1
|
Kiattiburut W, Zhi R, Lee SG, Foo AC, Hickling DR, Keillor JW, Goto NK, Li W, Conlan W, Angel JB, Wang G, Tanphaichitr N. Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and its truncated forms, GI-20 and GF-17, exert spermicidal effects and microbicidal activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Hum Reprod 2018; 33:2175-2183. [PMID: 30357408 PMCID: PMC6238367 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do the truncated LL-37 peptides, GI-20 and GF-17, have spermicidal activity and microbicidal effects on the sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae with equivalent potency to LL-37? SUMMARY ANSWER GI-20 and GF-17 exhibited spermicidal effects on both mouse and human sperm as well as microbicidal action on N. gonorrhoeae with the same efficacy as LL-37. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 exerts microbicidal activity against various STI pathogens as well as spermicidal effects on both mouse and human sperm. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Spermicidal activities of GI-20 and GF-17 were evaluated in vitro in mouse and human sperm and in vivo in mice. Finally, in vitro antimicrobial effects of LL-37, GI-20 and GF-17 on an STI pathogen, N. gonorrhoeae were determined. All experiments were repeated three times or more. In particular, sperm samples from different males were used on each experimental day. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The plasma membrane integrity of peptide-treated sperm was assessed by cellular exclusion of Sytox Green, a membrane impermeable fluorescent DNA dye. Successful mouse in vitro fertilization was revealed by the presence of two pronuclei in oocytes following co-incubation with capacitated untreated/peptide-pretreated sperm. Sperm plus each peptide were transcervically injected into female mice and the success of in vivo fertilization was scored by the formation of 2-4 cell embryos 42 h afterward. Reproductive tract tissues of peptide pre-exposed females were then assessed histologically for any damage. Minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations of LL-37, GI-20 and GF-17 on N. gonorrhoeae were determined by a standard method. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Like LL-37, treatment of sperm with GI-20 and GF-17 resulted in dose-dependent increases in sperm plasma membrane permeabilization, reaching the maximum at 18 and 3.6 μM for human and mouse sperm, respectively (P < 0.0001, as compared with untreated sperm). Mouse sperm treated with 3.6 μM GI-20 or GF-17 did not fertilize oocytes either in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, reproductive tract tissues of female mice pre-exposed to 3.6 μM GI-20 or GF-17 remained intact with no lesions, erosions or ulcerations. At 1.8-7.2 μM, LL-37, GI-20 and GF-17 exerted bactericidal effects on N. gonorrhoeae. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Direct demonstration of the inhibitory effects of GI-20 and GF-17 on human in vitro and in vivo fertilization cannot be performed due to ethical issues. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Like LL-37, GI-20 and GF-17 acted as spermicides and microbicides against N. gonorrhoeae, without adverse effects on female reproductive tissues. With lower synthesis costs, GI-20 and GF-17 are attractive peptides for further development into vaginal spermicides/microbicides. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP119438 and CCI82413 to N.T.) and NIH (R01 AI105147 to G.W.). There are no competing interests to declare.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruina Zhi
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Seung Gee Lee
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander C Foo
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Duane R Hickling
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey W Keillor
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Natalie K Goto
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Weihua Li
- Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, and School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, Republic of China
| | - Wayne Conlan
- Human Health Therapeutics Department, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan B Angel
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division in Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Nongnuj Tanphaichitr
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alimonti JB, Ribecco-Lutkiewicz M, Sodja C, Jezierski A, Stanimirovic DB, Liu Q, Haqqani AS, Conlan W, Bani-Yaghoub M. Zika virus crosses an in vitro human blood brain barrier model. Fluids Barriers CNS 2018; 15:15. [PMID: 29759080 PMCID: PMC5952854 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-018-0100-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that is highly neurotropic causing congenital abnormalities and neurological damage to the central nervous systems (CNS). In this study, we used a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived blood brain barrier (BBB) model to demonstrate that ZIKV can infect brain endothelial cells (i-BECs) without compromising the BBB barrier integrity or permeability. Although no disruption to the BBB was observed post-infection, ZIKV particles were released on the abluminal side of the BBB model and infected underlying iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (i-NPs). AXL, a putative ZIKV cellular entry receptor, was also highly expressed in ZIKV-susceptible i-BEC and i-NPs. This iPSC-derived BBB model can help elucidate the mechanism by which ZIKV can infect BECs, cross the BBB and gain access to the CNS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judie B. Alimonti
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Maria Ribecco-Lutkiewicz
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, Bldg M54-1200 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6 Canada
| | - Caroline Sodja
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, Bldg M54-1200 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6 Canada
| | - Anna Jezierski
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, Bldg M54-1200 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6 Canada
| | - Danica B. Stanimirovic
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, Bldg M54-1200 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6 Canada
| | - Qing Liu
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, Bldg M54-1200 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6 Canada
| | - Arsalan S. Haqqani
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Wayne Conlan
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Mahmud Bani-Yaghoub
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, National Research Council of Canada, Bldg M54-1200 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
De Pascalis R, Brook HM, Frey B, Conlan W, Sjostedt A, Elkins KL. Utilizing previously identified in vitro correlates of protection to predict the efficacy of a novel vaccine candidate against the intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis. The Journal of Immunology 2017. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.198.supp.147.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Francisella tularensis (Ft) is an intracellular bacterium that causes tularemia, a disease with a low incidence in US. The only available vaccine, the Live Vaccine Strain (LVS), is investigational and is derived from Type B Ft, not the more virulent Type A Ft. Previous work produced potential correlates to predict successful vaccination. These were determined by in vitro stimulation of murine Ft LVS-immune cells and analyses of their gene expression. We used this approach to investigate correlates of protection for the novel ΔclpB vaccine, derived from Type A Ft SchuS4. Mice were vaccinated with ΔclpB as well as LVS-derived vaccines and subsequently challenged with a lethal dose of LVS, after which all mice vaccinated with ΔclpB and LVS survived. The in vivo survival data was compared with in vitro data obtained from PBLs and splenocytes from vaccinated mice. In general, the in vitro functions of leukocytes from ΔclpB-vaccinated mice were comparable or exceeded those of leukocytes from LVS-vaccinated mice, including control of LVS intramacrophage replication, IFN-gamma secretion, and NO production. Correlates up-regulated in cells from mice vaccinated with ΔclpB included IFN-gamma, IL-21, Nos2, LTA, T-bet, IL-12rbeta2, CCL5 and GzmB; in some cases up-regulation was higher than that from LVS-derived PBLs. Other genes were up-regulated in ΔclpB-derived but not LVS-derived leukocytes, suggesting that improved protection stimulated by the ΔclpB vaccine may be related to the change in strain and/or to stronger immune responses. Hence, this panel of correlates could contribute to the screening of new vaccine candidates, bridging from animal models to humans, and augmenting clinical trials.
Collapse
|
4
|
Golovliov I, Lindgren H, Eneslätt K, Conlan W, Mosnier A, Henry T, Sjöstedt A. An In Vitro Co-culture Mouse Model Demonstrates Efficient Vaccine-Mediated Control of Francisella tularensis SCHU S4 and Identifies Nitric Oxide as a Predictor of Efficacy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:152. [PMID: 27933275 PMCID: PMC5122580 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 09/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent intracellular bacterium and cell-mediated immunity is critical for protection, but mechanisms of protection against highly virulent variants, such as the prototypic strain F. tularensis strain SCHU S4, are poorly understood. To this end, we established a co-culture system, based on splenocytes from naïve, or immunized mice and in vitro infected bone marrow-derived macrophages that allowed assessment of mechanisms controlling infection with F. tularensis. We utilized the system to understand why the clpB gene deletion mutant, ΔclpB, of SCHU S4 shows superior efficacy as a vaccine in the mouse model as compared to the existing human vaccine, the live vaccine strain (LVS). Compared to naïve splenocytes, ΔclpB-, or LVS-immune splenocytes conferred very significant control of a SCHU S4 infection and the ΔclpB-immune splenocytes were superior to the LVS-immune splenocytes. Cultures with the ΔclpB-immune splenocytes also contained higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-17, and GM-CSF and nitric oxide, and T cells expressing combinations of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17, than did cultures with LVS-immune splenocytes. There was strong inverse correlation between bacterial replication and levels of nitrite, an end product of nitric oxide, and essentially no control was observed when BMDM from iNOS-/- mice were infected. Collectively, the co-culture model identified a critical role of nitric oxide for protection against a highly virulent strain of F. tularensis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor Golovliov
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, and Umeå University Umeå, Sweden
| | - Helena Lindgren
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, and Umeå University Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kjell Eneslätt
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, and Umeå University Umeå, Sweden
| | - Wayne Conlan
- National Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Amandine Mosnier
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, U1111 Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Henry
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, U1111 Lyon, France
| | - Anders Sjöstedt
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, and Umeå University Umeå, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rigard M, Bröms JE, Mosnier A, Hologne M, Martin A, Lindgren L, Punginelli C, Lays C, Walker O, Charbit A, Telouk P, Conlan W, Terradot L, Sjöstedt A, Henry T. Francisella tularensis IglG Belongs to a Novel Family of PAAR-Like T6SS Proteins and Harbors a Unique N-terminal Extension Required for Virulence. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005821. [PMID: 27602570 PMCID: PMC5014421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [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: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The virulence of Francisella tularensis, the etiological agent of tularemia, relies on an atypical type VI secretion system (T6SS) encoded by a genomic island termed the Francisella Pathogenicity Island (FPI). While the importance of the FPI in F. tularensis virulence is clearly established, the precise role of most of the FPI-encoded proteins remains to be deciphered. In this study, using highly virulent F. tularensis strains and the closely related species F. novicida, IglG was characterized as a protein featuring a unique α-helical N-terminal extension and a domain of unknown function (DUF4280), present in more than 250 bacterial species. Three dimensional modeling of IglG and of the DUF4280 consensus protein sequence indicates that these proteins adopt a PAAR-like fold, suggesting they could cap the T6SS in a similar way as the recently described PAAR proteins. The newly identified PAAR-like motif is characterized by four conserved cysteine residues, also present in IglG, which may bind a metal atom. We demonstrate that IglG binds metal ions and that each individual cysteine is required for T6SS-dependent secretion of IglG and of the Hcp homologue, IglC and for the F. novicida intracellular life cycle. In contrast, the Francisella-specific N-terminal α-helical extension is not required for IglG secretion, but is critical for F. novicida virulence and for the interaction of IglG with another FPI-encoded protein, IglF. Altogether, our data suggest that IglG is a PAAR-like protein acting as a bi-modal protein that may connect the tip of the Francisella T6SS with a putative T6SS effector, IglF. Francisella tularensis is a highly pathogenic bacterium causing tularemia. Its ability to cause disease is linked to its ability to replicate in the macrophage cytosol. The intracellular life cycle of Francisella is controlled by a type VI secretion system (T6SS), which is thought to inject effectors into the host cell to allow bacterial escape into the host cytosol. The molecular mechanisms behind this process are still largely unclear. In this work, we identify IglG as a protein with two important domains, one conserved in proteins from more than 250 bacterial species (DUF4280, renamed here as PAAR-like domain) and one specific for the Francisella genus. Using protein sequence analysis and three-dimensional structure predictions, comparative modeling and biochemistry approaches, our data demonstrate that IglG is a metal-binding protein that based on its PAAR-like domain might cap the VgrG spike of the T6SS and act as a membrane-puncturing protein. Furthermore, we identified that the Francisella-specific domain is directly involved in forming a protein complex with another virulence protein, IglF. This work, in addition to enhancing the molecular understanding of the Francisella T6SS, defines the features of the conserved DUF4280, a novel PAAR-like domain involved in type VI secretion (T6S) of many bacterial species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Rigard
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Jeanette E. Bröms
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, and Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Amandine Mosnier
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Maggy Hologne
- Institut des Sciences Analytiques, CNRS, UMR 5280, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Amandine Martin
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Lena Lindgren
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, and Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Claire Punginelli
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Claire Lays
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Walker
- Institut des Sciences Analytiques, CNRS, UMR 5280, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Alain Charbit
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Bâtiment Leriche, Paris, France
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Equipe 11: Pathogénie des Infections Systémiques, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Telouk
- University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Laboratoire de Geologie de Lyon; Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Wayne Conlan
- National Research Council Canada, Human Health Therapeutics Portfolio, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laurent Terradot
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, UMR 5086, CNRS-Université de Lyon, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
- * E-mail: (LT); (AS); (TH)
| | - Anders Sjöstedt
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, and Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- * E-mail: (LT); (AS); (TH)
| | - Thomas Henry
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
- * E-mail: (LT); (AS); (TH)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Golovliov I, Twine SM, Shen H, Sjostedt A, Conlan W. A ΔclpB mutant of Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica strain, FSC200, is a more effective live vaccine than F. tularensis LVS in a mouse respiratory challenge model of tularemia. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78671. [PMID: 24236032 PMCID: PMC3827231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis is a highly virulent pathogen for humans especially if inhaled. Consequently, it is considered to be a potential biothreat agent. An experimental vaccine, F. tularensis live vaccine strain, derived from the less virulent subsp. holarctica, was developed more than 50 years ago, but remains unlicensed. Previously, we developed a novel live vaccine strain, by deleting the chaperonin clpB gene from F. tularensis subsp. tularensis strain, SCHU S4. SCHU S4ΔclpB was less virulent for mice than LVS and a more effective vaccine against respiratory challenge with wild type SCHU S4. In the current study, we were interested to determine whether a similar mutant on the less virulent subsp. holarctica background would also outperform LVS in terms of safety and efficacy. To this end, clpB was deleted from clinical holarctica strain, FSC200. FSC200ΔclpB had a significantly higher intranasal LD50 than LVS for BALB/c mice, but replicated to higher numbers at foci of infection after dermal inoculation. Moreover, FSC200ΔclpB killed SCID mice more rapidly than LVS. However, dermal vaccination of BALB/c mice with the former versus the latter induced greater protection against respiratory challenge with SCHU S4. This increased efficacy was associated with enhanced production of pulmonary IL-17 after SCHU S4 challenge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor Golovliov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Susan M. Twine
- National Research Council Canada, Human Health and Therapeutics Portfolio, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hua Shen
- National Research Council Canada, Human Health and Therapeutics Portfolio, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anders Sjostedt
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Wayne Conlan
- National Research Council Canada, Human Health and Therapeutics Portfolio, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Twine S, Shen H, Harris G, Chen W, Sjostedt A, Ryden P, Conlan W. BALB/c mice, but not C57BL/6 mice immunized with a ΔclpB mutant of Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis are protected against respiratory challenge with wild-type bacteria: association of protection with post-vaccination and post-challenge immune responses. Vaccine 2012; 30:3634-45. [PMID: 22484348 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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] [Received: 01/24/2012] [Revised: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis is highly virulent for humans especially when it is inhaled. Therefore, it has the potential to be used as a biothreat agent. Vaccines against F. tularensis will need to be approved in accordance with the FDA Animal Rule. This will require identification of robust correlates of protection in experimental animals and the demonstration that similar immune responses are generated in vaccinated humans. Towards this goal, we have developed an experimental live vaccine strain by deleting the gene, clpB, encoding a heat shock protein from virulent subsp. tularensis strain, SCHU S4. SCHU S4ΔclpB administered intradermally protects BALB/c, but not C57BL/6 mice from subsequent respiratory challenge with wildtype SCHU S4. A comparison of post-vaccination and post-challenge immune responses in these two mouse strains shows an association between several antibody and cytokine responses and protection. In particular, elevated IFNγ levels in the skin 2 days after vaccination, sero-conversion to hypothetical membrane protein FTT_1778c, and to 30S ribosomal protein S1 (FTT_0183c) of F. tularensis after 30 days of vaccination, and elevated levels of pulmonary IL-17 on day 7 after respiratory challenge with SCHU S4 were all associated with protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Twine
- National Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Shen H, Harris G, Chen W, Sjostedt A, Ryden P, Conlan W. Molecular immune responses to aerosol challenge with Francisella tularensis in mice inoculated with live vaccine candidates of varying efficacy. PLoS One 2010; 5:e13349. [PMID: 20967278 PMCID: PMC2953512 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 04/21/2010] [Accepted: 09/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Francisella tularensis is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen and the etiological agent of tularemia. The subspecies F. tularensis tularensis is especially virulent for humans when inhaled and respiratory tularemia is associated with high mortality if not promptly treated. A live vaccine strain (LVS) derived from the less virulent holarctica subspecies confers incomplete protection against aerosol challenge with subsp. tularensis. Moreover, correlates of protection have not been established for LVS. Methodology/Principal Findings In the present study we compare molecular immune responses elicited by LVS and two defined deletion mutants of clinical subsp. tularensis strain, SCHU S4, that confer enhanced protection in a mouse model. BALB/c mice were immunized intradermally then challenged with an aerosol of SCHU S4 six weeks later. Changes in the levels of a selected panel of cytokines and chemokines were examined in the lungs, spleens, and sera of vaccinated and challenged mice. Mostly, increased cytokine and chemokine levels correlated with increased bacterial burden. However, after adjusting for this variable, immunization with either of the two Schu S4 mutants resulted in higher levels of several pulmonary cytokines, versus those resulting after LVS immunization, including IL-17. Moreover, treatment of mice immunized with ΔclpB with anti-IL-17 antibodies post-challenge enhanced lung infection. Conclusions/Significance This is the first report characterizing local and systemic cytokine and chemokine responses in mice immunized with vaccines with different efficacies against aerosol challenge with virulent F. tularensis subsp. tularensis. It shows that increases in the levels of most of these immunomodulators, including those known to be critical for protective immunity, do not superficially correlate with protection unless adjusted for the effects of bacterial burden. Additionally, several cytokines were selectively suppressed in the lungs of naïve mice, suggesting that one mechanism of vaccine action is to overcome this pathogen-induced immunosuppression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hua Shen
- Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gregory Harris
- Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wangxue Chen
- Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anders Sjostedt
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Patrik Ryden
- Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Department of Statistics, Computational Life Science Cluster, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Wayne Conlan
- Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Johansson A, Celli J, Conlan W, Elkins KL, Forsman M, Keim PS, Larsson P, Manoil C, Nano FE, Petersen JM, Sjöstedt A. Objections to the transfer of Francisella novicida to the subspecies rank of Francisella tularensis. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2010; 60:1717-1718. [PMID: 20688748 PMCID: PMC7442299 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.022830-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anders Johansson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jean Celli
- Tularemia Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Wayne Conlan
- National Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, Ottawa, ON K1C 2M7, Canada
| | - Karen L Elkins
- Laboratory of Mycobacterial Diseases and Cellular Immunology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Mats Forsman
- Division of CBRN Defense and Security, Swedish Defense Research Agency, SE-901 82 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Paul S Keim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640, USA
| | - Pär Larsson
- Division of CBRN Defense and Security, Swedish Defense Research Agency, SE-901 82 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Colin Manoil
- Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5065, USA
| | - Francis E Nano
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, Canada
| | - Jeannine M Petersen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Bacterial Diseases Branch, 1300 Rampart Road, CSU Foothills Campus, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Anders Sjöstedt
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lindgren H, Shen H, Zingmark C, Golovliov I, Conlan W, Sjöstedt A. Resistance of Francisella tularensis strains against reactive nitrogen and oxygen species with special reference to the role of KatG. Infect Immun 2007; 75:1303-9. [PMID: 17210667 PMCID: PMC1828546 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01717-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen capable of proliferating within host macrophages. The mechanisms that explain the differences in virulence between various strains of the species are not well characterized. In the present study, we show that both attenuated (strain LVS) and virulent (strains FSC200 and SCHU S4) strains of the pathogen replicate at similar rates in resting murine peritoneal exudate cells (PEC). However, when PEC were activated by exposure to gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), they killed LVS more rapidly than virulent strains of the pathogen. Addition of N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine, an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase, to IFN-gamma-treated PEC, completely inhibited killing of the virulent strains, whereas it only partially blocked the killing of LVS. Similarly, in a cell-free system, SCHU S4 and FSC200 were more resistant to killing by H(2)O(2) and ONOO(-) than F. tularensis LVS. Catalase encoded by katG is a bacterial factor that can detoxify bactericidal compounds such as H(2)O(2) and ONOO(-). To investigate its contribution to the virulence of F. tularensis, katG deletion-containing mutants of SCHU S4 and LVS were generated. Both mutants demonstrated enhanced susceptibility to H(2)O(2) in vitro but replicated as effectively as the parental strains in unstimulated PEC. In mice, LVS-DeltakatG was significantly attenuated compared to LVS whereas SCHU S4-DeltakatG, despite slower replication, killed mice as quickly as SCHU S4. This implies that clinical strains of the pathogen have katG-independent mechanisms to combat the antimicrobial effects exerted by H(2)O(2) and ONOO(-), the loss of which could have contributed to the attenuation of LVS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helena Lindgren
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Andersson H, Hartmanová B, KuoLee R, Rydén P, Conlan W, Chen W, Sjöstedt A. Transcriptional profiling of host responses in mouse lungs following aerosol infection with type A Francisella tularensis. J Med Microbiol 2006; 55:263-271. [PMID: 16476789 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46313-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tularaemia caused by inhalation of type A Francisella tularensis bacteria is one of the most aggressive infectious diseases known, but the reasons for the very rapid spread of the organism from the lungs to internal organs and the ensuing mortality are unknown. The present study used the mouse model to examine in detail the host immune response in the lung. After an aerosol challenge with 20 c.f.u. of the type A strain FSC033, all mice developed clinical signs of severe disease, showed weight loss by day 4 of infection and died the next day. Histopathological findings in the lung revealed acute inflammation and intense vasculitis and perivasculitis on day 4. Gene transcriptional changes in the mouse lung samples were examined on days 1, 2 and 4 of infection using a cDNA microarray with 20,600 mouse clones representing 18,500 genes. In total, 424 genes were found to be differentially expressed, some of which were both up- and downregulated at different time points, 192 of which were upregulated and 234 of which were downregulated for at least one time point. A high percentage of selected genes identified by the microarray analysis were confirmed to be differentially regulated by quantitative real-time PCR. Categorization of the differentially expressed genes showed that those preferentially involved in host immune responses were activated extensively on day 4 but hardly or not at all on days 1 and 2. Further analysis revealed that several of the genes upregulated on day 4 are known to depend on gamma interferon or tumour necrosis factor alpha for their regulation. In keeping with this finding, tumour necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon levels were found to be increased significantly in bronchoalveolar lavage on day 4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Andersson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Blanka Hartmanová
- Proteome Center for the Study of Intracellular Parasitism of Bacteria, Faculty of Military Health Science, University of Defence, Trebesská 1575, 500 01 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rhonda KuoLee
- National Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Patrik Rydén
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Wayne Conlan
- National Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Wangxue Chen
- National Research Council Canada, Institute for Biological Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Anders Sjöstedt
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Twine S, Byström M, Chen W, Forsman M, Golovliov I, Johansson A, Kelly J, Lindgren H, Svensson K, Zingmark C, Conlan W, Sjöstedt A. A mutant of Francisella tularensis strain SCHU S4 lacking the ability to express a 58-kilodalton protein is attenuated for virulence and is an effective live vaccine. Infect Immun 2006; 73:8345-52. [PMID: 16299332 PMCID: PMC1307091 DOI: 10.1128/iai.73.12.8345-8352.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis (type A) strain SCHU S4 is a prototypic strain of the pathogen that is highly virulent for humans and other mammals. Its intradermal (i.d.) 50% lethal dose (LD50) for mice is <10 CFU. We discovered a spontaneous mutant, designated FSC043, of SCHU S4 with an i.d. LD50 of >10(8) CFU. FSC043 effectively vaccinated mice against challenge with a highly virulent type A strain, and the protective efficacy was at least as good as that of F. tularensis LVS, an empirically attenuated strain which has been used as an efficacious human vaccine. Comparative proteomics was used to identify two proteins of unknown function that were identified as defective in LVS and FSC043, and deletion mutants of SCHU S4 were created for each of the two encoding genes. One mutant, the DeltaFTT0918 strain, failed to express a 58-kDa protein, had an i.d. LD50 of approximately 10(5) CFU, and was found to be less capable than SCHU S4 of growing in peritoneal mouse macrophages. Mice that recovered from sublethal infection with the DeltaFTT0918 mutant survived when challenged 2 months later with >100 LD50s of the highly virulent type A strain FSC033. This is the first report of the generation of defined mutants of F. tularensis subsp. tularensis and their use as live vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Twine
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gutierrez GP, Herbison GJ, Vega P, Nasuti J, Cook E, Conlan W. Recovery of the extensor digitorum longus muscle in the rat following L4 nerve sectioning. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1993; 74:922-7. [PMID: 8379837] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to define the time course and the extent of recovery of muscle weight and tension in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle following partial denervation in nine-week-old male rats (300 to 325 g). The L4 nerve underwent unilateral sectioning while the opposite side served as a sham-operated control. The muscle weight and tension of the control and the partially denervated group were examined at two (n = 15), eight (n = 15), 12 (n = 15), and 16 (n = 15) weeks after L4 nerve sectioning. The partially denervated muscle weights as a percentage of respective controls were 58.6%, 56.1%, 68.4%, and 61.9% at two, eight, 12, and 16 weeks after L4 nerve sectioning. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between these percentages at the respective time intervals. The tetanic tensions compared with their respective matched controls were 14.5%, 32.8%, 50.0%, and 32.4% at these respective time intervals (p < 0.05). The muscle weight (MW) and muscle weight/body weight (MW/BW) of the partially denervated side as a percentage of its contralateral control remained unchanged throughout the duration of the experiment. The twitch tension (Pt), tetanic tension (Po), Pt/Po, and the Po/MW of the partially denervated muscle relative to its matched control increased between the second and the eighth week post-partial denervation (p < 0.05). After the eighth week post-L4 nerve sectioning, there was no further increase in these parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G P Gutierrez
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Tuffrey M, Alexander F, Conlan W, Woods C, Ward M. Heterotypic protection of mice against chlamydial salpingitis and colonization of the lower genital tract with a human serovar F isolate of Chlamydia trachomatis by prior immunization with recombinant serovar L1 major outer-membrane protein. J Gen Microbiol 1992; 138 Pt 8:1707-15. [PMID: 1527511 DOI: 10.1099/00221287-138-8-1707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Intrauterine infection of mice with a human genital tract isolate of Chlamydia trachomatis (serovar F) resulted in salpingitis. In some cases, oviduct damage was sufficient to cause infertility due to lumenal blockage. Parenteral immunization with a purified, heterologous, recombinant major outer-membrane (rMOMP) preparation reduced the proportion of animals developing severe salpingitis by 77% compared with mock-immunized controls, but failed to reduce chlamydial colonization of the lower genital tract. In contrast, mice immunized with rMOMP directly into the Peyer's patches to stimulate mucosal immunity shed fewer chlamydiae from the vagina than controls, but showed little reduction in oviduct damage. No consistent correlation was observed between antibody levels to rMOMP in immunized mice and reduced lower genital tract colonization. Immunization with rMOMP via the presacral space, a route previously shown to stimulate mucosal immunity in the genital tract, produced high levels of circulating anti-rMOMP IgG but only traces of anti-rMOMP IgA in vaginal secretions. There was no difference in the severity of salpingitis in these animals compared with mock-immunized controls. Immunization with rMOMP conferred no protection against infertility resulting from direct inoculation of chlamydiae into the oviducts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Tuffrey
- Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, MRC Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, Middx., UK
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|