The overall aim of this proposal is to characterize and define the mechanism behind the adjuvant activity of Neisserial porins by extending our work regarding the effect of the porins on antigen presenting cells. The Neisserial porins to be used are protein IA (PIA) and protein IB (PIB) from the gonococcus and class 1 or 3 proteins from the meningococcus (C1 and C3 respectively). Neisserial porins have been investigated as adjuvants in vaccines using pneumococcal polysaccharide, Hemophilus polysaccharide (currently in use), malarial peptides, human gangliosides (as anti-melanoma vaccines), etc. as antigens. Understanding the mechanism behind the Neisserial porins immuno-potentiating ability will aid in the more effective use as adjuvants. Neisserial porins can increase the expression of the ligand B7-2 on B lymphocytes, which is an important mediator of T lymphocyte costimulation, and induce B cells to proliferate and to secrete immunoglobulin nonspecifially. To aid in investigating the mechanism of the porins immuno-potentiating ability and to connect the effect of the porins on antigen presenting cells to their adjuvant activity, this proposal with the following aims is submitted.
The first aim will be to bridge the in vitro effect of the porins on B cells, as characterized by increased B7-2 expression, to the porins' adjuvant activity. This will be accomplished by using the porins as adjuvants in immunizations of B7-2 knockout mice, nude mice of CD3 transgenic mice.
The second aim will be to discern if the porins can increase specific in vitro antibody towards bacterial capsular polysaccharides, again bridging the finding that porins can activate B cells to the porins's adjuvant activity. In addition, this aim will define the role of cytokines in the porins' adjuvant ability.
The third aim will be to continue our studies on the ability of porins to stimulate murine B cells and discern if they affect other murine antigen presenting cells (macrophages/monocytes and dendritic cells) in a similar manner.
The final aim will be to investigate whether Neisserial porins have a similar manner.
The final aim will be to investigate whether Neisserial porins have a similar effect on human antigen presenting cells. If these aims are accomplished, the understanding of the Neisserial porins' effects on lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells will be greatly enhanced, and the use of the porins and other microbial substances as adjuvants can be improved.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI040944-05
Application #
6373608
Study Section
Bacteriology and Mycology Subcommittee 2 (BM)
Program Officer
Hackett, Charles J
Project Start
1997-04-01
Project End
2002-03-31
Budget Start
2001-04-01
Budget End
2002-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$195,881
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
005492160
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Mosaheb, Munir; Wetzler, Lee M (2018) Meningococcal PorB induces a robust and diverse antigen specific T cell response as a vaccine adjuvant. Vaccine 36:7689-7699
Mosaheb, Munir M; Reiser, Michael L; Wetzler, Lee M (2017) Toll-Like Receptor Ligand-Based Vaccine Adjuvants Require Intact MyD88 Signaling in Antigen-Presenting Cells for Germinal Center Formation and Antibody Production. Front Immunol 8:225
Reiser, Michael L; Mosaheb, Munir M; Lisk, Christina et al. (2017) The TLR2 Binding Neisserial Porin PorB Enhances Antigen Presenting Cell Trafficking and Cross-presentation. Sci Rep 7:736
Toussi, Deana N; Wetzler, Lee M; Liu, Xiuping et al. (2016) Neisseriae internalization by epithelial cells is enhanced by TLR2 stimulation. Microbes Infect 18:627-638
Kattner, Christof; Pfennig, Sabrina; Massari, Paola et al. (2015) One-step purification and porin transport activity of the major outer membrane proteins P2 from Haemophilus influenzae, FomA from Fusobacterium nucleatum and PorB from Neisseria meningitidis. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 175:2907-15
Kattner, Christof; Toussi, Deana N; Zaucha, Jan et al. (2014) Crystallographic analysis of Neisseria meningitidis PorB extracellular loops potentially implicated in TLR2 recognition. J Struct Biol 185:440-7
Platt, Andrew; MacLeod, Heather; Massari, Paola et al. (2013) In vivo and in vitro characterization of the immune stimulating activity of the Neisserial porin PorB. PLoS One 8:e82171
Massari, Paola; Wetzler, Lee M (2012) Analysis of parameters associated with prevention of cellular apoptosis by pathogenic Neisseriae and purified porins. Methods Mol Biol 799:319-41
Toussi, Deana N; Carraway, Margaretha; Wetzler, Lee M et al. (2012) The amino acid sequence of Neisseria lactamica PorB surface-exposed loops influences Toll-like receptor 2-dependent cell activation. Infect Immun 80:3417-28
Arjunaraja, Swadhinya; Massari, Paola; Wetzler, Lee M et al. (2012) The nature of an in vivo anti-capsular polysaccharide response is markedly influenced by the composition and/or architecture of the bacterial subcapsular domain. J Immunol 188:569-77

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