Rational selection of TbpB variants yields a bivalent vaccine with broad coverage against Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

ABSTRACT: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an on-going public health problem due in part to the lack of success with efforts to develop an efficacious vaccine to prevent this sexually transmitted infection. The gonococcal transferrin binding protein B (TbpB) is an attractive candidate vaccine antigen. However, it exhibits high levels of antigenic variability, posing a significant obstacle in evoking a broadly protective immune response. Here, we utilize phylogenetic information to rationally select TbpB variants for inclusion into a gonococcal vaccine and identify two TbpB variants that together elicit a highly cross-reactive antibody response against a diverse panel of TbpB variants and clinically relevant gonococcal strains. This formulation performed well in experimental proxies of real-world usage, incl

SUBMITTER: Fegan JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11736018 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature