Fha Deficient Bordetella pertussis Isolates in Iran with 50 Years Whole Cell Pertussis Vaccination

Background: Bordetella pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory. Notably, the resurgence of pertussis has recently been associated with the lacking production of vaccine virulence factors. This study aimed to screen pertactin (Prn) and filamentous hemagglutinin (Fha) production in Iran with 50 years' whole cell vaccine (WCV) immunization program. Methods: Overall, 130 B. pertussis isolates collected from Pertussis Reference Laboratory of Iran during 2005-2018. Real-time PCR was performed by targeting IS481, ptxP, IS1001 and IS1002 for species confirmation of B. pertussis. Western-blot was used to evaluate the expression of virulence factors (pertactin and filamentous hemagglutinin). Results: All tested B. pertussis isolates expressed Prn and all except two isolates expressed Fha. We have sequenced genomes of these strains and identified differences compared with genome reference B. pertussis Tohama I. Conclusion: Many countries reporting Prn and Fha-deficiency due to acellular vaccine (ACV) pressure. Our results demonstrate in a country with WCV history, Fha-deficient isolates may rise independently. However, Prn-deficient isolates are more under the ACV pressure in B. pertussis isolates. Continues surveillance will provide a better understanding of the effect of WCV on the evolution of the pathogen deficiency.

Effect of antibodies to agglutinogens 1 and 2, filamentous hemagglutinin and pertussis toxin on formation of Bordetella pertussis biofilms on abiotic substrate

Aim. Study of the effect of antibodies to agglutinogens 1 and 2, filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and pertussis toxin (PT) on the formation of biofilms by Bordetella pertussis strains on the abiotic substrate.Materials and methods. Vaccine-derived and freshly isolated strains of B. pertussis were used. Cultures of strains grown on a dense nutrient medium were used as an inoculum for obtaining biofilms. The intensity of biofilm formation in round-bottomed polystyrene 96-well plates in the presence of antisera to agglutinogens 1 and 2, antiserum to FHA, and monoclonal antibodies (MСА) to the S1, S2, and S3 subunits of PT was evaluated by staining with 0.1% gentian-violet solution.Results. Most of the studied strains were sensitive to antibodies, which was manifested in complete suppression of biofilm formation. All strains were sensitive to antiserum to agglutinogen 1, antiserum to FHA, and MCA to the S2 subunit of KT. Three out of 4 studied strains with this agglutinogen in their composition were sensitive to antiserum to agglutinogen 2: No. 475 (serotype 1.2.3), No. 317 (serotype 1.2.3) and No. 178 (serotype 1.2.0). Relative resistance to antiserum was detected only in serotype 1.2.0 strain No. 305, but with minimal dilution, the intensity of biofilm formation was 1.8 times lower than in the control group. Strains No. 703 (serotype 1.0.3) and No. 287 (serotype 1.0.3) that did not have agglutinogen 2 were resistant to antiserum. Four and 5 out of the 6 strains used were sensitive to the S1 and S3 subunits of PT, respectively. Strain No. 305 was resistant to MCA to the S1 and S3 subunits, and strain No. 287 to MCA to the S1 subunit. At the same time, the intensity of biofilm formation was 2 and 1.8 times lower than in the control at the minimum MCA dilution.Conclusion. These data indicate that the growth of biofilms of B. pertussis strains is suppressed by antibodies both to the surface structures of the microbial cell (agglutinogens 1 and 2, FHA) and to the S1, S2 and S3 subunits of PT.

DegP Initiates Regulated Processing of Filamentous Hemagglutinin in Bordetella bronchiseptica

Two-partner secretion (TPS) systems are broadly distributed among Gram-negative bacteria and play important roles in bacterial pathogenesis. FhaB-FhaC is the prototypical member of the TPS family and we here identified the protease that initiates a processing cascade that controls FhaB function.

DegP initiates regulated processing of filamentous hemagglutinin in Bordetella bronchiseptica

Filamentous hemagglutinin (FhaB) is a critical virulence factor for both Bordetella bronchiseptica, the causal agent of whooping cough, and the closely related species Bordetella bronchiseptica. FhaB is an adhesin, suppresses inflammatory cytokine production, and protects against phagocytic cell clearance during infection. Regulated degradation of the FhaB C-terminal prodomain is required to establish a persistent infection in mice. Two proteases, CtpA in the periplasm and SphB1 on the bacterial surface, mediate FhaB processing, and we recently determined that CtpA functions before, and controls the FhaB cleavage site of, SphB1. However, the data indicate that another periplasmic protease must initiate degradation of the prodomain by removing a portion of the FhaB C terminus that inhibits CtpA-mediated degradation. Using a candidate approach, we identified DegP as the initiating protease. Deletion of degP or substitution of its predicted catalytic residue resulted in reduced creation of FHA', the main product of FhaB processing, and an accumulation of full-length FhaB in whole cell lysates. Also, FHA' was no longer released into culture supernatants in degP mutants. Alterations of the FhaB C terminus that relieve inhibition of CtpA abrogate the need for DegP, consistent with DegP functioning prior to CtpA in the processing pathway. DegP is not required for secretion of FhaB through FhaC or for adherence of the bacteria to host cells, indicating that DegP acts primarily as a protease and not a chaperone for FhaB in B. bronchiseptica. Our results highlight a role for HtrA family proteases in activation of virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria.

Immunogenicity of a New Enhanced Tetanus-reduced Dose Diphtheria-acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine Against Bordetella Pertussis in a Murine Model

BackgroundThe necessity of the tetanus-reduced dose diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in adolescence and adults has been emphasized since the resurgence of small-scale pertussis in Korea and worldwide due to the waning effect of the vaccine and variant pathogenic stains in the late 1990s. GreenCross Pharma (GC Pharma), a Korean company, developed the Tdap vaccine GC3111 in 2010. Recently, they enhanced the former vaccine GC3111 to reinforce the antibody response against filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). In this study, the immunogenicity and efficacy of the enhanced Tdap vaccine were compared and evaluated between the former Tdap vaccine GC3111 and the commercially available Tdap vaccine in a murine model.MethodsBalb/C mice were primed with two doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine followed by a single booster Tdap vaccine at 6 weeks using the commercially available Tdap vaccine or 2 Tdap vaccines from GC Pharma (GC3111, enhanced GC3111). Humoral response was assessed 1 week before and 2 and 4 weeks after Tdap booster vaccination. The INF-γ (Th1), IL-5 (Th2), and IL-17 (Th17) cytokines were assessed 4 weeks after booster vaccination by stimulation with three simulators: heat inactivated Bordetella pertussis (hBp), vaccine antigens, and hBp mixed with antigens. An intranasal challenge test was performed 4 weeks after booster vaccination.ResultsThe enhanced GC3111 generated a humoral response to filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) that was comparable to that of the commercial vaccine. Regarding cell-mediated immunity, cytokine secretion differed among the three simulators. However, no difference was found between the groups. All the vaccinated groups indicated a Th1/Th2 response. The mean value of INF-γ in the control and study groups (simulated with hBp mixed with antigens) was 12,551.69, and the mean value of IL-5 (simulated with antigens) was 1,782.47 pg/mL. On Day 5 post-intranasal challenge, B. pertussis colonies were absent in the lungs in all groups.ConclusionsOur results confirmed the immunogenicity of GC Pharma’s Tdap vaccine; enhanced GC3111 was equivalent to the presently used commercial vaccine in terms of humoral response as well as cell-mediated cytokine expression.