MetQ of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Is a Surface-Expressed Antigen That Elicits Bactericidal and Functional Blocking Antibodies

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhea, is a growing public health threat for which a vaccine is urgently needed. We characterized the functional role of the gonococcal MetQ protein, which is the methionine binding component of an ABC transpo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Infection and immunity 2017-02, Vol.85 (2)
Main Authors: Semchenko, Evgeny A, Day, Christopher J, Seib, Kate L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Antibodies, Bacterial - immunology
Antibodies, Blocking - immunology
Antigens, Bacterial - chemistry
Antigens, Bacterial - genetics
Antigens, Bacterial - immunology
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - chemistry
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - genetics
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - immunology
Bacteria
Bacterial Adhesion
Bacterial Vaccines - immunology
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular Interactions
Gene Knockout Techniques
Gene Order
Gonorrhea - immunology
Gonorrhea - microbiology
Macrophages - immunology
Macrophages - metabolism
Methionine
Monocytes - immunology
Monocytes - metabolism
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Neisseria gonorrhoeae - immunology
Neisseria gonorrhoeae - metabolism
Open Reading Frames
Protein Binding
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Summary:Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhea, is a growing public health threat for which a vaccine is urgently needed. We characterized the functional role of the gonococcal MetQ protein, which is the methionine binding component of an ABC transporter system, and assessed its potential as a candidate antigen for inclusion in a gonococcal vaccine. MetQ has been found to be highly conserved in all strains investigated to date, it is localized on the bacterial surface, and it binds l-methionine with a high affinity. MetQ is also involved in gonococcal adherence to cervical epithelial cells. Mutants lacking MetQ have impaired survival in human monocytes, macrophages, and serum. Furthermore, antibodies raised against MetQ are bactericidal and are able to block gonococcal adherence to epithelial cells. These data suggest that MetQ elicits both bactericidal and functional blocking antibodies and is a valid candidate antigen for additional investigation and possible inclusion in a vaccine for prevention of gonorrhea.
ISSN:0019-9567
1098-5522
DOI:10.1128/IAI.00898-16