Abstract
GNA2132 is a Neisseria meningitidis antigen of unknown function, discovered by reverse vaccinology, which has been shown to induce bactericidal antibodies in animal models. Here we show that this antigen induces protective immunity in humans and it is recognized by sera of patients after meningococcal disease. The protein binds heparin in vitro through an Arg-rich region and this property correlates with increased survival of the unencapsulated bacterium in human serum. Furthermore, two proteases, the meningococcal NalP and human lactoferrin, cleave the protein upstream and downstream from the Arg-rich region, respectively. We conclude that GNA2132 is an important protective antigen of N. meningitidis and we propose to rename it, Neisserial Heparin Binding Antigen (NHBA).
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
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Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry
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Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
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Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / genetics
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / immunology*
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Blood Proteins / chemistry
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Blood Proteins / genetics
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Blood Proteins / immunology*
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Carrier Proteins / chemistry
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Carrier Proteins / immunology*
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Humans
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Lactoferrin / chemistry
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Meningococcal Infections / immunology
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Meningococcal Infections / prevention & control
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Meningococcal Vaccines / chemistry
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Meningococcal Vaccines / genetics
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Meningococcal Vaccines / immunology*
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Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*
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Neisseria meningitidis / pathogenicity
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Virulence Factors / chemistry
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Virulence Factors / genetics
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Virulence Factors / immunology*
Substances
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AZU1 protein, human
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Antibodies, Bacterial
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
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Blood Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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Meningococcal Vaccines
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Virulence Factors
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Lactoferrin