Bacterial Infections and Vaccines

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

This study compares the effects of acellular and whole cell pertussis vaccines on Bp biofilm formation, neutrophil recruitment, and bacterial clearance in mouse nasal tissues, showing opposing impacts on bacterial persistence and immune response.

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

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