Two leading protein vaccine candidates from Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae (NTHi) are outer membrane proteins Omp26 and Protein D. When administered individually, Omp26 and Protein D elicit an antibody response in mice; when combined, the Protein D antibody response is significantly suppressed. Here, we describe a biochemical approach toward elucidating the interactions between Omp26 and Protein D, which we propose contribute to the suppression of Protein D‐specific antibody production. Preliminary data from enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and other standard protein detection methods suggest that Protein D binds strongly to Omp26 in vitro and perhaps in vivo in mice.
Sepsis can result from a systemic bacterial infection, followed by an over‐exuberant immune response, which leads to widespread inflammation. Severe sepsis can result in organ failure and in severe cases, death. Past studies have proposed a role for bacterial Peptidoglycan‐Associated Lipoprotein (Pal) in the pathogenesis of Gram‐negative bacterial sepsis. In this study, we confirmed that Pal is released from Gram‐negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), under certain culture conditions, including in the presence of certain antibiotics. Our preliminary results suggest that different antibiotics have differential effects on Pal’s release from E.coli. Since the majority of sepsis patients are administered antibiotics, our findings may be of great significance to the medical field and the sepsis research community.
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RIT FEAD/DRIG and NIH Bootcamp , RIT LSAMP program, Dr. Michael Pichichero Rochester General Hospital Research Institute
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