Gonococcal MtrE and its surface-expressed Loop 2 are immunogenic and elicit bactericidal antibodies - 15/08/18
Highlights |
• | In silico analysis identified MtrE as a conserved surface-expressed vaccine antigen. |
• | MtrE is essential for host survival and will not show sequence or phase variation. |
• | MtrE and its Loop 2 are immunogenic and elicit bactericidal antibodies. |
Summary |
Objectives |
The rise in multidrug resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae poses a threat to healthcare, while the development of an effective vaccine has remained elusive due to antigenic and phase variability of surface-expressed proteins. In the current study, we identified a fully conserved surface expressed protein and characterized its suitability as a vaccine antigen.
Methods |
An in silico approach was used to predict surface-expressed proteins and analyze sequence conservation and phase variability. The most conserved protein and its surface-exposed Loop 2, which was displayed as both a structural and linear epitope on the oligomerization domain of C4b binding protein, were used to immunize mice. Immunogenicity was subsequently analyzed by determination of antibody titers and serum bactericidal activity.
Results |
MtrE was identified as one of the most conserved surface-expressed proteins. Furthermore, MtrE and both Loop 2-containing fusion proteins elicited high protein-specific antibody titers and particularly the two Loop 2 fusion proteins showed high anti-Loop 2 titers. In addition, antibodies raised against all three proteins were able to recognize MtrE expressed on the surface of N. gonorrhoeae and showed high MtrE-dependent bactericidal activity.
Conclusions |
Our results show that MtrE and Loop 2 are promising novel conserved surface-expressed antigens for vaccine development against N. gonorrhoeae.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Vaccine, MtrE, MtrCDE, Epitope display, Loop 2, IMX315, C4bp, SBA
Plan
Vol 77 - N° 3
P. 191-204 - septembre 2018 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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