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Abstract

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a leading causative organism of opportunistic respiratory tract infections. However, there are currently no effective vaccination strategies, and existing treatments are compromised by antibiotic resistance. We previously characterized Haemophilus haemolyticus (Hh) strains capable of producing haemophilin (HPL), a heme-binding protein that restricts NTHi growth by limiting its access to an essential growth factor, heme. Thus, these strains may have utility as a probiotic therapy against NTHi infection by limiting colonization, migration and subsequent infection in susceptible individuals. Here, we assess the preliminary feasibility of this approach by direct in vitro, competition assays between NTHi and Hh strains with varying capacity to produce HPL. Subsequent changes in NTHi growth rate and fitness, in conjunction with HPL expression analysis, were employed to assess the NTHi-inhibitory capacity of Hh strains. HPL-producing strains of Hh not only outcompeted NTHi during short-term and extended co-culture, but also demonstrated a growth advantage compared with Hh strains unable to produce the protein. Additionally, HPL expression levels during competition correlated with the NTHi-inhibitory phenotype. HPL-producing strains of Hh demonstrate significant probiotic potential against NTHi colonization in the upper respiratory tract, however, further investigations are warranted to demonstrate a range of other characteristics that would support the eventual development of a probiotic.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Atto, B and Latham, R and Kunde, D and Gell, DA and Tristram, S
Keywords:	Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus haemolyticus, respiratory probiotic, respiratory infection, heme, heme-binding protein, otitis media, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Journal or Publication Title:	Pathogens
Publisher:	Basel
ISSN:	2076-0817
DOI / ID Number:	10.3390/pathogens9040243
Copyright Information:	© 2020 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribuion (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Related URLs:	UTAS Profile: Kunde, D UTAS Profile: Gell, DA Google Scholar: Tristram, S UTAS Profile: Tristram, S
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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