Immunoproteomic identification of the hypothetical protein NMB1468 as a novel lipoprotein ubiquitous in Neisseria meningitidis with vaccine potential

Proteomics. 2008 May;8(10):2115-25. doi: 10.1002/pmic.200700574.

Abstract

Many potential vaccine candidates for serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis (NMB) have been identified by reverse vaccinology, a genome-based approach. However, some candidates may be unseen owing to uncertain annotation or their peculiar properties. In this study, we describe the preparation and identification of a novel lipoprotein expressed in all meningococcal strains tested. mAb were first prepared from mice immunized with a meningococcal B strain isolated in Taiwan. Total proteins from the immunizing strain were separated by 2-DE in duplicate. Clone 4-7-3, which crossreacted to 174 tested meningococcal isolates, was used as the primary antibody for Western blotting. The immunoreactive spot was identified by LC-mass spectrometric analysis of the corresponding spot from the silver-stained gel and confirmed by molecular biology approach to be a novel lipoprotein encoded by the hypothetical NMB1468 gene. The potential use of this protein, designated Ag473/NMB1468, as a vaccine component was evaluated using the recombinant protein produced in Escherichia coli. Immunized mice were found to be protected from developing meningococcal disease after intraperitoneal inoculation with a lethal dose of meningococcal strain Nm22209, suggesting that Ag473/NMB1468 may be a promising vaccine candidate. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of the immunoproteomic approach in identification of novel vaccine candidates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Bacterial Vaccines / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Vaccines / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Lipoproteins / immunology
  • Lipoproteins / isolation & purification
  • Lipoproteins / metabolism*
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / immunology
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / isolation & purification
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology
  • Neisseria meningitidis / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Lipoproteins
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • NMB1468 protein, Neisseria meningitidis