Assessment of cell-surface exposure and vaccinogenic potentials of Treponema pallidum candidate outer membrane proteins

Farol L. Tomson, Patrick G. Conley, Michael V. Norgard, Kayla E. Hagman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochetal bacterium Treponema pallidum, remains a global public health problem. T. pallidum is believed to be an extracellular pathogen and, as such, the identification of T. pallidum outer membrane proteins that could serve as targets for opsonic or bactericidal antibodies has remained a high research priority for vaccine development. However, the identification of T. pallidum outer membrane proteins has remained highly elusive. Recent studies and bioinformatics have implicated four treponemal proteins as potential outer membrane proteins (TP0155, TP0326, TP0483 and TP0956). Indirect immunofluorescence assays performed on treponemes encapsulated within agarose gel microdroplets failed to provide evidence that any of these four molecules were surface-exposed in T. pallidum. Second, recombinant fusion proteins corresponding to all four candidate outer membrane proteins were used separately, or in combination, to vaccinate New Zealand White rabbits. Despite achieving high titers (>1:50,000) of serum antibodies, none of the rabbits displayed chancre immunity after intradermal challenge with viable T. pallidum.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1267-1275
Number of pages9
JournalMicrobes and Infection
Volume9
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2007

Keywords

  • Outer membrane protein
  • Treponema pallidum
  • Vaccine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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