Article
Immunology
Shaohui Wang, Xianghong Ju, Joshua Heuler, Keshan Zhang, Zhibian Duan, Hiran Malinda Lamabadu Warnakulasuriya Patabendige, Song Zhao, Xingmin Sun
Summary: Bacterial flagella play crucial roles in infection by mediating host cell adhesion, invasion, auto-agglutination, colonization, biofilm formation, and the regulation and secretion of nonflagellar bacterial proteins associated with virulence. In this study, a fusion protein vaccine (FliCD) containing Clostridioides difficile flagellar proteins FliC and FliD was constructed. Immunization with FliCD induced robust IgG and IgA antibody responses, provided protection against C. difficile infection, and reduced C. difficile spore and toxin levels in the feces. Furthermore, the anti-FliCD serum inhibited the binding of C. difficile vegetative cells to HCT8 cells. These findings suggest that FliCD may serve as an effective vaccine candidate against CDI.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
F. Christopher Peritore-Galve, Izumi Kaji, Anna Smith, Lauren M. Walker, John A. Shupe, M. Kay Washington, Holly M. Scott Algood, Pradeep K. Dudeja, James R. Goldenring, D. Borden Lacy
Summary: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. This study found that CDI increases intestinal permeability and decreases the abundance of key ion transporters, leading to osmotic diarrhea. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of diarrhea during CDI and may lead to new treatments for CDI-associated diarrhea.
Review
Immunology
Hamideh Raeisi, Masoumeh Azimirad, Ali Nabavi-Rad, Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei, Abbas Yadegar, Mohammad Reza Zali
Summary: Clostridioides difficile is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and one of the most common healthcare-associated bacterial infections worldwide. Antibody therapy, particularly the use of recombinant antibodies generated through in vitro technologies, has shown promise in treating CDI. These approaches have the potential to overcome the limitations of the immune system and improve the sensitivity and specificity of the antibodies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Estelle F. Chiari, William Weiss, Michael R. Simon, Stephan T. Kiessig, Mark Pulse, Stephen C. Brown, Hanne R. Gerding, Maurice Mandago, Karina Gisch, Christoph von Eichel-Streiber
Summary: Co-administration of human secretory IgA with subtherapeutic vancomycin can enhance survival in the Clostridioides difficile infection hamster model. Passive immunization with sIgA can be administered orally and prevent death in a partially treated CDI hamster model.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Shaohui Wang, Duolong Zhu, Xingmin Sun
Summary: In this study, immunodominant fragments of TcdA and TcdB (Tcd169) were expressed in a nontoxigenic C. difficile strain, generating a promising oral/mucosal vaccine candidate against CDI. Importantly, sera raised against Tcd169 protein showed significant cross-reactivity with FliC/FliD and two surface layer proteins (SlpA and Cwp2), which are involved in C. difficile adhesion/colonization. Oral immunizations with the vaccine candidate provided effective protection against C. difficile infection in mice.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jamie F. S. Mann, Paul F. McKay, Katja Klein, Joshua Pankrac, John S. Tregoning, Robin J. Shattock
Summary: The optimal immunogenicity of nucleic acid vaccines requires a balance between effective antigen expression and avoiding rapid cellular responses that clear antigen expression. The role of the cellular response on DNA vaccine expression and antigenicity was investigated, with FTY720 showing potential in prolonging DNA transgene expression through blocking lymphocyte trafficking. However, enhancing transgene expression did not necessarily lead to increased immune response, as evidenced by reduced antigen-specific responses when FTY720 was administered alongside a DNA vaccine expressing the HIV gp140 envelope antigen.
Article
Immunology
Carolyn D. Alonso, Konstantinos Papamichael, Rebecca Sprague, Caitlin Barrett, Anne J. Gonzales-Luna, Kaitlyn Daugherty, Kevin W. Garey, Javier Villafuerte-Galvez, Hua Xu, Qianyun Lin, Lamei Wang, Xinhua Chen, Nira R. Pollock, Ciaran P. Kelly
Summary: In patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), immunocompromised hosts showed lower levels of C difficile antitoxin antibodies in serum and stool during early CDI therapy compared with non-immunocompromised hosts. These findings provide insight into the humoral response to CDI in immunocompromised hosts.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Alok K. Singh, Geetha Srikrishna, Trinity J. Bivalacqua, William R. Bishai
Summary: The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, is widely used in global vaccination programs, but its efficacy against pulmonary TB in adults remains disputed. Modified BCG or alternative administration routes show promise in providing improved protection, while intravesical BCG is the primary therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMBIC). There is a critical need for improved intravesical therapies for NMBIC, with genetically modified BCG candidates showing potential as anti-tumor adjuvant therapy.
Article
Immunology
Rafael Rodrigues Rodrigues, Jaqueline Freitas Motta, Marcos Roberto Alves Ferreira, Clovis Moreira Junior, Mariliana Luiza Ferreira Alves, Ana Vitoria Costa, Miguel Andrade Bilhalva, Rafael Amaral Donassolo, Cleideanny Cancela Galvao, Fernanda Monik Silva Martins, Felipe Masiero Salvarani, Fabricio Rochedo Conceicao
Summary: Clostridium perfringens can cause diseases by secreting alpha (CPA) and beta (CPB) exotoxins. Recombinant vaccines expressing CPA and CPB proteins were evaluated for immunization of sheep. In silico analysis was performed to design a chimera antigen, which showed immunogenicity in inducing antitoxin titers. The recombinant antigen has potential for preventing diseases caused by C. perfringens.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Anitha Menon, D. Alex Perry, Jonathan Motyka, Shayna Weiner, Alexandra Standke, Aline Penkevich, Micah Keidan, Vincent B. Young, Krishna Rao
Summary: This study aimed to explore the relationship between severity and adverse outcomes of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) by evaluating stool toxin levels and C. difficile PCR ribotyping. The results showed that different strains may be associated with different IDSA severity and 30-day mortality rates, indicating a shift in the molecular epidemiology of C. difficile.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Takako Tabata, Matthew Petitt, Julia Li, Xiaoyuan Chi, Wei Chen, Irina Yurgelonis, Sabine Wellnitz, Simon Bredl, Tiago Vicente, Xinzhen Yang, Philip R. Dormitzer, Lenore Pereira
Summary: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), the leading viral cause of congenital disease and permanent birth defects, could potentially be prevented by a prophylactic vaccine targeting the pentameric complex and gB, as they elicit neutralizing antibodies.
Article
Immunology
Hatice Karauzum, Arundhathi Venkatasubramaniam, Rajan P. Adhikari, Tom Kort, Frederick W. Holtsberg, Ipsita Mukherjee, Mark Mednikov, Roger Ortines, Nhu T. Q. Nguyen, Thien M. N. Doan, Binh An Diep, Jean C. Lee, M. Javad Aman
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus causes a wide range of diseases, with skin infections being a major concern. A multicomponent toxoid vaccine demonstrated efficacy in preventing acute skin infections and recurrence, showing promise as a potential preventive measure.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Elena Reigadas, Joffrey van Prehn, Marco Falcone, Fidelma Fitzpatrick, Maria J. G. T. Vehreschild, Ed J. Kuijper, Emilio Bouza
Summary: The prevention and treatment of CDI continues to be a challenge, with current effective methods including FMT and bezlotoxumab, but there is still lack of evidence-based options for primary CDI prevention.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Review
Fisheries
Sedigheh Mohammadzadeh, Ehsan Ahmadifar, Ebrahim Masoudi, Sylvain Milla, Nahed A. El-Shall, Mahmoud Alagawany, Talha Bin Emran, Izabela Michalak, Kuldeep Dhama
Summary: The advancement of Aquatic Biotechnology has led to the use of experimental procedures, particularly the protein recombination technique, to improve aquatic animal production. Recombinant DNA technology allows for the production of large amounts of proteins from different fish species, which can be used in aquaculture for various purposes such as medication, vaccination, and enhancement of sexual maturation. The production of recombinant proteins has seen significant improvements in efficiency and cost-effectiveness, enabling the industrial synthesis of these proteins for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and the development of off-season breeding programs.
Article
Microbiology
Agnieszka Razim, Sabina Gorska, Andrzej Gamian
Summary: CD is a Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium that primarily infects hospitalized and elderly individuals who have undergone long-term antibiotic therapy. The increasing elderly population and antibiotic usage suggest that CD infections will continue to rise. Currently, there is no vaccine available for CD. Clinical trials using toxin-based antigens have shown limited efficacy in preventing colonization and transmission between patients. Therefore, a CD vaccine should include antigens from the bacterium or its spores to effectively combat toxins and inhibit patient colonization.