Antibody-inducing properties of a prototype bivalent herpes simplex virus/enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli DNA vaccine

The antibody-inducing properties of a bacterial/viral bivalent DNA vaccine (pRECFA), expressing a peptide composed of N- and C-terminal amino acid sequences of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein D (gD) fused with an inner segment encoding the major structural subunit of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) CFA/I fimbriae (CFA/I), was evaluated in BALB/c mice following intramuscular immunization. The bivalent pRECFA vaccine elicited serum antibody responses, belonging mainly to the IgG2a subclass, against both CFA/I and HSV gD proteins. pRECFA-elicited antibody responses cross-reacted with homologous and heterologous ETEC fimbrial antigens as well as with type 1 and type 2 HSV gD proteins, which could bind and inactivate intact HSV-2 particles. On the other hand, CFA/I-specific antibodies could bind but did not neutralize the adhesive functions of the bacterial CFA/I fimbriae. In spite of the functional restriction of the antibodies targeting the bacterial antigen, the present evidence suggests that fusion of heterologous peptides to the HSV gD protein represents an alternative for the design of bivalent DNA vaccines able to elicit serum antibody responses.     

The major subunit of Escherichia coli type 1 fimbriae is not required for D-mannose-specific adhesion

Type 1 fimbriae are surface organelles on Escherichia coli, which mediate specific binding to D-mannose-containing structures. These fimbriae are heteropolymers composed of a major building element, the FimA protein, and small amounts of the FimF, FimG and FimH proteins. The FimH protein is uniquely responsible for the D-mannose receptor binding. In this work data are presented which indicate that the major subunit of type 1 fimbriae is dispensable for D-mannose-specific binding. A recombinant strain was studied which harboured an insertional deletion in the fimA gene, and was thereby unable to produce type 1 fimbriae; however, it was still able to express a D-mannose-binding phenotype. However, the deletion resulted in a 25-fold reduction of the adhesive potential, as measured by binding to D-mannose-coated Sepharose beads. Serological and specific receptor binding evidence is presented that suggests that the FimH adhesion is capable of being exposed on the bacterial surface without being an integral part of the fimbriae.     

Expression of the class 1 outer-membrane protein of Neisseria meningitidis in Escherichia coli and purification using a self-cleavable affinity tag

The class 1 protein (PorA) is a major component of the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis and functions as a cationic porin. The protein is particularly effective in generating a bactericidal immune response following infection and is therefore under investigation as a potential antigen for inclusion in new meningococcal vaccines. Studies on the vaccine potential of PorA would be facilitated by the production of pure protein, free from other components of the meningococcal outer membrane. In the current study, PorA was expressed from the heterologous host Escherichia coli as a C-terminal fusion to an inducible protein-splicing element (intein) with an N-terminal chitin-binding domain (CBD) (IMPACT-TWIN system). The CBD acted as an affinity tag and allowed binding of the fusion protein to a chitin bead column, after which self-cleavage of the intein at its C-terminus was induced, resulting in the release of mature PorA. Cleavage of the fusion protein was temperature- and time-dependent, and was optimal at pH 7.0 after 5 days of storage at 4 degrees C. Efficient cleavage was also dependent on the addition of a minimal amino acid sequence (Gly-Arg-Ala) to the N-terminus of the mature PorA protein. This represented a significant improvement on the large N-terminal sequences introduced by other expression systems previously used to prepare recombinant PorA, and the yields of PorA purified with the IMPACT-TWIN system were similar. Thus, the IMPACT-TWIN system provides a facile method for producing recombinant PorA and may also be useful for the production of other bacterial outer-membrane proteins for vaccine studies.     

Alphavirus expression vectors and their use as recombinant vaccines: a minireview

Alphavirus vectors have become widely used in basic research to study the structure and function of proteins and for protein production purposes. Development of a variety of vectors has made it possible to deliver foreign sequences as naked RNA or DNA, or as suicide virus particles produced using helper vector strategies. Preliminary reports also suggest that these vectors may be useful for in vivo applications where transient, high-level protein expression is desired, such as recombinant vaccines. The initial studies have already shown that alphavirus vaccines can induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses with good immunological memory and protective effects.     

pH6 antigen (PsaA protein) of Yersinia pestis, a novel bacterial Fc-receptor

Abstract It was found that recombinant pH6 antigen (rPsaA protein) forming virulence-associated fimbriae on the surface of Yersinia pestis at pH 6.7 in host macrophage phagolysosomes or extracellularly in abscesses such as buboes, is a novel bacterial Fc-receptor. rPsaA protein displays reactivity with human IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses but does not react with rabbit, mouse and sheep IgG.     

外源表位在Salmonella菌毛上的表达

过去的20年中,在细菌表面展示外源多肽的表达系统的研究取得了重要进展。而其中相当一部分是以细菌菌毛作为表达载体用于表达外源多肽或蛋白。本文将详述一种特殊的利用基因置换构建的沙门菌菌毛外源多肽展示系统,同时介绍一些其他的菌毛展示系统并探讨他们的优劣性。     

Extended recombinant bacterial ghost system.

Controlled expression of cloned PhiX174 gene E in Gram-negative bacteria results in lysis of the bacteria by formation of an E-specific transmembrane tunnel structure built through the cell envelope complex. Bacterial ghosts from a variety of bacteria are used as non-living candidate vaccines. In the recombinant ghost system, foreign proteins are attached on the inside of the inner membrane as fusions with specific anchor sequences. Ghosts have a sealed periplasmic space and the export of proteins into this space vastly extends the capacity of ghosts or recombinant ghosts to function as carriers of foreign antigens. In addition, S-layer proteins forming shell-like self assembly structures can be expressed in candidate vaccine strains prior to E-mediated lysis. Such recombinant S-layer proteins carrying foreign epitopes further extend the possibilities of ghosts as carriers of foreign epitopes. As ghosts have inherent adjuvant properties, they can be used as adjuvants in combination with subunit vaccines. Subunits or other ligands can also be coupled to matrixes like dextran which are used to fill the internal lumen of ghosts. Oral, aerogenic or parenteral immunization of experimental animals with recombinant ghosts induced specific humoral and cellular immune responses against bacterial and target components including protective mucosal immunity. The most relevant advantage of recombinant bacterial ghosts as immunogens is that no inactivation procedures that denature relevant immunogenic determinants are employed in this production. This fact explains the superior quality of ghosts when compared to other inactivated vaccines. The endotoxic component of the outer membrane does not limit the use of ghosts as vaccine candidates but triggers the release of several potent immunoregulatory cytokines. As carriers, there is no limitation in the size of foreign antigens that can be inserted in the membrane and the capacity of all spaces including the membranes, peri-plasma and internal lumen of the ghosts can be fully utilized. This extended recombinant ghost system represents a new strategy for adjuvant free combination vaccines.     

Low-dose adenovirus vaccine encoding chimeric hepatitis B virus surface antigen-human papillomavirus type 16 E7 proteins induces enhanced E7-specific antibody and cytotoxic T-cell responses

Induction of effective immune responses may help prevent cancer progression. Tumor-specific antigens, such as those of human papillomaviruses involved in cervical cancer, are targets with limited intrinsic immunogenicity. Here we show that immunization with low doses (10(6) infectious units/dose) of a recombinant human adenovirus type 5 encoding a fusion of the E7 oncoprotein of human papillomavirus type 16 to the carboxyl terminus of the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) induces remarkable E7-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. The HBsAg/E7 fusion protein assembled efficiently into virus-like particles, which stimulated antibody responses against both carrier and foreign antigens, and evoked antigen-specific kill of an indicator cell population in vivo. Antibody and T-cell responses were significantly higher than those induced by a control adenovirus vector expressing wild-type E7. Such responses were not affected by preexisting immunity against either HBsAg or adenovirus. These data demonstrate that the presence of E7 on HBsAg particles does not interfere with particle secretion, as it occurs with bigger proteins fused to the C terminus of HBsAg, and results in enhancement of CD8(+)-mediated T-cell responses to E7. Thus, fusion to HBsAg is a convenient strategy for developing cervical cancer therapeutic vaccines, since it enhances the immunogenicity of E7 while turning it into an innocuous secreted fusion protein.     

Deletion and duplication of specific sequences in the K88ab fimbrial subunit protein from porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Summary Small, defined in-frame deletions and in-frame duplications of specific sequences were made within the faeG gene encoding the K88ab fimbrial subunit protein from porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. The cellular localization and proteolytic stability of the different mutated fimbrial subunit proteins were determined, and compared with those of the wild-type protein. Based upon these results, we predict a functional role of specific structures in the K88ab fimbrial subunit protein in subunit-subunit interactions as well as in interactions between FaeG and the other proteins encoded by the K88ab operon. The results obtained were further compared with results obtained from operon deletions, linker insertion mutagenesis and the current model for biogenesis of K88 fimbriae. One of the mutated fimbrial subunit genes was used to construct a secreted in-frame fusion between FaeG and a characterized epitope (lacking cysteine) from the Hepatitis B pre-S2 protein. Such fusion proteins might be useful in the design of recombinant vaccines.     

Hyper-Enhanced Production of Foreign Recombinant Protein by Fusion with the Partial Polyhedrin of Nucleopolyhedrovirus

To enhance the production efficiency of foreign protein in baculovirus expression systems, the effects of polyhedrin fragments were investigated by fusion expressing them with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Recombinant viruses were generated to express EGFP fused with polyhedrin fragments based on the previously reported minimal region for self-assembly and the KRKK nuclear localization signal (NLS). Fusion expressions with polyhedrin amino acids 19 to 110 and 32 to 110 lead to localization of recombinant protein into the nucleus and mediate its assembly. The marked increase of EGFP by these fusion expressions was confirmed through protein and fluorescence intensity analyses. The importance of nuclear localization for enhanced production was shown by the mutation of the NLS within the fused polyhedrin fragment. In addition, when the polyhedrin fragment fused with EGFP was not localized in the nucleus, some fragments increased the production of protein. Among these fragments, some degradation of only the fused polyhedrin was observed in the fusion of amino acids 19 to 85 and 32 to 85. The fusion of amino acids 32 to 85 may be more useful for the enhanced and intact production of recombinant protein. The production of E2 protein, which is a major antigen of classical swine fever virus, was dramatically increased by fusion expression with polyhedrin amino acids 19 to 110, and its preliminary immunogenicity was verified using experimental guinea pigs. This study suggests a new option for higher expression of useful foreign recombinant protein by using the partial polyhedrin in baculovirus.     

The chaperone-usher pathway of bacterial adhesin biogenesis -- from molecular mechanism to strategies of anti-bacterial prevention and modern vaccine design

The chaperone-usher system determines the biogenesis of surface-exposed adhesive structures responsible for virulence of many Gram-negative bacteria. Investigations of the last 20 years have resolved the mechanism of this pathway on a structural level for different species of pathogenic bacteria. The purpose of this review is to present the molecular mechanisms of the biogenesis of adhesive structures assembled via the chaperone-usher pathway. The obtained mechanistic data allow one to propose potential strategies of anti-bacterial action. Additionally, the specific properties of the polymeric adhesive structures (pili and fimbriae) of the chaperone-usher system allow their use as effective and safe recombinant vaccines carrying foreign epitopes in thousands of copies on bacterial cell surface.     

Secretory delivery of recombinant proteins in attenuated Salmonella strains: potential and limitations of Type I protein transporters

Live attenuated Salmonella strains have been extensively explored as oral delivery systems for recombinant vaccine antigens and effector proteins with immunoadjuvant and immunomodulatory potential. The feasibility of this approach was demonstrated in human vaccination trials for various antigens. However, immunization efficiencies with live vaccines are generally significantly lower compared to those monitored in parenteral immunizations with the same vaccine antigen. This is, at least partly, due to the lack of secretory expression systems, enabling large-scale extracellular delivery of vaccine and effector proteins by these strains. Because of their low complexity and the terminal location of the secretion signal in the secreted protein, Type I (ATP-binding cassette) secretion systems appear to be particularly suited for development of such recombinant extracellular expression systems. So far, the Escherichia coli hemolysin system is the only Type I secretion system, which has been adapted to recombinant protein secretion in Salmonella. However, this system has a number of disadvantages, including low secretion capacity, complex genetic regulation, and structural restriction to the secreted protein, which eventually hinder high-level in vivo delivery of recombinant vaccines and effector proteins. Thus, the development of more efficient recombinant protein secretion systems, based on Type I exporters can help to improve efficacies of live recombinant Salmonella vaccines. Type I secretion systems, mediating secretion of bacterial surface layer proteins, such as RsaA in Caulobacter crescentus, are discussed as promising candidates for improved secretory delivery systems.     

利用苏云金芽胞杆菌细胞表面展示系统表达禽流感病毒NP蛋白

首次利用苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)S-层蛋白CTC表面展示系统研究在Bt细胞表面展示禽流感病毒NP蛋白的可行性和最佳方案,为研制能常温长期保藏和运输的禽用口服疫苗奠定基础。用全长np基因或部分np基因(npp)代替S-层蛋白ctc基因的3′-端或中部,构建了4个重组质粒pSNP(含ctc-np)、pCSA-SNP(csa-ctc-np)、pCTC-NPP(ctc-npp)和pCSNPP(csa-ctc-npp)。将重组质粒分别电转化入Bt受体菌株BMB171中,获得了5个重组菌株BN、BCN、C-S、BCCN和CN。用5个重组菌株的营养细胞做玻片凝集试验,结果显示5个重组菌株均成功地在细胞表面展示了NP蛋白。用5个重组菌株的营养细胞免疫小鼠,ELISA测定血清抗体效价,结果显示5个重组菌株均具有免疫原性,其中重组菌株CN的免疫原性最高,其含融合基因csa-ctc-npp,证明该种融合基因的构建方式最佳。这为利用S-层蛋白CTC表面展示系统构建展示其它禽类病原体抗原的重组菌株以研制禽用热稳定性口服疫苗奠定了基础。     

IPTG-dependent vaccinia virus: identification of a virus protein enabling virion envelopment by Golgi membrane and egress.

A novel method has been developed to study the functional roles of individual vaccinia virus gene products that is neither limited by the possible essentiality of the target gene nor by the availability of conditional lethal mutants. The system utilises the E. coli lac repressor protein, the operator sequence to which it binds and the specific inducer IPTG. It allows the generation of recombinant viruses in which the expression of any chosen gene, and hence virus replication, can be externally controlled. In principle, this system is broadly applicable to the functional analysis of genes in any large DNA virus. This approach has demonstrated that the gene encoding the 14 kDa membrane protein of vaccinia virus is non-essential for the production of infectious intracellular virus particles, but essential for the envelopment of intracellular virions by Golgi membrane and for egress of mature extracellular viral particles. This is the first vaccinia virus protein shown to be specifically required for these processes. In vivo this system may prove useful as a means of attenuating recombinant vaccinia virus vaccines by preventing virus spread without reducing the amount of the foreign antigen expressed in each infected cell. Attenuation of other live virus vaccines may be developed in a similar way.     

Intranasal immunisation with recombinant Lactococcus lactis displaying either anchored or secreted forms of Proteus mirabilis MrpA fimbrial protein confers specific immune response and induces a significant reduction of kidney bacterial colonisation in mice

Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of urinary tract infections in humans, can express different fimbriae. MR/P fimbriae may contribute to bacterial colonisation, and its structural protein MrpA represents a promising candidate antigen for mucosal vaccination. Commercial complex vaccines have limited, short-lived protection and are incapable of eliciting mucosal responses against putative antigens related to virulence. The development of mucosal live vaccines using food-grade lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis as antigen vehicle is an attractive alternative and a safe vaccination strategy against P. mirabilis infection. Here, we report the construction of L. lactis strains modified to produce MrpA via two cellular locations, cell wall-anchored and secreted. Protection assays against P. mirabilis infection and evaluation of the immune response generated after immunisation were conducted in a mouse model. MrpA protein was efficiently expressed by L. lactis strain and caused a significant induction of specific serum IgG and IgA in the animals immunised with L. lactis pSEC:mrpA and L. lactis pCWA:mrpA respectively. A significant reduction of renal bacterial colonisation was observed in both groups of mice (P<0.05) after P. mirabilis challenge. This is the first example of a P. mirabilis fimbrial antigen expressed in a food-grade live strain with promising applications in vaccine design.     

Removing N-terminal sequences in pre-s1 domain enhanced antibody and B-cell responses by an HBV large surface antigen DNA vaccine

Although the use of recombinant hepatitis B virus surface (HBsAg) protein vaccine has successfully reduced global hepatitis B infection, there are still a number of vaccine recipients who do not develop detectable antibody responses. Various novel vaccination approaches, including DNA vaccines, have been used to further improve the coverage of vaccine protection. Our previous studies demonstrated that HBsAg-based DNA vaccines could induce both humoral and CMI responses in experimental animal models. However, one form of the the HBsAg antigen, the large S antigen (HBs-L), expressed by DNA vaccine, was not sufficiently immunogenic in eliciting antibody responses. In the current study, we produced a modified large S antigen DNA vaccine, HBs-L(T), which has a truncated N-terminal sequence in the pre-S1 region. Compared to the original HBs-L DNA vaccine, the HBs-L(T) DNA vaccine improved secretion in cultured mammalian cells and generated significantly enhanced HBsAg-specific antibody and B cell responses. Furthermore, this improved HBsL DNA vaccine, along with other HBsAg-expressing DNA vaccines, was able to maintain predominantly Th1 type antibody responses while recombinant HBsAg protein vaccines produced in either yeast or CHO cells elicited mostly Th2 type antibody responses. Our data indicate that HBsAg DNA vaccines with improved immunogenicity offer a useful alternative choice to recombinant protein-based HBV vaccines, particularly for therapeutic purposes against chronic hepatitis infection where immune tolerance led to poor antibody responses to S antigens.     

Expression of recombinant proteins on the surface of the coagulase-negative bacterium Staphylococcus xylosus.

An expression system to allow targeting of heterologous proteins to the cell surface of Staphylococcus xylosus, a coagulase-negative gram-positive bacterium, is described. The expression of recombinant gene fragments, fused between gene fragments encoding the signal peptide and the cell surface-binding regions of staphylococcal protein A, targets the resulting fusion proteins to the outer bacterial cell surface via the membrane-anchoring region and the highly charged cell wall-spanning region of staphylococcal protein A. The expression system was used to secrete fusion proteins containing sequences from a malaria blood-stage antigen and a streptococcal albumin-binding receptor to the cell surface of S. xylosus. Analysis of the recombinant cells by immunogold staining and immunofluorescence revealed that both the receptor and the malaria peptide were properly processed and exposed on the surface of the host cells. However, only approximately 40 to 50% of the recombinant cells were strongly stained with antiserum reactive with the albumin-binding receptor, while approximately 10 to 15% of the cells were stained with antiserum reactive with the malaria peptide. The incomplete staining of some of the cells suggests steric effects that make the recombinant fusion proteins inaccessible to the reactive antibodies because of variable cell wall structures. However, the results demonstrate for the first time that recombinant techniques can be used to express heterologous receptors and immunogens on the surface of gram-positive cells.     

大分子量重组蛋白在丝状噬菌体表面的展示表达及其与小分子相互作用的初步研究

利用pHEN1KM13噬菌粒系统表达融合蛋白,进而确定大分子量重组蛋白在丝状噬菌体表达的部位及其表达后的生物活性。通过蛋白酶切处理前后噬菌体侵染细菌能力的变化快速地检测大分子蛋白质能否在噬菌体表面展示表达;比较了谷胱甘肽S转移酶及其与三个不同长度连接臂融合的外源蛋白在噬菌体表面的表达和组装,确定了不大于40kD的重组蛋白分子能展示表达在丝状噬菌体表面;并利用已知的小分子化合物与蛋白质的相互作用证明了组装在噬菌体表面的谷胱甘肽S转移酶重组蛋白仍保持其天然的结合活性,为利用噬菌体展示系统研究蛋白质与小分子化合物的相互作用建立了基础。     

Plasmodium vivax: cloning and expression of a major blood-stage surface antigen

Plasmodium vivax is a highly prevalent malaria pathogen of man; the following report is the first to describe the cloning and expression of a major asexual erythrocytic stage antigen of this species. The screening of a genomic DNA expression library with a monoclonal antibody directed against a 200-kDa surface component (Pv200) of the more mature schizonts of P. vivax led to the selection of a recombinant bacterial clone which produced a fusion protein. Mouse and rabbit immune sera raised against the purified fusion protein recognized the 200-kDa parasite antigen on Western blots and reacted with the surface of segmenters by immunofluorescence. Sequencing of the 1.9-kb P. vivax DNA insert coding for this fusion protein revealed a 45-47% homology at the nucleotide level with the P. falciparum gene of a parasite surface antigen, Pf195, which has been shown to be a promising candidate for a malaria vaccine in primates and in man.     

Induction of virus-neutralizing antibodies by bacteria expressing the C3 poliovirus epitope in the periplasm. The route of immunization influences the isotypic distribution and the biologic activity of the antipoliovirus antibodies

Two viral epitopes (C3 neutralization epitope from poliovirus type 1 and the 132-145 peptide from the PreS2 region from hepatitis B virus) have been expressed in the Escherichia coli periplasm as protein fusion with the maltose binding protein (MalE protein). Immunization of mice with live bacteria expressing the foreign viral epitopes in their periplasm elicited high antibody titers against the viral peptide as well as against the corresponding virus. This demonstrates for the first time in the case of defined epitopes that, when live bacteria are used as immunogens, presentation at the cell surface is not a prerequisite to obtain an antibody response. On the other hand, the induction of antiviral antibody responses by these recombinant bacteria depended dramatically on the route of immunization: a response was induced by live bacteria through the i.v. route but not through the s.c. route. However, when bacteria were heat killed or when the MalE hybrid protein was released under a soluble form from the cell, a response was induced even upon s.c. immunization. From these results, we suggest that in order to induce high levels of antibodies by the s.c. route, a major parameter for bacterial Ag would be their capacity to be released into a soluble form before the interaction of the bacteria with the APC. This would permit the presentation by B cells rather than by phagocytic cells. Finally, we demonstrate that the route of immunization influences the isotypic distribution and the neutralizing activity of the antipoliovirus antibodies. Such results may have major implications for the development of bacterial vaccines based on fusion proteins.