407101

Investigation of Recombinant SagA Antigen as A Potential Vaccine Candidate Against <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> Infection

Article

Last updated: 01 Feb 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Section E: Microbiology & Immunology

Abstract

Objectives: Enterococcus faecium is a Gram-positive bacterium with evolving multi-drug resistance. It is one of the primary causes of urinary tract infections and endocarditis, among other opportunistic bacteria. The rise of antibiotic resistance in E. faecium makes treating its illnesses a significant therapeutic challenge. As a result, there is an urgent need for alternative treatments as well as preventive measures like vaccination. Previous research studies have suggested that the secreted antigen A (SagA) protein of E. faecium is a promising vaccine candidate. However, it was reported that capsular polysaccharides prevented the phagocytic activity of PMN to several E. faecium strains. Moreover, the surface accessibility of protein antigens was reported to be variable from one encapsulated strain to another. Methods: In this study, recombinant SagA was produced and investigated as a potential vaccine candidate against an encapsulated E. faecium isolate. Antibodies against SagA were raised in vivo and tested against E. faecium using ELISA and dot blot assay. Active immunization of mice using the recombinant SagA was performed, which was followed by a challenge with E. faecium. Results: Even though the ELISA and dot blot assay showed promising results, antibodies against SagA failed to be opsonic in the opsonophagocytic assay and failed to produce significant protection in an experimental mouse model against encapsulated E. faecium. Conclusion: The absence of protection despite the presence of significant antibody titer could be attributed to the existence of the capsule which might limit the surface exposure of the protein antigens and prevent the opsonophagocytosis in vivo.

DOI

10.21608/aprh.2025.332258.1296

Keywords

Enterococcus faecium, SagA, Recombinant vaccine, Capsule, Opsonophagocytosis

Authors

First Name

Roaa

Last Name

Elsayed

MiddleName

Khaled

Affiliation

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Email

roaa.elsayed@alexu.edu.eg

City

Alexandria

Orcid

0009-0003-5873-7697

First Name

Mohammed

Last Name

Bahey-El-Din

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Email

m.bahey-el-din@alexu.edu.eg

City

Alexandria

Orcid

0000-0003-3457-9084

First Name

Amal

Last Name

Khalil

MiddleName

Mohammed

Affiliation

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Email

amal.khalil@alexu.edu.eg

City

Alexandria

Orcid

-

First Name

Hamida

Last Name

Aboushleib

MiddleName

Moustafa

Affiliation

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Email

hamida.aboushleib@alexu.edu.eg

City

Alexandria

Orcid

-

Volume

9

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

53528

Issue Date

2025-01-01

Receive Date

2024-10-30

Publish Date

2025-01-01

Page Start

62

Page End

70

Print ISSN

2357-0547

Online ISSN

2357-0539

Link

https://aprh.journals.ekb.eg/article_407101.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=407101

Order

4

Type

Research Article

Type Code

318

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Research

Publication Link

https://aprh.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Investigation of Recombinant SagA Antigen as A Potential Vaccine Candidate Against <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> Infection

Details

Type

Article

Created At

01 Feb 2025