RrgB321, a fusion protein of the three variants of the pneumococcal pilus backbone RrgB, is protective in vivo and elicits opsonic antibodies

Infect Immun. 2012 Jan;80(1):451-60. doi: 10.1128/IAI.05780-11. Epub 2011 Nov 14.

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae pilus 1 is present in 30 to 50% of invasive disease-causing strains and is composed of three subunits: the adhesin RrgA, the major backbone subunit RrgB, and the minor ancillary protein RrgC. RrgB exists in three distinct genetic variants and, when used to immunize mice, induces an immune response specific for each variant. To generate an antigen able to protect against the infection caused by all pilus-positive S. pneumoniae strains, we engineered a fusion protein containing the three RrgB variants (RrgB321). RrgB321 elicited antibodies against proteins from organisms in the three clades and protected mice against challenge with piliated pneumococcal strains. RrgB321 antisera mediated complement-dependent opsonophagocytosis of piliated strains at levels comparable to those achieved with the PCV7 glycoconjugate vaccine. These results suggest that a vaccine composed of RrgB321 has the potential to cover 30% or more of all pneumococcal strains and support the inclusion of this fusion protein in a multicomponent vaccine against S. pneumoniae.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Blood Bactericidal Activity*
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology
  • Female
  • Fimbriae Proteins / genetics
  • Fimbriae Proteins / immunology*
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / genetics
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Opsonin Proteins / blood*
  • Phagocytosis / immunology
  • Pneumococcal Infections / immunology
  • Pneumococcal Infections / prevention & control
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / immunology*
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Opsonin Proteins
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Fimbriae Proteins
  • Complement System Proteins