title: Amidase, a cell wall hydrolase, elicits protective immunity against Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis.
abstract: The morbidity and the mortality associated with Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis infections have greatly increased due to the rapid emergence of highly virulent and antibiotic resistant strains. Development of a vaccine-based therapy is greatly desired. However, no staphylococcal vaccine is available till date. In this study, we have identified Major amidase (Atl-AM) as a prime candidate for future vaccine design against these pathogens. Atl-AM is a multi-functional non-covalently cell wall associated protein which is involved in staphylococcal cell separation after cell division, host extracellular matrix adhesion and biofilm formation. Atl-AM is present on the surface of diverse S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains. When used in combination with Freund's adjuvant, Atl-AM generated a mixed Th1 and Th2 mediated immune response which is skewed more toward Th1; and showed increased production of opsonophagocytic IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies. Significant protective immune response was observed when vaccinated mice were challenged with S. aureus or S. epidermidis. Vaccination prevented the systemic dissemination of both organisms. Our results demonstrate the remarkable efficacy of Atl-AM as a vaccine candidate against both of these pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, AIMS - Ponekkara, Cochin, Kerala 682041, India.
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, AIMS - Ponekkara, Cochin, Kerala 682041, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vinod
authors.affiliation: Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, AIMS - Ponekkara, Cochin, Kerala 682041, India.
authors.forename: Maneesha K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.affiliation: Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, AIMS - Ponekkara, Cochin, Kerala 682041, India.
authors.forename: Sukhithasri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vijayrajratnam
authors.affiliation: Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, AIMS - Ponekkara, Cochin, Kerala 682041, India.
authors.forename: Lalitha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, AIMS - Ponekkara, Cochin, Kerala 682041, India.
authors.forename: Reshmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peethambaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, AIMS - Ponekkara, Cochin, Kerala 682041, India.
authors.forename: Anil Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Vasudevan
authors.affiliation: Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, AIMS - Ponekkara, Cochin, Kerala 682041, India. Electronic address: rajabiswas@aims.amrita.edu.
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000201:enzymology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000581:Amidohydrolases; C019665:amidase
keywords: Antigenicity; Cell wall associated proteins; Immunogenicity; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Vaccine