There is a paucity of data regarding immune response to gonococcal antigens induced by mucosal gonococcal disease. The Boston University STD-CRC has been central in elucidating some aspects of the anti- gonococcal immune response. We have previously shown that patients with acute gonorrhea develop both a systemic humoral and a circulating T cell response towards the gonococcal porin, Por. In addition, we have demonstrated that this response might be associated with protection from gonococcal transmission. We wish to extend these studies by investigating the in vivo expression and the immune response in patients with gonorrhea to a group of iron regulated proteins. These include 1) ferric binding protein A (FbpA) a periplasmic transporter of iron that is present in all gonococci, 2) lactoferrin binding protein A (LbpA) required for uptake of iron from lactoferrin, which is the most abundant iron carrying protein in the urogenital mucosa (the environmental niche of the gonococcus) and 3) transferrin binding proteins A and B which are necessary for gonococcal iron uptake from transferrin and are currently being investigated as potential vaccine candidates to prevent both gonococcal and meningococcal infections. Gonococcal iron regulated proteins have been demonstrated to play an essential role in gonococcal pathogenesis. For example,, gonococci that lacks TbpA/B and LbpA are unable to cause an infection in a human model of gonococcal urethritis.
The specific aims of this proposal are 1) to assess the expression of the gonococcal iron-regulated genes by RT-PCR in gonococcal strains acutely obtained from patients with gonococcal infection as an indicator of expression of these proteins, 2) determine the antibody response towards these proteins in patients with mucosal gonococcal disease, 3) determine the specific T cell response towards these proteins in patients with mucosal gonococcal disease and 4) determine if the anti-iron regulated protein immune response can be correlated to prevention of male to female transmission of gonococcal infection.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Program--Cooperative Agreements (U19)
Project #
2U19AI038515-05
Application #
6229082
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-ALR-M (M1))
Project Start
1999-09-30
Project End
2003-08-31
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
005492160
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Ketterer, Margaret R; Rice, Peter A; Gulati, Sunita et al. (2016) Desialylation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Lipooligosaccharide by Cervicovaginal Microbiome Sialidases: The Potential for Enhancing Infectivity in Men. J Infect Dis 214:1621-1628
Agarwal, Sarika; Sebastian, Shite; Szmigielski, Borys et al. (2008) Expression of the gonococcal global regulatory protein Fur and genes encompassing the Fur and iron regulon during in vitro and in vivo infection in women. J Bacteriol 190:3129-39
Sagar, Manish; Wu, Xueling; Lee, Sandra et al. (2006) Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 V1-V2 envelope loop sequences expand and add glycosylation sites over the course of infection, and these modifications affect antibody neutralization sensitivity. J Virol 80:9586-98
Shen, Li; Feng, Xiaogeng; Yuan, Yuan et al. (2006) Selective promoter recognition by chlamydial sigma28 holoenzyme. J Bacteriol 188:7364-77
Sagar, Manish; Kirkegaard, Erin; Lavreys, Ludo et al. (2006) Diversity in HIV-1 envelope V1-V3 sequences early in infection reflects sequence diversity throughout the HIV-1 genome but does not predict the extent of sequence diversity during chronic infection. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 22:430-7
Wu, Hsing-Ju; Seib, Kate L; Srikhanta, Yogitha N et al. (2006) PerR controls Mn-dependent resistance to oxidative stress in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Mol Microbiol 60:401-16
Seib, Kate L; Wu, Hsing-Ju; Kidd, Stephen P et al. (2006) Defenses against oxidative stress in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: a system tailored for a challenging environment. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 70:344-61
Porter, Edith; Yang, Huixia; Yavagal, Sujata et al. (2005) Distinct defensin profiles in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis urethritis reveal novel epithelial cell-neutrophil interactions. Infect Immun 73:4823-33
Wu, Hsing-Ju; Seib, Kate L; Edwards, Jennifer L et al. (2005) Azurin of pathogenic Neisseria spp. is involved in defense against hydrogen peroxide and survival within cervical epithelial cells. Infect Immun 73:8444-8
Seib, Kate L; Simons, Mark P; Wu, Hsing-Ju et al. (2005) Investigation of oxidative stress defenses of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by using a human polymorphonuclear leukocyte survival assay. Infect Immun 73:5269-72

Showing the most recent 10 out of 64 publications