A novel peptide screened by phage display can mimic TRAP antigen epitope against Staphylococcus aureus infections.
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen. Pathogenic effects are largely due to production of bacterial toxins, whose synthesis is controlled by an mRNA molecule termed RNAIII. The S. aureus protein called RAP (RNAIII-activating protein) is secreted and activates RNAIII production by inducing the phosphorylation of its target protein TRAP (target of RAP). Antibodies to TRAP have been shown to suppress exotoxin production by S. aureus in vitro, suggesting that TRAP may be a useful vaccine target site. Here we showed that a peptide TA21 was identified by screening a phage display library using anti-TRAP antibodies. Mice vaccinated with Escherichia coli engineered to express TA21 on their surface (FTA21) were protected from S. aureus infections, using sepsis and cellulitis mice models. By sequence analysis, it was found that the TA21 is highly homologous to the C-terminal sequence of TRAP which is conserved among S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, suggesting that peptide TA21 may be a useful broad vaccine to protect from infection caused by various staphylococcal strains.
Yang
Guang
G
Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
Gao
Yaping
Y
Dong
Jie
J
Liu
Chuan
C
Xue
Yanning
Y
Fan
Ming
M
Shen
Beifen
B
Shao
Ningsheng
N
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000628:therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000939:Epitopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000628:therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C079092:MtrB protein, Bacteria; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014612:Vaccines