Pneumococcal Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine induces antibodies that inhibit glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase activity of protein D

The role of NTHi colonization and infection in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma

Asthma is a complex heterogeneous disease. The neutrophilic subtypes of asthma are described as persistent, more severe and corticosteroid-resistant, with higher hospitalization and mortality rates, which seriously affect the lives of asthmatic patients. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology, an increasing amount of evidence has shown that lower airway microbiome dysbiosis contributes to the exacerbation of asthma, especially neutrophilic asthma. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae is normally found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy adults and is one of the most common strains in the lower respiratory tract of neutrophilic asthma patients, in whom its presence is related to the occurrence of corticosteroid resistance. To understand the pathogenic mechanism by which nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae colonization leads to the progression of neutrophilic asthma, we reviewed the previous literature on nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae colonization and subsequent aggravation of neutrophilic asthma and corticosteroid resistance. We discussed nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae as a potential therapeutic target to prevent the progression of neutrophilic asthma.

Mapping Protective Regions on a Three-Dimensional Model of the Moraxella catarrhalis Vaccine Antigen Oligopeptide Permease A

A vaccine against Moraxella catarrhalis would reduce tremendous morbidity, mortality, and financial burden by preventing otitis media in children and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults. Oligopeptide permease A (OppA) is a candidate vaccine antigen that is (i) a nutritional virulence factor expressed on the bacterial cell surface during infection, (ii) widely conserved among strains, (iii) highly immunogenic, and (iv) a protective antigen based on its capacity to induce protective responses in immunized animals. In the present study, we show that the antibodies to OppA following vaccination mediate accelerated clearance in animals after pulmonary challenge. To identify regions of OppA that bind protective antibodies, truncated constructs of OppA were engineered and studied to map regions of OppA with surface-accessible epitopes that bind high-avidity antibodies following vaccination. Protective epitopes were located in the N and C termini of the protein. Immunization of mice with constructs corresponding to these regions (T5 and T8) induced protective responses. Studies of overlapping peptide libraries of constructs T5 and T8 with OppA immune serum identified two discrete regions on each construct. These potentially protective regions were mapped on a three-dimensional computational model of OppA, where regions with solvent-accessible amino acids were identified as three potentially protective epitopes. In all, these studies revealed two regions with three specific epitopes in OppA that induce potentially protective antibody responses following vaccination. Detection of antibodies to these regions could serve to guide vaccine formulation and as a diagnostic tool for monitoring development of protective responses during clinical trials.

A Cation-Binding Surface Protein as a Vaccine Antigen To Prevent Moraxella catarrhalis Otitis Media and Infections in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Moraxella catarrhalis is an exclusively human respiratory tract pathogen that is a common cause of otitis media in children and respiratory tract infections in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A vaccine to prevent these infections would have a major impact on reducing the substantial global morbidity and mortality in these populations. Through a genome mining approach, we identified AfeA, an ∼32-kDa substrate binding protein of an ABC transport system, as an excellent candidate vaccine antigen. Recombinant AfeA was expressed and purified and binds ferric, ferrous, manganese, and zinc ions, as demonstrated by thermal shift assays. It is a highly conserved protein that is present in all strains of M. catarrhalis Immunization with recombinant purified AfeA induces high-titer antibodies that recognize the native M. catarrhalis protein. AfeA expresses abundant epitopes on the bacterial surface and induces protective responses in the mouse pulmonary clearance model following aerosol challenge with M. catarrhalis Finally, AfeA is expressed during human respiratory tract infection of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Based on these observations, AfeA is an excellent vaccine antigen to be included in a vaccine to prevent infections caused by M. catarrhalis.

Australian Aboriginal Children with Otitis Media Have Reduced Antibody Titers to Specific Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Vaccine Antigens

Indigenous populations experience high rates of otitis media (OM), with increased chronicity and severity, compared to those experienced by their nonindigenous counterparts. Data on immune responses to otopathogenic bacteria in these high-risk populations are lacking. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is the predominant otopathogen in Australia. No vaccines are currently licensed to target NTHi; however, protein D (PD) from NTHi is included as a carrier protein in the 10-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (PHiD10-CV), and other promising protein vaccine candidates exist, including outer membrane protein 4 (P4) and protein 6 (P6). We measured the levels of serum and salivary IgA and IgG against PD, P4, and P6 in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children with chronic OM who were undergoing surgery and compared the levels with those in healthy non-Aboriginal children (controls). We found that Aboriginal cases had lower serum IgG titers to all NTHi proteins assessed, particularly PD. In contrast, serum IgA and salivary IgA and IgG titers to each of these 3 proteins were equivalent to or higher than those in both non-Aboriginal cases and healthy controls. While serum antibody levels increased with age in healthy controls, no changes in titers were observed with age in non-Aboriginal cases, and a trend toward decreasing titers with age was observed in Aboriginal cases. This suggests that decreased serum IgG responses to NTHi outer membrane proteins may contribute to the development of chronic and severe OM in Australian Aboriginal children and other indigenous populations. These data are important for understanding the potential benefits of PHiD10-CV implementation and the development of NTHi protein-based vaccines for indigenous populations.

Sulfate-binding protein, CysP, is a candidate vaccine antigen of Moraxella catarrhalis

Moraxella catarrhalis causes otitis media in children and respiratory tract infections in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A vaccine to prevent M. catarrhalis infections would have an enormous impact globally in preventing morbidity caused by M. catarrhalis in these populations. Using a genome mining approach we have identified a sulfate binding protein, CysP, of an ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter system as a novel candidate vaccine antigen. CysP expresses epitopes on the bacterial surface and is highly conserved among strains. Immunization with CysP induces potentially protective immune responses in a murine pulmonary clearance model. In view of these features that indicate CysP is a promising vaccine antigen, we conducted further studies to elucidate its function. These studies demonstrated that CysP binds sulfate and thiosulfate ions, plays a nutritional role for the organism and functions in intracellular survival of M. catarrhalis in human respiratory epithelial cells. The observations that CysP has features of a vaccine antigen and also plays an important role in growth and survival of the organism indicate that CysP is an excellent candidate vaccine antigen to prevent M. catarrhalis otitis media and infections in adults with COPD.

The Vaccine Candidate Substrate Binding Protein SBP2 Plays a Key Role in Arginine Uptake, Which Is Required for Growth of Moraxella catarrhalis

Moraxella catarrhalis is an exclusively human pathogen that is an important cause of otitis media in children and lower respiratory tract infections in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A vaccine to prevent M. catarrhalis infections would have an enormous global impact in reducing morbidity resulting from these infections. Substrate binding protein 2 (SBP2) of an ABC transporter system has recently been identified as a promising vaccine candidate antigen on the bacterial surface of M. catarrhalis. In this study, we showed that SBP1, -2, and -3 individually bind different basic amino acids with exquisite specificity. We engineered mutants that each expressed a single SBP from this gene cluster and showed in growth experiments that SBP1, -2, and -3 serve a nutritional function through acquisition of amino acids for the bacterium. SBP2 mediates uptake of arginine, a strict growth requirement of M. catarrhalis. Adherence and invasion assays demonstrated that SBP1 and SBP3 play a role in invasion of human respiratory epithelial cells, consistent with a nutritional role in intracellular survival in the human respiratory tract. This work demonstrates that the SBPs of an ABC transporter system function in the uptake of basic amino acids to support growth of M. catarrhalis. The critical role of SBP2 in arginine uptake may contribute to its potential as a vaccine antigen.

The emerging physiological roles of the glycerophosphodiesterase family

The glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterases are evolutionarily conserved proteins that have been linked to several patho/physiological functions, comprising bacterial pathogenicity and mammalian cell proliferation or differentiation. The bacterial enzymes do not show preferential substrate selectivities among the glycerophosphodiesters, and they are mainly dedicated to glycerophosphodiester hydrolysis, producing glycerophosphate and alcohols as the building blocks that are required for bacterial biosynthetic pathways. In some cases, this enzymatic activity has been demonstrated to contribute to bacterial pathogenicity, such as with Hemophilus influenzae. Mammalian glyerophosphodiesterases have high substrate specificities, even if the number of potential physiological substrates is continuously increasing. Some of these mammalian enzymes have been directly linked to cell differentiation, such as GDE2, which triggers motor neuron differentiation, and GDE3, the enzymatic activity of which is necessary and sufficient to induce osteoblast differentiation. Instead, GDE5 has been shown to inhibit skeletal muscle development independent of its enzymatic activity.

Panel 6: Vaccines

OBJECTIVE

To update progress on the effectiveness of vaccine for prevention of acute otitis media (AOM) and identification of promising candidate antigens against Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.

REVIEW METHODS

Literature searches were performed in OvidSP and PubMed restricted to articles published between June 2007 and September 2011. Search terms included otitis media, vaccines, vaccine antigens, and each of the otitis pathogens and candidate antigens identified in the ninth conference report.

CONCLUSIONS

The current report provides further evidence for the effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in the prevention of otitis media. Observational studies demonstrate a greater decline in AOM episodes than reported in clinical efficacy trials. Unmet challenges include extending protection to additional serotypes and additional pathogens, the need to prevent early episodes, the development of correlates of protection for protein antigens, and the need to define where an otitis media vaccine strategy fits with priorities for child health.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Acute otitis media continues to be a burden on children and families, especially those who suffer from frequent recurrences. The 7-valent PCV (PCV7) has reduced the burden of disease as well as shifted the pneumococcal serotypes and the distribution of otopathogens currently reported in children with AOM. Antibiotic resistance remains an ongoing challenge. Multiple candidate antigens have demonstrated the necessary requirements of conservation, surface exposure, immunogenicity, and protection in animal models. Further research on the role of each antigen in pathogenesis, in the development of correlates of protection in animal models, and in new adjuvants to elicit responses in the youngest infants is likely to be productive and permit more antigens to move into human clinical trials.

Microbial modulation of host immunity with the small molecule phosphorylcholine

All microorganisms dependent on persistence in a host for survival rely on either hiding from or modulating host responses to infection. The small molecule phosphorylcholine, or choline phosphate (ChoP), is used for both of these purposes by a wide array of bacterial and parasitic microbes. While the mechanisms underlying ChoP acquisition and expression are diverse, a unifying theme is the use of ChoP to reduce the immune response to infection, creating an advantage for ChoP-expressing microorganisms. In this minireview, we discuss several benefits of ChoP expression during infection as well as how the immune system fights back against ChoP-expressing pathogens.

Antibody against Haemophilus influenzae protein D in patients with chronic conditions causing secondary immunodeficiency

Prevalence of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) in the etiology of invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals is increasing. Serum IgG antibody levels to H. influenzae protein D (PD) were significantly lower in adults suffering from chronic conditions causing secondary immunodeficiency (COPD, cancer, chronic renal failure, and diabetes) compared to age-matched healthy controls. A lack of naturally acquired antibody against this highly conserved antigen may contribute to an increased susceptibility to invasive NTHi disease. As COPD patients frequently infected with NTHi during disease exacerbations were unable to develop antibody response to PD, such defect could potentially contribute to the pathogenesis. Considering that pediatric PD-containing vaccines show protective effect against NTHi-caused otitis media, our data suggest the possibility of improving the defense against NTHi in COPD patients using immunization against PD. Although more research on the role of anti-PD antibody in protection against invasive NTHi disease is warranted, development of adult formulations of PD-based vaccines may be advantageous for prevention of severe infections in immunocompromised individuals.

Immunogenicity, safety, and reactogenicity of the 10-valent pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine and DTPa-IPV-Hib when coadministered as a 3-dose primary vaccination schedule in The Netherlands: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Recent reviews have highlighted the unpredictability of immunologic interference when multivalent conjugated vaccines are coadministered with other pediatric vaccines.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate immunogenicity, safety, and reactogenicity of the 10-valent pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV; Synflorix, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) and DTPa-IPV-Hib (Pediacel, Sanofi Pasteur MSD) when coadministered as a 3-dose primary vaccination course.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In a single-blind, single-center, randomized controlled trial in the Netherlands, healthy infants (n = 780) were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive either (1) PHiD-CV + DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib (Infanrix Hexa, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals), (2) PHiD-CV + DTPa-IPV-Hib, or (3) 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevenar/Prevnar, Pfizer Inc.) + DTPa-IPV-Hib at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. Blood samples were collected 1 month after dose 3. Diary cards were used to record safety and reactogenicity.

RESULTS

Antibody concentrations elicited by PHiD-CV coadministered with DTPa-IPV-Hib were noninferior to those following DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib coadministration for 9 of 10 vaccines pneumococcal serotypes and protein D. For serotype 18C (conjugated to tetanus toxoid), the antibody concentration was higher with DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib coadministration (1.73 vs. 1.07 μg/mL). The percentages of infants with antibody concentrations ≥0.2 μg/mL (68.9%-100% in the PHiD-CV + DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib group vs. 64.9%-100% in the PHiD-CV + DTPa-IPV-Hib group) and with measurable opsonophagocytic activity (56.1%-100% in the PHiD-CV + DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib group vs. 61.1%-100% in the PHiD-CV + DTPa-IPV-Hib group) were comparable for all serotypes in both PHiD-CV groups. Group differences in antibody responses to the DTPa-IPV-Hib antigens remained within the predefined limit for noninferiority. Safety and reactogenicity profiles were comparable across groups.

CONCLUSIONS

: PHiD-CV and DTPa-IPV-Hib were immunogenic and well tolerated when coadministered as a 3-dose primary vaccination course.

Abrogation of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D function reduces phosphorylcholine decoration, adherence to airway epithelial cells, and fitness in a chinchilla model of otitis media

The pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine which includes a nonacylated protein D carrier from Haemophilus influenzae has been recently licensed for use in many countries. While this vaccine is protective against nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI)-induced acute otitis media (OM), the mechanism underlying this protective efficacy is not yet fully understood. Protein D/glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (PD/GlpQ) is an outer membrane lipoprotein expressed by NTHI that has been ascribed several functions, including host cell adherence and phosphorylcholine (PCho) acquisition. We found that a pd/glpQ NTHI mutant exhibited reduced adherence to airway epithelial cells, diminished phosphorylcholine (PCho) decoration of biofilms, and compromised fitness during experimental acute OM compared to the parent strain. We also found that exposure of NTHI to antibodies directed against the vaccine formulation recapitulated the PCho decoration and NTHI adherence phenotypes exhibited by PD/GlpQ-deficient NTHI, providing at least two likely mechanisms by which the pneumococcal polysaccharide-PD/GlpQ conjugate vaccine induces protection from NTHI-induced OM.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide protein D-conjugate vaccine (Synflorix; PHiD-CV)

The pneumococcal polysaccharide protein D-conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV; Synflorix) contains ten capsular polysaccharide serotypes from the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, eight of which are conjugated to a nonlipidated cell-surface liporotein (protein D) of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and two of which are conjugated to either tetanus or diphtheria toxoid. In a three-dose primary vaccination schedule in infants aged <6 months, PHiD-CV elicited high immune responses against all pneumococcal serotypes contained in the vaccine and was noninferior to an approved 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vCRM) for eight of the ten serotypes (five of the seven common to both vaccines). Moreover, functional antibodies were elicited against all vaccine serotypes in an opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) assay. A fourth booster dose of PHiD-CV during the second year of life elicited an anamnestic response against all ten pneumococcal serotypes, as determined by both antibody concentrations and OPA titers. There were no clinically relevant changes in the immunogenicity of PHiD-CV when coadministered with meningococcal serogroup C conjugate or pentavalent whole cell pertussis combination vaccines, and polio vaccines using two different primary vaccination schedules. 11Pn-PD, an 11-valent prototype of PHiD-CV, demonstrated protection against episodes of acute otitis media (AOM) caused by S. pneumoniae and NTHi in infants aged <27 months. The first occurrence of an episode of AOM caused by pneumococcal vaccine serotypes was reduced by 52.6% in 11Pn-PD vaccinees compared with recipients of a control vaccine (primary endpoint). The tolerability profile of PHiD-CV was generally similar to that of 7vCRM.

Chinchilla as a robust, reproducible and polymicrobial model of otitis media and its prevention

There is compelling evidence that many infectious diseases of humans are caused by more than one microorganism. Multiple diverse in vitro systems have been used to study these complex diseases, and although the data generated have contributed greatly to our understanding of diseases of mixed microbial etiology, having rigorous, reproducible and relevant animal models of human diseases are essential for the development of novel methods to treat or prevent them. All animal models have inherent limitations; however, they also have important advantages over in vitro methods, including the presence of organized organ systems and an intact immune system, which promote our ability to characterize the pathogenesis of, and the immune response to, sequential or coinfecting microorganisms. For the highly prevalent pediatric disease otitis media, or middle-ear infection, the chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) has served as a gold-standard rodent host system in which to study this multifactorial and polymicrobial disease.

Current and Future Prospects for a Vaccine for Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae is an important human respiratory tract pathogen that causes about 30% of otitis media in infants and children. This proportion is increasing as a result of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Because of the morbidity associated with otitis media, a strong rationale exists to develop strategies to prevent these infections. A challenge to developing a vaccine for nontypeable H. influenzae is the antigenic heterogeneity of several major surface antigens and the genetic heterogeneity among strains. Several research groups have identified conserved surface proteins and tested them as putative vaccines. A recent clinical trial with protein D, a conserved surface antigen, demonstrated partial efficacy in preventing H. influenzae otitis media. This important result provides a proof of principle for developing a vaccine to prevent otitis media caused by nontypeable H. influenzae. Several vaccine antigens for nontypeable H. influenzae are in development.