Baruch Velan

Search for Correlates of Protective Immunity Conferred by Anthrax Vaccine

ABSTRACT Vaccination by anthrax protective antigen (PA)-based vaccines requires multiple immunization, underlying the need to develop more efficacious vaccines or alternative vaccination regimens. In spite of the vast use of PA-based vaccines, the definition of a marker for protective immunity is still lacking. Here we describe studies designed to help define such markers. To this end we have immunized guinea pigs by different methods and monitored the immune response and the corresponding extent of protection against a lethal challenge with anthrax spores. Active immunization was performed by a single injection using one of two methods: (i) vaccination with decreasing amounts of PA and (ii) vaccination with constant amounts of PA that had been thermally inactivated for increasing periods. In both studies a direct correlation between survival and neutralizing-antibody titer was found (r2 = 0.92 and 0.95, respectively). Most significantly, in the two protocols a similar neutralizing-antibody titer range provided 50% protection. Furthermore, in a complementary study involving passive transfer of PA hyperimmune sera to naive animals, a similar correlation between neutralizing-antibody titers and protection was found. In all three immunization studies, neutralization titers of at least 300 were sufficient to confer protection against a dose of 40 50% lethal doses (LD50) of virulent anthrax spores of the Vollum strain. Such consistency in the correlation of protective immunity with anti-PA antibody titers was not observed for antibody titers determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Taken together, these results clearly demonstrate that neutralizing antibodies to PA constitute a major component of the protective immunity against anthrax and suggest that this parameter could be used as a surrogate marker for protection.

Attenuated Nontoxinogenic and Nonencapsulated Recombinant Bacillus anthracis Spore Vaccines Protect against Anthrax

ABSTRACT Several highly attenuated spore-forming nontoxinogenic and nonencapsulated Bacillus anthracis vaccines differing in levels of expression of recombinant protective antigen (rPA) were constructed. Biochemical analyses (including electrospray mass spectroscopy and N terminus amino acid sequencing) as well as biological and immunological tests demonstrated that the rPA retains the characteristics of native PA. A single immunization of guinea pigs with 5 × 107 spores of one of these recombinant strains, MASC-10, expressing high levels of rPA (≥100 μg/ml) from a constitutive heterologous promoter induced high titers of neutralizing anti-PA antibodies. This immune response was long lasting (at least 12 months) and provided protection against a lethal challenge of virulent (Vollum) anthrax spores. The recombinant B. anthracis spore vaccine appears to be more efficacious than the vegetative cell vaccine. Furthermore, while results clearly suggest a direct correlation between the level of expression of PA and the potency of the vaccine, they also suggest that some B. anthracisspore-associated antigen(s) may contribute in a significant manner to protective immunity.

Search for Potential Vaccine Candidate Open Reading Frames in the Bacillus anthracis Virulence Plasmid pXO1: In Silico and In Vitro Screening

ABSTRACT A genomic analysis of the Bacillus anthracis virulence plasmid pXO1, aimed at identifying potential vaccine candidates and virulence-related genes, was carried out. The 143 previously defined open reading frames (ORFs) (R. T. Okinaka, K. Cloud, O. Hampton, A. R. Hoffmaster, K. K. Hill, P. Keim, T. M. Koehler, G. Lamke, S. Kumano, J. Mahillon, D. Manter, Y. Martinez, D. Ricke, R. Svensson, and P. J. Jackson, J. Bacteriol. 181:6509-6515, 1999) were subjected to extensive sequence similarity searches (with the nonredundant and unfinished microbial genome databases), as well as motif, cellular location, and domain analyses. A comparative genomics analysis was conducted with the related genomes of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus halodurans, and Bacillus cereus and the pBtoxis plasmid of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israeliensis. As a result, the percentage of ORFs with clues about their functions increased from ∼30% (as previously reported) to more than 60%. The bioinformatics analysis permitted identification of novel genes with putative relevance for pathogenesis and virulence. Based on our analyses, 11 putative proteins were chosen as targets for functional genomics studies. A rapid and efficient functional screening method was developed, in which PCR-amplified full-length linear DNA products of the selected ORFs were transcribed and directly translated in vitro and their immunogenicities were assessed on the basis of their reactivities with hyperimmune anti-B. anthracis antisera. Of the 11 ORFs selected for analysis, 9 were successfully expressed as full-length polypeptides, and 3 of these were found to be antigenic and to have immunogenic potential. The latter ORFs are currently being evaluated to determine their vaccine potential.

Functional Characteristics of the Oxyanion Hole in Human Acetylcholinesterase

The contribution of the oxyanion hole to the functional architecture and to the hydrolytic efficiency of human acetylcholinesterase (HuAChE) was investigated through single replacements of its elements, residues Gly-121, Gly-122 and the adjacent residue Gly-120, by alanine. All three substitutions resulted in about 100-fold decrease of the bimolecular rate constants for hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine; however, whereas replacements of Gly-120 and Gly-121 affected only the turnover number, mutation of residue Gly-122 had an effect also on the Michaelis constant. The differential behavior of the G121A and G122A enzymes was manifested also toward the transition state analogm-(N,N,N-trimethylammonio)trifluoroacetophenone (TMTFA), organophosphorous inhibitors, carbamates, and toward selected noncovalent active center ligands. Reactivity of both mutants toward TMTFA was 2000–11,000-fold lower than that of the wild type HuAChE; however, the G121A enzyme exhibited a rapid inhibition pattern, as opposed to the slow binding kinetics shown by the G122A enzyme. For both phosphates (diethyl phosphorofluoridate, diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate, and paraoxon) and phosphonates (sarin and soman), the decrease in inhibitory activity toward the G121A enzyme was very substantial (2000–6700-fold), irrespective of size of the alkoxy substituents on the phosphorus atom. On the other hand, for the G122A HuAChE the relative decline in reactivity toward phosphonates (500–460-fold) differed from that toward the phosphates (12–95-fold). Although formation of Michaelis complexes with substrates does not seem to involve significant interaction with the oxyanion hole, interactions with this motif are a major stabilizing element in accommodation of covalent inhibitors like organophosphates or carbamates. These observations and molecular modeling suggest that replacements of residues Gly-120 or Gly-121 by alanine alter the structure of the oxyanion hole motif, abolishing the H-bonding capacity of residue at position 121. These mutations weaken the interaction between HuAChE and the various ligands by 2.7–5.0 kcal/mol. In contrast, variations in reactivity due to replacement of residue Gly-122 seem to result from steric hindrance at the active center acyl pocket.

Genome-Based Bioinformatic Selection of Chromosomal Bacillus anthracis Putative Vaccine Candidates Coupled with Proteomic Identification of Surface-Associated Antigens

ABSTRACT Bacillus anthracis (Ames strain) chromosome-derived open reading frames (ORFs), predicted to code for surface exposed or virulence related proteins, were selected as B. anthracis-specific vaccine candidates by a multistep computational screen of the entire draft chromosome sequence (February 2001 version, 460 contigs, The Institute for Genomic Research, Rockville, Md.). The selection procedure combined preliminary annotation (sequence similarity searches and domain assignments), prediction of cellular localization, taxonomical and functional screen and additional filtering criteria (size, number of paralogs). The reductive strategy, combined with manual curation, resulted in selection of 240 candidate ORFs encoding proteins with putative known function, as well as 280 proteins of unknown function. Proteomic analysis of two-dimensional gels of a B. anthracis membrane fraction, verified the expression of some gene products. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analyses allowed identification of 38 spots cross-reacting with sera from B. anthracis immunized animals. These spots were found to represent eight in vivo immunogens, comprising of EA1, Sap, and 6 proteins whose expression and immunogenicity was not reported before. Five of these 8 immunogens were preselected by the bioinformatic analysis (EA1, Sap, 2 novel SLH proteins and peroxiredoxin/AhpC), as vaccine candidates. This study demonstrates that a combination of the bioinformatic and proteomic strategies may be useful in promoting the development of next generation anthrax vaccine.

The Architecture of Human Acetylcholinesterase Active Center Probed by Interactions with Selected Organophosphate Inhibitors

The role of the functional architecture of human acetylcholinesterase (HuAChE) active center in facilitating reactions with organophosphorus inhibitors was examined by a combination of site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic studies of phosphorylation with organophosphates differing in size of their alkoxy substituents and in the nature of the leaving group. Replacements of residues Phe-295 and Phe-297, constituting the HuAChE acyl pocket, increase up to 80-fold the reactivity of the enzymes toward diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate, diethyl phosphorofluoridate, and p-nitrophenyl diethyl phosphate (paraoxon), indicating the role of this subsite in accommodating the phosphate alkoxy substituent. On the other hand, a decrease of up to 160-fold in reactivity was observed for enzymes carrying replacements of residues Tyr-133, Glu-202, and Glu-450, which are constituents of the hydrogen bond network in the HuAChE active center, which maintains its unique functional architecture. Replacement of residues Trp-86, Tyr-337, and Phe-338 in the alkoxy pocket affected reactivity toward diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate and paraoxon, but to a lesser extent that toward diethyl phosphorofluoridate, indicating that both the alkoxy substituent and the p-nitrophenoxy leaving group interact with this subsite. In all cases the effects on reactivity toward organophosphates, demonstrated in up to 10,000-fold differences in the values of bimolecular rate constants, were mainly a result of altered affinity of the HuAChE mutants, while the apparent first order rate constants of phosphorylation varied within a narrow range. This finding indicates that the main role of the functional architecture of HuAChE active center in phosphorylation is to facilitate the formation of enzyme-inhibitor Michaelis complexes and that this affinity, rather than the nucleophilic activity of the enzyme catalytic machinery, is a major determinant of HuAChE reactivity toward organophosphates.

Generation of Yersinia pestis Attenuated Strains by Signature-Tagged Mutagenesis in Search of Novel Vaccine Candidates

ABSTRACT In a search for novel attenuated vaccine candidates for use against Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, a signature-tagged mutagenesis strategy was used and optimized for a subcutaneously infected mouse model. A library of tagged mutants of the virulent Y. pestis Kimberley53 strain was generated. Screening of 300 mutants through two consecutive cycles resulted in selection of 16 mutant strains that were undetectable in spleens 48 h postinfection. Each of these mutants was evaluated in vivo by assays for competition against the wild-type strain and for virulence following inoculation of 100 CFU (equivalent to 100 50% lethal doses [LD50] of the wild type). A wide spectrum of attenuation was obtained, ranging from avirulent mutants exhibiting competition indices of 10−5 to 10−7 to virulent mutants exhibiting a delay in the mean time to death or mutants indistinguishable from the wild type in the two assays. Characterization of the phenotypes and genotypes of the selected mutants led to identification of virulence-associated genes coding for factors involved in global bacterial physiology (e.g., purH, purK, dnaE, and greA) or for hypothetical polypeptides, as well as for the virulence regulator gene lcrF. One of the avirulent mutant strains (LD50, >107 CFU) was found to be disrupted in the pcm locus, which is presumably involved in the bacterial response to environmental stress. This Kimberley53pcm mutant was superior to the EV76 live vaccine strain because it induced 10- to 100-fold-higher antibody titers to the protective V and F1 antigens and because it conferred efficacious protective immunity.

Interrelationship between Dendritic Cell Trafficking and Francisella tularensis Dissemination following Airway Infection

Francisella tularensis, the etiological agent of the inhalation tularemia, multiplies in a variety of cultured mammalian cells. Nevertheless, evidence for its in vivo intracellular residence is less conclusive. Dendritic cells (DC) that are adapted for engulfing bacteria and migration towards lymphatic organs could serve as potential targets for bacterial residence and trafficking. Here, we focus on the in vivo interactions of F. tularensis with DC following airway infection of mice. Lethal airway infection of mice with the live vaccine strain (LVS) results in trafficking of a CD11bhigh/CD11cmed/autofluorescencelow DC subset from the respiratory tract to the draining mediastinal lymph node (MdLN). Simultaneously, a rapid, massive bacterial colonization of the MdLN occurs, characterized by large bacterial foci formation. Analysis of bacteria in the MdLN revealed a major population of extracellular bacteria, which co-exists with a substantial fraction of intracellular bacteria. The intracellular bacteria are viable and reside in cells sorted for DC marker expression. Moreover, in vivo vital staining experiments indicate that most of these intracellular bacteria (∼75%) reside in cells that have migrated from the airways to the MdLN after infection. The correlation between DC and bacteria accumulation in the MdLN was further demonstrated by manipulating DC migration to the MdLN through two independent pathways. Impairment of DC migration to the MdLN, either by a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist (FTY720) or by the D prostanoid receptor 1 agonist (BW245C), resulted in reduced bacterial colonization of MdLN. Moreover, BW245C treatment delayed the onset of morbidity and the time to death of the infected mice. Taken together, these results suggest that DC can serve as an inhabitation niche for F. tularensis in the early stages of infection, and that DC trafficking plays a role in pathogen dissemination. This underscores the therapeutic potential of DC migration impairing drugs in tularemia treatment.

Major motives in non-acceptance of A/H1N1 flu vaccination: The weight of rational assessment

Recent efforts of health authorities to promote vaccination against influenza A/H1N1 were met with low compliance rates in most industrialized countries. Here we analyzed the attitudes of the Israeli public towards A/H1N1 vaccination based on a telephone survey conducted several months after the peak of the outbreak. The findings attest to the low uptake of the A/H1N1 vaccine (17%) in Israel, and identify the socio-demographic characteristics associated with non-compliance. In addition, the survey reveals passiveness, fear and distrust as motives leading to non-compliance. Most importantly, the study identified the substantial weight of reflective assessment in the attitude of lay individuals towards the A/H1N1 vaccine. As many as 30% of the non-vaccinated responders provided reasoned arguments for rejecting the vaccine, based mainly on assessment of threat versus actual risk. These observations highlight the need to consider the opinion of the lay public when implementing new vaccination programs.

Hierarchy of Post-translational Modifications Involved in the Circulatory Longevity of Glycoproteins DEMONSTRATION OF CONCERTED CONTRIBUTIONS OF GLYCAN SIALYLATION AND SUBUNIT ASSEMBLY TO THE PHARMACOKINETIC BEHAVIOR OF BOVINE ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE

The tetrameric form of native serum-derived bovine acetylcholinesterase is retained in the circulation for much longer periods (mean residence time, MRT = 1390 min) than recombinant bovine acetylcholinesterase (rBoAChE) produced in the HEK-293 cell system (MRT = 57 min). Extensive matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight analyses established that the basic structures of the N-glycans associated with the native and recombinant enzymes are similar (the major species (50–60%) are of the biantennary fucosylated type and 20–30% are of the triantennary type), yet the glycan termini of the native enzyme are mostly capped with sialic acid (82%) and α-galactose (12%), whereas glycans of the recombinant enzyme exhibit a high level of exposed β-galactose residues (50%) and a lack of α-galactose. Glycan termini of both fetal bovine serum and rBoAChE were altered in vitro using exoglycosidases and sialyltransferase or in vivo by a HEK-293 cell line developed specifically to allow efficient sialic acid capping of β-galactose-exposed termini. In addition, the dimeric and monomeric forms of rBoAChE were quantitatively converted to tetramers by complexation with a synthetic peptide representing the human ColQ-derived proline-rich attachment domain. Thus by controlling both the level and nature ofN-glycan capping and subunit assembly, we generated and characterized 9 distinct bovine AChE glycoforms displaying a 400-fold difference in their circulatory lifetimes (MRT = 3.5–1390 min). This revealed some general rules and a hierarchy of post-translation factors determining the circulatory profile of glycoproteins. Accordingly, an rBoAChE was generated that displayed a circulatory profile indistinguishable from the native form.