title: Identification of conserved antigens from staphylococcal and streptococcal pathogens.
abstract: The design of vaccines containing epitopes shared between different human pathogens may lead to cross-species protection. In order to identify potentially conserved bacterial antigens, bacteriophage expression libraries of genomic DNA from Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes were probed with human sera from Staphylococcus aureus-infected and healthy individuals. By comparison with previous screening data from Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staph. aureus, putative antigenic, conserved domains across the genera were identified. In particular, three potentially antigenic conserved regions were identified based on the N-terminal domain of SACOL0609 (SdrD), the C-terminal domain of SACOL0723 (ScaB) and the C-terminus of SACOL1140 (IsdA) from Staph. aureus. The three domains were overexpressed, recombinant proteins were purified and polyclonal antisera raised against them recognized cell surface-located proteins from both staphylococcal and streptococcal species. The antisera were also able to opsonize both Staph. aureus and Strep. agalactiae thereby increasing their phagocytic uptake by human neutrophils. The conserved antigenic domains therefore represent potential cross-protective vaccine candidates.
authors.affiliation: The Krebs Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.affiliation: The Krebs Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, AMS Building, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AJ, UK.
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: The Krebs Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moseby
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Guldhedsgatan 10A, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Guldhedsgatan 10A, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vendrengh
authors.affiliation: The Krebs Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D056738:Cross Protection; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009895:Opsonin Proteins