Streptococcus pneumoniae endopeptidase O (PepO) induces trained immunity to defend the host against numerous pathogen infections

Antibiotic resistance and the pandemic of infectious diseases pose major hazards to human health. As a novel anti-infection strategy, trained immunity has a promising future. Recombinant Streptococcus pneumoniae Endopeptidase O (rPepO) is a novel trained immunity inducer that is a highly effective broad-spectrum anti-infective molecule. Here, we demonstrate that rPepO training induces a protective effect by improving the function of several immune cells. rPepO trains macrophages in the periphery to improve their immunological response. In addition, macrophage-derived complement C3 stimulates B lymphocytes to bolster the host's initial line of defense. While trained-macrophage-derived G-CSF changes the host's hematopoiesis and promotes central trained immunity. The "trained" label is found on freshly differentiated mononuclear macrophages, which also possess significantly enhanced anti-infective properties. Consequently, our research reveals that rPepO can induce peripheral and central trained immunity and possesses broad-spectrum and durable antimicrobial characteristics. Overall design: Peritoneal cells in 4 groups: negative control, negative control with S.a restimulation, rPepO training, and rPepO training with S.a restimulation. Three samples were analyzed in each group.