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Title: Crystal structure reveals vaccine elicited bactericidal human antibody targeting a conserved epitope on meningococcal fHbp

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [3];  [1];  [4]
  1. GSK Vaccines srl, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena (Italy)
  2. UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, CA (United States). Immunobiology and Vaccine Development
  3. UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, CA (United States). Immunobiology and Vaccine Development
  4. GSK Vaccines, Rockville, MD (United States)

Data obtained recently in the United Kingdom following a nationwide infant immunization program against serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB) reported >80% 4CMenB vaccine-mediated protection. Factor H-binding protein (fHbp) is a meningococcal virulence factor and a component of two new MenB vaccines. Here, we investigated the structural bases underlying the fHbp-dependent protective antibody response in humans, which might inform future antigen design efforts. We present the co-crystal structure of a human antibody Fab targeting fHbp. The vaccine-elicited Fab 1A12 is cross-reactive and targets an epitope highly conserved across the repertoire of three naturally occurring fHbp variants. The free Fab structure highlights conformational rearrangements occurring upon antigen binding. Importantly, 1A12 is bactericidal against MenB strains expressing fHbp from all three variants. Our results reveal important immunological features potentially contributing to the broad protection conferred by fHbp vaccination. Our studies fuel the rationale of presenting conserved protein epitopes when developing broadly protective vaccines.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1624073
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Vol. 9, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Two human antibodies to a meningococcal serogroup B vaccine antigen enhance binding of complement Factor H by stabilizing the Factor H binding site journal June 2021
Cocrystal structure of meningococcal factor H binding protein variant 3 reveals a new crossprotective epitope recognized by human mAb 1E6 journal October 2019
Effect of complement Factor H on antibody repertoire and protection elicited by meningococcal capsular group B vaccines containing Factor H binding protein journal October 2019
Global epidemiology of serogroup B meningococcal disease and opportunities for prevention with novel recombinant protein vaccines journal April 2018
Structural basis for cooperativity of human monoclonal antibodies to meningococcal factor H-binding protein journal June 2019
Structural Knowledge for Molecular Optimization: The Cases of Metal-Mediated Protein-Protein Interactions and Structural Vaccinology: Structural Knowledge for Molecular Optimization: The Cases of Metal-Mediated Protein-Protein Interactions and Structural Vaccinology journal August 2018