Design and Characterization of Protein E-PilA, a Candidate Fusion Antigen for Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Vaccine.

ABSTRACT: Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a pathogen known for being a frequent cause of acute otitis media in children and respiratory tract infections in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the present study, a vaccine antigen based on the fusion of two known NTHi adhesive proteins, protein E (PE) and a pilin subunit (PilA), was developed. The quality of the combined antigen was investigated through functional, biophysical, and structural analyses. It was shown that the PE and PilA individual structures are not modified in the PE-PilA fusion and that PE-PilA assembles as a dimer in solution, reflecting PE dimerization. PE-PilA was found to bind vitronectin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as isolated PE does. Disulfide bridges were conserved and homogeneo

SUBMITTER: Blais N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6652776 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature