Rational selection of TbpB variants yields a bivalent vaccine with broad coverage against Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Abstract Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an on-going public health problem due in part to the lack of success with efforts to develop an efficacious vaccine to prevent this sexually transmitted infection. The gonococcal transferrin binding protein B (TbpB) is an attractive candidate vaccine antigen. Howeve...
Saved in:
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
Series: | npj Vaccines |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-024-01054-0 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Summary: | Abstract Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an on-going public health problem due in part to the lack of success with efforts to develop an efficacious vaccine to prevent this sexually transmitted infection. The gonococcal transferrin binding protein B (TbpB) is an attractive candidate vaccine antigen. However, it exhibits high levels of antigenic variability, posing a significant obstacle in evoking a broadly protective immune response. Here, we utilize phylogenetic information to rationally select TbpB variants for inclusion into a gonococcal vaccine and identify two TbpB variants that together elicit a highly cross-reactive antibody response against a diverse panel of TbpB variants and clinically relevant gonococcal strains. This formulation performed well in experimental proxies of real-world usage, including eliciting bactericidal activity against diverse gonococcal strains and decreasing the median duration of colonization after vaginal infection in female mice. These data support the use of a combination of TbpB variants for a broadly protective gonococcal vaccine. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 2059-0105 |