A Safe and Stable Neonatal Vaccine Targeting GAPDH Confers Protection against Group B Streptococcus Infections in Adult Susceptible Mice

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 16;10(12):e0144196. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144196. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a commensal organism, can turn into a life-threatening pathogen in neonates and elderly, or in adults with severe underlying diseases such as diabetes. We developed a vaccine targeting the GBS glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a glycolytic enzyme detected at the bacterial surface, which was proven to be effective in a neonatal mouse model of infection. Since this bacterium has emerged as an important pathogen in non-pregnant adults, here we investigated whether this vaccine also confers protection in an adult susceptible and in a diabetic mouse model of infection. For immunoprotection studies, sham or immunized adult mice were infected with GBS serotype Ia and V strains, the two most prevalent serotypes isolated in adults. Sham and vaccinated mice were also rendered diabetic and infected with a serotype V GBS strain. For toxicological (pre-clinical) studies, adult mice were vaccinated three times, with three concentrations of recombinant GAPDH adjuvanted with Allydrogel, and the toxicity parameters were evaluated twenty-four hours after the last immunization. For the stability tests, the vaccine formulations were maintained at 4°C for 6 and 12 months prior immunization. The results showed that all tested doses of the vaccine, including the stability study formulations, were immunogenic and that the vaccine was innocuous. The organs (brain, blood, heart, and liver) of vaccinated susceptible or diabetic adult mice were significantly less colonized compared to those of control mice. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the GAPDH-based vaccine is safe and stable and protects susceptible and diabetic adult mice against GBS infections. It is therefore a promising candidate as a global vaccine to prevent GBS-induced neonatal and adult diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / immunology*
  • Immunization
  • Inflammation Mediators / blood
  • Mice
  • Streptococcal Infections / immunology
  • Streptococcal Infections / metabolism
  • Streptococcal Infections / mortality
  • Streptococcal Infections / prevention & control*
  • Streptococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Streptococcal Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Streptococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / enzymology
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Streptococcal Vaccines
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by funds from European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through the Operational Competitiveness Program (COMPETE) under Project FCOMP [01-0124-FEDER-015841] and National funds from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [PTDC/SAU - MIC/111387/2009, RFH/BD/77232/2011 to JA and SFRH/BPD/88137/2012 to PM].