Distinct Binding and Immunogenic Properties of the Gonococcal Homologue of Meningococcal Factor H Binding Protein
Open Access
- 1 August 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLoS Pathogens
- Vol. 9 (8), e1003528
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003528
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of sepsis and meningitis. The bacterium recruits factor H (fH), a negative regulator of the complement system, to its surface via fH binding protein (fHbp), providing a mechanism to avoid complement-mediated killing. fHbp is an important antigen that elicits protective immunity against the meningococcus and has been divided into three different variant groups, V1, V2 and V3, or families A and B. However, immunisation with fHbp V1 does not result in cross-protection against V2 and V3 and vice versa. Furthermore, high affinity binding of fH could impair immune responses against fHbp. Here, we investigate a homologue of fHbp in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, designated as Gonococcal homologue of fHbp (Ghfp) which we show is a promising vaccine candidate for N. meningitidis. We demonstrate that Gfhp is not expressed on the surface of the gonococcus and, despite its high level of identity with fHbp, does not bind fH. Substitution of only two amino acids in Ghfp is sufficient to confer fH binding, while the corresponding residues in V3 fHbp are essential for high affinity fH binding. Furthermore, immune responses against Ghfp recognise V1, V2 and V3 fHbps expressed by a range of clinical isolates, and have serum bactericidal activity against N. meningitidis expressing fHbps from all variant groups. Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of sepsis and meningitis in young children and adolescents. Although vaccines are currently available against several serogroups, a broadly effective vaccine against serogroup B is still needed. Factor H binding protein (fHbp) can bind the human complement regulator factor H (fH) and is an important meningococcal immunogen. fHbp is divided into three variant groups (V1, V2 and V3) and immunisation with V1 fHbp does not elicit cross-protection against meningococcus expressing fHbp V2 or V3, and vice versa. Here, we investigate a homologue of fHbp in Neisseria gonorrhoeae which we named Gonococcal homologue of factor H binding protein (Ghfp). We show that in contrast to fHbp, Ghfp is not expressed on the bacterial surface and is unable to bind to factor H. Surprisingly, we found that antibodies raised against Ghfp have the capacity to mediate protective immunity against N. meningitidis expressing any of the three variant groups of fHbp, and could provide a broadly protective vaccine against N. meningitidis.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- Characterization of Neisseria meningitidis Isolates That Do Not Express the Virulence Factor and Vaccine Antigen Factor H Binding ProteinClinical and Vaccine Immunology, 2011
- Molecular Characterization of the Interaction between Sialylated Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Factor HOnline Journal of Public Health Informatics, 2011
- Characterization of Diverse Subvariants of the Meningococcal Factor H (fH) Binding Protein for Their Ability To Bind fH, To Mediate Serum Resistance, and To Induce Bactericidal AntibodiesInfection and Immunity, 2011
- The Meningococcal Vaccine Candidate Neisserial Surface Protein A (NspA) Binds to Factor H and Enhances Meningococcal Resistance to ComplementPLoS Pathogens, 2010
- Characterization of fHbp , nhba ( gna2132 ), nadA , porA , and Sequence Type in Group B Meningococcal Case Isolates Collected in England and Wales during January 2008 and Potential Coverage of an Investigational Group B Meningococcal VaccineClinical and Vaccine Immunology, 2010
- The modular architecture of meningococcal factor H-binding proteinMicrobiology, 2009
- Neisseria meningitidis recruits factor H using protein mimicry of host carbohydratesNature, 2009
- Factor H-Binding Protein Is Important for Meningococcal Survival in Human Whole Blood and Serum and in the Presence of the Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37Infection and Immunity, 2009
- Bactericidal Antibody Responses Induced by Meningococcal Recombinant Chimeric Factor H-Binding Protein VaccinesInfection and Immunity, 2008
- A universal vaccine for serogroup B meningococcusProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2006