Frontiers in Immunology (Nov 2022)

Protective immunity enhanced Salmonella vaccine vectors delivering Helicobacter pylori antigens reduce H. pylori stomach colonization in mice

  • Amir Ghasemi,
  • Shifeng Wang,
  • Bikash Sahay,
  • Jeffrey R. Abbott,
  • Roy Curtiss

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1034683
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of gastric mucosal inflammation, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Emerging antimicrobial-resistant H. pylori has hampered the effective eradication of frequent chronic infections. Moreover, a safe vaccine is highly demanded due to the absence of effective vaccines against H. pylori. In this study, we employed a new innovative Protective Immunity Enhanced Salmonella Vaccine (PIESV) vector strain to deliver and express multiple H. pylori antigen genes. Immunization of mice with our vaccine delivering the HpaA, Hp-NAP, UreA and UreB antigens, provided sterile protection against H. pylori SS1 infection in 7 out of 10 tested mice. In comparison to the control groups that had received PBS or a PIESV carrying an empty vector, immunized mice exhibited specific and significant cellular recall responses and antigen-specific serum IgG1, IgG2c, total IgG and gastric IgA antibody titers. In conclusion, an improved S. Typhimurium-based live vaccine delivering four antigens shows promise as a safe and effective vaccine against H. pylori infection.

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