title: OmpW is a potential target for eliciting protective immunity against Acinetobacter baumannii infections.
abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an important conditioned pathogen that causes nosocomial and community-associated infections. In this study, we sought to investigate whether outer membrane protein W (OmpW) is a potential target for eliciting protective immunity against A. baumannii infections. Mice immunized with the fusion protein thioredoxin-OmpW generated strong OmpW-specific IgG responses. In a sepsis model, both active and passive immunizations against OmpW effectively protected mice from A. baumannii infections. This protection was demonstrated by a significantly improved survival rate, reduced bacterial burdens within organs, and the suppressed accumulation of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in sera. Opsonophagocytic assays with murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells indicated that the bactericidal effects of the antisera derived from the immunized mice are mediated synergistically by specific antibodies and complement components. The antisera presented significant opsonophagocytic activities against homologous strains and clonally distinct clinical isolates in vitro. Protein data analysis showed that the sequence of OmpW, which has a molecule length of 183 amino acids, is more than 91% conserved in reported A. baumannii strains. In conclusion, we identified OmpW as a highly immunogenic and conserved protein as a valuable antigen candidate for the development of an effective vaccine or the preparation of antisera to control A. baumannii infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Shijie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Wenjia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Cunbao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China. Electronic address: yanbingma1969@126.com.
authors.forename: Yanbing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000097:blood; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009895:Opsonin Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D003165:Complement System Proteins
keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; Outer membrane protein W; Protective immunity; Vaccine