Characterization of protective immune responses against Neisseria gonorrhoeae induced by intranasal immunization with adhesion and penetration protein
Lingyin Xia,
Qin Lu,
Xiaosu Wang,
Chengyi Jia,
Yujie Zhao,
Guangli Wang,
Jianru Yang,
Ningqing Zhang,
Xun Min,
Jian Huang,
Meirong Huang
Affiliations
Lingyin Xia
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Qin Lu
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Xiaosu Wang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Chengyi Jia
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Yujie Zhao
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Guangli Wang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Jianru Yang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Ningqing Zhang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Xun Min
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
Jian Huang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; School of Laboratory Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; Corresponding author.Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China.
Meirong Huang
Department of Blood Transfusion, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China; Corresponding author.
Drug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae is an urgent threat to global public health, and vaccine development is the best long-term strategy for controlling gonorrhea. We have previously shown that adhesion and penetration protein (App) play a role in the adhesion, invasion, and reproductive tract colonization of N. gonorrhoeae. Here, we describe the immune response induced by intranasal immunization with passenger and translocator fragments of App. The recombinant App passenger and translocator fragments induced high titers of IgG and IgA antibodies in serum and vaginal washes. Antibodies produced by App passenger and the combination of passenger and translocator mediated the killing of N. gonorrhoeae via serum bactericidal activity and opsonophagocytic activity, whereas antisera from translocator-immunized groups had lower bactericidal activity and opsonophagocytic activity. The antisera of the App passenger and translocator, alone and in combination, inhibited the adhesion of N. gonorrhoeae to cervical epithelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Nasal immunization with App passenger and translocator fragments alone or in combination induced high levels of IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibodies and stimulated mouse splenocytes to secrete cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17A, suggesting that Th1 and Th17 cellular immune responses were activated. In vivo experiments have shown that immune App passenger and transporter fragments can accelerate the clearance of N. gonorrhoeae in the vagina of mice. These data suggest that the App protein is a promising N. gonorrhoeae vaccine antigen.
