RESUMEN
Thousands of disease cases and hundreds of deaths occur globally each year due to invasive meningococcal disease. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) is the leading cause of such disease in developed countries. Two vaccines, 4CMenB and MenB-fHbp, that protect against MenB are available and include one or two forms respectively of factor H binding protein (fHbp), a key protective antigen. Studies of circulating meningococci have identified over 1380 different fHbp amino acid sequences, which form three immunologically distinct clusters, termed variants 1, 2, and 3. Neither of the current vaccines contains a variant 2 antigen, which is less well characterized than fHbp variants 1 and 3. We characterized the interaction of fHbp variant 2 with humAb 1B1 using biochemical methods and live meningococcal assays. Further, we determined the crystal structure of the complex at 2.4 Å resolution, clearly revealing the epitope and providing the first detailed report of an antibody with distinct specificity for fHbp variant 2. Extensive mutagenesis and binding studies elucidated key hotspots in the interface. This combination of structural and functional studies provides a molecular explanation for the bactericidal potency and specificity of humAb 1B1 for fHbp variant 2. Our studies, focused on fHbp variant 2, expand the understanding of this previously under characterized group of the vast family of variants of fHbp, a virulence factor present on all meningococci. Moreover, the definition of a protective conformational epitope on fHbp variant 2 may support the design and development of novel variant 2-containing MenB vaccines affording greater breadth of protection.
RESUMEN
Antigen-antibody interactions play a key role in the immune response post vaccination and the mechanism of action of antibody-based biopharmaceuticals. 4CMenB is a multicomponent vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in which factor H binding protein (fHbp) is one of the key antigens. In this study, we use hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to identify epitopes in fHbp recognized by polyclonal antibodies (pAb) from two human donors (HDs) vaccinated with 4CMenB. Our HDX-MS data reveal several epitopes recognized by the complex mixture of human pAb. Furthermore, we show that the pAb from the two HDs recognize the same epitope regions. Epitope mapping of total pAb and purified fHbp-specific pAb from the same HD reveals that the two antibody samples recognize the same main epitopes, showing that HDX-MS based epitope mapping can, in this case at least, be performed directly using total IgG pAb samples that have not undergone Ab-selective purification. Two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were previously produced from B-cell repertoire sequences from one of the HDs and used for epitope mapping of fHbp with HDX-MS. The epitopes identified for the pAb from the same HD in this study, overlap with the epitopes recognized by the two individual mAbs. Overall, HDX-MS epitope mapping appears highly suitable for simultaneous identification of epitopes recognized by pAb from human donors and to thus both guide vaccine development and study basic human immunity to pathogens, including viruses.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones Meningocócicas , Vacunas Meningococicas , Neisseria meningitidis , Humanos , Mapeo Epitopo/métodos , Neisseria meningitidis/metabolismo , Deuterio/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Infecciones Meningocócicas/prevención & control , Proteínas Portadoras , Medición de Intercambio de Deuterio , Factor H de Complemento , Antígenos Bacterianos , Epítopos , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/metabolismo , Espectrometría de Masas de Intercambio de Hidrógeno-DeuterioRESUMEN
The identification and recombinant production of functional antigens and/or epitopes of pathogens represent a crucial step for the development of an effective protein-based vaccine. Many vaccine targets are outer membrane proteins anchored into the lipidic bilayer through an extended hydrophobic portion making their recombinant production challenging. Moreover, only the extracellular loops, and not the hydrophobic regions, are naturally exposed to the immune system. In this work, the Domain 3 (D3) from Group B Streptococcus (GBS) pilus 2a backbone protein has been identified and engineered to be used as a scaffold for the display of extracellular loops of two Neisseria gonorrhoeae membrane proteins (PorB.1b and OpaB). A computational structure-based approach has been applied to the design of both the scaffold and the model antigens. Once identified the best D3 engineerable site, several different chimeric D3 displaying PorB.1b and OpaB extracellular loops were produced as soluble proteins. Each molecule has been characterized in terms of solubility, stability, and ability to correctly display the foreign epitope. This antigen dissection strategy allowed the identification of most immunogenic extracellular loops of both PorB.1b and OpaB gonococcal antigens. The crystal structure of chimeric D3 displaying PorB.1b immunodominant loop has been obtained confirming that the engineerization did not alter the predicted native structure of this epitope. Taken together, the reported data suggest that D3 is a novel protein scaffold for epitope insertion and display, and a valid alternative to the production of whole membrane protein antigens. Finally, this work describes a generalized computational structure-based approach for the identification, design, and dissection of epitopes in target antigens through chimeric proteins.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de la Membrana , Vacunas , Epítopos/genética , Antígenos Bacterianos/genética , Membrana Dobles de LípidosRESUMEN
The presentation of viral antigens on nanoparticles in multivalent arrays has emerged as a valuable technology for vaccines. On the nanoparticle surface, highly ordered, repetitive arrays of antigens can mimic their geometric arrangement on virion surfaces and elicit stronger humoral responses than soluble viral antigens. More recently, bacterial antigens have been presented on self-assembling protein nanoparticles and have elicited protective antibody and effective T-helper responses, further supporting the nanoparticle platform as a universal approach for stimulating potent immunogenicity. Here, we present the rational design, structural analysis, and immunogenicity of self-assembling ferritin nanoparticles displaying eight copies of the Neisseria meningitidis trimeric adhesin NadA. We engineered constructs consisting of two different NadA fragments, head only and head with stalk, that we fused to ferritin and expressed in Escherichia coli. Both fusion constructs self-assembled into the expected nanoparticles as determined by Cryo electron microscopy. In mice, the two nanoparticles elicited comparable NadA antibody levels that were 10- to 100-fold higher than those elicited by the corresponding NadA trimer subunits. Further, the NadAferritin nanoparticles potently induced complement-mediated serum bactericidal activity. These findings confirm the value of self-assembling nanoparticles for optimizing the immunogenicity of bacterial antigens and support the broad applicability of the approach to vaccine programs, especially for the presentation of trimeric antigens.
Asunto(s)
Nanopartículas , Neisseria meningitidis , Ratones , Animales , Ferritinas , Antígenos Bacterianos , Antígenos Virales , Anticuerpos Bloqueadores , Vacunas Combinadas , Nanopartículas/químicaRESUMEN
Invasive meningococcal disease can cause fatal sepsis and meningitis and is a global health threat. Factor H binding protein (fHbp) is a protective antigen included in the two currently available vaccines against serogroup B meningococcus (MenB). FHbp is a remarkably variable surface-exposed meningococcal virulence factor with over 1300 different amino acid sequences identified so far. Based on this variability, fHbp has been classified into three variants, two subfamilies or nine modular groups, with low degrees of cross-protective activity. Here, we report the crystal structure of a natural fHbp cross-variant chimera, named variant1-2,3.x expressed by the MenB clinical isolate NL096, at 1.2 Å resolution, the highest resolution of any fHbp structure reported to date. We combined biochemical, site-directed mutagenesis and computational biophysics studies to deeply characterize this rare chimera. We determined the structure to be composed of two adjacent domains deriving from the three variants and determined the molecular basis of its stability, ability to bind Factor H and to adopt the canonical three-dimensional fHbp structure. These studies guided the design of loss-of-function mutations with potential for even greater immunogenicity. Moreover, this study represents a further step in the understanding of the fHbp biological and immunological evolution in nature. The chimeric variant1-2,3.x fHbp protein emerges as an intriguing cross-protective immunogen and suggests that identification of such naturally occurring hybrid proteins may result in stable and cross-protective immunogens when seeking to design and develop vaccines against highly variable pathogens.
RESUMEN
The introduction of glycoconjugate vaccines marks an important point in the fight against various infectious diseases. The covalent conjugation of relevant polysaccharide antigens to immunogenic carrier proteins enables the induction of a long-lasting and robust IgG antibody response, which is not observed for pure polysaccharide vaccines. Although there has been remarkable progress in the development of glycoconjugate vaccines, many crucial parameters remain poorly understood. In particular, the influence of the conjugation site and strategy on the immunogenic properties of the final glycoconjugate vaccine is the focus of intense research. Here, we present a comparison of two cysteine selective conjugation strategies, elucidating the impact of both modifications on the structural integrity of the carrier protein, as well as on the immunogenic properties of the resulting glycoconjugate vaccine candidates. Our work suggests that conjugation chemistries impairing structurally relevant elements of the protein carrier, such as disulfide bonds, can have a dramatic effect on protein immunogenicity.
RESUMEN
A range of cationic delivery systems have been investigated as vaccine adjuvants, though few direct comparisons exist. To investigate the impact of the delivery platform, we prepared four cationic systems (emulsions, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles and solid lipid nanoparticles) all containing equal concentrations of the cationic lipid dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide in combination with the Neisseria adhesin A variant 3 subunit antigen. The formulations were physicochemically characterized and their ability to associate with cells and promote antigen processing (based on degradation of DQ-OVA, a substrate for proteases which upon hydrolysis is fluorescent) was compared in vitro and their vaccine efficacy (antigen-specific antibody responses and IFN-γ production) and biodistribution (antigen and adjuvant) were evaluated in vivo. Due to their cationic nature, all delivery systems gave high antigen loading (> 85%) with liposomes, lipid nanoparticles and emulsions being <200 nm, whilst polymeric nanoparticles were larger (~350 nm). In vitro, the particulate systems tended to promote cell uptake and antigen processing, whilst emulsions were less effective. Similarly, whilst the particulate delivery systems induced a depot (of both delivery system and antigen) at the injection site, the cationic emulsions did not. However, out of the systems tested the cationic emulsions induced the highest antibody responses. These results demonstrate that while cationic lipids can have strong adjuvant activity, their formulation platform influences their immunogenicity.
Asunto(s)
Formación de Anticuerpos , Vacunas , Adyuvantes Inmunológicos , Antígenos , Liposomas , Distribución Tisular , Vacunas de SubunidadRESUMEN
Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) is the leading cause of meningococcal meningitis and sepsis in industrialized countries, with the highest incidence in infants and adolescents. Two recombinant protein vaccines that protect against MenB are now available (i.e. 4CMenB and MenB-fHbp). Both vaccines contain the Factor H Binding Protein (fHbp) antigen, which can bind the Human Factor H (fH), the main negative regulator of the alternative complement pathway, thus enabling bacterial survival in the blood. fHbp is present in meningococcal strains as three main variants which are immunologically distinct. Here we sought to obtain detailed information about the epitopes targeted by anti-fHbp antibodies induced by immunization with the 4CMenB multicomponent vaccine. Thirteen anti-fHbp human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were identified in a library of over 100 antibody fragments (Fabs) obtained from three healthy adult volunteers immunized with 4CMenB. Herein, the key cross-reactive mAbs were further characterized for antigen binding affinity, complement-mediated serum bactericidal activity (SBA) and the ability to inhibit binding of fH to live bacteria. For the first time, we identified a subset of anti-fHbp mAbs able to elicit human SBA against strains with all three variants and able to compete with human fH for fHbp binding. We present the crystal structure of fHbp v1.1 complexed with human antibody 4B3. The structure, combined with mutagenesis and binding studies, revealed the critical cross-reactive epitope. The structure also provided the molecular basis of competition for fH binding. These data suggest that the fH binding site on fHbp v1.1 can be accessible to the human immune system upon immunization, enabling elicitation of human mAbs broadly protective against MenB. The novel structural, biochemical and functional data are of great significance because the human vaccine-elicited mAbs are the first reported to inhibit the binding of fH to fHbp, and are bactericidal with human complement. Our studies provide molecular insights into the human immune response to the 4CMenB meningococcal vaccine and fuel the rationale for combined structural, immunological and functional studies when seeking deeper understanding of the mechanisms of action of human vaccines.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos/inmunología , Antígenos Bacterianos/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Meningitis Meningocócica/inmunología , Vacunas Meningococicas/administración & dosificación , Neisseria meningitidis/inmunología , Adulto , Anticuerpos/sangre , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Proteínas Bacterianas/inmunología , Factor H de Complemento/inmunología , Factor H de Complemento/metabolismo , Humanos , Meningitis Meningocócica/metabolismo , Meningitis Meningocócica/microbiología , Meningitis Meningocócica/prevención & controlRESUMEN
The classical complement pathway is triggered when antigen-bound immunoglobulins bind to C1q through their Fc region. While C1q binds to a single Fc with low affinity, a higher avidity stable binding of two or more of C1q globular heads initiates the downstream reactions of the complement cascade ultimately resulting in bacteriolysis. Synergistic bactericidal activity has been demonstrated when monoclonal antibodies recognize nonoverlapping epitopes of the same antigen. The aim of the present work was to investigate the synergistic effect between antibodies directed toward different antigens. To this purpose, we investigated the bactericidal activity induced by combinations of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against factor H-binding protein (fHbp) and Neisserial Heparin-Binding Antigen (NHBA), two major antigens included in Bexsero, the vaccine against Meningococcus B, for prevention from this devastating disease in infants and adolescents. Collectively, our results show that mAbs recognizing different antigens can synergistically activate complement even when each single Mab is not bactericidal, reinforcing the evidence that cooperative immunity induced by antigen combinations can represent a remarkable added value of multicomponent vaccines. Our study also shows that the synergistic effect of antibodies is modulated by the nature of the respective epitopes, as well as by the antigen density on the bacterial cell surface.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/inmunología , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Proteínas del Sistema Complemento/inmunología , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/inmunología , Proteínas Bacterianas/inmunología , Proteínas Portadoras/inmunología , Factor H de Complemento/inmunología , Epítopos/inmunología , Neisseria meningitidis/inmunología , Determinación de Anticuerpos Séricos Bactericidas/métodosRESUMEN
The 4 component meningococcus B vaccine (4CMenB) vaccine is the first vaccine containing recombinant proteins licensed for the prevention of invasive meningococcal disease caused by meningococcal serogroup B strains. 4CMenB contains 3 main recombinant proteins, including the Neisseria meningitidis factor H binding protein (fHbp), a lipoprotein able to bind the human factor H. To date, over 1000 aa sequences of fHbp have been identified, and they can be divided into variant groups 1, 2, and 3, which are usually not crossprotective. Nevertheless, previous characterizations of a small set (n = 10) of mAbs generated in humans after 4CMenB immunization revealed 2 human Fabs (huFabs) (1A12, 1G3) with some crossreactivity for variants 1, 2, and 3. This unexpected result prompted us to examine a much larger set of human mAbs (n = 110), with the aim of better understanding the extent and nature of crossreactive anti-fHbp antibodies. In this study, we report an analysis of the human antibody response to fHbp, by the characterization of 110 huFabs collected from 3 adult vaccinees during a 6-mo study. Although the 4CMenB vaccine contains fHbp variant 1, 13 huFabs were also found to be crossreactive with variants 2 and 3. The crystal structure of the crossreactive huFab 1E6 in complex with fHbp variant 3 was determined, revealing a novel, highly conserved epitope distinct from the epitopes recognized by 1A12 or 1G3. Further, functional characterization shows that human mAb 1E6 is able to elicit rabbit, but not human, complement-mediated bactericidal activity against meningococci displaying fHbp from any of the 3 different variant groups. This functional and structural information about the human antibody response upon 4CMenB immunization contributes to further unraveling the immunogenic properties of fHbp. Knowledge gained about the epitope profile recognized by the human antibody repertoire could guide future vaccine design.-Bianchi, F., Veggi, D., Santini, L., Buricchi, F., Bartolini, E., Lo Surdo, P., Martinelli, M., Finco, O., Masignani, V., Bottomley, M. J., Maione, D., Cozzi, R. Cocrystal structure of meningococcal factor H binding protein variant 3 reveals a new crossprotective epitope recognized by human mAb 1E6.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Proteínas Bacterianas/inmunología , Factor H de Complemento/inmunología , Epítopos/inmunología , Vacunas Meningococicas/inmunología , Animales , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/química , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/metabolismo , Antígenos Bacterianos/genética , Antígenos Bacterianos/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Factor H de Complemento/genética , Factor H de Complemento/metabolismo , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Epítopos/genética , Epítopos/metabolismo , Variación Genética , Humanos , Infecciones Meningocócicas/microbiología , Infecciones Meningocócicas/prevención & control , Vacunas Meningococicas/administración & dosificación , Modelos Moleculares , Neisseria meningitidis/efectos de los fármacos , Neisseria meningitidis/inmunología , Neisseria meningitidis/fisiología , Unión Proteica , Conformación ProteicaRESUMEN
Neisserial heparin binding antigen (NHBA) is one of three main recombinant protein antigens in 4CMenB, a vaccine for the prevention of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. NHBA is a surface-exposed lipoprotein composed of a predicted disordered N-terminal region, an arginine-rich region that binds heparin, and a C-terminal domain that folds as an anti-parallel ß-barrel and that upon release after cleavage by human proteases alters endothelial permeability. NHBA induces bactericidal antibodies in humans, and NHBA-specific antibodies elicited by the 4CMenB vaccine contribute to serum bactericidal activity, the correlate of protection. To better understand the structural bases of the human antibody response to 4CMenB vaccination and to inform antigen design, we used X-ray crystallography to elucidate the structures of two C-terminal fragments of NHBA, either alone or in complex with the Fab derived from the vaccine-elicited human monoclonal antibody 5H2, and the structure of the unbound Fab 5H2. The structures reveal details on the interaction between an N-terminal ß-hairpin fragment and the ß-barrel, and explain how NHBA is capable of generating cross-reactive antibodies through an extensive conserved conformational epitope that covers the entire C-terminal face of the ß-barrel. By providing new structural information on a vaccine antigen and on the human immune response to vaccination, these results deepen our molecular understanding of 4CMenB, and might also aid future vaccine design projects.
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Antígenos Bacterianos/química , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/química , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/inmunología , Proteínas Portadoras/química , Proteínas Portadoras/inmunología , Epítopos/química , Epítopos/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/inmunología , Vacunas Bacterianas/inmunología , Humanos , Modelos Moleculares , Conformación Proteica , Relación Estructura-ActividadRESUMEN
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDx) associated with mass spectrometry (MS) is emerging as a powerful tool to provide conformational information about membrane proteins. Unfortunately, as for X-ray diffraction and NMR, HDx performed on reconstituted in vitro systems might not always reflect the in vivo environment. Outer-membrane vesicles naturally released by Escherichia coli were used to carry out analysis of native OmpF through HDx-MS. A new protocol compatible with HDx analysis that avoids hindrance from the lipid contents was setup. The extent of deuterium incorporation was in good agreement with the X-ray diffraction data of OmpF as the buried ß-barrels incorporated a low amount of deuterium, whereas the internal loop L3 and the external loops incorporated a higher amount of deuterium. Moreover, the kinetics of incorporation clearly highlights that peptides segregate well in two distinct groups based exclusively on a trimeric organization of OmpF in the membrane: peptides presenting fast kinetics of labeling are facing the complex surrounding environment, whereas those presenting slow kinetics are located in the buried core of the trimer. The data show that HDx-MS applied to a complex biological system is able to reveal solvent accessibility and spatial arrangement of an integral outer-membrane protein complex.
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Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Medición de Intercambio de Deuterio/métodos , Espectrometría de Masas/métodos , Porinas/química , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/química , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/química , Cinética , Conformación ProteicaRESUMEN
Neisserial heparin-binding antigen (NHBA) is a surface-exposed lipoprotein from Neisseria meningitidis and is a component of the meningococcus B vaccine Bexsero. As part of a study to characterize the three-dimensional structure of NHBA and the molecular basis of the human immune response to Bexsero, the crystal structures of two fragment antigen-binding domains (Fabs) isolated from human monoclonal antibodies targeting NHBA were determined. Through a high-resolution analysis of the organization and the amino-acid composition of the CDRs, these structures provide broad insights into the NHBA epitopes recognized by the human immune system. As expected, these Fabs also show remarkable structural conservation, as shown by a structural comparison of 15 structures of apo Fab 10C3 which were obtained from crystals grown in different crystallization conditions and were solved while searching for a complex with a bound NHBA fragment or epitope peptide. This study also provides indirect evidence for the intrinsically disordered nature of two N-terminal regions of NHBA.
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Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/química , Antígenos Bacterianos/química , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/química , Proteínas Portadoras/química , Fragmentos Fab de Inmunoglobulinas/química , Vacunas Meningococicas/química , Neisseria meningitidis/química , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/genética , Antígenos Bacterianos/genética , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genética , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/inmunología , Sitios de Unión , Proteínas Portadoras/genética , Proteínas Portadoras/inmunología , Clonación Molecular , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Expresión Génica , Vectores Genéticos/química , Vectores Genéticos/metabolismo , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Fragmentos Fab de Inmunoglobulinas/genética , Proteínas Intrínsecamente Desordenadas/química , Proteínas Intrínsecamente Desordenadas/genética , Proteínas Intrínsecamente Desordenadas/inmunología , Cinética , Meningitis Meningocócica/inmunología , Meningitis Meningocócica/microbiología , Meningitis Meningocócica/prevención & control , Vacunas Meningococicas/inmunología , Modelos Moleculares , Neisseria meningitidis/inmunología , Péptidos/síntesis química , Péptidos/química , Unión Proteica , Conformación Proteica en Hélice alfa , Conformación Proteica en Lámina beta , Dominios y Motivos de Interacción de Proteínas , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Despite substantial progress in the prevention of group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease with the introduction of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, this pathogen remains a leading cause of neonatal infection. Capsular polysaccharide conjugate vaccines have been tested in phase I/II clinical studies, showing promise for further development. Mapping of epitopes recognized by protective antibodies is crucial for understanding the mechanism of action of vaccines and for enabling antigen design. In this study, we report the structure of the epitope recognized by a monoclonal antibody with opsonophagocytic activity and representative of the protective response against type III GBS polysaccharide. The structure and the atomic-level interactions were determined by saturation transfer difference (STD)-NMR and X-ray crystallography using oligosaccharides obtained by synthetic and depolymerization procedures. The GBS PSIII epitope is made by six sugars. Four of them derive from two adjacent repeating units of the PSIII backbone and two of them from the branched galactose-sialic acid disaccharide contained in this sequence. The sialic acid residue establishes direct binding interactions with the functional antibody. The crystal structure provides insight into the molecular basis of antibody-carbohydrate interactions and confirms that the conformational epitope is not required for antigen recognition. Understanding the structural basis of immune recognition of capsular polysaccharide epitopes can aid in the design of novel glycoconjugate vaccines.
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Cápsulas Bacterianas/química , Epítopos/química , Oligosacáridos/química , Polisacáridos Bacterianos/química , Streptococcus agalactiae/química , Animales , Conformación de Carbohidratos , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Ratones , ConejosRESUMEN
Factor H-binding protein (fHbp) is an important antigen of Neisseria meningitidis that is capable of eliciting a robust protective immune response in humans. Previous studies on the interactions of fHbp with antibodies revealed that some anti-fHbp monoclonal antibodies that are unable to trigger complement-mediated bacterial killing in vitro are highly co-operative and become bactericidal if used in combination. Several factors have been shown to influence such co-operativity, including IgG subclass and antigen density. To investigate the structural basis of the anti-fHbp antibody synergy, we determined the crystal structure of the complex between fHbp and the Fab (fragment antigen-binding) fragment of JAR5, a specific anti-fHbp murine monoclonal antibody known to be highly co-operative with other monoclonal antibodies. We show that JAR5 is highly synergic with monoclonal antibody (mAb) 12C1, whose structure in complex with fHbp has been previously solved. Structural analyses of the epitopes recognized by JAR5 and 12C1, and computational modeling of full-length IgG mAbs of JAR5 and 12C1 bound to the same fHbp molecule, provide insights into the spatial orientation of Fc (fragment crystallizable) regions and into the possible implications for the susceptibility of meningococci to complement-mediated killing.
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Anticuerpos Monoclonales/metabolismo , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Antígenos Bacterianos/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/inmunología , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Neisseria meningitidis/metabolismo , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/química , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Antígenos Bacterianos/química , Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Factor H de Complemento/inmunología , Factor H de Complemento/metabolismo , Epítopos/inmunología , Epítopos/metabolismo , Fragmentos Fab de Inmunoglobulinas/inmunología , Fragmentos Fab de Inmunoglobulinas/metabolismo , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , Inmunoglobulina G/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Estructura Secundaria de ProteínaRESUMEN
Knowledge of the sequences and structures of proteins produced by microbial pathogens is continuously increasing. Besides offering the possibility of unraveling the mechanisms of pathogenesis at the molecular level, structural information provides new tools for vaccine development, such as the opportunity to improve viral and bacterial vaccine candidates by rational design. Structure-based rational design of antigens can optimize the epitope repertoire in terms of accessibility, stability, and variability. In the present study, we used epitope mapping information on the well-characterized antigen of Neisseria meningitidis factor H binding protein (fHbp) to engineer its gonococcal homologue, Ghfp. Meningococcal fHbp is typically classified in three distinct antigenic variants. We introduced epitopes of fHbp variant 1 onto the surface of Ghfp, which is naturally able to protect against meningococcal strains expressing fHbp of variants 2 and 3. Heterologous epitopes were successfully transplanted, as engineered Ghfp induced functional antibodies against all three fHbp variants. These results confirm that structural vaccinology represents a successful strategy for modulating immune responses, and it is a powerful tool for investigating the extension and localization of immunodominant epitopes.
Asunto(s)
Neisseria gonorrhoeae/genética , Neisseria gonorrhoeae/inmunología , Neisseria meningitidis/inmunología , Ingeniería de Proteínas , Factores de Virulencia/genética , Animales , Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/sangre , Antígenos Bacterianos/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Vacunas Bacterianas/administración & dosificación , Vacunas Bacterianas/inmunología , Actividad Bactericida de la Sangre , Ratones , Neisseria meningitidis/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión/inmunología , Homología de Secuencia de Aminoácido , Vacunas Sintéticas/administración & dosificación , Vacunas Sintéticas/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Bexsero, a new vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB), is composed of 3 main recombinant proteins and an outer membrane vesicle component. One of the main bactericidal antigens, neisseria heparin binding antigen (NHBA), is present as a fusion protein with the accessory protein genome-derived neisserial antigen (GNA) 1030 to further increase its immunogenicity. The gene encoding for GNA1030 is present and highly conserved in all Neisseria strains, and although orthologs are present in numerous species, its biologic function is unknown. Native mass spectrometry was used to demonstrate that GNA1030 forms a homodimer associated with 2 molecules of ubiquinone-8 (Ub8), a cofactor mainly involved in the electron transport chain and with antioxidant properties. Disc diffusion assays on the wild-type and knockout mutant of GNA1030, in the presence of various compounds, suggested that GNA1030 is not involved in oxidative stress or electron chain transport per se, although it contributes to constitutive refilling of the inner membrane with Ub8. These studies shed light on an accessory protein present in Bexsero and reveal functional insights into the family of related proteins. On the basis of our findings, we propose to name the protein neisseria ubiquinone binding protein (NUbp).
Asunto(s)
Antígenos Bacterianos/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Neisseria meningitidis/metabolismo , Ubiquinona/metabolismo , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Antígenos Bacterianos/química , Antígenos Bacterianos/genética , Antimicina A/farmacología , Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Western Blotting , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Supervivencia Celular/genética , Clonación Molecular , Disulfuros/metabolismo , Complejo III de Transporte de Electrones/antagonistas & inhibidores , Complejo III de Transporte de Electrones/metabolismo , Peróxido de Hidrógeno/farmacología , Espectrometría de Masas/métodos , Vacunas Meningococicas/metabolismo , Metacrilatos/farmacología , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Mutación , Neisseria meningitidis/genética , Neisseria meningitidis/crecimiento & desarrollo , Oxidantes/farmacología , Proteínas Periplasmáticas/química , Proteínas Periplasmáticas/genética , Proteínas Periplasmáticas/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Multimerización de Proteína , Tiazoles/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB) is a major cause of severe sepsis and invasive meningococcal disease, which is associated with 5-15% mortality and devastating long-term sequelae. Neisserial adhesin A (NadA), a trimeric autotransporter adhesin (TAA) that acts in adhesion to and invasion of host epithelial cells, is one of the three antigens discovered by genome mining that are part of the MenB vaccine that recently was approved by the European Medicines Agency. Here we present the crystal structure of NadA variant 5 at 2 Å resolution and transmission electron microscopy data for NadA variant 3 that is present in the vaccine. The two variants show similar overall topology with a novel TAA fold predominantly composed of trimeric coiled-coils with three protruding wing-like structures that create an unusual N-terminal head domain. Detailed mapping of the binding site of a bactericidal antibody by hydrogen/deuterium exchange MS shows that a protective conformational epitope is located in the head of NadA. These results provide information that is important for elucidating the biological function and vaccine efficacy of NadA.
Asunto(s)
Adhesinas Bacterianas/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/inmunología , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Mapeo Epitopo/métodos , Vacunas Meningococicas/inmunología , Neisseria meningitidis Serogrupo B/inmunología , Adhesinas Bacterianas/química , Adhesinas Bacterianas/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Antígenos Bacterianos/química , Antígenos Bacterianos/genética , Sitios de Unión de Anticuerpos/genética , Sitios de Unión de Anticuerpos/inmunología , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Medición de Intercambio de Deuterio , Microscopía Electrónica de Transmisión , Modelos Moleculares , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Neisseria meningitidis Serogrupo B/genética , Isoformas de Proteínas/química , Isoformas de Proteínas/genética , Isoformas de Proteínas/inmunología , Multimerización de Proteína , Estabilidad Proteica , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Homología de Secuencia de Aminoácido , Espectrometría de Masa por Ionización de Electrospray , TemperaturaRESUMEN
NarE is an arginine-specific mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase identified in Neisseria meningitidis that requires the presence of iron in a structured cluster for its enzymatic activities. In this study, we show that NarE can perform auto-ADP-ribosylation. This automodification occurred in a time- and NAD-concentration-dependent manner; was inhibited by novobiocin, an ADP-ribosyltransferase inhibitor; and did not occur when NarE was heat inactivated. No reduction in incorporation was evidenced in the presence of high concentrations of ATP, GTP, ADP-ribose, or nicotinamide, which inhibits NAD-glycohydrolase, impeding the formation of free ADP-ribose. Based on the electrophoretic profile of NarE on auto-ADP-ribosylation and on the results of mutagenesis and mass spectrometry analysis, the auto-ADP-ribosylation appeared to be restricted to the addition of a single ADP-ribose. Chemical stability experiments showed that the ADP-ribosyl linkage was sensitive to hydroxylamine, which breaks ADP-ribose-arginine bonds. Site-directed mutagenesis suggested that the auto-ADP-ribosylation site occurred preferentially on the R(7) residue, which is located in the region I of the ADP-ribosyltransferase family. After auto-ADP-ribosylation, NarE showed a reduction in ADP-ribosyltransferase activity, while NAD-glycohydrolase activity was increased. Overall, our findings provide evidence for a novel intramolecular mechanism used by NarE to regulate its enzymatic activities.
Asunto(s)
ADP Ribosa Transferasas/metabolismo , Adenosina Difosfato Ribosa/metabolismo , Dominio Catalítico , Neisseria meningitidis/enzimología , ADP Ribosa Transferasas/química , ADP Ribosa Transferasas/genética , Secuencias de Aminoácidos , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Mutación , NAD+ Nucleosidasa/metabolismo , Estabilidad ProteicaRESUMEN
Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming bacterium that can reside in animals and humans. C. difficile infection causes a variety of clinical symptoms, ranging from diarrhea to fulminant colitis. Disease is mediated by TcdA and TcdB, two large enterotoxins released by C. difficile during colonization of the gut. In this study, we evaluated the ability of recombinant toxin fragments to induce neutralizing antibodies in mice. The protective efficacies of the most promising candidates were then evaluated in a hamster model of disease. While limited protection was observed with some combinations, coadministration of a cell binding domain fragment of TcdA (TcdA-B1) and the glucosyltransferase moiety of TcdB (TcdB-GT) induced systemic IgGs which neutralized both toxins and protected vaccinated animals from death following challenge with two strains of C. difficile. Further characterization revealed that despite high concentrations of toxin in the gut lumens of vaccinated animals during the acute phase of the disease, pathological damage was minimized. Assessment of gut contents revealed the presence of TcdA and TcdB antibodies, suggesting that systemic vaccination with this pair of recombinant polypeptides can limit the disease caused by toxin production during C. difficile infection.