Bacterial Infections and Vaccines

An OmpX mRNA-LNP vaccine induces protective humoral and cellular immunity against Klebsiella pneumoniae in a C57BL/6 mouse model

This study develops an mRNA-LNP vaccine targeting OmpX in KP, showing strong humoral and cellular immunity and complete protection in mice.

A loopless subdomain of transferrin binding protein B can elicit a broadly cross-reactive humoral immune response targeting variants from both encapsulated and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae

This study identifies a loopless subdomain of TbpB that elicits broad cross-reactive antibodies against diverse H. influenzae strains.

Emergence of short-lived meningococci causing focal epidemics can be associated with gene transfer from carriage-associated Neisseria

A 21-case nightclub-linked meningococcal outbreak variant differed from its closest relatives by horizontal gene transfer from carriage-associated Neisseria, affecting iron acquisition and type IV pili genes.

Comparative immunogenicity and protective efficacy of formaldehyde-inactivated whole-cell and sonicated whole-cell extract vaccines against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice

This study compares the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of formaldehyde-inactivated whole-cell and sonicated whole-cell extract vaccines against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice, finding both vaccines provide substantial protection.

A universal plug-and-display vaccine platform for mucosal and systemic immunity using Bacillus subtilis membrane vesicles

This paper develops a universal vaccine platform using Bacillus subtilis membrane vesicles that elicit both systemic and mucosal immunity against Yersinia pestis.

Multimodal Imaging Reveals Spatial Host-Pathogen Microenvironments in Escherichia coli Meningoencephalitis

Rat E. coli meningoencephalitis maps into ventricular, meningeal and perivascular niches: biofilm-like aggregates, aerobactin and salmochelin signals, calprotectin, neutrophil peptides, reduced proenkephalin peptides, with some markers recoverable in CSF.

An mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle Platform Encoding the Conserved Outer Membrane Protein BamA Elicits Broadly Cross-Reactive Systemic and Mucosal Antibodies Against Antimicrobial-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae

This paper evaluates an mRNA-LNP vaccine encoding BamA against N. gonorrhoeae, showing it elicits cross-reactive antibodies but lacks protective efficacy in mice.

Nasal environment potentiates the pathogenicity of Bordetella pertussis

This study shows nasal environment conditions enhance Bordetella pertussis virulence and colonization efficiency in mice.

C-terminal domain of the filamentous hemagglutinin FhaB is crucial for interaction of Bordetella pertussis with ciliated epithelial cells

This study identifies the C-terminal domain of FhaB as essential for Bordetella pertussis adhesion to ciliated epithelial cells and colonization, suggesting it as a candidate for improved vaccines.

Discovery of Bordetella oligosaccharide - extracellular glycan common to genus Bordetella. Structure, immunogenicity and possible implications for host-pathogen interactions

This study identifies a common exoglycan, Bordetella oligosaccharide (BOS), produced by all Bordetella species, and explores its structure and potential role in host-pathogen interactions.

Bordetella oligosaccharide (BOS) is associated with lipopolysaccharide of Bordetella petrii - the ancestor-related species of the pathogenic Bordetella

The paper identifies BOS in B. petrii LPS and suggests it could be a vaccine target against Bordetella.

Two mammalian-like cysteine dioxygenases and a sulfite exporter play important roles in sulfur homeostasis and virulence of a human pathogen

This study identifies two cysteine dioxygenases and a sulfite exporter critical for sulfur homeostasis and virulence in Bordetella pertussis.

Chemical tools to Detect and Inhibit IgA1 Proteases in Haemophilus influenzae

This paper develops chemical tools to detect and inhibit IgA1 proteases in Haemophilus influenzae, identifying novel inhibitors and demonstrating their effectiveness in disrupting immune evasion.

A Life Identification Number Barcoding (LIN Code) System for Neisseria meningitidis: high resolution multi-level typing of meningococci.

This paper introduces a WGS-based LIN code system for Neisseria meningitidis to enable high-resolution multi-level typing and improve molecular epidemiology.

First inhibitor of a bacterial two-partner secretion system.

This paper identifies a peptide inhibitor of FhaC, a TpsB protein involved in bacterial virulence, showing it inhibits exoprotein secretion and reduces virulence correlates.

Structure-based engineering of a nutrient acquisition protein enhances neutralizing antibodies and protection for the development of a gonococcal vaccine

This study engineered a gonococcal antigen to enhance vaccine effectiveness by reducing host factor binding while maintaining structure and immunogenicity.

Development of a viability real time PCR assay for Bordetella pertussis, B parapertussis and B holmesii

This paper develops a viability real time PCR assay using platinum chloride to distinguish viable from non-viable Bordetella species in clinical samples.

A Multiplexed Fluorescent Microsphere Immunoassay of IgG Antibodies to the Individual Glycose Antigens of the Neisseria Lipooligosaccharide α Chain in Clients of an STI Clinic

The paper develops a multiplexed fluorescent microsphere immunoassay to quantify IgG antibodies against specific glycose antigens of Neisseria Lipooligosaccharide in STI clinic clients, finding higher nLc4 IgG concentrations correlate with asymptomatic status and lower infection likelihood.

Intra-host genomic variation of Haemophilus influenzae isolates from asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carriers involves genes encoding proteins with diverse inferred functions

The paper analyzes intra-host genomic variation in Haemophilus influenzae isolates from asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carriers, identifying 120 genes with SNPs and diverse functional roles.

Cerebrospinal fluid inflammome analysis identifies host-and pathogen-specific inflammatory profiles and signaling pathways in meningitis and predicts clinical outcome

This study identifies host- and pathogen-specific inflammatory profiles in meningitis using cerebrospinal fluid data and links them to clinical outcomes.

Bridging Gaps in Antibody Responses and Animal Welfare: Assessing Blood Collection Methods and Vaginal Immunity in Mice Immunized with Intranasal Gonococcal Vaccines

This study compares retro-orbital and saphenous vein blood collection methods in mice immunized with intranasal gonococcal vaccines, finding SV sampling may better assess functional antibody responses and improve animal welfare.

Limited response of primary nasal epithelial cells to Bordetella pertussis infection and the effector protein BteA

This study investigates B. pertussis B1917 interaction with human nasal epithelial cells, finding limited inflammatory response and mucus production increase without significant barrier disruption.

A Novel Adhesin of B. pertussis is Key to Colonisation of Epithelial Cells

This study identifies two novel adhesins, BP1251 and BP1252, in B. pertussis that are crucial for colonising epithelial cells and reducing bacterial recovery in a murine infection model.

Protection against Neisseria meningitidis nasopharyngeal colonization relies on antibody opsonization and phagocytosis by neutrophils

This study shows that antibodies and neutrophils, not complement, are critical for protecting against nasal colonization by Neisseria meningitidis.

Human transferrin and lactoferrin cooperatively support Neisseria meningitidis colonization in the murine nasopharynx

This study shows that human transferrin and lactoferrin, along with CEACAM1, support Neisseria meningitidis colonization in mice, with transferrin playing a critical role in sepsis and colonization.

Wild-type and single-O-antigen repeat outer-membrane vesicles induce equivalent protection against homologous and heterologous Salmonella challenge

This study shows that OMVs with different O-antigen lengths induce similar protection against Salmonella infections, and boosting enhances cross-protection.

The Streptococcus pneumoniae transcriptome in patient cerebrospinal fluid identifies novel virulence factors required for meningitis

The paper uses RNA sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid from meningitis patients to identify S. pneumoniae virulence factors, finding two genes linked to increased mortality and reduced infection persistence.

Spatio-temporal brain invasion pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae and dynamic changes of the cellular environment in meningitis pathogenesis.

This study investigates the spatio-temporal invasion pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the brain during meningitis and its impact on cellular environments.

Spatial dynamics and vaccine-induced fitness changes of Bordetella pertussis

The paper analyzes B. pertussis genotype dynamics post-vaccine policy changes, showing fitness shifts and regional diversity patterns.

A modular platform for on-demand vaccine self-assembly enabled by decoration of bacterial outer membrane vesicles with biotinylated antigens

This paper introduces AddVax, a method to decorate bacterial outer membrane vesicles with biotinylated antigens to create vaccines, showing strong immune responses in mice.