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Diversity of Ixodes-borne Borrelia species--clinical, pathogenetic, and diagnostic implications and impact on vaccine development.

Among Borrelia spirochetes carried by hard ticks belonging to the various Ixodes species, at least 10 species can be distinguished. Of these, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is involved in human Lyme borreliosis in North America and Europe, and Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii in human disease in Europe and Asia. The pathogenetic significance of the other species is uncertain. Although some of the Borrelia species are restricted to certain tick species, Ixodes ricinus, the vector of Lyme borreliosis in Europe, can be infested by at least five different species, including all three pathogenic species. There is evidence that different Borrelia species are preferentially found in different hosts: In Europe, B. afzelii is frequently found in small mammals, whereas B. garinii and Borrelia valaisiana are often found in birds. This could very well be related to differential sensitivity of these species to complement-mediated bactericidal activity of different hosts. Borrelial complement regulator acquiring proteins, among them OspE or Erp proteins, bind to host factor H and related proteins, and this binding protects against activation of complement by the spirochetal surface. The binding is different for proteins originating from different species and is also depending on the host origin of factor H. In Europe, B. garinii is mainly found in neuroborreliosis, whereas in skin disease B. afzelii is more frequently found. The reason is unclear. The majority of human sera cross-react between proteins of different Borrelia species, but some sera react only with proteins from one of the species. This holds especially for reactivity with OspC. A vaccine against B. burgdorferi sensu stricto has been licensed, but was recently redrawn from the market because of commercial reasons. A vaccine protecting against all three pathogenic species is not yet available.

Animals↗

Streptococcus iniae phosphoglucomutase is a virulence factor and a target for vaccine development.

Streptococcus iniae represents a major health and economic problem in fish species worldwide. Random Tn917 mutagenesis and high-throughput screening in a hybrid striped bass (HSB) model of meningoencephalitis identified attenuated S. iniae mutants. The Tn917 insertion in one mutant disrupted an S. iniae homologue of a phosphoglucomutase (pgm) gene. Electron microscopy revealed a decrease in capsule thickness and cell wall rigidity, with DeltaPGM mutant cells reaching sizes approximately 3-fold larger than those of the wild type (WT). The DeltaPGM mutant was cleared more rapidly in HSB blood and was more sensitive to killing by cationic antimicrobial peptides including moronecidin from HSB. In vivo, the DeltaPGM mutant was severely attenuated in HSB, as intraperitoneal challenge with 1,000 times the WT lethal dose produced only 2.5% mortality. Reintroduction of an intact copy of the S. iniae pgm gene on a plasmid vector restored antimicrobial peptide resistance and virulence to the DeltaPGM mutant. In analysis of the aborted infectious process, we found that DeltaPGM mutant organisms initially disseminated to the blood, brain, and spleen but were eliminated by 24 h without end organ damage. Ninety to 100% of fish injected with the DeltaPGM mutant and later challenged with a lethal dose of WT S. iniae survived. We conclude that the pgm gene is required for virulence in S. iniae, playing a role in normal cell wall morphology, surface capsule expression, and resistance to innate immune clearance mechanisms. An S. iniae DeltaPGM mutant is able to stimulate a protective immune response and may have value as a live attenuated vaccine for aquaculture.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Exploiting molecular mimicry to broaden the immune response to carbohydrate antigens for vaccine development.

Peptide mimetics of carbohydrates represent an alternative approach to induce anti-carbohydrate responses. Depending on their formulation, peptide mimetics can mediate T-independent or T-dependent responses. Multivalent peptide mimeotopes can induce high IgM/IgG ratios, as non-conjugated carbohydrates do. Here we observe that immunization with multivalent peptide mimeotope conjugated to BSA enhances carbohydrate reactive antibodies in Balb/c mice and xid mice, with IgG1 greater than IgG2a, in xid mice. These results suggest that mimeotope-conjugate formulations might augment carbohydrate-specific immune responses in immuno-compromised hosts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A multivalent HIV-vaccine: development of a plasmid DNA for the expression of HIV envelope glycoproteins with hypervariable V3-loop domains.

The third hypervariable (V3) loop of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 plays an essential role in the process of viral entry. It contributes to the tropism, coreceptor usage and immune-escape of the virus. We generated a monovalent plasmid DNA and demonstrated the expression of HIV-1 clade B subtype NL4-3 gp120 and gp160 in comparison to a multivalent plasmid DNA encoding for a variety of V3-variants. In contrast to the membrane-anchored gp160, preliminary data demonstrate the monovariant gp120 is expressed in and presented on a human dendritic cell (DC) line, due to a HIVenv-specific re-stimulation of naïve T-cells detected by IFNgamma-ELISPOT assay.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Tuberculosis: recent progress in basic immunity and vaccine development.

Tuberculosis continues to be the most prevalent cause of death from an infectious agent globally, and its interaction with HIV is having devastating effects, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past decade, my laboratory has developed small animal models of pulmonary infection, which have revealed new information regarding the nature of acquired immunity, and subsequent immunopathology, in the lungs. We propose that cell mediated immunity comprises two separate elements; protective immunity, driven by IL-12 and IFN; and DTH, mediated by TNF and driven by chemokines. The generation of a CD4 response is critical to both processes, but other cells are also involved in the overall control of the infection. These include gamma delta T cells, which we believe control the inflammatory influx of cells; CD4+ NK cells, which may play a role in focussing lymphocytes into lung granulomas; and CD8 T cells, which play a currently undefined role after initial expression of immunity and establishment of chronic disease in the lungs has ensued. Complex interactions between these populations of cells appear to control the influx of mediator cells into the lungs and then focus them at sites of infection. Prior to adequate expression of protective immunity the correct expression of chemokine and adhesion molecules is critical. A better understanding of these processes will hopefully in turn lead to better vaccine design, a topic which is also addressed in this paper.

Animals↗

Lipopolysaccharide heterogeneity and escape mechanisms of Neisseria meningitidis: possible consequences for vaccine development.

We wanted to compare the potential protective capacity of antibodies to meningococcal lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The frequency of occurrence and degree of expression of the epitopes recognized by murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to immunotypes L3,7,9 (9-2-L379) and L8 (2-1-L8) and to the LPS inner core (216-Lc and 217-Lc), were determined among 77 consecutive Norwegian meningococcal patient isolates from 1995. The immunotype L3,7,9 was strongly expressed by 95% of the isolates, whereas L8 was weakly to moderately expressed by 9%. The inner core epitopes, were widely distributed among the serogroup B organisms, but were proved weakly expressed. The bactericidal activity of the four MAbs to various selected strains, was found to correlate positively with the quantity of the LPS epitopes recognized by these four MAbs in the bacteria. When tested in the serum bactericidal assay (SBA), often a few percent of the colonies of the inocula survived high concentrations of the MAbs. The results indicate that escape from the bactericidal action could be achieved through: (i) selection of variants not expressing the LPS-epitope of the actual MAb, (ii) a relative reduction in the density of the LPS-epitope achieved by dilution with another LPS structure or (iii) other factors, not yet understood. In conclusion, antibodies to the L3,7,9 epitope seem to be of importance for protection, whereas antibodies to the epitopes of the LPS inner core or immunotype L8, are not likely to offer protection alone. However, in order to prevent escape through alteration of the LPS pattern of the microbes, various LPS structures should probably be present in the OMV vaccine.

Animals↗

Genomic diversity and antigenic variation of HIV-1: links between pathogenesis, epidemiology and vaccine development.

Recent analysis of primate lentivirus genomes indicates that lentiviruses have infected primates for hundreds of years. The pathogenicity of such viruses may fluctuate due to the high evolution rate of some parts of the viral genome. Fixed nucleic acid substitutions in the gag gene appear to be caused by random fixation of selectively neutral mutants, whereas nonrandom fixation of selectively advantageous mutants, as has been observed for MHC molecules and serine protease inhibitors, appears to be operational for some hypervariable env gene regions. The former is characterized by an excess of silent mutations independent of the rate of change, the latter by an excess of nonsilent mutations. This latter type of selection may especially characterize the third variable region of the external HIV envelope (V3), which contains the principal neutralization domain.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Antigen-specific tumor vaccines. Development and characterization of recombinant adenoviruses encoding MART1 or gp100 for cancer therapy.

The human melanoma tumor Ags, MART1 and gp100, are specifically recognized by HLA-A2-restricted CD8+ CTLs derived from melanoma patients and appear to be involved in tumor regression. In order to develop immunizing vectors for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma, replication-defective recombinant adenoviruses, Ad2CMV-MART1 and Ad2CMV-gp100, which encode these tumor Ags, have been generated. Infection of non-Ag expressing HLA-A2+ cell lines A375 and MDA-231 with the vectors resulted in recognition by Ag-specific CTLs as demonstrated by specific target cell lysis and release of cytokines, including IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF. Sodium butyrate and TNF-alpha can further augment adenovirus-mediated transgene expression and increase recognition by specific CTLs. Although adenovirus-infected cells expressed the E3/19K protein at detectable levels, significant reduction of surface MHC class I expression was observed in only 3 of 10 tumor cell lines infected with either Ad2CMV-MART1 or Ad2CMV-gp100. Because of the suspected homology between the human MART1 and gp100 genes and their murine counterparts, we immunized C57BL/6 mice with these recombinant adenoviruses and demonstrated that immunization with Ad2CMV-gp100 could protect mice from murine melanoma B16 challenge administered intradermally. Depletion of CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells in vivo from Ad2CMV-gp100-vaccinated mice eliminated the protective effect. The anti-gp100 T cells induced by Ad2CMV-gp100 vaccinated appeared to be responsible for the protection. Thus, these recombinant adenoviruses encoding tumor Ags may be useful as vaccines to induce specific T cell immunity for cancer therapy.

Adenoviridae↗

Schistosoma mansoni major egg antigen Smp40: molecular modeling and potential immunoreactivity for anti-pathology vaccine development.

The pathogenesis of Schistosoma mansoni infection is largely determined by host T-cell mediated immune responses such as the granulomatous response to tissue deposited eggs and subsequent fibrosis. The major egg antigens have a valuable role in desensitizing the CD4+ Th cells that mediate granuloma formation, which may prevent or ameliorate clinical signs of schistosomiasis.S. mansoni major egg antigen Smp40 was expressed and completely purified. It was found that the expressed Smp40 reacts specifically with anti-Smp40 monoclonal antibody in Western blotting. Three-dimensional structure was elucidated based on the similarity of Smp40 with the small heat shock protein coded in the protein database as 1SHS as a template in the molecular modeling. It was figured out that the C-terminal of the Smp40 protein (residues 130 onward) contains two alpha crystallin domains. The fold consists of eight beta strands sandwiched in two sheets forming Greek key. The purified Smp40 was used for in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients infected with S. mansoni using phytohemagglutinin mitogen as a positive control. The obtained results showed that there is no statistical difference in interferon-g, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 levels obtained with Smp40 stimulation compared with the control group (P > 0.05 for each). On the other hand, there were significant differences after Smp40 stimulation in IL-5 (P = 0.006) and IL-10 levels (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. Gaining the knowledge by reviewing the literature, it was found that the overall pattern of cytokine profile obtained with Smp40 stimulation is reported to be associated with reduced collagen deposition, decreased fibrosis, and granuloma formation inhibition. This may reflect its future prospect as a leading anti-pathology schistosomal vaccine candidate.

Animals↗

Catecholate receptor proteins in Salmonella enterica: role in virulence and implications for vaccine development.

Three outer membrane proteins of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium function as catecholate siderophore receptors. IroN promotes uptake of enterobactin, salmochelins and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoylserine, FepA transports enterobactin and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoylserine, and Cir is a receptor for 2,3-dihydroxybenzoylserine. In addition, all three proteins are required for l-norepinephrine-facilitated iron uptake from transferrin as judged by failure of a fepA iroN cir triple mutant to grow in serum-containing medium in the presence of l-norepinephrine. Moreover, pre-treatment of mice with l-norepinephrine resulted in enhanced systemic spread of the parental strain, but had no effect on the fepA iroN cir mutant. Inoculation of mice with the triple mutant, which is significantly attenuated, elicited a significant protective effect against subsequent challenge with the parental strain.

Animals↗

Theileriosis: progress towards vaccine development through understanding immune responses to the parasite.

Studies of the immune responses of cattle to Theileria parva have provided evidence that immunity to the parasite can operate at two levels, namely the sporozoite and the schizont-infected lymphoblast. Antibodies that neutralize the infectivity of sporozoites have been detected in the serum of hyperimmunized cattle, and a recombinant sporozoite surface antigen has been shown to induce neutralizing antibodies and protection against experimental challenge. However, the immunity that develops following primary infection with T. parva is accompanied by only low levels of antibodies to sporozoites; there is overwhelming evidence that under these circumstances protection is mediated by T cell responses against infected lymphoblasts. Potent class I MHC-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses are detected in animals recovering from infection and treatment or challenge infections. Two recent findings have provided direct evidence for the importance of these responses in immunity. First, the strain specificity of CTL in cattle immunized with one stock of the parasite was found to correlate with the subsequent susceptibility of individual animals to challenge with a heterologous cloned parasite population (in these circumstances some animals are protected whereas others are susceptible to the heterologous challenge). Second, the adoptive transfer of lymphocytes highly enriched for CD8+ T cells, from immune to naive identical twin calves, was found to protect against experimental challenge. The CTL response in individual animals appears to be directed towards a limited number of antigenic epitopes. The antigenic specificity is determined in part by class I MHC phenotype although there is evidence that other phenomena such as antigenic competition are also involved. Current efforts are directed towards identification of the parasite antigens recognized by CTL with the eventual aim of exploring their potential for vaccination.

Animals↗

Analysis of the ontogeny of the murine humoral response to Neisseria meningitidis B capsular polysaccharide reveals levels of complexity relevant to vaccine development.

Although purified capsular polysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis group B (CpsB) is not immunogenic at any age, CpsB on the bacterial surface elicits antibody responses late in ontogeny. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the ontogeny of the murine anti-CpsB response to N. meningitidis could determine key parameters regarding the poor immunogenicity of CpsB. The effects of bacterial dose, hyperimmunization, age, and sex on the induction of primary and secondary anti-CpsB immunoglobulin isotype profiles were studied. It was demonstrated that the timing and repetition of immunization and of the bacterial dose have a marked differential effect on the primary induction of anti-CpsB immunoglobulin isotypes and on the ability to induce anti-CpsB antibody responses after subsequent rechallenge. It is noteworthy that the ontogeny of the response is related to the appearance of natural anti-CpsB antibodies, but this is not associated with the presence of CpsB cross-reactive antigens in the microflora.

Aging↗

Controlled release microparticles for vaccine development.

The primary and secondary sera IgG antibody responses to ovalbumin (OVA) entrapped in biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microparticles were compared with the responses obtained with soluble OVA. In addition, OVA in PLGA microparticles was also administered after dispersion in an immunostimulatory vehicle, Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA). The primary IgG responses to OVA in microparticles/FIA were significantly greater than the responses to soluble OVA from day 14 to day 42, when booster immunizations were administered. From day 49 to the end of the study at day 84, the responses to OVA, both in microparticles alone and in microparticles/FIA, were significantly greater than the responses to soluble OVA. Nevertheless, the responses obtained for OVA in microparticles or microparticles/FIA were, in general, not as high as those obtained with OVA in Freund's complete adjuvant.

Animals↗

Virosomes in vaccine development: induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity with virosome-encapsulated protein antigens.

Virosomes are reconstituted viral envelopes which lack the genetic material but retain the cell entry and membrane fusion characteristics of the virus they are derived from. Thus, influenza virosomes are taken up by cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis, which directs the particles to the endosomal cell compartment. Subsequently, the virosomal membrane fuses with the endosomal membrane induced by the mildly acidic pH within the endosomes. This fusion process establishes continuity between the lumen of the virosome and the cell cytosol. Upon interaction of virosomes with antigen-presenting cells (APCs), protein antigens encapsulated within virosomes will be delivered to the cell cytosol, and thus, into the MHC class I presentation pathway. Indeed, virosome-mediated delivery of antigens in vivo results in efficient priming of a class I MHC-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response.

Animals↗

Exploration of mucosal immunity in humans: relevance to vaccine development.

Although the immune system is remarkably diverse, there is evidence that certain types of immune responses take place and are restricted to certain anatomic locations within the body. The concept of a common mucosal immune system that provides immune reactivity not only at the site of antigen deposition but also at remote mucosal sites may be explained by the utilization of organ-specific recognition molecules by circulating precursors of mucosal immunoblasts and by the production of certain maturation factors (e.g. cytokines, hormones) produced preferentially in certain organs or parts of a given organ. This notion may explain the unification of immune responses in diverse mucosal sites and the physiologic segregation of mucosal from systemic immune mechanisms. Novel methods have been developed to enable studies of antigen specific B and T cell responses in various mucosal and extramucosal tissues in primates and rodents, using cholera toxin or its B subunit as prototype immunogens and mucosal carrier-delivery systems. The tissue localization and isotype commitment of antibody-secreting cells (ASC) and the homing potential of their circulating precursors have also been examined after oral, nasal, intra-tonsillar, rectal and/or genital immunization(s). The anatomical distribution of T- and accessory cell-derived cytokines has also been examined. These tools and approaches are being employed in studies attempting to induce optimal mucosal immune responses to several mucosal pathogens including HIV-1, in certain organs such as the lower gastrointestinal tract and the female urogenital tract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Production of Vibrio cholerae ghosts (VCG) by expression of a cloned phage lysis gene: potential for vaccine development.

The protein E-specific lysis mechanism of the Escherichia coli-specific bacteriophage PhiX174 was employed to produce Vibrio cholerae ghosts (VCG). VCG consist of both rounded and collapsed cells that have lost their cytoplasmic contents through an E-specific hole in the cell envelope. These ghosts are proposed as non-living material for immunization against cholera. A specific membrane anchor sequence was used to insert the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) fusion protein into the cell envelope of V. cholerae. The identity of the expression products was confirmed by Western blot analysis employing an RT-specific monoclonal antibody. HIV-1 RT was chosen as a model for the purpose of evaluating heterologous gene expression in V. cholerae and the carrier potential of VCG. Intraperitoneal immunization of mice was used to evaluate the immunogenic potential of VCG. Preliminary results showed significant seroconversions to intact whole-cell vibrio antigens in mice immunized with VCG or a heat-killed whole-cell vibrio preparation.

Animals↗

Characterization of CD4 glycoprotein determinant-HIV envelope protein interactions: perspectives for analog and vaccine development.

The CD4 surface determinant, previously associated as a phenotypic marker for helper/inducer subsets of T lymphocytes, has now been critically identified as the binding/entry protein for human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV). The human CD4 molecule is readily detectable on monocytes, T lymphocytes, and brain tissues. Soluble HIV (HTLV IIIB) envelope protein (gp120) binds native or recombinant CD4 with equal affinity estimated to be 4 to 8 nM kDa. All human tissue sources of CD4 bind radiolabeled gp120 to the same relative degree; however, the murine homologous protein, L3T4, does not bind the HIV envelope protein. Lack of sufficient recognition by the recombinant L3T4 molecule suggests divergence in the gp120-binding epitope. The binding of gp120 to CD4 is dependent upon intact sulfhydryl bonds within cysteine residues and glycosylation. Deglycosylated native gp120 is unable to bind CD4 under physiological conditions. Recombinant deglycosylated fragments cannot bind to the CD4 receptor, although they serve as immunogen for neutralizing antibody development. A number of synthetic peptides to putative critical domains of gp120 have been studied for their antagonism of native gp120 binding. Peptide T analogs or synthetic cogeners of Neuroleukin proposed to bind the CD4 determinant involved in gp120 binding had no competitive displacement of native gp120 binding as assessed by two independent methods that measure gp120 interaction with CD4. Recombinant C-terminal fragments, also containing other putative domains, did not displace native gp120 from CD4. Glycosylation appears to be critical in the maintenance of the structure of the binding domain of gp120. Native gp120 binding to CD4 is sufficient for the activation of cellular metabolism that alters target cell gene expression and differentiation, suggesting that the virus binding contributes to the activation of the host cell.

Animals↗

Design and synthesis of a morphine-6-succinyl-bovine serum albumin hapten for vaccine development.

A morphine-6-succinyl-BSA (M-6-S-BSA) hapten was designed in an effort to obtain a potent, long-lasting anti-morphine immune response for the treatment of morphine abuse. The analogue incorporated a succinic anhydride linker moiety in place of hydroxy group at C-6 of the morphine framework. Then morphine 6-hemisuccinate was conjugated to BSA in aqueous solution in the presence of water-soluble carbodi-imide. M-6-S-BSA was synthesized in three chemical steps starting from morphine sulphate, and the extent of conjugation was determined by base hydrolysis of the conjugate, extraction and measurement of free morphine. An average of 6.5 molecules of morphine were conjugated to each molecule of protein. Six male mice, Swiss White strain, immunized with various doses of the conjugate, were found to be producing antibody 8 weeks later, as determined by a modification of the (NH(4))(2)SO(4) method, which measures primary binding of antigen by antibody.

Animals↗