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Dehghani A, Mamizadeh M, Karimi A, Hosseini SA, Siamian D, Shams M, Ghiabi S, Basati G, Abaszadeh A. Multi-epitope vaccine design against leishmaniasis using IFN-γ inducing epitopes from immunodominant gp46 and gp63 proteins. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2024; 22:100355. [PMID: 38494264 PMCID: PMC10860880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100355] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
There is no currently approved human vaccine against leishmaniasis. Utilization of immunogenic antigens and their epitopes capable of enhancing immune responses against leishmaniasis is a crucial step for rational in silico vaccine design. The objective of this study was to generate and evaluate a potential vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis, designed by immunodominant proteins from gp46 and gp63 of Leishmania major, which can stimulate helper T-lymphocytes (HTL) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL). For this aim, the IFN-γ-inducing MHC-I and MHC-II binders were predicted for each examined protein (gp46 and gp63) and connected with appropriate linkers, along with an adjuvant (Mycobacterium tuberculosis L7/L12) and a histidine tag. The vaccine's stability, antigenicity, structure, and interaction with the TLR-4 receptor were evaluated in silico. The resulting chimeric vaccine was composed of 344 amino acids and had a molecular weight of 35.64 kDa. Physico-chemical properties indicated that it was thermotolerant, soluble, highly antigenic, and non-allergenic. Predictions of the secondary and tertiary structures were made, and further analyses confirmed that the vaccine construct could interact with the human TLR-4 receptor. Virtual immune simulation demonstrated strong stimulation of T-cell responses, particularly by an increase in IFN-γ, following vaccination. In summary, the in silico data indicated that the vaccine candidate showed high antigenicity in humans. It was also found to trigger significant levels of clearance mechanisms and other components of the cellular immune profile. Nevertheless, further wet experiments are required to properly assess the efficacy of this multi-epitope vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Dehghani
- Department of Nursery, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Mina Mamizadeh
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Atena Karimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
| | - Seyyed Amir Hosseini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Siamian
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Shadan Ghiabi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholam Basati
- Department of Biochemistry, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Amir Abaszadeh
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
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Spidlova P, Sokolova E, Pavlik P. Bacteriophage SPO1 protein Gp46 suppresses functions of HU protein in Francisella tularensis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1330109. [PMID: 38156016 PMCID: PMC10753183 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1330109] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleoid-associated protein HU is a common bacterial transcription factor, whose role in pathogenesis and virulence has been described in many bacteria. Our recent studies showed that the HU protein is an indispensable virulence factor in the human pathogenic bacterium Francisella tularensis, a causative agent of tularemia disease, and that this protein can be a key target in tularemia treatment or vaccine development. Here, we show that Francisella HU protein is inhibited by Gp46, a protein of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPO1. We predicted that Gp46 could occupy the F. tularensis HU protein DNA binding site, and subsequently confirmed the ability of Gp46 to abolish the DNA-binding capacity of HU protein. Next, we showed that the growth of Francisella wild-type strain expressing Gp46 in trans corresponded to that of a deletion mutant strain lacking the HU protein. Similarly, the efficiency of intracellular proliferation in mouse macrophages resembled that of the deletion mutant strain, but not that of the wild-type strain. These results, in combination with findings from a recent study on Gp46, enabled us to confirm that Gp46 could be a universal inhibitor of HU proteins among bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Spidlova
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Eliska Sokolova
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
- Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
| | - Pavla Pavlik
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Biology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence, Hradec Kralove, Czechia
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Zhang P, Zhao X, Wang Y, Du K, Wang Z, Yu J, Chang G, Matthews S, Wang H, Liu B. Bacteriophage protein Gp46 is a cross-species inhibitor of nucleoid-associated HU proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2116278119. [PMID: 35193978 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2116278119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone-like protein from Escherichia coli strain U93 (HU) protein is the most abundant nucleoid-associated protein in bacteria, which plays a fundamental role in chromosomal compaction and organization. It is essential for most bacteria as well as Apicomplexans, thus an important target for the development of antimicrobial and antimalaria drugs. We report Gp46 as a phage protein HU inhibitor. It inhibits HU of Bacillus subtilis by occupying its DNA binding site, thus preventing chromosome segregation during cell division. As key residues for the interaction are highly conserved, Gp46 interacts with HUs of a broad range of pathogens, including many pathogenic bacteria and Apicomplexan parasites like Plasmodium falciparum. Thus, this cross-species property could benefit antibiotic and antimalaria drug development that targets HU. The architectural protein histone-like protein from Escherichia coli strain U93 (HU) is the most abundant bacterial DNA binding protein and highly conserved among bacteria and Apicomplexan parasites. It not only binds to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) to maintain DNA stability but also, interacts with RNAs to regulate transcription and translation. Importantly, HU is essential to cell viability for many bacteria; hence, it is an important antibiotic target. Here, we report that Gp46 from bacteriophage SPO1 of Bacillus subtilis is an HU inhibitor whose expression prevents nucleoid segregation and causes filamentous morphology and growth defects in bacteria. We determined the solution structure of Gp46 and revealed a striking negatively charged surface. An NMR-derived structural model for the Gp46–HU complex shows that Gp46 occupies the DNA binding motif of the HU and therefore, occludes DNA binding, revealing a distinct strategy for HU inhibition. We identified the key residues responsible for the interaction that are conserved among HUs of bacteria and Apicomplexans, including clinically significant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Plasmodium falciparum, and confirm that Gp46 can also interact with these HUs. Our findings provide detailed insight into a mode of HU inhibition that provides a useful foundation for the development of antibacteria and antimalaria drugs.
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Ruigrok MJR, El Amasi KEM, Leeming DJ, Sand JMB, Frijlink HW, Hinrichs WLJ, Olinga P. Silencing Heat Shock Protein 47 (HSP47) in Fibrogenic Precision-Cut Lung Slices: A Surprising Lack of Effects on Fibrogenesis? Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:607962. [PMID: 33659262 PMCID: PMC7917123 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.607962] [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] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease that is characterized by the excessive deposition of scar tissue in the lungs. As currently available treatments are unable to restore lung function in patients, there is an urgent medical need for more effective drugs. Developing such drugs, however, is challenging because IPF has a complex pathogenesis. Emerging evidence indicates that heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), which is encoded by the gene Serpinh1, may be a suitable therapeutic target as it is required for collagen synthesis. Pharmacological inhibition or knockdown of HSP47 could therefore be a promising approach to treat fibrosis. The objective of this study was to assess the therapeutic potential of Serpinh1-targeting small interfering RNA (siRNA) in fibrogenic precision-cut lung slices prepared from murine tissue. To enhance fibrogenesis, slices were cultured for up to 144 h with transforming growth factor β1. Self-deliverable siRNA was used to knockdown mRNA and protein expression, without affecting the viability and morphology of slices. After silencing HSP47, only the secretion of fibronectin was reduced while other aspects of fibrogenesis remained unaffected (e.g., myofibroblast differentiation as well as collagen secretion and deposition). These observations are surprising as others have shown that Serpinh1-targeting siRNA suppressed collagen deposition in animals. Further studies are therefore warranted to elucidate downstream effects on fibrosis upon silencing HSP47.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchel J R Ruigrok
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Khaled E M El Amasi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Henderik W Frijlink
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Wouter L J Hinrichs
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Peter Olinga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Zhang P, Wang Z, Zhao S, Wang Y, Matthews S, Liu B. 1H, 13C and 15N NMR assignments of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPO1 protein Gp46. Biomol NMR Assign 2019; 13:245-247. [PMID: 30830594 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-019-09885-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to public health and bacteriophage therapy is an alternative for antibiotics in the era of multidrug resistance. While phage draws attention in fighting bacterial infection and is used in protein display to study macromolecular interactions, the molecular machinery of the host invasion mechanism remains largely unclear for many bacteriophages. Despite recent studies on T4 and T7 phages of Gram-negative model organism Escherichia coli revealing many interesting features of their invasive strategies, the studies on Gram-positive bacterial phages still lag far behind their counterparts. SPO1 is a lytic phage of model organism Bacillus subtilis and one of the best studied Gram-positive bacterial phages. SPO1 features a unique Host Takeover Module coding for 24 proteins which show little similarity to any previously known proteins. Gp46, located in this module, is an acidic protein that is produced by SPO1 presumably during the host takeover event. Here we describe the complete resonance assignment of Gp46 as the basis for the first structure determination of SPO1 phage protein and further mechanism study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Zhang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Zhihao Wang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Siyu Zhao
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Yawen Wang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Steve Matthews
- Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Bing Liu
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
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