Non-pathogenic Borrelia burgdorferi expressing Treponema pallidum TprK and Tp0435 antigens as a novel approach to evaluate syphilis vaccine candidates

Vaccine
Nikhat ParveenLorenzo Giacani

Abstract

Syphilis is resurgent in many developed countries and still prevalent in developing nations. Current and future control campaigns would benefit from the development of a vaccine, but although promising vaccine candidates were identified among the putative surface-exposed integral outer membrane proteins of the syphilis spirochete, immunization experiments in the rabbit model using recombinant antigens have failed to fully protect animals upon infectious challenge. We speculated that such recombinant immunogens, purified under denaturing conditions from Escherichia coli prior to immunization might not necessarily harbor their original structure, and hypothesized that enhanced protection would result from performing similar immunization/challenge experiments with native antigens. To test our hypothesis, we engineered non-infectious Borrelia burgdorferi strains to express the tp0897 (tprK) and tp0435 genes of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum and immunized two groups of rabbits by injecting recombinant strains intramuscularly with no adjuvant. TprK is a putative integral outer membrane protein of the syphilis agent, while tp0435 encodes the highly immunogenic T. pallidum 17-kDa lipoprotein, a periplasmic antigen that was also sho...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 24, 2021·Analytical Chemistry·Peng Fei GaoCheng Zhi Huang
Apr 10, 2020·Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry·Junxia DuanFeijun Zhao

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