Mucosal Immune Profiles Associated with Diarrheal Disease Severity in Shigella- and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli-Infected Children Enrolled in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Shigella are etiologic agents of diarrhea in children <5 years old living in resource-poor countries. Repeated bouts of infection lead to lifelong morbidity and even death. The goal of this study was to characterize local mucosal immune responses in Shigella- and EPEC-infected children <5 years of age with moderate to severe diarrhea (MSD) enrolled in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS). We hypothesized that infection with each of these pathogens would induce distinct gut mucosal immune profiles indicative of disease etiology and severity. To test this hypothesis, innate and adaptive immune markers were measured in stools from children with diarrhea due to EPEC, Shigella, or other organisms and in children who had no diarrhea. Shigella-positive diarrhea evoked robust proinflammatory and TH1/TH2 cytokine responses compared to diarrhea caused by EPEC or other organisms, with the exception of interleukin 5 (IL-5), which was associated with EPEC infection. The presence of IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-16, and tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-ß) was associated with the absence of dysentery. EPEC-positive diarrhea evoked high levels of IL-1ß, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and IL-10. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) had opposing roles in disease severity, being associated with absence of diarrhea in EPEC-infected children and with dysenteric Shigella infection. High levels of antigen-specific antibodies were detected in the controls and children with Shigella without dysentery, which suggests a protective role against severe disease. In summary, this study identified distinct local immune responses associated with two clinically relevant diarrheagenic pathogens, Shigella and EPEC, in children and identified protective immune phenotypes that can inform the development of preventive measures. IMPORTANCE Shigella and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli are primary agents of moderate to severe diarrhea in children <5 years of age living in resource-poor countries. Repeated bouts of illness lead to lifelong health impairment and even death. Aiming to understand the local host immunity to these pathogens in relation to disease prognosis and to identify prophylaxis and therapeutic targets, we investigated innate and adaptive immune profiles in stools from children infected with EPEC with and without diarrhea, Shigella with and without dysentery, and controls in well characterized clinical samples obtained during the Global Enteric Multicenter Study. For the first time, we report pathogen-specific mucosal immune profiles associated with severity or absence of disease in children <5 years of age that can inform prevention and treatment efforts.

Functional and Antigen-Specific Serum Antibody Levels as Correlates of Protection against Shigellosis in a Controlled Human Challenge Study.

Shigella is an important cause of diarrheal disease in young children living in developing countries. No approved vaccines are available, and the development of vaccine candidates has been hindered by the lack of firm immunological correlates of protection, among other reasons. To address this gap in knowledge, we established quantitative assays to measure Shigella-specific serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) and opsonophagocytic killing antibody (OPKA) activities and investigated their potential association with protection against disease in humans. SBA, OPKA, and Ipa-, VirG (IscA)-, and Shigella flexneri 2a lipopolysaccharide-specific serum IgG titers were determined in adult volunteers who received Shigella vaccine candidate EcSf2a-2 and in unvaccinated controls, all of whom were challenged with virulent Shigella flexneri 2a. Prechallenge antibody titers were compared with disease severity after challenge. SBA and OPKA, as well as IpaB- and VirG-specific IgG, significantly correlated with reduced illness. SBA and OPKA assays were also used to evaluate the immunogenicity of leading live attenuated vaccine candidates Shigella CVD 1204 and CVD 1208S in humans. A single oral immunization with CVD 1204 or CVD 1208S resulted in SBA seroconversion rates of 71% and 47% and OPKA seroconversion rates of 57% and 35%, respectively. Higher functional antibody responses were induced by CVD 1204, which is consistent with its lower attenuation. This is the first demonstration of SBA, OPKA, and IpaB- and VirG-specific IgG levels as potential serological correlates of protection against shigellosis in humans. These results warrant further studies to establish their capacity to predict protective immunity and vaccine efficacy.