title: Antibody to reduction modifiable protein increases the bacterial burden and the duration of gonococcal infection in a mouse model.
abstract: Antibodies against reduction modifiable protein (anti-Rmp Abs) can block complement-dependent killing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by otherwise bactericidal Abs. An anti-lipooligosaccharide bactericidal monoclonal Ab (mAb) 2C7, a gonococcal vaccine candidate Ab, attenuates vaginal colonization by gonococci in BALB/c mice. Here we show that anti-Rmp Abs block the efficacy of mAb 2C7 in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Anti-Rmp Abs also counteract 2C7-mediated enhancement of C3 deposition on gonococci in vivo. The mouse model will prove useful to study how blocking Abs influence the efficacy of gonococcal vaccines. Preexisting anti-Rmp Abs will be an important consideration in evaluating the efficacy of gonococcal vaccine candidates.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
authors.forename: George W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C051591:Rmp protein, Neisseria
keywords: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; blocking antibody; vaccine