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Sikora AE, Gomez C, Le Van A, Baarda BI, Darnell S, Martinez FG, Zielke RA, Bonventre JA, Jerse AE. A novel gonorrhea vaccine composed of MetQ lipoprotein formulated with CpG shortens experimental murine infection. Vaccine 2020; 38:8175-8184. [PMID: 33162204 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.10.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial surface lipoproteins are emerging as attractive vaccine candidates due to their biological importance and the feasibility of their large-scale production for vaccine manufacturing. The global prevalence of gonorrhea, resistance to antibiotics, and serious consequences to reproductive and neonatal health necessitate development of effective vaccines. Reverse vaccinology identified the surface-displayed L-methionine binding lipoprotein MetQ (NGO2139) and its homolog GNA1946 (NMB1946) as gonococcal and meningococcal vaccine candidates, respectively. Here, we assessed the suitability of MetQ for inclusion in a gonorrhea vaccine by examining MetQ conservation, its function inNeisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) pathogenesis, and its ability to induce protective immune responses using a female murine model of lower genital tract infection. In-depth bioinformatics, phylogenetics and mapping the most prevalent Ng polymorphic amino acids to the GNA1946 crystal structure revealed remarkable MetQ conservation: ~97% Ng isolates worldwide possess a single MetQ variant. Mice immunized with rMetQ-CpG (n = 40), a vaccine containing a tag-free version of MetQ formulated with CpG, exhibited robust, antigen-specific antibody responses in serum and at the vaginal mucosae including IgA. Consistent with the activity of CpG as a Th1-stimulating adjuvant, the serum IgG1/IgG2a ratio of 0.38 suggested a Th1 bias. Combined data from two independent challenge experiments demonstrated that rMetQ-CpG immunized mice cleared infection faster than control animals (vehicle, p < 0.0001; CpG, p = 0.002) and had lower Ng burden (vehicle, p = 0.03; CpG, p < 0.0001). We conclude rMetQ-CpG induces a protective immune response that accelerates bacterial clearance from the murine lower genital tract and represents an attractive component of a gonorrhea subunit vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra E Sikora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, United States; Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States.
| | - Carolina Gomez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
| | - Adriana Le Van
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
| | - Benjamin I Baarda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, United States
| | - Stephen Darnell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
| | - Fabian G Martinez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, United States
| | - Ryszard A Zielke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, United States
| | - Josephine A Bonventre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, United States
| | - Ann E Jerse
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States.
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Krishnan G, Horst GL, Darnell S, Powers WL. Growth and development of smooth bromegrass and tall fescue in TNT-contaminated soil. Environ Pollut 2000; 107:109-116. [PMID: 15093014 DOI: 10.1016/s0269-7491(99)00126-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/1998] [Accepted: 05/15/1999] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Plants can be used for effective and economical remediation of soil provided they are tolerant or resistant to contaminants. This study was conducted to determine effects of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) on growth and development of smooth bromegrass and tall fescue. Seeds of both species were grown in contaminated and non-contaminated soil mixed at ratios to obtain a range of concentrations and also in non-contaminated soil underlain by contaminated and non-contaminated soil mix. Germination, shoot and root dry weight, root length and area were measured. Germination and height of both species decreased with increasing TNT concentration. Shoot dry weight from tall fescue was 50% greater than smooth bromegrass at a given TNT concentration. Root length, area and dry weight of both species decreased with increasing TNT concentration. Root area and dry weight were greater for smooth bromegrass compared to tall fescue. This research indicates tall fescue and smooth bromegrass can germinate and grow in soils with concentrations less than 31 and 24 mg TNT l(-1), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Krishnan
- Horticulture Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 377 Plant Sciences, Lincoln, NE 68583-0724, USA
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