Production of Neisseria meningitidis transferrin-binding protein B by recombinant Bordetella pertussis

Infect Immun. 2001 Sep;69(9):5440-6. doi: 10.1128/IAI.69.9.5440-5446.2001.

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B infections are among the major causes of fulminant septicemia and meningitis, especially severe in young children, and no broad vaccine is available yet. Because of poor immunogenicity of the serogroup B capsule, many efforts are now devoted to the identification of protective protein antigens. Among those are PorA and, more recently, transferrin-binding protein B (TbpB). In this study, TbpB of N. meningitidis was genetically fused to the N-terminal domain of the Bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), and the fha-tbpB hybrid gene was expressed in B. pertussis either as a plasmid-borne gene or as a single copy inserted into the chromosome. The hybrid protein was efficiently secreted by the recombinant strains, despite its large size, and was recognized by both anti-FHA and anti-TbpB antibodies. A single intranasal administration of recombinant virulent or pertussis-toxin-deficient, attenuated B. pertussis to mice resulted in the production of antigen-specific systemic immunoglobulin G (IgG), as well as local IgG and IgA. The anti-TbpB serum antibodies were of the IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b isotypes and were found to express complement-mediated bactericidal activity against N. meningitidis. These observations indicate that recombinant B. pertussis may be a promising vector for the development of a mucosal vaccine against serogroup B meningococci.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adhesins, Bacterial / genetics
  • Adhesins, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Bordetella pertussis / genetics*
  • Bordetella pertussis / immunology
  • Bordetella pertussis / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / immunology
  • Hemagglutinins / genetics
  • Hemagglutinins / metabolism
  • Iron-Binding Proteins
  • Mice
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology
  • Neisseria meningitidis / metabolism*
  • Plasmids
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Transferrin-Binding Protein B
  • Transferrin-Binding Proteins
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella*

Substances

  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Hemagglutinins
  • Iron-Binding Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Transferrin-Binding Protein B
  • Transferrin-Binding Proteins
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella
  • filamentous hemagglutinin adhesin, Bordetella pertussis