Expression of Chlamydia muridarum plasmid genes and immunogenicity of pGP3 and pGP4 in different mouse strains.

Chlamydia muridarum carries a cryptic plasmid (pMoPn) of 7.5kb, which encodes seven genes. Our aims were to describe the transcriptional pattern of the pMoPn genes in C. muridarum-infected mice and to evaluate the host immune responses against pGP3 and pGP4 proteins. BALB/c and C57BL/6N female mice were inoculated intranasally with C. muridarum and sacrificed at different time points, and the total RNA was extracted from the lung suspensions to determine the levels of expression of the different plasmid genes by RT qPCR. The supernatants of the lungs were subjected to the quantitation of recoverable C. muridarum. TCA04 and TCA05, which encode pGP3 and pGP4, respectively, were amplified by PCR and cloned into the pET vector. The proteins were overexpressed in E. coli HB101 and purified. Selected groups of BALB/c and C57BL/6N mice were infected with C. muridarum 1-3 times. The humoral immune responses in the sera of the mice to the proteins encoded by TCA04 and TCA05 were tested by Western blotting, and the cellular immune responses were assessed in lymphocyte proliferation assays. The proteins recognized by the mouse sera were further analysed by a LC/MSMS technique. The kinetics of C. muridarum growth were similar in the mouse strains used, but the pathogen burden was higher in the BALB/c mice in the late phase of infection. All the plasmid genes in the BALB/c mice showed an increased level of expression on day 7, whereas the expression of the same genes did not change on day 7 in the C57BL/6N mice. The levels of expression of the plasmid genes were higher in the C57BL/6N mice at later time points. In Western blot assays, the sera of the singly infected C57BL/6N mice reacted with the monomeric form of pGP3, whereas the sera of the singly infected BALB/c mice reacted with the trimeric form of pGP3. The sera of the multiply infected C57BL/6N mice also recognized pGP4. Similarly to the humoral immune response, cellular immune responses to pGP3 and pGP4 were detected in the C. muridarum-infected C57BL/6N mice, but the spleen cells of BALB/c mice responded with proliferation only to the pGP3 protein. These results suggest that the proteins encoded by pMoPn genes may modulate the host immune response during C. muridarum infection, and that the evolved immune response against plasmid proteins, similarly to that against other chlamydial proteins, depends on the genetic background of the host.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae re-infection triggers the production of IL-17A and IL-17E, important regulators of airway inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Investigation of the effects of interleukin (IL)-17 cytokines in Chlamydophila pneumoniae-infected mice. METHODS: Mice were infected with C. pneumoniae once or three times and the expression of IL-17 cytokines was followed by RT qPCR from day 1 to day 28 after infection and re-infection. After the treatment of mice with anti-IL-17A, ELISA was used to detect the differences in cytokine and chemokine production. The number and phenotype of the IL-17A-producing cells were determined by ELISPOT. RESULTS: Chlamydophila pneumoniae induced IL-17A and IL-17F from day 2 after infection, and their levels remained elevated on day 28. The expression of IL-17C, IL-17D and IL-17E mRNA did not change significantly in response to a single infection. The in vivo neutralization of IL-17A resulted in a higher C. pneumoniae burden in the mouse lungs, a decreased cell influx, and diminished chemokine levels. The phenotype of IL-17A-producing cells was CD4(+). The re-infection of mice led to an increased expression of IL-17E mRNA. CONCLUSION: These results facilitate an understanding of the early inflammatory response after C. pneumoniae infection and suggest that C. pneumoniae re-infection induces the production of a high amount of IL-17E, which has an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic pulmonary diseases.

Immunization with a combination of 2 peptides derived from the C5a receptor significantly reduces early atherosclerotic lesion in Ldlr(tm1Her) Apob(tm2Sgy) J mice.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to assess whether immunization of Ldlr(tm1Her) Apob(tm2Sgy) J mice with 2 peptides located at the N-terminus of the C5a receptor (C5aR), either alone or in combination, is effective in reducing atherosclerotic lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five- to 6-week-old female Ldlr(tm1Her)Apob(tm2Sgy) J mice were immunized using a repetitive immunization multiple sites strategy with keyhole limpet hemocyanin-conjugated peptides derived from the C5aR, either alone (designated as C5aR-P1 [aa 1-21] and C5aR-P2 [aa 19-31]) or in combination (designated as C5aR-P1+C5aR-P2). Mice were fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. Lesions were evaluated histologically; local and systemic immune responses were analyzed by immunohistochemistry of aorta samples and cytokine measurements in plasma samples and splenocyte supernatants. Immunization of Ldlr(tm1Her)Apob(tm2Sgy) J mice with these peptides elicited high concentrations of antibodies against each peptide. Immunization with the single peptide inhibited plaque development. Combined inoculation with C5aR-P1+C5aR-P2 had an additive effect on reducing the lesion in the aorta sinus and descending aortas when compared with controls. This effect correlated with cellular infiltration and cytokine/chemokine secretion in the serum or in stimulated spleen cells as well as specific cellular immune responses when compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Immunization of mice with C5aR-P1 and C5aR-P2, either alone or in combination, was effective in reducing early atherosclerotic lesion development. The combined peptide is more potential than either epitope alone to reduce atherosclerotic lesion formation through the induction of a specific Treg cell response as well as blockage of monocyte differentiation into macrophages.

Isocitrate lyase encoding plasmids in BCG cause increased survival in ApoB100-only LDLR-/- mice.

We studied the role of isocitrate lyase in the interaction between Mycobacterium bovis BCG and mice. ApoB100-only LDLR-/- (B6;129S-ApoBtm2SgyLdlrtm1Her/J) mice were inoculated with M. bovis BCG harbouring plasmids carrying the gene for isocitrate lyase. The presence of ~29 times more copies of this gene resulted in a higher bacterial yield in the spleens and lungs of the infected mice. The spleen was 3-4 times heavier, and in the spleen the bacteria survived over 10 days longer than did the bacteria with the control plasmid. Propionate was less toxic for bacteria carrying icl plasmids in vitro. This recombinant BCG can be a possible vaccine candidate.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae induces production of the defensin-like MIG/CXCL9, which has in vitro antichlamydial activity.

CXC chemokines that lack the ELR motif, including the monokine induced by IFN-γ (MIG/CXCL9), the IFN-induced protein of 10 kDa (IP-10/CXCL10), and the IFN-inducible T-cell α-chemoattractant (I-TAC/CXCL11), have been shown to mediate the generation of type 1 immune responses and to possess defensin-like bactericidal effects. This study revealed that the infection of mice with Chlamydophila pneumoniae via the intranasal route resulted in the local expression of MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10, and I-TAC/CXCL11. The expression of IP-10/CXCL10 and I-TAC/CXCL11 mRNA peaked on day 4. On day 7, the expression of MIG/CXCL9 mRNA in the infected lungs was increased 156-fold relative to that in the uninfected mouse lungs. MIG/CXCL9 was also detected at a protein level from day 1, with the highest concentration in the supernatants of the infected lungs on day 7. The expression of IFN-γ displayed similar kinetics. C. pneumoniae and its inactivated form also induced the production of MIG/CXCL9 in mouse fibroblasts and in the murine macrophage cell line J774A in vitro. Cotreatment of the tissue cultures with C. pneumoniae and different quantities of IFN-γ resulted in strong increases in MIG/CXCL9 production. Recombinant MIG/CXCL9 exerted dose-dependent antibacterial activity against C. pneumoniae. Significant antichlamydial activity of MIG/CXCL9 was observed after a 15-min incubation period. Chlamydial proteins at a molecular weight of 60 kDa were identified by Far-Western blot assay and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry as binding molecules of MIG/CXCL9. The results of these experiments suggest that MIG/CXCL9 might play an important role in the innate and acquired defense mechanisms against C. pneumoniae.

Adjuvant modulation of the immune response of mice against the LcrE protein of Chlamydophila pneumoniae.

LcrE protein is a TTSS component of Chlamydophila pneumoniae. The immunogenicity and protective effect of recombinant LcrE protein combined either with Freund's or Alum adjuvant were investigated in mice. The immunization with both protocols resulted in a significant reduction of the number of viable C. pneumoniae in the lungs after challenge. Lower IgG2a/IgG1 ratio in Alum-immunized mice suggested a shift towards Th2 type immune response, but the presence of LcrE-specific IFN-gamma-producing cells in LcrE+Alum-immunized mice also indicates Th1 type response. LcrE-specific IgA level was higher in both the sera and the lungs after using Freund's adjuvant. Phenotype of LcrE-specific IFN-gamma-producing cells was CD4+ in Alum- and Freund's-immunized mice, but CD8+ cells were also detected in Freund's-immunized mice. These results confirm that LcrE induces protective immunity in mice. The results also show that Alum is able to activate the CD4+ cell-based cellular immunity, thus it can be regarded as an alternative adjuvant during vaccine screening and a useful adjuvant in a potential protein vaccine against C. pneumoniae infection.

MSMEG_4626 ribonuclease from Mycobacterium smegmatis.

The MSMEG_4626 gene was cloned from Mycobacterium smegmatis MC2 155. It codes for a protein of 1,037 amino acids, identified as ribonuclease E by matching to the protein family HMM TIGR00757. The protein was expressed and purified. Although its calculated molecular weight is 112.7 kDa, it has an aberrant mobility in SDS-polyacrylamide gels, like other ribonuclease E enzymes (it migrates as a 180 kDa protein). The central part of the protein displays high similarity to the catalytic domains of other RNase E enzymes. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed the presence of the chaperonin GroEL, ribosomal proteins, a negative regulator of genetic competence and GTP pyrophosphokinase in the affinity-purified preparation. It is a very unstable protein; despite the use of protease inhibitors in addition to the full-length RNase E its proteolytic fragments were detected.

Oral administration of recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis expressing a tripeptide construct derived from endogenous and microbial antigens prevents atherosclerosis in ApoE(-/-) mice.

INTRODUCTION: Immunotherapy by inducing oral tolerance to atherogenic self-antigens is gaining importance as an alternative treatment modality for atherosclerosis. The use of live bacterial vectors to express the recombinant antigen in vivo will obviate the need for large-scale purification of recombinant protein and may also augment the efficacy of oral tolerance induction. AIM: The objective of the study was to explore the use of recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis as a live vector for oral delivery of antigens to induce immune tolerance. METHOD AND RESULTS: We developed a M. smegmatis vector to secrete a recombinant tripeptide construct (AHC; peptides from Apolipoprotein B, Heat-shock protein 60 and Chlamydia pneumoniae outer membrane protein) expressed in a dendroaspin protein scaffold in pJH154 background. Immune response and oral tolerance to the cloned peptides were studied in C57/BL6 mice. The efficacy of this live vaccine to control atherosclerosis was studied in ApoE(-/-) knockout mice in C57/BL6 background. Oral administration of M. smegmatis secreting the cloned AHC antigen was found to induce tolerance to cloned protein and reduce the development of atherosclerosis by 24.0% compared to control. Protection against atherosclerosis was associated with increase in expression of regulatory T cell-associated markers including CTLA4 (1.8-fold), Foxp3 (2.6-fold), TGF-ß (2.8-fold), IL10 (2.9-fold), and reduction in lipids, macrophage infiltration, and expression of inflammatory mediators in aorta. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that M. smegmatis can be developed as an oral carrier of recombinant proteins to treat inflammatory autoimmune diseases.

Protection promoted by pGP3 or pGP4 against Chlamydia muridarum is mediated by CD4(+) cells in C57BL/6N mice.

Urogenital tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is a leading cause of sexually transmitted infections. There is currently no commercially available vaccine against C. trachomatis. The highly conserved plasmid of chlamydiae has been considered to be a virulence factor and the plasmid proteins have important roles in the Chlamydia-specific immune response. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of vaccination with plasmid proteins in the prevention of C. muridarum lung infection in a mouse model. C57BL/6N mice were immunised 3 times subcutaneously with recombinant pGP3 or pGP4 and infected with C. muridarum. Immunisation of the mice with recombinant pGP3 or pGP4 protein caused a significantly lower chlamydial burden in the lungs of the infected mice; the lower IFN-γ level indicated a reduced extent of inflammation. In vitro or in vivo neutralisation of C. muridarum with sera obtained from immunised mice did not reduce the number of viable C. muridarum in the lungs of mice. However, adoptive transfer of the CD4(+) spleen cells isolated from the immunised mice resulted in a significantly reduced bacterial burden. Our results indicate that it is not the pGP3- and pGP4-specific antibodies, but the CD4(+) cells that are responsible for the protective effect of the immune response to plasmid proteins.

ABC transporter ATPase of Chlamydophila pneumoniae as a potential vaccine candidate.

Better vaccines and new therapeutic drugs could be a successful breakthrough against intracellular bacteria. M. tuberculosis ABC transporter ATPase (Rv0986) plays a role in mycobacterial virulence by inhibiting phagosome-lysosome fusion. Thus, it could be a potential vaccine candidate. C. pneumoniae another important intracellular bacterium possesses a protein named CpB0255, which is homologous with the mycobacterial Rv0986. The aim of this study was the cloning, over-expression and purification of CpB0255 ABC transporter ATPase protein to study its biological properties. The immunogenicity and protective effect of recombinant chlamydial ATPase protein combined with Alum adjuvant were investigated in mice. The immunization resulted in the reduction of the number of viable C. pneumoniae in the lungs after challenge. Our results confirm that chlamydial ATPase induces protective immunity in mice.

Immunization of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn)-infected Apob(tm2Sgy)Ldlr(tm1Her)/J mice with a combined peptide of Cpn significantly reduces atherosclerotic lesion development.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antigenic effect of a peptide containing two epitopes of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) on atherosclerotic lesion formation in mice infected with Cpn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-week-old Apob(tm2Sgy)Ldlr(tm1Her)/J mice were immunized using a repetitive immunization multiple-sites strategy with KLH-conjugated peptides derived from the major outer membrane protein and the putative outer membrane protein 5 of Cpn. Mice were fed a high-fat diet and infected with Cpn twice during the 10-week diet period. Lesions were evaluated histologically; local and systemic immune responses were analyzed by immunohistochemistry of aorta samples and cytokine measurements in plasma samples and splenocyte supernatants. RESULTS: Mice immunized with the combined Cpn peptide showed a greater reduction in lesion size compared to mice immunized with either epitope alone [54.7% vs 39.8% or 41.72%] and was also associated with a significant decrease in lesion area in descending aortas compared with those in controls (88.9% for combined Cpn peptide, 81.9% for MOMP peptide and 75.7% for Omp5, respectively). This effect was associated with a shift in the cellular composition of plaques towards decreased inflammatory cell and increased regulatory T-cell content. Additionally, the effect was also connected with decreased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and increased production of anti-inflammatory cytokines demonstrated in plasma and in supernatant on stimulated spleen cells. CONCLUSIONS: Atherosclerotic lesion formation may be promoted by Cpn infection in the presence of a high-fat diet, and reduced by immunization with the combined Cpn peptide. The combined peptide has more potential than either epitope alone in reducing atherosclerotic lesion development through Treg expansion.

Impact of multiple antigenic epitopes from ApoB100, hHSP60 and Chlamydophila pneumoniae on atherosclerotic lesion development in Apob(tm2Sgy)Ldlr(tm1Her)J mice.

AIMS: To assess whether immunizing Apob(tm2Sgy)Ldlr(tm1Her)J mice simultaneously with different atherosclerosis-related epitopes engineered in a single recombinant protein is effective in reducing atherosclerotic lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Antigenic epitopes were incorporated into a dendroaspin scaffold: AHC (ApoB100 peptide + hHSP60 peptide [hHSP60(153-163)] + putative epitope derived from Chlamydophila pneumoniae [Cpn]) and AHHC (AHC + hHSP60(303-312)); and were compared with construct A (ApoB peptide), construct H (hHSP60(153-163)), and construct AH (ApoB100 peptide + hHSP60(153-163)). Immunization with 2 multiple-antigenic epitope constructs elicited high levels of antibodies against each epitope in Apob(tm2Sgy)Ldlr(tm1Her)J mice (apart from hHSP60(153-163), which induced a low antibody response). Histological analyses demonstrated that the mice immunized with AHHC and AHC showed significant reductions in the size of atherosclerostic lesions compared with controls (63.8% and 63.2%; P < 0.001, respectively), and significantly greater reductions in lesions size compared with those after immunization with construct A (24.9%; P < 0.01), H (26.8%; P < 0.05), and AH (42.9%; P < 0.001). Moreover, combination of 2 short Cpn peptides along with ApoB and hHSP60 peptides had an additive effect on reducing the lesion without Cpn infection. Reduction in plaque size correlated with cellular infiltration and cytokine/chemokine secretion in serum or by stimulated spleen cells as well as specific cellular immune responses when compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Immunization of mice with a single construct containing multiple epitopes derived from ApoB100, hHSP60 and Cpn was more effective in reducing early atherosclerotic lesions through the induction of a specific Treg-cell response than was the construct containing either mono- or bi-epitopes. This approach offers attractive opportunities for the design of protein-based, multivalent vaccines against atherosclerosis.

Vaccination with DNA vector expressing chlamydial low calcium response protein E (LcrE) against Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular human pathogen, which causes acute respiratory tract infections and can also cause chronic infections. C. pneumoniae possess type III secretion system (TTSS), which allows them to secrete effector molecules into the inclusion membrane and the host cell cytosol. Low calcium response protein E (LcrE) is a part of TTSS. The gene of LcrE in a 6His-tagged form was cloned from C. pneumoniae CWL029, expressed and purified from Escherichia coli using the HIS-select TALON CellThru Resin, this gene was also cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector (pΔRC). One group of BALB/c mice received an intramuscular pΔRC inoculation then the mice were immunized with purified LcrE protein; the second group of mice was immunized two times with the recombinant plasmid (pΔRCLcrE), and the third group was primed with pΔRCLcrE inoculation then boosted with LcrE protein. LcrE-specific antibody response was induced by DNA immunization with a shift towards Th1 isotype pattern compared to protein-immunization, this shifting pattern was observed in plasmid primed then protein-boosted animals. DNA immunization given as a priming and followed by a protein booster significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria in the lungs after challenge with C. pneumoniae. These results confirm that immunization with pΔRCLcrE can be an effective part of a vaccination schedule against C. pneumoniae.

Recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis vaccine candidates.

Mycobacterium smegmatis is a species of rapidly growing saprophytes with a number of properties that make it an effective vaccine vector. Recombinant M. smegmatis expressing protective antigens of different pathogens and molecules modulating the immune responses offers some potential for reduction of the burden of tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis B infections. This paper discusses the molecular methods used to generate recombinant M. smegmatis and the results obtained with some of these recombinants.

Immunization with a combination of ApoB and HSP60 epitopes significantly reduces early atherosclerotic lesion in Apobtm2SgyLdlrtm1Her/J mice.

OBJECTIVE: HSP60 is emerging as an immunodominant target of autoantibodies in atherosclerosis and recent studies have revealed oxLDL as a key antigen in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we assay whether immunizing Apobtm2SgyLdlrtm1Her/J mice with a combination of ApoB and human HSP60 peptides has an additive effect on atheroprotection compared to ApoB or HSP60 peptides applied alone by following atherosclerotic lesion development. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, 2 weeks after the first immunization, Apobtm2SgyLdlrtm1Her/J mice were placed on a high-fat diet for 8 weeks followed by 2 weeks on a normal diet allowing the mice to adapt to the environment before sacrifice. High levels of ApoB and HSP60 antibodies were detectable in week 2 and week 12 following the first immunization with KLH-conjugated ApoB and HSP60 peptides either individually or in combination. Histological analyses demonstrated that mice immunized with both, ApoB and HSP60 peptides, showed the most significant reduction in atherosclerotic lesions (41.3%; p<0.001) compared to a reduction of 14.7% (p<0.05) and 21.1% (p<0.01) in mice immunized with ApoB or HSP60 peptides, respectively; control mice were immunized with either PBS or adjuvant alone. These results were further supported by significant differences in the cellular and humoral immune responses between test animals. CONCLUSIONS: Immunization with a combination of ApoB and HSP60 peptide antigens significantly reduced early atherosclerotic lesions in the Apobtm2SgyLdlrtm1Her/J mouse model of atherosclerosis. This approach offers promise as a novel strategy for developing anti-atherosclerotic agents.

Production and purification of low calcium response protein H of Chlamydophila pneumoniae.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae possesses a type III secretion system (TTSS), which allows the bacteria to secrete effector molecules into the inclusion membrane and into the cytosol of the host cell. Low calcium response protein H (LcrH), as a part of the TTSS, is a chaperone protein expressed from the middle to late stages of the chlamydial developmental cycle. Gene of LcrH (CPn0811) in a 6His-tagged form was cloned from C. pneumoniae CWL029, expressed and purified from Escherichia coli using the HIS-select TALON CellThru Resin. The purity was checked with mass spectrometry. The samples were used for immunization of BALB/c mice. The inducible E. coli clone, which over-expresses the chlamydial LcrH, permits the study of the biological properties of this protein.