Two Potential Syphilis Vaccine Candidates Inhibit Dissemination of Treponema pallidum

Man Xu; Man Xu; Yafeng Xie; Yafeng Xie; Yafeng Xie; Kang Zheng; Haodang Luo; Manyi Tan; Feijun Zhao; Feijun Zhao; Tiebing Zeng; Tiebing Zeng; Yimou Wu; Yimou Wu

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.759474

Frontiers in Immunology (Nov 2021)

Two Potential Syphilis Vaccine Candidates Inhibit Dissemination of Treponema pallidum

Man Xu,
Man Xu,
Yafeng Xie,
Yafeng Xie,
Yafeng Xie,
Kang Zheng,
Haodang Luo,
Manyi Tan,
Feijun Zhao,
Feijun Zhao,
Tiebing Zeng,
Tiebing Zeng,
Yimou Wu,
Yimou Wu

Affiliations

Man Xu: Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Man Xu: Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Yafeng Xie: Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Yafeng Xie: Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Yafeng Xie: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Kang Zheng: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, China
Haodang Luo: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Manyi Tan: Department of Toxicology, Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, China
Feijun Zhao: Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Feijun Zhao: Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Tiebing Zeng: Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Tiebing Zeng: Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Yimou Wu: Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
Yimou Wu: Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.759474
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, continues to be a major public health problem worldwide. Recent increases in the number of syphilis cases, in addition to the lack of an efficient vaccine against T. pallidum for humans, highlights an urgent need for the design and development of an efficacious syphilis vaccine. Here, we assess the vaccine potential of the adhesion protein Tp0136 and the outer membrane protein Tp0663. Rabbits were subcutaneously immunized with recombinant proteins Tp0136, Tp0663, or control PBS. Immunization with Tp0136 or Tp0663 generated a strong humoral immune response with high titers of IgG, as assessed by ELISA. Moreover, animals immunized with Tp0136 or Tp0663 exhibited attenuated lesion development, increased cellular infiltration at the lesion sites, and inhibition of treponemal dissemination to distant organs compared to the unimmunized animals. These findings indicate that Tp0136 and Tp0663 are promising syphilis vaccine candidates. Furthermore, these results provide novel and important information for not only understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of spirochetes, but also the development of spirochete-specific subunit vaccines.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology

ISSN: 1664-3224 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology

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