Neisseria gonorrhoeae filamentous phage NgoΦ6 is capable of infecting a variety of Gram-negative bacteria.

We constructed a phagemid consisting of the whole genome of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteriophage NgoΦ6 cloned into a pBluescript plasmid derivative lacking the f1 origin of replication (named pBS::Φ6). Escherichia coli cells harboring pBS::Φ6 were able to produce a biologically active phagemid, NgoΦ6fm, capable of infecting, integrating its DNA into the chromosome of, and producing progeny phagemids in, a variety of taxonomically distant Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria sicca, Pseudomonas sp., and Paracoccus methylutens. A derivative of pBS::Φ6 lacking the phage orf7 gene, a positional homolog of filamentous phage proteins that mediate the interaction between the phage and the bacterial pilus, was capable of producing phagemid particles that were able to infect E. coli, Haemophilus influenzae, N. sicca, Pseudomonas sp., and Paracoccus methylutens, indicating that NgoΦ6 infects cells of these species using a mechanism that does not involve the Orf7 gene product and that NgoΦ6 initiates infection through a novel process in these species. We further demonstrate that the establishment of the lysogenic state does not require an active phage integrase. Since phagemid particles were capable of infecting diverse hosts, this indicates that NgoΦ6 is the first broad-host-range filamentous bacteriophage described.

A New Vaccination Method Based on Phage NgoΦ6 and Its Phagemid Derivatives.

Phagemid particles based on the Neisseria gonorrhoeae filamentous phage NgoΦ6 were used as a vaccine delivery system. We demonstrate that the host proteins incorporated into/associated with these particles can be encoded by chromosomal genes of the host bacterium or from plasmids able to replicate as an autonomous entity in the phagemid host. Phagemid particles were prepared from three types of cells, namely, Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium [pBSKS::Φ6fm(ST)] containing phagemid genome as an autonomous plasmid, Haemophilus influenzae Rd containing phagemid [pBSKS::Φ6fm(Hin)] integrated into the chromosome, and S. enterica ser. Typhimurium [pMPMT6::Φ6fm(ST)] containing an additional plasmid, pE1 HCV, encoding the Hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein E1. Approximately 200 µg of purified phage particles was used to immunize rabbits. The phagemid particles prepared from these three strains all elicited a large amount of IgG antibodies that were able to recognize bacterial host cells and proteins, as determined by ELISA and FACS analysis. The amount of specific anti-S. enterica ser. Typhimurium, anti-H. influenzae, and anti-E1 HCV antibodies elicited by vaccination was 170 µg/ml for anti-Salmonella, 80 µg/ml for anti-H. influenzae, and 65 µg/ml for anti-E1 HCV. Taken in toto, these data suggest that classical phage display methods have underestimated the potential for filamentous phage as a novel immunogen delivery system.

Phage proteins are expressed on the surface of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and are potential vaccine candidates.

All Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains whose DNA sequences have been determined possess filamentous phage sequences representing their full genomes. The presence of filamentous phage DNA sequences in all sequenced N. gonorrhoeae strains suggest that purified phage particles might be used as a gonococcal vaccine. To test this hypothesis, we purified filamentous NgoΦfil phages and immunized rabbits subcutaneously. The elicited sera contained large quantities of anti-phage IgG and IgA antibodies that bound to the surface of N. gonorrhoeae cells, as shown by ELISA and flow cytometry. The elicited sera bound to the structural NgoΦ6fil proteins present in phage particles and to N. gonorrhoeae cells. The sera did not react with gonococcal outer membrane proteins. The sera also had bactericidal activity and blocked adhesion of gonococci to tissue culture cells. These data demonstrate that NgoΦfil phage particles can induce antibodies with anti-gonococcal activity and may be a candidate for vaccine development.

Characterization of the dsDNA prophage sequences in the genome of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and visualization of productive bacteriophage.

BACKGROUND: Bioinformatic analysis of the genome sequence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae revealed the presence of nine probable prophage islands. The distribution, conservation and function of many of these sequences, and their ability to produce bacteriophage particles are unknown. RESULTS: Our analysis of the genomic sequence of FA1090 identified five genomic regions (NgoPhi1 - 5) that are related to dsDNA lysogenic phage. The genetic content of the dsDNA prophage sequences were examined in detail and found to contain blocks of genes encoding for proteins homologous to proteins responsible for phage DNA replication, structural proteins and proteins responsible for phage assembly. The DNA sequences from NgoPhi1, NgoPhi2 and NgoPhi3 contain some significant regions of identity. A unique region of NgoPhi2 showed very high similarity with the Pseudomonas aeruginosa generalized transducing phage F116. Comparative analysis at the nucleotide and protein levels suggests that the sequences of NgoPhi1 and NgoPhi2 encode functionally active phages, while NgoPhi3, NgoPhi4 and NgoPhi5 encode incomplete genomes. Expression of the NgoPhi1 and NgoPhi2 repressors in Escherichia coli inhibit the growth of E. coli and the propagation of phage lambda. The NgoPhi2 repressor was able to inhibit transcription of N. gonorrhoeae genes and Haemophilus influenzae HP1 phage promoters. The holin gene of NgoPhi1 (identical to that encoded by NgoPhi2), when expressed in E. coli, could serve as substitute for the phage lambda s gene. We were able to detect the presence of the DNA derived from NgoPhi1 in the cultures of N. gonorrhoeae. Electron microscopy analysis of culture supernatants revealed the presence of multiple forms of bacteriophage particles. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the genes similar to dsDNA lysogenic phage present in the gonococcus are generally conserved in this pathogen and that they are able to regulate the expression of other neisserial genes. Since phage particles were only present in culture supernatants after induction with mitomycin C, it indicates that the gonococcus also regulates the expression of bacteriophage genes.

Analysis of the filamentous bacteriophage genomes integrated into Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA1090 chromosome.

Bioinformatic analysis of the genome sequence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae revealed presence of four specific prophage islands. Based on the similarity with other DNA phage sequences they seem to belong to the filamentous ssDNA phages group. Phages belonging to this group are also present in the genome of Neisseria meningitidis. The nucleotide and amino acids sequence of Ngo phi6 and Ngo phi7 show similar genetic organization and high homology on DNA and amino acid level. The Ngo phi9 contains only part of the genomes of the Ngo phi6-8 prophages. Several functionally same genes of different origin are duplicated, with no homology to their counterparts in phages Ngo phi6, Ngo phi7 and Ngo phi9. The prophage sequences of nucleotides of Ngo phi6 and Ngo phi7 contain specific blocks of genes responsible for phage DNA replication and structural proteins. Comparative analysis at nucleotide and amino acid level suggests that these sequences can encode functionally active phages. The genetic organization of the Ngo phi6 suggests that it can serve as a prototype of filamentous phage of N. gonorrhoeae. Presence of the genomic ssDNA of these phages in the cultures of N. gonorrhoeae confirms this conclusion.

Oral Immunization of Rabbits with S. enterica Typhimurium Expressing Neisseria gonorrhoeae Filamentous Phage Φ6 Induces Bactericidal Antibodies Against N. gonorrhoeae.

All Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains whose DNA sequences have been determined possess filamentous phage DNA sequences. To ascertain if phage encoded proteins could form the basis of a gonococcal vaccine, rabbits were orally infected with S. enterica Typhimurium strain χ3987 harboring phagemid NgoΦ6 fm. The elicited sera contained large quantities of anti-phage IgG and IgA antibodies that bound to the surface of N. gonorrhoeae cells, as shown by indirect fluorescent analysis and flow cytometry. The elicited sera was able to bind to several phage proteins. The sera also had bactericidal activity. These data demonstrate that N. gonorrhoeae filamentous phage can induce antibodies with anti-gonococcal activity and that phage proteins may be a candidate for vaccine development.