title: Heterogeneity of tbpB, the transferrin-binding protein B gene, among serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis strains of the ET-5 complex.
abstract: ET-5 complex strains of Neisseria meningitidis were traced intercontinentally and have been causing hyperendemic meningitis on a worldwide scale. In an attempt to develop a fully broad cross-reactive transferrin-binding protein B (TbpB)-based vaccine, we undertook to assess the extent of variability of TbpB proteins among strains of this epidemiological complex. For this purpose, a PCR-based method was developed to study the heterogeneity of the tbpB genes from 31 serogroup B N. meningitidis strains belonging to the ET-5 complex. To define adequate primers, the tbpB gene from an ET-5 complex strain, 8680 (B:15:P1.3; isolated in Chile in 1987), was cloned and the nucleotide sequence was determined and compared to two other previously published tbpB sequences. A tbpB fragment was amplified from genomic DNA from each of the 31 strains. By this method, heterogeneity in size was observed and further characterized by restriction pattern analysis with four restriction enzymes and by sequencing tbpB genes from three other ET-5 complex strains. Four distinct tbpB gene types were identified. Fifty-five percent of the strains studied (17/31) harbored tbpB genes similar to that of strain BZ83 (B:15:-) isolated in The Netherlands in 1984. Ten of the 31 strains (32.2%) had tbpB genes close to that of strain M982. Only 3 of the 31 (9.6%) were found to harbor tbpB genes close to that of strain 8680, and finally one strain, 8710 (B:15:P1.3; isolated in Chile in 1987), was found to harbor a tbpB gene different from all the others. These results demonstrated a pronounced variability among tbpB alleles within a limited number of ET-5 complex strains collected over a 19-year period. Despite the genetic heterogeneity observed, specific antisera raised to purified Tbps from ET-5 complex strains showed broad cross-reactivity between different TbpBs both by Western blot analysis and bactericidal assay, confirming that a limited number of TbpB molecules included in a vaccine are likely to induce broadly cross-reactive antibodies against the different strains.
authors.affiliation: Pasteur Merieux Connaught, Marcy-l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rokbi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mignon
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Caugant
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Quentin-Millet
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000939:Epitopes; D005784:Gene Amplification; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping; D013045:Species Specificity; D033882:Transferrin-Binding Protein B; D033863:Transferrin-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D033882:Transferrin-Binding Protein B; D033863:Transferrin-Binding Proteins