Immune response and protective profile elicited by a multi-epitope chimeric protein derived from Leptospira interrogans

Autor(es)

Fernandes, Luis G. V. ; Teixeira, Aline F. ; Filho, Antonio F. S. ; Souza, Gisele O. ; Vasconcellos, Silvio A. ; Heinemann, Marcos B. ; Romero, Eliete C. ; Nascimento, Ana L. T. O.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES; v. 57, p. 61-69, APR 2017.
• Citações Web of Science: 9

Resumo

Introduction: Pathogenic Leptospira is the causative agent of leptospirosis, a widely disseminated disease of human and veterinary concern. The development of vaccines that elicit cross-protective immunity through multiple leptospiral serovars has long been pursued. The aim of this study was to develop a novel chimeric multi-epitope fusion antigen, containing sequences of previously studied outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Leptospira. Methods: The chimeric protein was designed based on the amino acid sequences of the LigA, Mce, Lsa45, OmpL1, and LipL41 proteins, cloned into pAE vector, the protein expressed in Escherichia coli, and its immune response evaluated in the hamster infection model. Results: The recombinant chimeric protein (rChi) was recognized by antibodies present in serum samples of confirmed cases of human leptospirosis and experimentally infected hamsters, demonstrating that the rChi protein participates in the immune response activation during infection. However, despite high antibody titers achieved when the rChi protein was administered with either Alhydrogel or Bordetella pertussis monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), only 50% of the hamsters were protected against infection. Conclusions: Although a complete characterization of the immune response elicited by rChi/adjuvant in hamsters is required, it is believed that the construction of chimeric genes is an important attempt towards the generation of an effective vaccine against leptospirosis. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/01797-7 - Avaliação e caracterização de candidatos vacinais voltados para o controle da leptospirose
• Beneficiário: Aline Florencio Teixeira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 12/23913-9 - Identificação e caracterização de proteínas de Leptospira interrogans envolvidas nas interações patógeno - hospedeiro
• Beneficiário: Ana Lucia Tabet Oller do Nascimento
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 14/50981-0 - Busca de proteínas de superfície nas sequências do genoma da Leptospira interrogans: caracterização funcional e imunológica para o entendimento de mecanismos envolvidos na patogênese de bactéria
• Beneficiário: Ana Lucia Tabet Oller do Nascimento
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático