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Infection and Immunity, July 2005, p. 3945-3953, Vol. 73, No. 7
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.7.3945-3953.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Intranasal Administration of Recombinant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Transferrin Binding Proteins A and B Conjugated to the Cholera Toxin B Subunit Induces Systemic and Vaginal Antibodies in Mice

Gregory A. Price,1 Michael W. Russell,2 and Cynthia Nau Cornelissen1*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0678,1 Departments of Oral Biology and Microbiology and Immunology, Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York2

Received 21 December 2004/ Returned for modification 2 February 2005/ Accepted 19 February 2005

The transferrin binding proteins (TbpA and TbpB) comprise the gonococcal transferrin receptor and are considered potential antigens for inclusion in a vaccine against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Intranasal (IN) immunization has shown promise in development of immunity against sexually transmitted disease pathogens, in part due to the induction of antigen-specific genital tract immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG. Conjugation of antigens to the highly immunogenic cholera toxin B subunit (Ctb) enhances antibody responses in the serum and mucosal secretions following IN vaccination. In the current study, we characterized the anti-Tbp immune responses following immunization of mice IN with recombinant transferrin binding proteins (rTbpA and rTbpB) conjugated to rCtb. We found that both rTbpA-Ctb and rTbpB-Ctb conjugates administered IN induced antibody responses in the serum and genital tract. IN immunization resulted in both IgA and IgG in the genital tract; however, subcutaneous immunization mainly generated IgG. Surprisingly, rTbpA alone was immunogenic and induced serum and mucosal antibody responses similar to those elicited against the rTbpA-Ctb conjugate. Overall, rTbpB was much more immunogenic than rTbpA, generating serum IgG levels that were greater than those elicited against rTbpA. Bactericidal assays conducted with sera collected from mice immunized IN with TbpA and/or TbpB indicated that both antigens generated antibodies with bactericidal activity. Anti-TbpA antibodies were cross-bactericidal against heterologous gonococcal strains, whereas TbpB-specific antibodies were less cross-reactive. By contrast, antibodies elicited via subcutaneous immunization were not cross-bactericidal against heterologous strains, indicating that IN vaccination could be the preferred route for elicitation of biologically functional antibodies.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0678. Phone: (804) 827-1754. Fax: (804) 828-9946. E-mail: cncornel{at}hsc.vcu.edu.

Editor: J. T. Barbieri

Infection and Immunity, July 2005, p. 3945-3953, Vol. 73, No. 7
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.7.3945-3953.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Noto, J. M., Cornelissen, C. N. (2008). Identification of TbpA Residues Required for Transferrin-Iron Utilization by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Infect. Immun. 76: 1960-1969 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • DeRocco, A. J., Cornelissen, C. N. (2007). Identification of Transferrin-Binding Domains in TbpB Expressed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Infect. Immun. 75: 3220-3232 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Thomas, C. E., Zhu, W., Van Dam, C. N., Davis, N. L., Johnston, R. E., Sparling, P. F. (2006). Vaccination of Mice with Gonococcal TbpB Expressed In Vivo from Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Viral Replicon Particles. Infect. Immun. 74: 1612-1620 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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