the delivery system, Inulin Acetate (InAc), activates the innate immune system. InAc was synthesized from the plant polysaccharide, inulin. PMVDS provided improved and persistent antigen delivery to APCs as an efficient vaccine delivery system, and simultaneously, activated Toll-Like Receptor-4 (TLR-4) on APCs to release chemokine's/cytokines as an immune-adjuvant. Through this dual mechanism, PMVDS robustly stimulated both the humoral (>32 times of IgG1 levels vs alum) and the cell-mediated immune responses against the encapsulated antigen (ovalbumin) in mice. More importantly, PMVDS stimulated both cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells of cell-mediated immunity to provide tumor (B16-ova-Melanoma) protection in around 40% of vaccinated mice and significantly delayed tumor progression in rest of the mice. PMVDS is a unique bio-active vaccine delivery technology with broader applications for vaccines against cancer and several intracellular pathogens, where both humoral and cellular immune responses are desired.

Secretome Prediction of Two M. tuberculosis Clinical Isolates Reveals Their High Antigenic Density and Potential Drug Targets

The Excreted/Secreted (ES) proteins play important roles during Mycobacterium tuberculosis invasion, virulence, and survival inside the host and they are a major source of immunogenic proteins. However, the molecular complexity of the bacillus cell wall has made difficult the experimental isolation of the total bacterial ES proteins. Here, we reported the genomes of two Beijing genotype M. tuberculosis clinical isolates obtained from patients from Vietnam (isolate 46) and South Africa (isolate 48). We developed a bioinformatics pipeline to predict their secretomes and observed that ~12% of the genome-encoded proteins are ES, being PE, PE-PGRS, and PPE the most abundant protein domains. Additionally, the Gene Ontology, KEGG pathways and Enzyme Classes annotations supported the expected functions for the secretomes. The ~70% of an experimental secretome compiled from literature was contained in our predicted secretomes, while only the 34–41% of the experimental secretome was contained in the two previously reported secretomes for H37Rv. These results suggest that our bioinformatics pipeline is better to predict a more complete set of ES proteins in M. tuberculosis genomes. The predicted ES proteins showed a significant higher antigenic density measured by Abundance of Antigenic Regions (AAR) value than the non-ES proteins and also compared to random constructed secretomes. Additionally, we predicted the secretomes for H37Rv, H37Ra, and two M. bovis BCG genomes. The antigenic density for BGG and for isolates 46 and 48 was higher than the observed for H37Rv and H37Ra secretomes. In addition, two sets of immunogenic proteins previously reported in patients with tuberculosis also showed a high antigenic density. Interestingly, mice infected with isolate 46 showed a significant lower survival rate than the ones infected with isolate 48 and both survival rates were lower than the one previously reported for the H37Rv in the same murine model. Finally, after a druggability analysis of the secretomes, we found potential drug targets such as cytochrome P450, thiol peroxidase, the Ag85C, and Ribonucleoside Reductase in the secreted proteins that could be used as drug targets for novel treatments against Tuberculosis.

Recombinant Leishmania Rab6 (rLdRab6) is recognized by sera from visceral leishmaniasis patients

Rab proteins form the largest branch of the Ras superfamily. Rab proteins are key regulators of intracellular vesicular transport and membrane trafficking. Although RabGTPases are well-recognized targets in human diseases but are under-explored therapeutically in the Leishmania parasite. Using a quantitative cytofluorimetric assay, we analyzed the composition and organization of Rab6GTPase protein which was found to be primarily localized on the parasite subpellicular membrane and flagellum due to its association with kinesin motor proteins in the cytoskeletal microtubules. Our aim was to also assess the diagnostic role of recombinant Rab6 protein from Leishmania donovani (rLdRab6) using sera/plasma of Indian visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for rLdRab6-based ELISA which was almost similar in comparison to recombinant K39-based ELISA (95.83% sensitivity and 100% specificity). Sera of patients from another intracellular pathogenic infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, did not contain any significant levels of anti-rLdRab6 antibody. Thus rLdRab6 accuracy in visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis makes it a promising antigen for clinical use.

CD4+ T Cells Recognizing PE/PPE Antigens Directly or via Cross Reactivity Are Protective against Pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), possesses at least three type VII secretion systems, ESX-1, -3 and -5 that are actively involved in pathogenesis and host-pathogen interaction. We recently showed that an attenuated Mtb vaccine candidate (Mtb Δppe25-pe19), which lacks the characteristic ESX-5-associated pe/ppe genes, but harbors all other components of the ESX-5 system, induces CD4⁺ T-cell immune responses against non-esx-5-associated PE/PPE protein homologs. These T cells strongly cross-recognize the missing esx-5-associated PE/PPE proteins. Here, we characterized the fine composition of the functional cross-reactive Th1 effector subsets specific to the shared PE/PPE epitopes in mice immunized with the Mtb Δppe25-pe19 vaccine candidate. We provide evidence that the Mtb Δppe25-pe19 strain, despite its significant attenuation, is comparable to the WT Mtb strain with regard to: (i) its antigenic repertoire related to the different ESX systems, (ii) the induced Th1 effector subset composition, (iii) the differentiation status of the Th1 cells induced, and (iv) its particular features at stimulating the innate immune response. Indeed, we found significant contribution of PE/PPE-specific Th1 effector cells in the protective immunity against pulmonary Mtb infection. These results offer detailed insights into the immune mechanisms underlying the remarkable protective efficacy of the live attenuated Mtb Δppe25-pe19 vaccine candidate, as well as the specific potential of PE/PPE proteins as protective immunogens.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of human tuberculosis, is one of the most widely spread human pathogens, responsible for more than 9.6 million of new tuberculosis cases and 1.5 million deaths, annually. The resurgence of pulmonary tuberculosis in immuno-compromised patients, including HIV-co-infected populations, and increasing spread of drug-resistant Mtb strains are worrying. Given the estimated 2 billion cases of latent Mtb infections and the only partial efficacy of the unique, currently available tuberculosis-vaccine Mycobacterium bovis BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) it is necessary to develop improved vaccines. Here, we demonstrate that the host cellular immunity, mediated by CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, specific to the “PE/PPE” families of mycobacterial antigens, contribute to the protection against Mtb-induced disease. We revealed the fine composition of the PE/PPE-specific T cells by characterizing their effector functions and differentiation status. We previously described a live attenuated mycobacterial strain as a vaccine candidate that is able to induce such CD4⁺ T cells and which displays particular properties at stimulating the cells of the innate immune system. These responses play a central role in the initiation of the host defense and in the protection against tuberculosis. Our results pave the way for further development of candidates in preclinical models of anti-tuberculosis vaccination.

Novel T-cell assays for the discrimination of active and latent tuberculosis infection: the diagnostic value of PPE family

OBJECTIVE

The diagnosis of active and latent tuberculosis remains a challenge. Although a new approach based on detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T-cells has been introduced, it cannot distinguish between latent infection and active disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of interleukin-2 (IL-2) as biomarker after specific antigen stimulation with PE35 and PPE68 for the discrimination of active and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).

METHOD

The production of IL-2 was measured in the antigen-stimulated whole-blood supernatants following stimulation with recombinant PE35 and PPE68.

RESULTS

The discrimination performance (assessed by the area under ROC curve) for IL-2 following stimulation with recombinant PE35 and PPE68 between LTBI and patients with active TB were 0.837 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.72-0.97] for LTBI diagnosis and 0.75 (95 % CI 0.63-0.89) for active TB diagnosis, respectively. Applying the 6.4 pg/mL cut-off for IL-2 induced by PE35 in the present study population resulted in sensitivity of 78 %, specificity of 83 %, PPV of 83 % and NPV of 78 % for the discrimination of active TB and LTBI. In addition, a sensitivity of 81 %, specificity of 71 %, PPV of 68 and 83 % of NPV was reported based on the 4.4 pg/mL cut-off for IL-2 induced by PPE68.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms IL-2 induced by PE35 and PPE68 as a sensitive and specific biomarker and highlights IL-2 as new promising adjunct markers for discriminating of LTBI and active TB disease.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis PPE protein Rv1168c induces stronger B cell response than Rv0256c in active TB patients

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a serious global health problem and is responsible for millions of deaths every year. For effective control of this dreadful disease, it is necessary to diagnose TB cases at the initial stages of infection. The serodiagnosis of disease represents simple, rapid and inexpensive method that can be used at the primary health care levels. In this study we have compared sensitivity of two PPE proteins of M. tuberculosis, i.e., Rv0256c and Rv1168c for their use as serodiagnostic markers in active tuberculosis patients. Employing a standardized enzyme immunoassay with these PPE proteins as candidate antigens we were able to successfully discriminate the TB patients' sera from the BCG-vaccinated healthy controls. Further, we observed that Rv1168c displayed higher sensitivity in detecting extrapulmonary and smear negative pulmonary TB cases which are difficult to diagnose by available diagnostic methods. Overall the study highlights that Rv1168c can be used as a potential serodiagnostic marker for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis disease.

DNA vaccines against tuberculosis

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem and novel vaccination regimens are urgently needed.

AREAS COVERED

DNA vaccines against TB have been tested in various preclinical models and strategies have been developed to increase their immunogenicity in large animal species. DNA vaccines are able to induce a wide variety of immune responses, including CD8(+) T-cell-mediated cytolytic and IFN-γ responses. DNA vaccination may be valuable in heterologous prime-boost strategies with the currently used bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. This approach could broaden the antigenic repertoire of BCG and enhance its weak induction of MHC class I-restricted immune responses.

EXPERT OPINION

DNA vaccines offer a number of advantages over certain other types of vaccines, such as the induction of robust MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), their generic manufacturing platform and their relatively low manufacturing costs. Because of their strong potential for inducing memory responses, DNA vaccines are particularly suited for priming immune responses. Furthermore, DNA vaccine technology may help antigen discovery by facilitating screening of candidate vaccines. Co-administration of BCG with plasmid DNA coding for immunodominant, subdominant and phase-specific antigens, poorly expressed by BCG, may lead to the development of improved TB vaccines.

The PE16 (Rv1430) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an esterase belonging to serine hydrolase superfamily of proteins

The PE and PPE multigene families, first discovered during the sequencing of M. tuberculosis H37Rv genome are responsible for antigenic variation and have been shown to induce increased humoral and cell mediated immune response in the host. Using the bioinformatics tools, we had earlier reported that the 225 amino acid residue PE-PPE domain (Pfam: PF08237) common to some PE and PPE proteins has a “serine α/β hydrolase” fold and conserved Ser, Asp and His catalytic triad characteristic of lipase, esterase and cutinase activities. In order to prove experimentally that PE-PPE domain is indeed a serine hydrolase, we have cloned the full-length Rv1430 and its PE-PPE domain into pET-28a vector, expressed the proteins in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. The activity assays of both purified proteins were carried out using p-nitrophenyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids with varying chain length (C2–C16) to study the substrate specificity. To characterize the active site of the PE-PPE domain, we mutated the Ser199 to Ala. The activity of the protein in the presence of serine protease inhibitor- PMSF and the mutant protein were measured. Our results reveal that Rv1430 and its PE-PPE domain possess esterase activity and hydrolyse short to medium chain fatty acid esters with the highest specific activity for pNPC6 at 37°C, 38°C and pH 7.0, 8.0. The details of this work and the observed results are reported in this manuscript.

In silico identification of potential antigenic proteins and promiscuous CTL epitopes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Cell-mediated immunity is critical for the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We hypothesized that those proteins of M. tuberculosis (MTB) that do not have homologs in humans as well as human gut flora, would mount a good antigenic response in man, and employed a bioinformatics approach to identify MTB antigens capable of inducing a robust cell-mediated immune response in humans. In the first step we identified 624 MTB proteins that had no homologs in humans. Comparison of this set of proteins with the proteome of 77 different microbes that comprise the human gut flora narrowed down the list to 180 proteins unique to MTB. Twenty nine of the 180 proteins are known to be associated with dormancy. Since dormancy associated proteins are known to harbor CTL epitopes, we selected four representative unique proteins and subjected them to epitope analysis using ProPred1. Nineteen novel promiscuous epitopes were identified in the four proteins. Population coverage for 7 of the 19 shortlisted epitopes including Rv3852 (58-KPAEAPVSL, 112-VPLIVAVTL, 118-VTLSLLALL and 123-LALLLIRQL), Rv2706c (66-RPLSGVSFL) Rv3466 (8- RIVEVFDAL and 38-RSLERLECL) was >74%. These novel promiscuous epitopes are conserved in other virulent MTB strains, and can therefore be further investigated for their immunological relevance and usefulness as vaccine candidates.

Comparative analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pe and ppe genes reveals high sequence variation and an apparent absence of selective constraints

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) genomes contain 2 large gene families termed pe and ppe. The function of pe/ppe proteins remains enigmatic but studies suggest that they are secreted or cell surface associated and are involved in bacterial virulence. Previous studies have also shown that some pe/ppe genes are polymorphic, a finding that suggests involvement in antigenic variation. Using comparative sequence analysis of 18 publicly available MTBC whole genome sequences, we have performed alignments of 33 pe (excluding pe_pgrs) and 66 ppe genes in order to detect the frequency and nature of genetic variation. This work has been supplemented by whole gene sequencing of 14 pe/ppe (including 5 pe_pgrs) genes in a cohort of 40 diverse and well defined clinical isolates covering all the main lineages of the M. tuberculosis phylogenetic tree. We show that nsSNP's in pe (excluding pgrs) and ppe genes are 3.0 and 3.3 times higher than in non-pe/ppe genes respectively and that numerous other mutation types are also present at a high frequency. It has previously been shown that non-pe/ppe M. tuberculosis genes display a remarkably low level of purifying selection. Here, we also show that compared to these genes those of the pe/ppe families show a further reduction of selection pressure that suggests neutral evolution. This is inconsistent with the positive selection pressure of "classical" antigenic variation. Finally, by analyzing such a large number of genes we were able to detect large differences in mutation type and frequency between both individual genes and gene sub-families. The high variation rates and absence of selective constraints provides valuable insights into potential pe/ppe function. Since pe/ppe proteins are highly antigenic and have been studied as potential vaccine components these results should also prove informative for aspects of M. tuberculosis vaccine design.

Cellular immune responses in mice induced by M. tuberculosis PE35-DNA vaccine construct

The PE35 (Rv3872) gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is present in the region of difference (RD) one that is deleted in all vaccine strains of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette Guerin. The aim of this study was to clone PE35 DNA into a DNA vaccine plasmid with CMV promoter and interleukin-2 secretory signal and evaluate the recombinant plasmid for induction of antigen-specific cellular responses in mice. DNA corresponding to PE35 was PCR amplified from the genomic DNA of M. tuberculosis H(37) Rv, cloned into pGEMT-Easy vector and sub-cloned into the DNA vaccine vector pUMVC6. BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant pUMVC6/PE35 and spleen cells were tested for T-helper (Th)1-type (antigen-induced proliferation and secretion of IFN-γ) and Th2-type (IL-5), and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokine responses to pure recombinant PE35 protein and its synthetic peptides. Mice immunized with the recombinant plasmid DNA (pUMVC6/PE35) showed positive Th1-type cellular responses to pure PE35, but not to an irrelevant antigen, i.e. PPE68 (Rv3873). However, the vaccine construct did not induce antigen-specific Th2-type (IL-5) or anti-inflammatory (IL-10) reactivity to PE35. Testing with synthetic peptides showed that Th1-type cells recognizing various epitopes of PE35 were induced in mice immunized with pUMVC6/PE35 DNA. These results suggest that pUMVC6/PE35 may be useful as a safer vaccine candidate against TB.

Generation and Analysis of Large-Scale Data-Driven Mycobacterium tuberculosis Functional Networks for Drug Target Identification

Technological developments in large-scale biological experiments, coupled with bioinformatics tools, have opened the doors to computational approaches for the global analysis of whole genomes. This has provided the opportunity to look at genes within their context in the cell. The integration of vast amounts of data generated by these technologies provides a strategy for identifying potential drug targets within microbial pathogens, the causative agents of infectious diseases. As proteins are druggable targets, functional interaction networks between proteins are used to identify proteins essential to the survival, growth, and virulence of these microbial pathogens. Here we have integrated functional genomics data to generate functional interaction networks between Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins and carried out computational analyses to dissect the functional interaction network produced for identifying drug targets using network topological properties. This study has provided the opportunity to expand the range of potential drug targets and to move towards optimal target-based strategies.

Integrative analysis of transcriptome and genome indicates two potential genomic islands are associated with pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is a successful human pathogen and widely prevalent throughout the world. Genomic islands (GIs) are thought to be related to pathogenicity. In this study, we predicted two potential genomic islands in M.tb genome, respectively named as GI-1 and GI-2. It is indicated that the genes belong to PE_PGRS family in GI-1 and genes involved in sulfolipid-1 (SL-1) synthesis in GI-2 are strongly associated with M.tb pathogenesis. Sequence analysis revealed that the five PGRS genes are more polymorphic than other PGRS members in full virulence M.tb complex strains at significance level 0.01 but not in attenuated strains. Expression analysis of microarrays collected from literatures displayed that GI-1 genes, especially Rv3508 might be correlated with the response to the inhibition of aerobic respiration. Microarray analysis also showed that SL-1 cluster genes are drastically down-expressed in attenuated strains relative to full virulence strains. We speculated that the effect of SL-1 on M.tb pathogenicity could be associated with long-term survival and persistence establishment during infection. Additionally, the gene Rv3508 in GI-1 was under positive selection. Rv3508 may involve the response of M.tb to the inhibition of aerobic respiration by low oxygen or drug PA-824, and it may be a common feature of genes in GI-1. These findings may provide some novel insights into M.tb physiology and pathogenesis.

Contribution of microarray data to the advancement of knowledge on the Mycobacterium tuberculosis interactome: use of the random partial least squares approach

Following the central dogma of molecular biology, where data flows from gene to protein through transcript, information on gene expression provides information on the functional state of an organism. Microarray technology arose to measure the expression level of thousands of genes simultaneously. These vast amounts of data generated at all levels of biological organization help to identify co-expressed genes, which may reveal proteins interacting in a complex or acting in the same pathway without direct physical contact. Discovering associations of regulatory patterns of characterized proteins with those of hypothetical proteins may identify functional relationships between them and facilitate the characterization of proteins of unknown function. Here we make use of the random partial least squares regression technique (r-PLS) to trace connections between co-expressed genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis using data downloaded from public microarray databases. We generated the overall topology of a microbial co-expression network with the exact complexity of the model. This approach provides a general method for generating a co-expression network of an organism for the purpose of systems-level analyses.

Toxicogenomic response of Mycobacterium bovis BCG to peracetic acid and a comparative analysis of the M. bovis BCG response to three oxidative disinfectants

Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death worldwide and infects thousands of Americans annually. Mycobacterium bovis causes tuberculosis in humans and several animal species. Peracetic acid is an approved tuberculocide in hospital and domestic environments. This study presents for the first time the transcriptomic changes in M. bovis BCG after treatment with 0.1 mM peracetic acid for 10 and 20 min. This study also presents for the first time a comparison among the transcriptomic responses of M. bovis BCG to three oxidative disinfectants: peracetic acid, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide after 10 min of treatment. Results indicate that arginine biosynthesis, virulence, and oxidative stress response genes were upregulated after both peracetic acid treatment times. Three DNA repair genes were downregulated after 10 and 20 min and cell wall component genes were upregulated after 20 min. The devR-devS signal transduction system was upregulated after 10 min, suggesting a role in the protection against peracetic acid treatment. Results also suggest that peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite both induce the expression of the ctpF gene which is upregulated in hypoxic environments. Further, this study reveals that in M. bovis BCG, hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid both induce the expression of katG involved in oxidative stress response and the mbtD and mbtI genes involved in iron regulation/virulence.

Src homology 3-interacting domain of Rv1917c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis induces selective maturation of human dendritic cells by regulating PI3K-MAPK-NF-kappaB signaling and drives Th2 immune responses

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, an etiological agent of pulmonary tuberculosis, causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pathogenic mycobacteria survive in the host by subverting host innate immunity. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that are vital for eliciting immune responses to infectious agents, including pathogenic mycobacteria. DCs orchestrate distinct Th responses based on the signals they receive. In this perspective, deciphering the interactions of the proline-glutamic acid/proline-proline-glutamic acid (PE/PPE) family of proteins of M. tuberculosis with DCs assumes significant pathophysiological attributes. In this study, we demonstrate that Rv1917c (PPE34), a representative member of the proline-proline-glutamic-major polymorphic tandem repeat family, interacts with TLR2 and triggers functional maturation of human DCs. Signaling perturbations implicated a critical role for integrated cross-talk among PI3K-MAPK and NF-κB signaling cascades in Rv1917c-induced maturation of DCs. However, this maturation of DCs was associated with a secretion of high amounts of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, whereas Th1-polarizing cytokine IL-12 was not induced. Consistent with these results, Rv1917c-matured DCs favored secretion of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 from CD4(+) T cells and contributed to Th2-skewed cytokine balance ex vivo in healthy individuals and in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Interestingly, the Rv1917c-skewed Th2 immune response involved induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in DCs. Taken together, these results indicate that Rv1917c facilitates a shift in the ensuing immunity toward the Th2 phenotype and could aid in immune evasion by mycobacteria.

Toward the discovery of vaccine adjuvants: coupling in silico screening and in vitro analysis of antagonist binding to human and mouse CCR4 receptors

Background

Adjuvants enhance or modify an immune response that is made to an antigen. An antagonist of the chemokine CCR4 receptor can display adjuvant-like properties by diminishing the ability of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) to down-regulate immune responses.

Methodology

Here, we have used protein modelling to create a plausible chemokine receptor model with the aim of using virtual screening to identify potential small molecule chemokine antagonists. A combination of homology modelling and molecular docking was used to create a model of the CCR4 receptor in order to investigate potential lead compounds that display antagonistic properties. Three-dimensional structure-based virtual screening of the CCR4 receptor identified 116 small molecules that were calculated to have a high affinity for the receptor; these were tested experimentally for CCR4 antagonism. Fifteen of these small molecules were shown to inhibit specifically CCR4-mediated cell migration, including that of CCR4⁺ Tregs.

Significance

Our CCR4 antagonists act as adjuvants augmenting human T cell proliferation in an in vitro immune response model and compound SP50 increases T cell and antibody responses in vivo when combined with vaccine antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium yoelii in mice.