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Borrow R, Martinón-Torres F, Abitbol V, Andani A, Preiss S, Muzzi A, Serino L, Sohn WY. Use of expanded Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B panels with the serum bactericidal antibody assay for the evaluation of meningococcal B vaccine effectiveness. Expert Rev Vaccines 2023; 22:738-748. [PMID: 37622470 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2244596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (NmB) antigens are inherently diverse with variable expression among strains. Prediction of meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine effectiveness therefore requires an assay suitable for use against large panels of epidemiologically representative disease-causing NmB strains. Traditional serum bactericidal antibody assay using exogenous human complement (hSBA) is limited to the quantification of MenB vaccine immunogenicity on a small number of indicator strains. AREAS COVERED Additional and complementary methods for assessing strain coverage developed previously include the Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (MATS), Meningococcal Antigen Surface Expression (MEASURE) assay, and genotyping approaches, but these do not estimate vaccine effectiveness. We provide a narrative review of these methods, highlighting a more recent approach involving the hSBA assay in conjunction with expanded NmB strain panels: hSBA assay using endogenous complement in each vaccinated person's serum (enc-hSBA) against a 110-strain NmB panel and the traditional hSBA assay against 14 (4 + 10) NmB strains. EXPERT OPINION The enc-hSBA is a highly standardized, robust method that can be used in clinical trials to measure the immunological effectiveness of MenB vaccines under conditions that mimic real-world settings as closely as possible, through the use of endogenous complement and a diverse, epidemiologically representative panel of NmB strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Pediatrics Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
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Hong E, Terrade A, Muzzi A, De Paola R, Boccadifuoco G, La Gaetana R, Deghmane AE, Pizza M, Serino L, Taha MK. Evolution of strain coverage by the multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB) in France. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:5614-5622. [PMID: 34856875 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2021.2004055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The 4CMenB, a protein-based vaccine, was licensed in Europe in 2013 against invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B and is currently implemented in several countries although according to different national strategies. Isolate coverage estimation is required as vaccine-targeted antigens may vary among isolates over time. Several phenotypic and genotypic methods have been developed to predict strain coverage by scoring the expression and cross-reactivity of vaccine antigens using the Meningococcal Antigen Typing system (MATS), by the genetic correlation of alleles encoding these antigens and MATS expression data (gMATS) and by the Meningococcal Deduced Vaccine Antigen Reactivity (MenDeVAR). We applied these approaches on meningococcal B isolates in France and compared two epidemiological years, 2013-2014 and 2018-2019. A strong correlation was observed between MATS data that were generated for the year 2013-2014 and the gMATS data extracted from whole genome sequencing. gMATS and MenDeVAR were next used to compare the two years. Using gMATS, the overall coverage was 77.2% (lower limit (LL)-upper limit (UL) 66.7-87.7) and 70.7% (LL-UL 61.5-80.0) for the two years, respectively. The reduction in coverage between the two years is mainly driven by the reduction of alleles exactly matching the vaccine antigens. A high number of unpredictable isolates was observed using the MenDeVAR and was due to lack of MATS information for new or rare alleles in particular for the year 2018-2019. Our data underline the need of continuous surveillance of strain coverage and the importance of generating phenotypic MATS data to update the genetic approaches of prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Hong
- Institute Pasteur, Invasive Bacterial Infections Unit, Paris, France
| | - Aude Terrade
- Institute Pasteur, Invasive Bacterial Infections Unit, Paris, France
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3
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Lucidarme J, Bai X, Lekshmi A, Clark SA, Willerton L, Ribeiro S, Campbell H, Serino L, De Paola R, Holland A, Louth J, Ramsay ME, Ladhani SN, Borrow R. Invasive serogroup B meningococci in England following three years of 4CMenB vaccination - First real-world data. J Infect 2021; 84:136-144. [PMID: 34838814 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In 2015 the UK became the first country to implement the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine, 4CMenB, into the national infant program. 4CMenB is expected to cover meningococci expressing sufficient levels of cross-reactive proteins. This study presents clonal complex, 4CMenB antigen genotyping, and 4CMenB coverage data for all English invasive MenB isolates from 2014/15 (1 year pre-vaccine) through 2017/18 and compares data from vaccinated and unvaccinated ≤3 year olds. METHODS Vaccine coverage of all invasive MenB isolates from 2014/15 to 2017/18 (n = 784) was analysed using the Meningococcal Antigen Typing System. Genotyping utilised the Meningococcus Genome Library. RESULTS Among ≤3 year olds, proportionally fewer cases in vaccinees (1, 2 or 3 doses) were associated with well-covered strains e.g. cc41/44 (20.5% versus 36.4%; P<0.01) and antigens e.g. PorA P1.4 (7.2% versus 17.3%; P = 0.02) or fHbp variant 1 peptides (44.6% vs 69.1%; P<0.01). Conversely, proportionally more cases in vaccinees were associated with poorly-covered strains e.g. cc213 (22.9% versus 9.6%; P<0.01) and antigens e.g. variant 2 or 3 fHbp peptides (54.2% versus 30.9%; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS 4CMenB reduces disease due to strains with cross-reactive antigen variants. No increase in absolute numbers of cases due to poorly covered strains was observed in the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Lucidarme
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom.
| | - Xilian Bai
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Aiswarya Lekshmi
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A Clark
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Willerton
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Ribeiro
- Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Campbell
- Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Serino
- GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Rosita De Paola
- GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Ann Holland
- Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Louth
- Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Mary E Ramsay
- Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom
| | - Shamez N Ladhani
- Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom; Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom; Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Public Health England, Floor 2 Clinical Sciences Building 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
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Whelan J, Abbing-Karahagopian V, Serino L, Unemo M. Gonorrhoea: a systematic review of prevalence reporting globally. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1152. [PMID: 34763670 PMCID: PMC8582208 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06381-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends periodic gonorrhoea prevalence assessments in the general population or proxies thereof (including pregnant women, women attending family planning clinics, military recruits, and men undergoing employment physicals for example) and in population groups at increased risk, including men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and sex workers. METHOD We evaluated reported prevalence data, including estimates from proxy general population samples to reflect the WHO recommendations. We describe the outcomes from the general population country-by-country and extend previous reviews to include MSM, sex workers, and extragenital infections. RESULT AND CONCLUSION In our systematic search, 2015 titles were reviewed (January 2010-April 2019) and 174 full-text publications were included. National, population-based prevalence data were identified in only four countries (the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Peru, New Caledonia) and local population-based estimates were reported in areas within five countries (China, South Africa, Brazil, Benin, and Malawi). The remaining studies identified only reported test positivity from non-probability, proxy general population samples. Due to the diversity of the reviewed studies, detailed comparison across studies was not possible. In MSM, data were identified from 64 studies in 25 countries. Rectal infection rates were generally higher than urogenital or pharyngeal infection rates, where extragenital testing was conducted. Data on sex workers were identified from 41 studies in 23 countries; rates in female sex workers were high. Current prevalence monitoring was shown to be highly suboptimal worldwide. Serial prevalence monitoring of critical epidemiological variables, and guidelines to optimize prevalence study conduct and reporting beyond antenatal settings are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Whelan
- Clinical and Epidemiology Research and Development, GSK, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Laura Serino
- Clinical and Epidemiology Research and Development, GSK, Siena, Italy
| | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Fazio C, Biolchi A, Neri A, Tomei S, Vacca P, Ambrosio L, Palmieri A, Mori E, La Gaetana R, Pizza M, Giuliani MM, Serino L, Stefanelli P. Cross-reactivity of 4CMenB vaccine-induced antibodies against meningococci belonging to non-B serogroups in Italy. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:2225-2231. [PMID: 33522380 PMCID: PMC8189125 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1855951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The four-component meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB) contains antigens present in the majority of meningococci causing invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and may potentially offer protection against strains belonging to non-B serogroups.This study aimed to evaluate the ability of 4CMenB-induced antibodies to kill, in a human serum bactericidal assay (hSBA), non-B meningococci belonging to the main genotypes responsible for IMD in Italy.Meningococci, collected between 2015 and 2017, was characterized for PorA, FetA and sequence type, and for clonal complex. Twenty non-B isolates, representative of the most frequent genotypes, were molecularly characterized for 4CMenB antigens and tested in hSBA with sera from 4CMenB-vaccinated infants and adolescents.Among twenty isolates, eleven were serogroup C, five were Y, two W and two X. All isolates contained genes encoding for fHbp and NHBA antigens and four harbored the NadA full-length encoding gene. Positive hSBA titers were obtained against all serogroup W, X and Y isolates and against five serogroup C isolates.These data show that the 4CMenB vaccine can induce bactericidal antibodies against genetically representative meningococcal W, Y and X strains from Italy. For serogroup C, different susceptibilities to killing were observed for strains with similar antigenic repertoires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Fazio
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Arianna Neri
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Vacca
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigina Ambrosio
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Annapina Palmieri
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Serino L, Maurici M, D’Alò GL, Amadori F, Terracciano E, Zaratti L, Franco E. Healthcare Workers Training Courses on Vaccinations: A Flexible Format Easily Adaptable to Different Healthcare Settings. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030514. [PMID: 32911808 PMCID: PMC7563464 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Since 2017, Italy has expanded the compulsory vaccination from 4 to 10 for those aged 0 to 16 years. Because of the great organizational effort required for the immunization services, minor attention was given to the vaccinations not included among the mandatory ones. This situation led to a real difficulty in harmonizing the vaccination procedures even inside a single region. In the Lazio region, the Laboratory of Vaccinology of the University of Rome Tor Vergata established a working group to create a new training model for healthcare professionals. The course program proposed an update of three vaccinations which are not mandatory but actively offered. It included the same part of scientific updating and a variable part based on local experiences. A specific anonymous questionnaire on knowledge and attitude was administered. The study aimed to propose a general format of training courses for vaccination centers adaptable to the individual local health units (ASLs) and to evaluate through questionnaires. The results show differences in knowledge and attitudes toward non-mandatory vaccinations among the ASLs of Lazio, confirming the usefulness of a support to make knowledge and procedures homogeneous. This model could be adapted to any healthcare setting and exported to other services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Serino
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.M.); (G.L.D.); (L.Z.)
- Department of Prevention, Local Health Unit Roma 1, 00173 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Maurici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.M.); (G.L.D.); (L.Z.)
| | - Gian Loreto D’Alò
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.M.); (G.L.D.); (L.Z.)
- Department of Prevention, Local Health Unit Roma 1, 00173 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiana Amadori
- Specialization School for Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (F.A.); (E.T.)
| | - Elisa Terracciano
- Specialization School for Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (F.A.); (E.T.)
| | - Laura Zaratti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.M.); (G.L.D.); (L.Z.)
| | - Elisabetta Franco
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.M.); (G.L.D.); (L.Z.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Rodgers E, Bentley SD, Borrow R, Bratcher HB, Brisse S, Brueggemann AB, Caugant DA, Findlow J, Fox L, Glennie L, Harrison LH, Harrison OB, Heyderman RS, van Rensburg MJ, Jolley KA, Kwambana-Adams B, Ladhani S, LaForce M, Levin M, Lucidarme J, MacAlasdair N, Maclennan J, Maiden MCJ, Maynard-Smith L, Muzzi A, Oster P, Rodrigues CMC, Ronveaux O, Serino L, Smith V, van der Ende A, Vázquez J, Wang X, Yezli S, Stuart JM. The global meningitis genome partnership. J Infect 2020; 81:510-520. [PMID: 32615197 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Genomic surveillance of bacterial meningitis pathogens is essential for effective disease control globally, enabling identification of emerging and expanding strains and consequent public health interventions. While there has been a rise in the use of whole genome sequencing, this has been driven predominately by a subset of countries with adequate capacity and resources. Global capacity to participate in surveillance needs to be expanded, particularly in low and middle-income countries with high disease burdens. In light of this, the WHO-led collaboration, Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap, has called for the establishment of a Global Meningitis Genome Partnership that links resources for: N. meningitidis (Nm), S. pneumoniae (Sp), H. influenzae (Hi) and S. agalactiae (Sa) to improve worldwide co-ordination of strain identification and tracking. Existing platforms containing relevant genomes include: PubMLST: Nm (31,622), Sp (15,132), Hi (1935), Sa (9026); The Wellcome Sanger Institute: Nm (13,711), Sp (> 24,000), Sa (6200), Hi (1738); and BMGAP: Nm (8785), Hi (2030). A steering group is being established to coordinate the initiative and encourage high-quality data curation. Next steps include: developing guidelines on open-access sharing of genomic data; defining a core set of metadata; and facilitating development of user-friendly interfaces that represent publicly available data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Rodgers
- Meningitis Research Foundation, Newminster House, 27-29 Newminster House, Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT, UK.
| | - Stephen D Bentley
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Parasites and microbes, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ray Borrow
- Public Health England, Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK
| | | | - Sylvain Brisse
- Institut Pasteur, Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens, Paris, France
| | - Angela B Brueggemann
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Dominique A Caugant
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jamie Findlow
- Pfizer Limited, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS, UK
| | - LeAnne Fox
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Disease Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States
| | - Linda Glennie
- Meningitis Research Foundation, Newminster House, 27-29 Newminster House, Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT, UK
| | - Lee H Harrison
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | | | - Robert S Heyderman
- NIHR Global Health Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Keith A Jolley
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Brenda Kwambana-Adams
- NIHR Global Health Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit, Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Shamez Ladhani
- Public Health England, Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK; Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (PIDRG), St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | | | | | - Jay Lucidarme
- Public Health England, Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK
| | - Neil MacAlasdair
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Parasites and microbes, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jenny Maclennan
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vinny Smith
- Meningitis Research Foundation, Newminster House, 27-29 Newminster House, Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT, UK
| | - Arie van der Ende
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC and, the Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Xin Wang
- Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Disease Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States
| | - Saber Yezli
- Ministry of Health, The Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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8
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Stella M, Giuliani M, Biolchi A, Tomei S, De Paola R, Bai X, Borrow R, Lucidarme J, La Gaetana R, Toneatto D, Pizza M, Serino L, Mori E, Giuliani MM. Does vaccination with 4CMenB convey protection against meningococcal serogroup B strains not predicted to be covered by MATS? A study of the UK clonal complex cc269. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 16:945-948. [PMID: 31770063 PMCID: PMC7227617 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1688039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (MATS) has been developed as an hSBA surrogate to evaluate potential coverage afforded by the 4-component meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB: Bexsero, GSK). We investigated whether the lower value of MATS coverage among invasive Meningococcus serogroup B clonal complex 269 strains from the United Kingdom (53% in 2014–2015 versus 73% in 2007–2008) reflected the lower bactericidal activity of the vaccine against these isolates. A total of 34 MATS-negative strains (31 were cc269 or closely related) were tested against pooled sera from 32 or 72 4CMenB-vaccinated infants in a serum bactericidal antibody assay in presence of human complement (hSBA). All infants had received four 4CMenB doses in the first 2 y of life. Baseline sera comprised 180 pooled samples from healthy-unvaccinated 2-month-old infants. Twenty of the 34 (59%) MATS-negative strains were killed in hSBA with titers ≥4 by pooled sera from vaccinated infants. There were 13/34 strains with hSBA titers ≥4 and at least a 4-fold rise in titer with respect to pooled baseline sera, and 10/34 with hSBA titers ≥8 and at least a 4-fold rise in titer with respect to baseline. These data confirm MATS as a conservative estimate for predicting strain coverage by 4CMenB.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xilian Bai
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester, UK
| | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester, UK
| | - Jay Lucidarme
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester, UK
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D'Alò GL, Amadori F, Terracciano E, Aiello GL, Serino L, Zaratti L, Franco E. [Adverse reactions after repeated doses of anti-tetanus vaccine: scientific evidences]. Ig Sanita Pubbl 2019; 75:317-325. [PMID: 31887737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The possible risk of hyperimmunization after tetanus vaccination is currently discussed after the National Vaccine Prevention Plan 2017-2019 confirmed the recommendation of a booster dose every ten years. Due to the ubiquitous nature of tetanus spores and the inability to obtain herd-immunity through vaccination, efforts to reduce the incidence of tetanus aim at eliminating the disease. The only way to prevent infection is vaccination followed by recommended periodic booster doses. Between 2012 and 2016, Italy notified 45% (252/564) of all cases reported by the 26 EU Member States, most of them in the over 65 age group, generally women in the rural areas. The recommendation of the antipertussis vaccine, combined with anti-tetanus, in pregnancy and the indications for antitetanic prophylaxis by vaccination or specific immunoglobulins in emergency setting, gives rise to doubts about the risk of hyperimmunization. Studies generally agree on the safety of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis combined vaccines during the third trimester of pregnancy, and the time elapsed since the previous tetanus vaccination seems not to be related to significant differences in the incidence of adverse events or obstetrical complications. In the emergency wards, given the relatively high incidence of tetanus in Italy, the risk/benefit ratio often leads to prefer vaccination to no-intervention. The administration of tetanus immunoglobulins in subjects not vaccinated in the last 10 years seems justified by the epidemiology of tetanus in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Loreto D'Alò
- Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Fabiana Amadori
- Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Elisa Terracciano
- Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Giuseppe Luigi Aiello
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Laura Serino
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Laura Zaratti
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Elisabetta Franco
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
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10
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Muzzi A, Brozzi A, Serino L, Bodini M, Abad R, Caugant D, Comanducci M, Lemos AP, Gorla MC, Křížová P, Mikula C, Mulhall R, Nissen M, Nohynek H, Simões MJ, Skoczyńska A, Stefanelli P, Taha MK, Toropainen M, Tzanakaki G, Vadivelu-Pechai K, Watson P, Vazquez JA, Rajam G, Rappuoli R, Borrow R, Medini D. Genetic Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (gMATS): A genotyping tool that predicts 4CMenB strain coverage worldwide. Vaccine 2019; 37:991-1000. [PMID: 30661831 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.12.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (MATS) was developed to identify meningococcus group B strains with a high likelihood of being covered by the 4CMenB vaccine, but is limited by the requirement for viable isolates from culture-confirmed cases. We examined if antigen genotyping could complement MATS in predicting strain coverage by the 4CMenB vaccine. METHODS From a panel of 3912 MATS-typed invasive meningococcal disease isolates collected in England and Wales in 2007-2008, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, and in 16 other countries in 2000-2015, 3481 isolates were also characterized by antigen genotyping. Individual associations between antigen genotypes and MATS coverage for each 4CMenB component were used to define a genetic MATS (gMATS). gMATS estimates were compared with England and Wales human complement serum bactericidal assay (hSBA) data and vaccine effectiveness (VE) data from England. RESULTS Overall, 81% of the strain panel had genetically predictable MATS coverage, with 92% accuracy and highly concordant results across national panels (Lin's accuracy coefficient, 0.98; root-mean-square deviation, 6%). England and Wales strain coverage estimates were 72-73% by genotyping (66-73% by MATS), underestimating hSBA values after four vaccine doses (88%) and VE after two doses (83%). The gMATS predicted strain coverage in other countries was 58-88%. CONCLUSIONS gMATS can replace MATS in predicting 4CMenB strain coverage in four out of five cases, without requiring a cultivable isolate, and is open to further improvement. Both methods underestimated VE in England. Strain coverage predictions in other countries matched or exceeded England and Wales estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Raquel Abad
- National Centre for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | | | | | | | - Pavla Křížová
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Claudia Mikula
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Graz, Austria.
| | - Robert Mulhall
- Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory (IMSRL), Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Michael Nissen
- Queensland Paediatric Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Children's Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Lady Cilento Children's Hospital South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Hanna Nohynek
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | | | - Paola Stefanelli
- Department of Infectious Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Maija Toropainen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Georgina Tzanakaki
- National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
| | | | | | - Julio A Vazquez
- National Centre for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | | | - Ray Borrow
- Meningococcal Reference Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
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11
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Serino L, Amadori F, Terracciano E, Maurici M, Spica F, Zaratti L, Franco E. [Anti-pneumococcus, anti-herpes-zoster and anti-papillomavirus vaccinations: experience in programming continuing education courses in local health units in Rome]. Ig Sanita Pubbl 2019; 75:80-89. [PMID: 31185493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The National Vaccine Prevention Plan considers the recommendations for immune prophylaxis in all ages of life. However, compulsory vaccination introduced in 2017 focused the attention on improving global vaccination coverage in infants and children, giving less attention to adult/elderly vaccinations. The immunization of this population is necessary considering the change in the age structure of the population, whose average life expectancy is increasing. Aim of this work was the organization of continuing education courses about anti-Pneumococcus, anti-Herpes-Zoster and anti-Papillomavirus vaccinations to offer an update of knowledge and to discuss the attitudes of health professionals in vaccination centers of the Local Health Units in Rome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Serino
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Fabiana Amadori
- Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Elisa Terracciano
- Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Massimo Maurici
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Francesca Spica
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Laura Zaratti
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
| | - Elisabetta Franco
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Tor Vergata Università degli Studi di Roma, Italia
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12
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Ciofi Degli Atti ML, Serino L, Piga S, Tozzi AE, Raponi M. Incidence of surgical site infections in children: active surveillance in an Italian academic children's hospital. Ann Ig 2017; 29:46-53. [PMID: 28067937 DOI: 10.7416/ai.2017.2131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) account for 16-34% of all health-care associated infections. This study aimed to assess the incidence rate of SSIs in children who underwent surgical procedures in an academic children's hospital in Italy. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS We actively followed-up 0-17 year old children at 30 days of surgical procedures without implants conducted during one index week per quarter, from the second quarter of 2014, to the first quarter of 2016 (8 index weeks in total). Follow up data were collected by telephone interview, or derived by clinical records if patients were still hospitalized. SSIs were defined according to case definitions of Centers for Diseases Control, Atlanta, USA. We calculated cumulative incidence of SSIs per 100 surgical procedures, by patient characteristics, procedure characteristics, and quarter. To investigate variables associated with SSIs, we compared characteristics of procedures with SSIs with those of procedures without SSIs. RESULTS Over the study period, SSI incidence was 1.0% (19 cases/1,830 surgical procedures). SSI incidence was significantly lower after ear, nose and throat procedures compared to all other procedures, and significantly decreased over time. Duration of surgery was a risk factor for SSIs; patients with SSIs had a significantly longer total length of stay (LOS), due to a prolonged post-operative LOS. CONCLUSION As reported in adults, this study confirms that SSIs are associated with longer hospitalizations in children. Active surveillance of SSIs is an important component of the overall strategy to reduce the incidence of these infections in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Ciofi Degli Atti
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Medical Direction, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - L Serino
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Medical Direction, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - S Piga
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Medical Direction, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - A E Tozzi
- Multifactorial and Complex Diseases Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - M Raponi
- Medical Direction, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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13
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Toccaceli V, Serino L, Stazi MA. Erratum to: Informed consent, and an ethico-legal framework for paediatric observational research and biobanking: the experience of an Italian birth cohort study. Cell Tissue Bank 2016; 17:541. [PMID: 27113937 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-016-9552-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Virgilia Toccaceli
- Genetic Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Serino
- School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Stazi
- Genetic Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
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Maurici M, Paulon L, Carlino C, Campolongo A, Catapano R, Sgricia S, Franco E, Bagnato B, Benigni M, D'Anna C, Di Marzio L, Ferrante M, Fraioli A, Giordani A, Laudati F, Mangia M, Marchetti C, Meleleo C, Papa R, Perrelli F, Pozzato S, Rabbiosi S, Rossi S, Seminara L, Serino L, Sinopoli M, Sorbara D. Measuring and benchmarking the quality of two different organizational ways in delivering infant vaccination. J Prev Med Hyg 2016; 57:E75-80. [PMID: 27582632 PMCID: PMC4996043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was the quality of service evaluation of two different organizational ways in delivering infant vaccination according to a Regional Vaccination Plan. Eleven vaccination centres were selected in two Local Health Units (ASLs) belonging to the Regional Health Service of the Lazio Region, Italy. The services offering paediatric vaccinations for children under three years of age, delivered without an appointment (VACP) or with the need for an appointment (VACL), were investigated. The quality aspects under evaluation were communicational efficiency, organisational efficiency and comfort. Subjective data were collected from different stakeholders and involve the elicitation of best and worst feasible performance conditions for the ASLs when delivering VACP/VACL services. Objective data consists in the observation of current performances of the selected vaccination centres. Quality scorecards were obtained from the combination of all data. Benchmarking between VACP and VACL, i.e., two different organisational ways in delivering infant vaccination, can be performed as a result of the probabilistic meaning of the evaluated scores. An expert of vaccination services, i.e., a virtual combination of patients, doctors and nurses, claims the quality of service delivery of the ASLs under investigation with probability 78.03% and 69.67% for VACP and VACL, respectively. In other words, for short, the quality scores of the ASLs were 78.03% for VACP and 69.67% for VACL. Furthermore our results show how to practically improve the current service delivery. The QuaVaTAR approach can result in improvements of the quality of the ASLs for the two different ways of delivering paediatric vaccinations in a simple and intuitive way.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Maurici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Specialization School in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Laboratory SOS-NHS, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - L. Paulon
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Laboratory SOS-NHS, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - C. Carlino
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Specialization School in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - A. Campolongo
- Service of Medical Statistics and Information Technology, Fatebenefratelli Foundation for Health Research and Education, AFaR Division, Rome, Italy
| | - R. Catapano
- Local Health Units (ASL) RMH, Lazio region, Italy
| | - S. Sgricia
- Local Health Units (ASL) RMF, Lazio region, Italy
| | - E. Franco
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Specialization School in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
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15
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Valeri M, Rossi Paccani S, Kasendra M, Nesta B, Serino L, Pizza M, Soriani M. Pathogenic E. coli exploits SslE mucinase activity to translocate through the mucosal barrier and get access to host cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117486. [PMID: 25789808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
SslE is a zinc-metalloprotease involved in the degradation of mucin substrates and recently proposed as a potential vaccine candidate against pathogenic E. coli. In this paper, by exploiting a human in vitro model of mucus-secreting cells, we demonstrated that bacteria expressing SslE have a metabolic benefit which results in an increased growth rate postulating the importance of this antigen in enhancing E. coli fitness. We also observed that SslE expression facilitates E. coli penetration of the mucus favouring bacteria adhesion to host cells. Moreover, we found that SslE-mediated opening of the mucosae contributed to the activation of pro-inflammatory events. Indeed, intestinal cells infected with SslE-secreting bacteria showed an increased production of IL-8 contributing to neutrophil recruitment. The results presented in this paper conclusively designate SslE as an important colonization factor favouring E. coli access to both metabolic substrates and target cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Valeri
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Magdalena Kasendra
- Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States of America
| | - Barbara Nesta
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Serino
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Soriani
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy
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16
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Nesta B, Valeri M, Spagnuolo A, Rosini R, Mora M, Donato P, Alteri CJ, Del Vecchio M, Buccato S, Pezzicoli A, Bertoldi I, Buzzigoli L, Tuscano G, Falduto M, Rippa V, Ashhab Y, Bensi G, Fontana MR, Seib KL, Mobley HLT, Pizza M, Soriani M, Serino L. SslE elicits functional antibodies that impair in vitro mucinase activity and in vivo colonization by both intestinal and extraintestinal Escherichia coli strains. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004124. [PMID: 24809621 PMCID: PMC4014459 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SslE, the Secreted and surface-associated lipoprotein from Escherichia coli, has recently been associated to the M60-like extracellular zinc-metalloprotease sub-family which is implicated in glycan recognition and processing. SslE can be divided into two main variants and we recently proposed it as a potential vaccine candidate. By applying a number of in vitro bioassays and comparing wild type, knockout mutant and complemented strains, we have now demonstrated that SslE specifically contributes to degradation of mucin substrates, typically present in the intestine and bladder. Mutation of the zinc metallopeptidase motif of SslE dramatically impaired E. coli mucinase activity, confirming the specificity of the phenotype observed. Moreover, antibodies raised against variant I SslE, cloned from strain IHE3034 (SslEIHE3034), are able to inhibit translocation of E. coli strains expressing different variants through a mucin-based matrix, suggesting that SslE induces cross-reactive functional antibodies that affect the metallopeptidase activity. To test this hypothesis, we used well-established animal models and demonstrated that immunization with SslEIHE3034 significantly reduced gut, kidney and spleen colonization by strains producing variant II SslE and belonging to different pathotypes. Taken together, these data strongly support the importance of SslE in E. coli colonization of mucosal surfaces and reinforce the use of this antigen as a component of a broadly protective vaccine against pathogenic E. coli species. Escherichia coli are the predominant facultative anaerobe of the human colonic flora. Although intestinal and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli are phylogenetically and epidemiologically distinct, we recently proposed a number of protective antigens conserved in most E. coli pathotypes. In this study, we have elucidated the function of the most promising of these antigens, SslE, which is characterized by the presence of a M60-like domain representative of a new extracellular zinc-metalloprotease sub-family. In particular, in vitro analysis of the ability of an sslE knockout mutant strain to transverse an agar-based mucin matrix revealed that SslE is essential to E. coli mucinase activity. Evidence showing that SslE induces functional antibodies, preventing both in vitro mucin degradation but also in vivo gut, kidney and spleen colonization, further support the hypothesis that SslE may facilitate E. coli colonization by favoring the penetration of the sterile inner mucus layer leading to interaction with host cells. Finally, the ability of SslE to also induce protective immunity against sepsis, linked to its presence among different pathotypes, supports the use of such an antigen as a broadly protective E. coli vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Valeri
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Srl, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paolo Donato
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Srl, Siena, Italy
| | - Christopher J. Alteri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yaqoub Ashhab
- Biotechnology Research Center, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine
| | | | | | - Kate L. Seib
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Harry L. T. Mobley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | | | - Marco Soriani
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Srl, Siena, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Laura Serino
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Srl, Siena, Italy
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17
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Toccaceli V, Serino L, Stazi MA. Informed consent, and an ethico-legal framework for paediatric observational research and biobanking: the experience of an Italian birth cohort study. Cell Tissue Bank 2014; 15:579-90. [PMID: 24595523 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-014-9431-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Birth cohort studies are important tools for life-course epidemiology, given the spectrum of the environmental, behavioural, and genetic factors that should be considered when making judgements on human health. Biobanks are valuable components of studies designed to investigate the genetic variability of diseases and improve phenotypic characterisation. In studies involving vulnerable populations and biobanks, it is essential to provide ethical reasoning and analyse the legal requirements. We describe the processes and the tools used in the iterative design of an appropriate informed consent model and the ethico-legal framework of the Piccolipiù study. The Piccolipiù study is a prospective population-based study funded by the Italian Ministry of Health that intends to enrol 3,000 newborns and their mothers in five Italian cities, and to store biological samples for future use. To realise these objectives, we performed a thorough evaluation of the literature, of national and international guidelines, and of the impact of the Italian legal requirements for research biobanking. Discussions among stakeholders facilitated the design of the informed consent and the ethico-legal framework. Several topics are addressed, including the suitability of a broad informed consent for paediatric biobanks, infant vulnerability, access to and sharing of data, and the disclosure of individual's genetic results. Discussion of the ethical and legal procedures adopted in epidemiological biobanking might be a fruitful ground for comparison both at the national level, where standardization and homogeneity are lacking, and at the international level, where different regulatory issues are often in the background and might hamper research biobanks networking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virgilia Toccaceli
- Genetic Epidemiology Unit, National Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy,
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Farchi S, Forastiere F, Vecchi Brumatti L, Alviti S, Arnofi A, Bernardini T, Bin M, Brescianini S, Colelli V, Cotichini R, Culasso M, De Bartolo P, Felice L, Fiano V, Fioritto A, Frizzi A, Gagliardi L, Giorgi G, Grasso C, La Rosa F, Loganes C, Lorusso P, Martini V, Merletti F, Medda E, Montelatici V, Mugelli I, Narduzzi S, Nisticò L, Penna L, Piscianz E, Piscicelli C, Poggesi G, Porta D, Ranieli A, Rapisardi G, Rasulo A, Richiardi L, Rusconi F, Serino L, Stazi MA, Toccaceli V, Todros T, Tognin V, Trevisan M, Valencic E, Volpi P, Ziroli V, Ronfani L, Di Lallo D. Piccolipiù, a multicenter birth cohort in Italy: protocol of the study. BMC Pediatr 2014; 14:36. [PMID: 24506846 PMCID: PMC3926689 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The fetal and infant life are periods of rapid development, characterized by high susceptibility to exposures. Birth cohorts provide unique opportunities to study early-life exposures in association with child development and health, as well as, with longer follow-up, the early life origin of adult diseases. Piccolipiù is an Italian birth cohort recently set up to investigate the effects of environmental exposures, parental conditions and social factors acting during pre-natal and early post-natal life on infant and child health and development. We describe here its main characteristics. Methods/design Piccolipiù is a prospective cohort of expected 3000 newborns, who will be recruiting in six maternity units of five Italian cities (Florence, Rome, Trieste, Turin and Viareggio) since October 2011. Mothers are contacted during pregnancy or at delivery and are offered to participate in the study. Upon acceptance, their newborns are recruited at birth and followed up until at least 18 years of age. At recruitment, the mothers donate a blood sample and complete a baseline questionnaire. Umbilical cord blood, pieces of umbilical cord and heel blood spots are also collected. Postnatal follow-up currently occurs at 6, 12, and 24 months of age using on-line or postal self administered questionnaire; further questionnaires and medical examinations are envisaged. Questionnaires collect information on several factors, including mother’s and/or child’s environmental exposures, anthropometric measures, reproductive factors, diet, supplements, medical history, cognitive development, mental health and socioeconomic factors. Health promotion materials are also offered to parents. Discussion Piccolipiù will broaden our understanding of the contribution of early-life factors to infant and child health and development. Several hypotheses on the developmental origins of health can be tested or piloted using the data collected from the Piccolipiù cohort. By pooling these data with those collected by other existing birth cohorts it will be possible to validate previous findings and to study rare exposures and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Luca Ronfani
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via dell'Istria 65/1, Trieste 34137, Italy.
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Leuzzi R, Nesta B, Monaci E, Cartocci E, Serino L, Soriani M, Rappuoli R, Pizza M. Neisseria gonorrhoeae PIII has a role on NG1873 outer membrane localization and is involved in bacterial adhesion to human cervical and urethral epithelial cells. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:251. [PMID: 24206788 PMCID: PMC4226279 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Protein PIII is one of the major outer membrane proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 95% identical to RmpM (reduction modifiable protein M) or class 4 protein of Neisseria meningitidis. RmpM is known to be a membrane protein associated by non-covalent bonds to the peptidoglycan layer and interacting with PorA/PorB porin complexes resulting in the stabilization of the bacterial membrane. The C-terminal domain of PIII (and RmpM) is highly homologous to members of the OmpA family, known to have a role in adhesion/invasion in many bacterial species. The contribution of PIII in the membrane architecture and its role in the interaction with epithelial cells has never been investigated. Results We generated a ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain and evaluated the effects of the loss of PIII expression on bacterial morphology and on outer membrane composition. Deletion of the pIII gene does not cause any alteration in bacterial morphology or sensitivity to detergents. Moreover, the expression profile of the main membrane proteins remains the same for the wild-type and knock-out strains, with the exception of the NG1873 which is not exported to the outer membrane and accumulates in the inner membrane in the ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain. We also show that purified PIII protein is able to bind human cervical and urethral cells and that the ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain has a lower ability to adhere to human cervical and urethral cells. Conclusion Here we demonstrated that the PIII protein does not play a key structural role in the membrane organization of gonococcus and does not induce major effects on the expression of the main outer membrane proteins. However, in the PIII knock-out strain, the NG1873 protein is not localized in the outer membrane as it is in the wild-type strain suggesting a possible interaction of PIII with NG1873. The evidence that PIII binds to human epithelial cells derived from the female and male genital tract highlights a possible role of PIII in the virulence of gonococcus and suggests that the structural homology to OmpA is conserved also at functional level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, S,r,L, Via Fiorentina 1, Siena 53100, Italy.
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Urosev D, Ferrer-Navarro M, Pastorello I, Cartocci E, Costenaro L, Zhulenkovs D, Maréchal JD, Leonchiks A, Reverter D, Serino L, Soriani M, Daura X. Crystal structure of c5321: a protective antigen present in uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains displaying an SLR fold. BMC Struct Biol 2013; 13:19. [PMID: 24099525 PMCID: PMC3851747 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6807-13-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance among uropathogens led, among other efforts, to the application of subtractive reverse vaccinology for the identification of antigens present in extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains but absent or variable in non-pathogenic strains, in a quest for a broadly protective Escherichia coli vaccine. The protein coded by locus c5321 from CFT073 E. coli was identified as one of nine potential vaccine candidates against ExPEC and was able to confer protection with an efficacy of 33% in a mouse model of sepsis. c5321 (known also as EsiB) lacks functional annotation and structurally belongs to the Sel1-like repeat (SLR) family. Herein, as part of the general characterization of this potential antigen, we have focused on its structural properties. Results We report the 1.74 Å-resolution crystal structure of c5321 from CFT073 E. coli determined by Se-Met SAD phasing. The structure is composed of 11 SLR units in a topological organisation that highly resembles that found in HcpC from Helicobacter pylori, with the main difference residing in how the super-helical fold is stabilised. The stabilising effect of disulfide bridges in HcpC is replaced in c5321 by a strengthening of the inter-repeat hydrophobic core. A metal-ion binding site, uncharacteristic of SLR proteins, is detected between SLR units 3 and 4 in the region of the inter-repeat hydrophobic core. Crystal contacts are observed between the C-terminal tail of one molecule and the C-terminal amphipathic groove of a neighbouring one, resembling interactions between ligand and proteins containing tetratricopeptide-like repeats. Conclusions The structure of antigen c5321 presents a mode of stabilization of the SLR fold different from that observed in close homologs of known structure. The location of the metal-ion binding site and the observed crystal contacts suggest a potential role in regulation of conformational flexibility and interaction with yet unidentified target proteins, respectively. These findings open new perspectives in both antigen design and for the identification of a functional role for this protective antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dunja Urosev
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
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Franco E, Bagnato B, Marino MG, Meleleo C, Serino L, Zaratti L. Hepatitis B: Epidemiology and prevention in developing countries. World J Hepatol 2012; 4:74-80. [PMID: 22489259 PMCID: PMC3321493 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v4.i3.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Revised: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/17/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global public health problem. The infection may be transmitted through sexual intercourse, parenteral contact or from an infected mother to the baby at birth and, if contracted early in life, may lead to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. On the basis of the HBV carrier rate, the world can be divided in 3 regions of high, medium and low endemicity. The major concern is about high endemicity countries, where the most common route of infection remains vertical transmission from mother to child. Screening of all pregnant women and passive immunization with human hepatitis B immunoglobulin are not affordable for many developing countries. The infection rate can be reduced by modifying behavior, improving individual education, testing all blood donations, assuring asepsis in clinical practice and screening all pregnant women. However, availability of a safe and efficacious vaccine and adoption of appropriate immunization strategies are the most effective means to prevent HBV infection and its consequences. The unsolved problem for poorest countries, where the number of people currently infected is high, is the cost of the vaccine. A future challenge is to overcome the social and economic hurdles of maintaining and improving a prevention policy worldwide to reduce the global burden of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Franco
- Elisabetta Franco, Laura Zaratti, Department of Public Health, University Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Franco E, Meleleo C, Serino L, Sorbara D, Zaratti L. Hepatitis A: Epidemiology and prevention in developing countries. World J Hepatol 2012; 4:68-73. [PMID: 22489258 PMCID: PMC3321492 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v4.i3.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Revised: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/17/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis A is the most common form of acute viral hepatitis in the world. Major geographical differences in endemicity of hepatitis A are closely related to hygienic and sanitary conditions and other indicators of the level of socioeconomic development. The anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence rate is presently decreasing in many parts of the world, but in less developed regions and in several developing countries, HAV infection is still very common in the first years of life and seroprevalence rates approach 100%. In areas of intermediate endemicity, the delay in the exposure to the virus has generated a huge number of susceptible adolescents and adults and significantly increased the average age at infection. As the severity of disease increases with age, this has led to outbreaks of hepatitis A. Several factors contribute to the decline of the infection rate, including rising socioeconomic levels, increased access to clean water and the availability of a hepatitis A vaccine that was developed in the 1990s. For populations with a high proportion of susceptible adults, implementing vaccination programs may be considered. In this report, we review available epidemiological data and implementation of vaccination strategies, particularly focusing on developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Franco
- Elisabetta Franco, Laura Zaratti, Department of Public Health, University Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Stazi MA, Nisticò L, Serino L. [Macro factors in risk and macro differences in epigenetics]. Epidemiol Prev 2012; 36:130-131. [PMID: 22706366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
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Stazi MA, Nisticò L, Serino L. [Beyond genetics]. Epidemiol Prev 2012; 36:62-64. [PMID: 22418806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
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25
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Serino L, Meleleo C, Maurici M, Bagnato B, Sorbara D, Zaratti L, Franco E. Knowledge and worry as basis for different behaviors among university students: the case of pandemic flu H1N1v. J Prev Med Hyg 2011; 52:144-147. [PMID: 22010546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Attitudes towards the pandemic were different across countries and cultures and confounding news caused some to question whether unnecessary alarm and public panic resulted. The aim of this study was to detect behavior, perception and worry about pandemic flu among undergraduate students considered a group at major risk to contract and spread the infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS In November 2009, during the pandemic peak in Italy, we conducted a survey about pandemic flu by means of anonymous multiple choice self-administered questionnaires among students, attending different courses at the Tor Vergata University in Rome. To investigate the relationship between the level of concern about H1N1v and the attitude to prevention the sample was divided in three groups based on the level of the declared worry. RESULTS Among the 436 students that answer the questionnaires a statistical correlation was found between the level of worry and the disposition to change habits and the will to undergo vaccination. Males were less worried than females and more students living outside Rome would accept the vaccine. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The results of the study, generally in agreement with those of similar research, confirmed the need to know the relationship between fear and attitude in order to organize effective preventive campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Serino
- Specialization School for Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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26
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Brescianini S, Volzone A, Fagnani C, Patriarca V, Grimaldi V, Lanni R, Serino L, Mastroiacovo P, Stazi MA. Genetic and environmental factors shape infant sleep patterns: a study of 18-month-old twins. Pediatrics 2011; 127:e1296-302. [PMID: 21482604 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2010-0858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Between 25% and 30% of children and adolescents experience sleep disorders. These disorders are complex phenotypes that are regulated by many genes, the environment, and gene-environment interactions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to sleep behaviors in early childhood and to contribute to the knowledge on appropriate therapeutic approaches, using a twin design. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data on sleeping behavior were collected from 314 18-month-old twin pairs (127 monozygotic and 187 dizygotic)using a parent-rated questionnaire. We used structural equation modeling to estimate genetic and environmental variance components for different sleep behaviors (cosleeping, sleep duration, and night awakenings). RESULTS Shared environment explained almost all (98.3%) of the total variance in cosleeping. Sleep duration was substantially influenced by shared environmental factors (64.1% nocturnal sleep and 61.2% diurnal sleep), with a moderate contribution of additive genetic effects (30.8% and 36.3% for nocturnal and diurnal sleep, respectively). For nocturnal waking episodes, we found a shared environmental contribution of 63.2% and a heritability estimate of 35.3%. CONCLUSIONS Most sleep disturbances during early childhood are explained by common shared environmental factors, and behavioral interventions adopted by parents and focused on modifying sleep behavior could contribute to solving sleep disturbances in this age group. However, the influence of genetic factors should not be underestimated, and research in this area could clarify the physiologic architecture of sleeping and contribute to selecting appropriate personalized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Brescianini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, V.le Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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27
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Spadea A, Morciano L, Serino L, Franco E. [Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella in a Roma people camp in Rome, Italy]. Ig Sanita Pubbl 2011; 67:233-240. [PMID: 21654867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The immunization strategy aimed to the elimination of Measles and the prevention of Congenital Rubella failed to reach the planned objectives in Europe; in Italy the renewed National Elimination Plan (PNEMoRc 2010-2015) has been recently approved. The evaluation of a preventive intervention to avoid the spread of measles in a Roma people camp confirm the importance of specific vaccination in high risk populations, like nomads, in which low coverage rates are responsible for the maintenance of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Spadea
- Unità Operativa Semplice Medicina Preventiva Età Evolutiva IV Distretto, ASL RMA
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Zaratti L, Meleleo C, Serino L, Bagnato B, Marino MG, Morciano L, Sorbara D, Franco E. [Epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis A and B in developing countries]. Ig Sanita Pubbl 2011; 67:119-128. [PMID: 21468158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Viral hepatitis A and B are serious public health problems all over the world. Effective prophylactic measures and improvement in the hygienic and sanitary conditions have considerably modified the diseases trend, characterized by high prevalence levels in developing countries. In this paper the epidemiology of hepatitis A and B is reviewed, focused on endemic areas, on the basis of data collected from local and international studies in order to evaluate prevention strategies for both local population and travelers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zaratti
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica Università di Roma Tor Vergata
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Maurici M, Meleleo C, Campolongo A, D'Anna C, Mangia ML, Sgricia S, Serino L, Paulon L, Franco E, Ferrante M. [Application of the QuavaTAR model to vaccination services in Latium, Italy]. Ig Sanita Pubbl 2010; 66:793-801. [PMID: 21358776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Definition, categorization, and measuring of Quality have become increasingly important concerns in the era of managed care and cost containment. Most attempts to develop quality indicators have been based on outcome measures. The Donabedian model of Structure-Process-Outcome has been universally accepted and used as the basis for much of the work addressing quality and outcomes. Adequate indicators for vaccination services are scant therefore are applied to this setting a new quality measurement process based on a probabilistic approach called MQS (Misure di Qualità in Sanità-Quality Measures in Healthcare), developed by our working group since 2005 in several hospital settings. This new application, called "Quality in Vaccination Theory and Research"(QuaVaTAR), was used to measure the efficiency of the vaccination centers of three Local Health Units (ASL RM B, RM F, RM H) in Lazio Region (Italy). The measure method combines the evidences obtained from the supplied services (objective measurements) and the judgments of the services' stakeholders collected by an "ad hoc" questionnaire (subjective measurements). The subjective evaluations were expressed with a number (between 0-100) representing a personal judgment on the organizational and the communicational efficiency and the comfort of the "ideal" vaccination center. The objective measurements were collected in performance grids on the same points investigated with the questionnaire. Combining objective and subjective measures we obtained "Quality Scores", useful to make improvements in the vaccination centers and to compare different services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Maurici
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Biologia Cellulare- Università, Tor Vergata, Roma.
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Meleleo C, Sorbara D, Serino L, Di Rita R, Laudati F, Papa R, Renzi S, Senatore S, Cianti D, Zaratti L, Franco E. [Survey among female university students on HPV infection epidemiology and prevention]. Ig Sanita Pubbl 2010; 66:563-568. [PMID: 21132046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. The vaccine has the maximum benefit when given before starting sexual activity and its efficacy is proved also in sexually active women in which the incidence of the infection is higher. In 2010 a questionnaire on HPV was administered to 299 female students of University of Rome Tor Vergata. The results compared with those obtained in a similar 2007-08 survey, and with international data, showed that knowledge about HPV is still low, with a negative impact on the acceptance of specific preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Meleleo
- Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università Tor Vergata
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Moriel DG, Scarselli M, Serino L, Mora M, Rappuoli R, Masignani V. Genome-based vaccine development: a short cut for the future. Hum Vaccin 2010; 4:184-8. [PMID: 20686357 DOI: 10.4161/hv.4.3.6313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial infectious diseases remain a major cause of deaths and disabilities in the world. Although conventional vaccinology approaches were successful in conferring protection against several diseases, they failed in providing efficient vaccines against many others. Together to the sequencing of the first genome, a new chapter in the vaccinology history started to be written. Reverse vaccinology changed the way to think about vaccine development, using the information provided by the microorganisms' genome against themselves. Since then, reverse vaccinology has evolved and helped researchers to overcome the limits of the conventional vaccinology approaches and led to the discovery and development of novel vaccines concerning emerging diseases, like Neisseria meningitidis B and Streptococcus agalactiae. A lot of work must be done, but deciphering the information provided by genome sequences and using it to better understand the host-pathogen interactions has proved to be the key for protection.
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Abstract
Previous studies showed that small for gestational age (SGA) newborns have an increased prevalence of hypospadias and other congenital defects of external genitalia. We observed that in the first days of life, SGA male pre-term newborns have reduced testosterone levels compared with adequate for gestational age pre-term newborns, independently from the presence of abnormalities of the external genitalia.
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Affiliation(s)
- R T Scaramuzzo
- Division of Neonatology, S. Chiara Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Giacomozzi C, Ghirri P, Lapolla R, Bartoli A, Scirè G, Serino L, Germani D, Boldrini A, Cianfarani S. Retinol-binding protein 4 in neonates born small for gestational age. J Endocrinol Invest 2010; 33:218-21. [PMID: 20503483 DOI: 10.1007/bf03345782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is an adipocyte-derived 'signal' that may contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. The relationship of RBP4 with insulin resistance and metabolic risk in human beings has been the subject of several studies. Subjects born small for gestational age (SGA) are at risk of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. Though RBP4 could represent an early marker of insulin resistance, to date, none have determined RBP4 in SGA children. AIM Our aim was to measure RBP4 concentrations in cord blood of SGA newborns compared with those in children born with a birth weight appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and to determine whether serum RBP4 levels at birth correlate with insulin sensitivity markers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Sixty-four newborns, 17 born SGA (mean gestational age: 36.4+/-2.1 weeks), and 47 born AGA (mean gestational age: 37.0+/-3.6 weeks) were studied. The main outcome measures included anthropometry, lipid profile, insulin, homeostasis model assessment, quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index, adiponectin, and RBP4. RESULTS RBP4 concentrations were significantly reduced in SGA newborns (p<0.002). No relationship was found between RBP4 and insulin sensitivity parameters. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that birth weight was the major predictor of RBP4 serum concentrations (p<0.001). CONCLUSION RBP4 is reduced in SGA newborns, birth weight representing the major determinant of RBP4 concentrations, and is not related to insulin sensitivity. No significant difference in adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity markers was found between SGA and AGA neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Giacomozzi
- Molecular Endocrinology Unit, D.P.U.O. Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rina Balducci Center of Pediatric Endocrinology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
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Meleleo C, Zaratti L, Serino L, Franco E. [Vaccinations in the multicultural Italian scenario]. Ig Sanita Pubbl 2010; 66:257-263. [PMID: 20552006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Foreign citizens living in Italy with residence permit represent about 7,2% of the population even if the international migration started recently in the Country. Sanitary problems of children and families whose lifestyle and disease awareness strongly differ from the typical approach of the industrialized world are important also in the acceptance of the immuneprophylaxis. This aspect has to be taken in account when considering the integration of vaccination schedules. Public Health Services will be able to respond adequately to the health demand only identifying the need of foreign children and offering them the appropriate intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Meleleo
- Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva e Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma
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Serino L, Moriel DG, Rappuoli R, Pizza M. Towards a vaccine against Escherichia coli-associated urinary tract infections. Future Microbiol 2010; 5:351-4. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb.10.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of: Alteri CJ, Hagan EC, Sivick KE, Smith SN, Mobley HLT: Mucosal immunization with iron receptor antigens protects against urinary tract infections. PLoS Pathog. 5(9), E1000586 (2009). Urinary tract infection is one of the most common infections in humans. The eradication of uropathogenic Escherichia coli-mediated urinary tract infections has still not been achieved and no effective licensed vaccines are currently available. To overcome the limitations of previous approaches in developing an efficacious vaccine, Alteri et al., through a functional genomic approach, identified six novel vaccine candidates shown to be protective against urinary tract infection in a mouse model. The six proteins all belong to the class of outer membrane iron receptors, are upregulated in iron-restricted conditions and were demonstrated to induce, upon mucosal vaccination, antigen-specific antibodies and cytokine responses, which correlated with protection in a mouse model of urinary tract infection. Therefore, for the first time, antigens that were previously recognized as necessary for bacterial pathogenesis, being involved in iron acquisition in an iron-limited environment such as the urinary tract, are now proposed as potential candidates for the development of a vaccine against uropathogenic strain-associated urinary tract infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Serino
- Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Research Centre, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Danilo Gomes Moriel
- Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Research Centre, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Rino Rappuoli
- Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Research Centre, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Research Centre, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Moriel DG, Scarselli M, Serino L, Mora M, Rappuoli R, Masignani V. Genome-based vaccine development: a short cut for the future. Adv Exp Med Biol 2009; 655:81-9. [PMID: 20047037 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1132-2_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial infectious diseases remain a major cause of deaths and disabilities in the world. Although conventional vaccinology approaches were successful in conferring protection against several diseases, they failed in providing efficient vaccines against many others. Together to the sequencing of the first genome, a new chapter in the vaccinology history started to be written. Reverse vaccinology changed the way to think about vaccine development, using the information provided by the microorganisms' genome against themselves. Since then, reverse vaccinology has evolved and helped researchers to overcome the limits of the conventional vaccinology approaches and led to the discovery and development of novel vaccines concerning emerging diseases, like Neisseria meningitidis B and Streptococcus agalactiae. A lot of work must be done, but deciphering the information provided by genome sequences and using it to better understand the host-pathogen interactions has proved to be the key for protection.
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Berlanda Scorza F, Doro F, Rodríguez-Ortega MJ, Stella M, Liberatori S, Taddei AR, Serino L, Gomes Moriel D, Nesta B, Fontana MR, Spagnuolo A, Pizza M, Norais N, Grandi G. Proteomics characterization of outer membrane vesicles from the extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli DeltatolR IHE3034 mutant. Mol Cell Proteomics 2007; 7:473-85. [PMID: 17982123 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m700295-mcp200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli are the cause of a diverse spectrum of invasive infections in humans and animals, leading to urinary tract infections, meningitis, or septicemia. In this study, we focused our attention on the identification of the outer membrane proteins of the pathogen in consideration of their important biological role and of their use as potential targets for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. To this aim, we generated a DeltatolR mutant of the pathogenic IHE3034 strain that spontaneously released a large quantity of outer membrane vesicles in the culture supernatant. The vesicles were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. The analysis led to the identification of 100 proteins, most of which are localized to the outer membrane and periplasmic compartments. Interestingly based on the genome sequences available in the current public database, seven of the identified proteins appear to be specific for pathogenic E. coli and enteric bacteria and therefore are potential targets for vaccine and drug development. Finally we demonstrated that the cytolethal distending toxin, a toxin exclusively produced by pathogenic bacteria, is released in association with the vesicles, supporting the recently proposed role of bacterial vesicles in toxin delivery to host cells. Overall, our data demonstrated that outer membrane vesicles represent an ideal tool to study Gram-negative periplasm and outer membrane compartments and to shed light on new mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis.
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Serino L, Nesta B, Leuzzi R, Fontana MR, Monaci E, Mocca BT, Cartocci E, Masignani V, Jerse AE, Rappuoli R, Pizza M. Identification of a new OmpA-like protein in Neisseria gonorrhoeae involved in the binding to human epithelial cells and in vivo colonization. Mol Microbiol 2007; 64:1391-403. [PMID: 17542928 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05745.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Outer membrane protein As (OmpAs) are highly conserved proteins within the Enterobacteriaceae family. OmpA contributes to the maintenance of structural membrane integrity and invasion into mammalian cells. In Escherichia coli K1 OmpA also contributes to serum resistance and is involved in the virulence of the bacterium. Here we describe the identification of an OmpA-like protein in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng-OmpA). We show that the gonococcal OmpA-like protein, similarly to E. coli OmpA, plays a significant role in the adhesion and invasion into human cervical carcinoma and endometrial cells and is required for entry into macrophages and intracellular survival. Furthermore, the isogenic knockout ompA mutant demonstrates reduced recovery in a mouse model of infection when compared with the wild-type strain, suggesting that Ng-OmpA plays an important role in the in vivo colonization. All together, these data suggest that the newly identified surface exposed protein Ng-OmpA represents a novel virulence factor of gonococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Serino
- Research Centre, Novartis Vaccines, Via Fiorentina, 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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Leuzzi R, Serino L, Scarselli M, Savino S, Fontana MR, Monaci E, Taddei A, Fischer G, Rappuoli R, Pizza M. Ng-MIP, a surface-exposed lipoprotein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) activity and is involved in persistence in macrophages. Mol Microbiol 2006; 58:669-81. [PMID: 16238618 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04859.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Macrophage infectivity potentiators (MIPs) are a family of surface-exposed virulence factors of intracellular microorganisms such as Legionella, Chlamydia and Trypanosoma. These proteins display peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) activity that is inhibited by immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin. Here we describe the identification and characterization in Neisseria gonorrhoeae of Ng-MIP, a surface-exposed lipoprotein with high homology to MIPs. The protein is an homodimer with rapamycin-inhibited PPIase activity confirming that it is a functional member of the MIP family. A knock-out strain, generated by deletion of the mip gene in N. gonorrhoeae F62 strain, was evaluated for its role in infection of mouse and human macrophages. We show that Ng-MIP promotes the intracellular survival of N. gonorrhoeae in macrophages, highlighting a possible role of this protein in promoting the persistence of gonococcal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Leuzzi
- IRIS, Chiron S.r.l., Via Fiorentina, 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Abstract
Phosphorylcholine (ChoP) is a common surface feature of many mucosal organisms, including Neisseria spp., in which it is present exclusively on pili of pathogenic Neisseria and on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of commensal Neisseria (Cn). Its presence in Cn has been confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance. It appears that choline is the main source for the production of ChoP by Cn. We have sequenced a locus, containing four genes (licA-D) with 47-73% identity to the lic1 locus of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) and 21-40% identity to lic genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae, involved in the production and incorporation of ChoP. The arrangement of the Cn genes and the presence of CAAT repeats, responsible for phase variation of ChoP expression, resemble Hi and differ from S. pneumoniae. Cn DNA flanking the lic locus contains genes ilvE and NMA2149 with >85% identity to the pathogenic Neisseria genes. However, there are no lic genes in the corresponding location or elsewhere in pathogenic Neisseria. This suggests either the loss of the locus from pathogenic Neisseria or a horizontal transfer of genes to Cn, perhaps from H. influenzae spp. As in Hi, ChoP enhances adherence to and invasion of human epithelial cells via the receptor for platelet-activating factor. However, ChoP expression also increases susceptibility to serum killing mediated by complement and C-reactive protein. Taken together, these observations support the hypothesis that the ability of many organisms to switch off ChoP expression rapidly represents an important adaptation to different environments encountered during the colonization/infection process and that the ChoP moiety apparently synthesized by distinct means in pathogenic and commensal Neisseria represents an advantage in the colonization properties of these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Serino
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
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Abstract
The biosynthetic genes pchDCBA and pchEF, which are known to be required for the formation of the siderophore pyochelin and its precursors salicylate and dihydroaeruginoate (Dha), are clustered with the pchR regulatory gene on the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The 4.6-kb region located downstream of the pchEF genes was found to contain three additional, contiguous genes, pchG, pchH, and pchI, probably forming a pchEFGHI operon. The deduced amino acid sequences of PchH and PchI are similar to those of ATP binding cassette transport proteins with an export function. PchG is a homolog of the Yersinia pestis and Y. enterocolitica proteins YbtU and Irp3, which are involved in the biosynthesis of yersiniabactin. A null mutation in pchG abolished pyochelin formation, whereas mutations in pchH and pchI did not affect the amounts of salicylate, Dha, and pyochelin produced. The pyochelin biosynthetic genes were expressed from a vector promoter, uncoupling them from Fur-mediated repression by iron and PchR-dependent induction by pyochelin. In a P. aeruginosa mutant lacking the entire pyochelin biosynthetic gene cluster, the expressed pchDCBA and pchEFG genes were sufficient for salicylate, Dha, and pyochelin production. Pyochelin formation was also obtained in the heterologous host Escherichia coli expressing pchDCBA and pchEFG together with the E. coli entD gene, which provides a phosphopantetheinyl transferase necessary for PchE and PchF activation. The PchG protein was purified and used in combination with PchD and phosphopantetheinylated PchE and PchF in vitro to produce pyochelin from salicylate, L-cysteine, ATP, NADPH, and S-adenosylmethionine. Based on this assay, a reductase function was attributed to PchG. In summary, this study completes the identification of the biosynthetic genes required for pyochelin formation from chorismate in P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Reimmann
- Laboratoire de Biologie Microbienne, Université de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Virji M, Evans D, Griffith J, Hill D, Serino L, Hadfield A, Watt SM. Carcinoembryonic antigens are targeted by diverse strains of typable and non-typable Haemophilus influenzae. Mol Microbiol 2000; 36:784-95. [PMID: 10844667 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2000.01885.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), a commensal of the human respiratory mucosa, is an important cause of localized and systemic infections. We show that distinct strains belonging to typable (THi) and non-typable (NTHi) H. influenzae target human carcinoembryonic antigens (the membrane associated CEA family of cell adhesion molecules, are now termed CEACAMs). All strains of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius (Hi-aeg) and more than 70% of THi and NTHi strains tested specifically recognize CEACAMI-Fc soluble constructs. Furthermore, transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with human CEACAM1 cDNA alone was sufficient for promoting Hi interactions with the transfected cells. The majority of the Hi-aeg strains tested interacted with soluble constructs containing only the N-terminal domain. In contrast, several THi and NTHi strains reacted with soluble constructs only when additional extracellular A and B domains of the receptor were present. The use of monoclonal antibodies confirmed that THi and NTHi strains also interact primarily at the N-domain. We used site-directed mutants of CEACAM1 that contained substitutions at surface exposed amino acids and a molecular model of the N-domain to identify the residues involved in interactions with Hi ligands. The studies show that a common region exposed at the CFG face of the molecule is targeted by diverse Hi strains. However, mutation at distinct sites within this area affected the interactions of distinct strains signifying the potential for tissue tropism via this receptor. Analyses of the molecular basis of interaction with human cell lines and purified CEA show that Hi strains, especially those belonging to Hi-aeg, interact with multiple CEACAMs. Because Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) strains are also known to bind at the CFG face of the receptor, we used Nm and Hi strains in co-infection experiments and demonstrate competition between these mucosal pathogens in colonization of target cells via CEACAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Virji
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, and Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
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Serino L, Virji M. Phosphorylcholine decoration of lipopolysaccharide differentiates commensal Neisseriae from pathogenic strains: identification of licA-type genes in commensal Neisseriae. Mol Microbiol 2000; 35:1550-9. [PMID: 10760154 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2000.01825.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Phosphorylcholine (ChoP) is a potential candidate for a plurispecific vaccine, because it is present on surface components of many mucosal organisms, including Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, ChoP has been detected on pili of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of the phosphorylcholine epitope on the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of several species of commensal Neisseriae (Cn), a property that differentiates commensal from the pathogenic strains of Neisseriae. In an extended survey of 78 strains, we confirmed the exclusive expression of the ChoP epitope on pili of pathogenic Neisseriae. Despite the presence of pili on Cn, which are homologous to Class II pili of N. meningitidis, they did not react with anti-ChoP antibody. This observation was further supported by the fact that 14C-labelled choline was incorporated only in the LPSs of Cn. Analysis of the LPS of N. lactamica strain NL4 revealed two distinct and interconvertible molecular species of LPS with high and low levels of reactivity with anti-ChoP antibody. In addition, on/off phase variation gave rise to frequent modulation in the levels of antibody reactivity. A concurrent modulation was also observed in the binding of C-reactive protein, CRP, a ChoP-binding reactant that is implicated in bacterial clearance. Genetic analysis showed the presence of a gene in several Cn spp. with significant sequence identity to H. influenzae licA. This gene encodes choline kinase and is also involved in phase variation of the LPS-associated ChoP in H. influenzae. In contrast, licA-like genes were not identified in the pathogenic Neisseria strains tested. They are absent from N. meningitidis strain Z2491 genome database. These data suggest that the genetic basis for ChoP incorporation in Cn LPS resembles that in H. influenzae spp. and may be distinct from that generating the ChoP epitope on pili of pathogenic Neisseriae. Further, the modulation of ChoP expression on Cn LPS, and corresponding modulation of CRP binding, has the potential to confer the property of immune avoidance and thus of persistence on mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Serino
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
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Reimmann C, Serino L, Beyeler M, Haa D. Dihydroaeruginoic acid synthetase and pyochelin synthetase, products of the pchEF genes, are induced by extracellular pyochelin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiology (Reading) 1998; 144 ( Pt 11):3135-3148. [PMID: 9846750 DOI: 10.1099/00221287-144-11-3135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The siderophore pyochelin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is derived from one molecule of salicylate and two molecules of cysteine. Two cotranscribed genes, pchEF, encoding peptide synthetases have been identified and characterized. pchE was required for the conversion of salicylate to dihydroaeruginoate (Dha), the condensation product of salicylate and one cysteine residue and pchF was essential for the synthesis of pyochelin from Dha. The deduced PchE (156 kDa) and PchF (197 kDa) proteins had adenylation, thiolation and condensation/cyclization motifs arranged as modules which are typical of those peptide synthetases forming thiazoline rings. The pchEF genes were coregulated with the pchDCBA operon, which provides enzymes for the synthesis (PchBA) and activation (PchD) of salicylate as well as a putative thioesterase (PchC). Expression of a translational pchE'-'lacZ fusion was strictly dependent on the PchR regulator and was induced by extracellular pyochelin, the end product of the pathway. Iron replete conditions led to Fur (ferric uptake regulator)-dependent repression of the pchE'-'lacZ fusion. A translational pchD'-'lacZ fusion was also positively regulated by PchR and pyochelin and repressed by Fur and iron. Thus, autoinduction by pyochelin (or ferric pyochelin) and repression by iron ensure a sensitive control of the pyochelin pathway in P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Reimmann
- Laboratoire de Biologie Microbienne, Universite Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland de
| | - Laura Serino
- Laboratoire de Biologie Microbienne, Universite Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland de
| | - Markus Beyeler
- Laboratoire de Biologie Microbienne, Universite Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland de
| | - Dieter Haa
- Laboratoire de Biologie Microbienne, Universite Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland de
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Serino L, Reimmann C, Visca P, Beyeler M, Chiesa VD, Haas D. Biosynthesis of pyochelin and dihydroaeruginoic acid requires the iron-regulated pchDCBA operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol 1997; 179:248-57. [PMID: 8982005 PMCID: PMC178686 DOI: 10.1128/jb.179.1.248-257.1997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The high-affinity siderophore salicylate is an intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway of pyochelin, another siderophore and chelator of transition metal ions, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The 2.5-kb region upstream of the salicylate biosynthetic genes pchBA was sequenced and found to contain two additional, contiguous genes, pchD and pchC, having the same orientation. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 60-kDa PchD protein was similar to those of the EntE protein (2,3-dihydroxybenzoate-AMP ligase) of Escherichia coli and other adenylate-forming enzymes, suggesting that salicylate might be adenylated at the carboxyl group by PchD. The 28-kDa PchC protein showed similarities to thioesterases of prokaryotic and eukaryotic origin and might participate in the release of the product(s) formed from activated salicylate. One potential product, dihydroaeruginoate (Dha), was identified in culture supernatants of iron-limited P. aeruginosa cells. The antifungal antibiotic Dha is thought to arise from the reaction of salicylate with cysteine, followed by cyclization of cysteine. Inactivation of the chromosomal pchD gene by insertion of the transcription and translation stop element omega Sm/Sp abolished the production of Dha and pyochelin, implying that PchD-mediated activation of salicylate may be a common first step in the synthesis of both metabolites. Furthermore, the pchD::omega Sm/Sp mutation had a strong polar effect on the expression of the pchBA genes, i.e., on salicylate synthesis, indicating that the pchDCBA genes constitute a transcriptional unit. A full-length pchDCBA transcript of ca. 4.4 kb could be detected in iron-deprived, growing cells of P. aeruginosa. Transcription of pchD started at tandemly arranged promoters, which overlapped with two Fur boxes (binding sites for the ferric uptake regulator) and the promoter of the divergently transcribed pchR gene encoding an activator of pyochelin biosynthesis. This promoter arrangement allows tight iron-mediated repression of the pchDCBA operon.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Serino
- Laboratoire de Biologie Microbienne, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland
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Serino L, Reimmann C, Baur H, Beyeler M, Visca P, Haas D. Structural genes for salicylate biosynthesis from chorismate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mol Gen Genet 1995; 249:217-28. [PMID: 7500944 DOI: 10.1007/bf00290369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Salicylate is a precursor of pyochelin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and both compounds display siderophore activity. To elucidate the salicylate biosynthetic pathway, we have cloned and sequenced a chromosomal region of P. aeruginosa PAO1 containing two adjacent genes, designated pchB and pchA, which are necessary for salicylate formation. The pchA gene encodes a protein of 52 kDa with extensive similarity to the chorismate-utilizing enzymes isochorismate synthase, anthranilate synthase (component I) and p-aminobenzoate synthase (component I), whereas the 11 kDa protein encoded by pchB does not show significant similarity with other proteins. The pchB stop codon overlaps the presumed pchA start codon. Expression of the pchA gene in P. aeruginosa appears to depend on the transcription and translation of the upstream pchB gene. The pchBA genes are the first salicylate biosynthetic genes to be reported. Salicylate formation was demonstrated in an Escherichia coli entC mutant lacking isochorismate synthase when this strain expressed both the pchBA genes, but not when it expressed pchB alone. By contrast, an entB mutant of E. coli blocked in the conversion of isochorismate to 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzoate formed salicylate when transformed with a pchB expression construct. Salicylate formation could also be demonstrated in vitro when chorismate was incubated with a crude extract of P. aeruginosa containing overproduced PchA and PchB proteins; salicylate and pyruvate were formed in equimolar amounts. Furthermore, salicylate-forming activity could be detected in extracts from a P. aeruginosa pyoverdin-negative mutant when grown under iron limitation, but not with iron excess. Our results are consistent with a pathway leading from chorismate to isochorismate and then to salicylate plus pyruvate, catalyzed consecutively by the iron-repressible PchA and PchB proteins in P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Serino
- Laboratoire de Biologie Microbienne, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland
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Abstract
We have isolated and characterized by chemical and enzymatic analyses three distinct types of pyoverdin-defective (pvd) mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The pvd-1 mutant is an L-N5-hydroxyornithine (L-N5-OH-Orn) auxotroph unable to hydroxylate L-ornithine (L-Orn) in a cell-free system and requiring L-N5-OH-Orn for pyoverdin production. The other two types of mutants appear to be blocked in further steps of the biosynthetic pathway leading to pyoverdin, namely, the acylation of L-N5-OH-Orn (pvd-2) and chromophore synthesis (pvd-3). The different pvd mutations were all found to be located in the catA1 region at 47 min of the genetic map of P. aeruginosa PAO1.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Visca
- Istituto di Microbiologia, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
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Visca P, Colotti G, Serino L, Verzili D, Orsi N, Chiancone E. Metal regulation of siderophore synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and functional effects of siderophore-metal complexes. Appl Environ Microbiol 1992; 58:2886-93. [PMID: 1444402 PMCID: PMC183023 DOI: 10.1128/aem.58.9.2886-2893.1992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa synthesizes two siderophores, pyochelin and pyoverdin, characterized by widely different structures, physicochemical properties, and affinities for Fe(III). Titration experiments showed that pyochelin, which is endowed with a relatively low affinity for Fe(III), binds other transition metals, such as Cu(II), Co(II), Mo(VI), and Ni(II), with appreciable affinity. In line with these observations, Fe(III) and Co(II) at 10 microM or Mo(VI), Ni(II), and Cu(II) at 100 microM repressed pyochelin synthesis and reduced expression of iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of 75, 68, and 14 kDa. In contrast, pyoverdin synthesis and expression of the 80-kDa receptor protein were affected only by Fe(III). All of the metals tested, except Mo(VI), significantly promoted P. aeruginosa growth in metal-poor medium; Mo(VI), Ni(II), and Co(II) were more efficient as pyochelin complexes than the free metal ions and the siderophore. The observed correlation between the affinity of pyochelin for Fe(III), Co(II), and Mo(VI) and the functional effects of these metals indicates that pyochelin may play a role in their delivery to P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Visca
- Institute of Microbiology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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Visca P, Chiarini F, Mansi A, Vetriani C, Serino L, Orsi N. Virulence determinants in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from urinary tract infections. Epidemiol Infect 1992; 108:323-36. [PMID: 1582473 PMCID: PMC2271976 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268800049797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 121 uropathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were examined for production of several virulence-related factors. These strains were distributed in five predominant O-serotypes, i.e. O 4, O 12, O 11, O 6 and O 5, which accounted respectively for 23.9, 23.1, 12.3, 8.2 and 5.7% of isolates. Pyochelin and pyoverdin siderophores were produced by most of the isolates, defective variants occurring at very low frequency (2.4% for pyochelin and 7.4% for pyoverdin). Adherence to uroepithelial cells and production of cytotoxins was demonstrated in 52.8 and 67.7% of the strains, respectively, with higher frequencies for epidemiologically related strains belonging to serotypes O 4 and O 12. Titration of total proteases, elastase and phospholipase C revealed a high degree of heterogeneity among isolates. However, examination of individual O-serotypes by exoenzyme production showed that elevated levels of total proteases and elastase were characteristics of serotypes of minor numerical importance, i.e. O 1, O 10, O 11 and O 17, whilst low levels of elastase were produced by strains belonging to the predominant serotypes, namely O 4 and O 12. Moreover, epidemiologically related strains belonging to serotypes O 4 and O 12 appeared more homogeneous than the whole serogroup, when compared with other groups on the basis of exoenzyme levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Visca
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy
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