A recombinant carboxy-terminal domain of alpha-toxin protects mice against Clostridium perfringens.

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin (CP, 370 residues) is one of the main agents involved in the development of gas gangrene. In this study, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the C-terminal domain (CP251-370) of the toxin and phospholipase C (PLC; CB, 372 residues) of Clostridum bifermentans isolated from cases of clostridium necrosis were examined. The recombinant proteins were expressed as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins. Antibodies that cross-reacted with alpha-toxin were produced after immunization with recombinant proteins including GST-CP251-370, GST-CP281-370, GST-CP311-370, CB1-372 and GST-CB251-372. Anti-GST-CP251-370, anti-GST-CP281-370 and anti-GST-CP311-370 sera neutralized both the PLC and hemolytic activities of alpha-toxin, whereas anti-CB1-372 and anti-GST-CB251-372 weakly neutralized these activities. Immunization with GST-CP251-370 and GST-CP281-370 provided protection against the lethal effects of the toxin and C. perfringens type A NCTC8237. Partial protection from the toxin and C. perfringens was elicited by immunization with GST-CP311-370 and CB1-372. GST-CP251-370 and GST-CP281-370 are promising candidates for vaccines for clostridial-induced gas gangrene.

• Authors: Masahiro Nagahama, Masataka Oda, Keiko Kobayashi, Sadayuki Ochi, Teruhisa Takagishi, Masahiro Shibutani, Jun Sakurai
• Journal: Microbiology and immunology (Microbiol Immunol) Vol. 57 Issue 5 Pg. 340-5 (May 2013) ISSN: 1348-0421 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 23668605 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2013 The Societies and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Antibodies, Neutralizing
• Antitoxins
• Bacterial Toxins
• Bacterial Vaccines
• Calcium-Binding Proteins
• Recombinant Proteins
• Vaccines, Synthetic
• Type C Phospholipases
• alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Bacterial (blood)
• Antibodies, Neutralizing (blood)
• Antitoxins (blood)
• Bacterial Toxins (genetics, immunology)
• Bacterial Vaccines (administration & dosage, genetics, immunology)
• Calcium-Binding Proteins (genetics, immunology)
• Clostridium Infections (immunology, prevention & control)
• Clostridium perfringens (immunology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Neutralization Tests
• Recombinant Proteins (genetics, immunology)
• Survival Analysis
• Type C Phospholipases (genetics, immunology)
• Vaccines, Synthetic (administration & dosage, genetics, immunology)