Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Protein E-Pilin A fusion protein (PE-PilA) (PE-PilA)

The PE-PilA fusion protein is a recombinant vaccine antigen designed to target Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), a major cause of respiratory infections. It consists of immunologically relevant segments of Protein E (PE), a 16 kDa adhesin, and PilA, the major subunit of Type IV pili. PE facilitates bacterial attachment to epithelial cells and helps the pathogen evade the host complement system by binding vitronectin. PilA is essential for the assembly of Type IV pili, which mediate twitching motility, colonization, and the formation of stable biofilms. By combining these two conserved surface proteins into a single fusion molecule, the vaccine aims to elicit a robust immune response that inhibits bacterial adhesion and promotes the dispersal of established biofilms. PE-PilA is a key component of investigational multicomponent vaccines, such as GSK's NTHi-Mcat vaccine, which also includes antigens targeting Moraxella catarrhalis to prevent exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and otitis media in children.

Other names

Protein E-PilA fusion proteinPE-PilANTHi PE-PilArsPilA-PE

Vaccine antigen that induces functional antibodies to inhibit bacterial adhesion and disrupt biofilms.