title: A defined syphilis vaccine candidate inhibits dissemination of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum.
abstract: Syphilis is a prominent disease in low- and middle-income countries, and a re-emerging public health threat in high-income countries. Syphilis elimination will require development of an effective vaccine that has thus far remained elusive. Here we assess the vaccine potential of Tp0751, a vascular adhesin from the causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. Tp0751-immunized animals exhibit a significantly reduced bacterial organ burden upon T. pallidum challenge compared with unimmunized animals. Introduction of lymph nodes from Tp0751-immunized, T. pallidum-challenged animals to naive animals fails to induce infection, confirming sterile protection. These findings provide evidence that Tp0751 is a promising syphilis vaccine candidate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Lithgow
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hof
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
authors.forename: Charmaine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wetherell
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
authors.forename: Caroline E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011817:Rabbits; D013587:Syphilis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C496546:Tp32 protein, Treponema pallidum