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Nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae is a prerequisite for pneumococcal transmission and disease. Current vaccines protect only against disease and colonization caused by a limited number of serotypes, consequently allowing serotype replacement and transmission. Therefore, the development of a broadly protective vaccine against colonization, transmission and disease is desired but requires a better understanding of pneumococcal adaptation to its natural niche. Hence, we measured the levels of free and protein-bound transition metals in human nasal fluid, to determine the effect of metal concentrations on the growth and proteome of S. pneumoniae. Pneumococci cultured in medium containing metal levels comparable to nasal fluid showed a highly distinct proteomic profile compared to standard culture conditions, including the increased abundance of nine conserved, putative surface-exposed proteins. AliA, an oligopeptide binding protein, was identified as the strongest protective antigen, demonstrated by the significantly reduced bacterial load in a murine colonization and a lethal mouse pneumonia model, highlighting its potential as vaccine antigen.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/21505594.2020.1825908

Type

Journal article

Journal

Virulence

Publication Date

12/2020

Volume

11

Pages

1310 - 1328

Keywords

Streptococcus pneumoniae , in vivo-mimicking, colonization, nasal fluid, protein antigens, transition metals, Adult, Animals, Antibodies, Bacterial, Antigens, Bacterial, Culture Media, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Humans, Male, Membrane Proteins, Metals, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Middle Aged, Nasal Lavage Fluid, Nasopharynx, Pneumococcal Infections, Pneumococcal Vaccines, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Young Adult