Sequence variability of BamA and FadL candidate vaccinogens suggests divergent evolutionary paths of <i>Treponema pallidum</i> outer membrane proteins.

ABSTRACT: Knowledge of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (TPA) outer membrane protein (OMP) sequence variability is essential for understanding spirochete proliferation within endemic populations as well as the design of a globally effective syphilis vaccine. Our group has identified extracellular loops (ECLs) of TPA BamA (TP0326) and members of the FadL family (TP0548, TP0856, TP0858, TP0859, and TP0865) as potential components of a multivalent vaccine cocktail. As part of a consortium to explore TPA strain diversity, we mapped the variability of BamA and FadL orthologs in 186 TPA strains from Malawi, China, and Colombia onto predicted 3D structures. The 186 genomes fell into eight subclades (five Nichols- and three SS14-lineage) with substantial geogr

SUBMITTER: Bettin EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12369335 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature