title: Protection against genital tract Chlamydia trachomatis infection following intranasal immunization with a novel recombinant MOMP VS2/4 antigen.
abstract: The asymptomatic nature of most Chlamydia trachomatis infections and the lack of appropriate effects by current prevention and management call for vaccine development. We evaluated a recombinant subunit vaccine candidate based on the major outer membrane protein variable segments 2 and 4 (MOMP VS2/4). To achieve maximal immunogenicity and ease of production and purification, MOMP VS2/4 was constructed by using highly immunogenic sequences of MOMP only, thereby minimizing the presence of hydrophobic regions, and spacing the immunogenic epitopes with a flexible amino acid sequence. A purification tag was also added. The MOMP VS2/4 was given intranasally, with or without intravaginal boost, with cholera toxin (CT) adjuvant to C57BL/6 mice, which were screened for immunogenicity and protection against a live challenge infection with C. trachomatis serovar D. Bacterial shedding, cell-mediated responses, and antibody responses were monitored. Immunized mice exhibited significantly less bacterial shedding and were better protected against infertility as compared to unimmunized control mice. Immunizations stimulated both systemic and local specific antibody (IgG1, IgG2c, and IgA) responses, and primed T cells that produced interferon-γ and interleukins 13 and 17 upon challenge with recall antigen. Thus, MOMP VS2/4, in combination with CT adjuvant, stimulated Th1, Th2, and Th17 effector cells, and generated protective immunity associated with less pathology. We regard MOMP VS2/4 as a promising candidate for further development into a mucosal chlamydial vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Örebro Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.|Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ronza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hadad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: Örebro Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalbina
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schön
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unemo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lycke
authors.affiliation: Örebro Life Science Center, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Åke
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Strid
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sören
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andersson
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007246:Infertility / Q000517:prevention & control; D008219:Lymphogranuloma Venereum / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018272:Porins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D018272:Porins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C071677:omp1 protein, Chlamydia trachomatis; D002772:Cholera Toxin
keywords: 
  Chlamydia trachomatis
  ; T cells; antibody response; major outer membrane protein; mice; vaccine