Lipoprotein NMB0928 from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B as a novel vaccine candidate.
Polysaccharide-based vaccines for serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis have failed to induce protective immunity. As a result, efforts to develop vaccines for serogroup B meningococcal disease have mostly focused on outer membrane proteins (OMP). Vaccine candidates based on meningococcal OMP have emerged in the form of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) or, more recently, purified recombinant proteins, as alternative strategies for serogroup B vaccine development. In our group, the protein composition of the Cuban OMVs-based vaccine VA-MENGOC-BC was elucidated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The proteomic map of this product allowed the identification of new putative protective proteins not previously reported as components of an antimeningococcal vaccine. In the present study, we have determined the immunogenicity and protective capacity of NMB0928, one of those proteins present in the OMVs. The antigen was obtained as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli, purified and used to immunize mice. The antiserum produced against the protein was capable to recognize the natural protein in different meningococcal strains by whole-cell ELISA and Western blotting. After immunization, recombinant NMB0928 induced bactericidal antibodies, and when the protein was administered inserted into liposomes, the elicited antibodies were protective in the infant rat model. These results suggest that NMB0928 is a novel antigen worth to be included in a broadly protective meningococcal vaccine.
Delgado
Maité
M
Meningococcal Research Department, Division of Vaccines, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Ave. 31, Cubanacan, Habana 10600, Cuba. maite.delgado@cigb.edu.cu
Yero
Daniel
D
Niebla
Olivia
O
González
Sonia
S
Climent
Yanet
Y
Pérez
Yusleydis
Y
Cobas
Karem
K
Caballero
Evelín
E
García
Darien
D
Pajón
Rolando
R
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D007106:Immune Sera; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008081:Liposomes; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins