Neisseria meningitidis cDNA and Antigen

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium that can cause meningitis, a severe inflammation of the meninges (the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord). This bacterium produces several key antigens that play important roles in the pathogenesis of meningococcal infections. Some of these key antigens include:

Antigen 1162: Also known as Neisserial adhesin A (NadA), antigen 1162 is a surface-exposed protein that acts as an adhesin, allowing N. meningitidis to adhere to and colonize host cells, particularly in the upper respiratory tract. NadA has been shown to be important for initial bacterial attachment and invasion of host cells, and it is considered a vaccine candidate for meningococcal disease.

Major P. IA: This is a component of the PorA protein, which is a major outer membrane protein of N. meningitidis. PorA is a major target of the host immune response and is known to induce protective immune responses against N. meningitidis. Major P. IA is an immunodominant epitope of PorA, and it is used for serotyping N. meningitidis strains based on the presence of specific PorA variants.

Neisseria-specific antigen protein TspA: TspA is a surface-exposed protein that is specific to Neisseria species, including N. meningitidis. It has been shown to be involved in the attachment of N. meningitidis to host cells and in the evasion of host immune responses. TspA is considered a potential vaccine candidate due to its role in the pathogenesis of N. meningitidis infections.

OpcA protein: OpcA is an outer membrane protein of N. meningitidis that plays a role in bacterial adhesion and invasion of host cells. OpcA has been shown to interact with host cell receptors, allowing N. meningitidis to adhere to and enter host cells. OpcA is considered a potential vaccine target due to its importance in the pathogenesis of N. meningitidis infections.

Lipoprotein LolB: LolB is a lipoprotein that is involved in the transport of lipoproteins from the inner membrane to the outer membrane of N. meningitidis. It has been shown to play a role in the assembly of lipoproteins in the outer membrane and in the maintenance of outer membrane integrity. LolB is considered a potential vaccine target due to its essential role in the outer membrane biogenesis of N. meningitidis.

P64k or PM-6: P64k is a major outer membrane protein of N. meningitidis, also known as PM-6. It is a conserved protein that has been shown to be involved in the transport of essential nutrients, such as iron, across the outer membrane of N. meningitidis. P64k has been implicated in the pathogenesis of N. meningitidis infections and is considered a potential vaccine target.

Surface antigens: N. meningitidis produces a variety of surface antigens, including lipooligosaccharides (LOS) and capsular polysaccharides (CPS), which are important for its virulence and immune evasion strategies. These surface antigens are involved in host cell attachment, invasion, and evasion of host immune responses, and they are important targets for the host immune system as well as potential vaccine candidates.

Overall, these key antigens produced by N. meningitidis play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of meningococcal infections and are potential targets for the development of vaccines against this bacterium. Further research is needed to fully understand the functions and mechanisms of these antigens.

The use of recombinant proteins/cDNA in academic research and therapeutic applications has skyrocketed. However, in heterologous expression systems, successful recombinant protein expression is dependent on a variety of factors, including codon preference, RNA secondary structure, and GC content. When compared to pre-optimization, more and more experimental results demonstrated that the expression level was dramatically increased, ranging from two to hundred times depending on the gene. Bioclone has created a proprietary technology platform that has resulted in the creation of over 6,000 artificially synthesized codon-optimized cDNA clones (cloned in E. coli expression Vector), which are ready for production of the recombinant proteins.

Neisseria meningitidis cDNA and recombinant antigen can be used in a variety of applications. One application is in the development of vaccines. The cDNA is used to create a recombinant antigen that can be used to induce an immune response in a person. This could be used to protect against infection with the meningococcal bacteria. Additionally, cDNA and recombinant antigen can be used to develop diagnostic tests. These tests can be used to identify the presence of meningococcal infection or to detect the presence of specific genetic markers associated with the bacteria. Finally, cDNA and recombinant antigen can be used in basic research to better understand how Neisseria meningitidis interacts with the human body and how the bacteria cause disease.