scholarly journals Protective Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of Human/Mouse Chimeric Anti-Stx1 and Anti-Stx2 Antibodies in Mice

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 448-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela R. Melton-Celsa ◽  
H. M. Carvalho ◽  
Claire Thuning-Roberson ◽  
A. D. O'Brien

ABSTRACTIn the United States, Shiga toxin (Stx)-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) is the most frequent infectious cause of hemorrhagic colitis. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious sequela that may develop after STEC infection that can lead to renal failure and death in up to 10% of cases. STEC can produce one or more types of Stx, Stx1 and/or Stx2, and Stx1 and Stx2 are responsible for HUS-mediated kidney damage. We previously generated two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that neutralize the toxicity of Stx1 or Stx2. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of human/mouse chimeric versions of those monoclonal antibodies, named cαStx1 and cαStx2. Mice given an otherwise lethal dose of Stx1 were protected from death when injected with cαStx1 either 1 h before or 1 h after toxin injection. Additionally, streptomycin-treated mice fed the mouse-lethal STEC strain B2F1 that produces the Stx2 variant Stx2d were protected when given a dose of 0.1 mg of cαStx2/kg of body weight administered up to 72 h post-oral bacterial challenge. Since many STEC strains produce both Stx1 and Stx2 and since either toxin may lead to the HUS, we also assessed the protective efficacy of the combined MAbs. We found that both antibodies were required to protect mice from the presence of both Stx1 and Stx2. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that cαStx1 and cαStx2 had serum half-lives (t1/2) of about 50 and 145 h, respectively. We propose that cαStx1 and cαStx2, both of which have been tested for safety in humans, could be used therapeutically for prevention or treatment early in the development of HUS.

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 4968-4977 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Zangari ◽  
A. R. Melton-Celsa ◽  
A. Panda ◽  
M. A. Smith ◽  
I. Tatarov ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTShiga toxin (Stx)-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) causes hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC strains may produce Stx1a and/or Stx2a or variants of either toxin. A 2006 spinach-associated outbreak of STEC O157:H7 resulted in higher hospitalization and HUS rates than previous STEC outbreaks. The spinach isolate, strain K3995, contains bothstx2aandstx2c. We hypothesized that the enhanced virulence of K3995 reflects the combination ofstx2alleles (carried on lysogenic phages) and/or the amount of Stx2 made by that strain. We compared the virulence of K3995 to those of other O157:H7 isolates and an isogenic Stx2 mutant in rabbits and mice. We also measured the relative levels of Stx2 produced from those strains with or without induction of thestx-carrying phage. Some rabbits infected with K3995 exhibited intestinal pathology and succumbed to infection, while none of those infected with O157:H7 strain 2812 (Stx1a+Stx2a+) died or showed pathological signs. Rabbits infected with the isogenic Stx2a mutant K3995stx2a::catwere not colonized as well as those infected with K3995 and exhibited no signs of disease. In the streptomycin-treated mouse model, more animals infected with K3995 died than did those infected with O157:H7 strain 86-24 (Stx2a+). Additionally, K3995 produced higher levels of total Stx2 and toxin phage DNA in cultures after phage induction than did 86-24. Our results demonstrate the greater virulence of K3995 compared to other O157:H7 strains in rabbits and mice. We conclude that this enhanced virulence is linked to higher levels of Stx2 expression as a consequence of increased phage induction.


2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 1213-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Russo ◽  
A. R. Melton-Celsa ◽  
M. A. Smith ◽  
M. J. Smith ◽  
A. D. O'Brien

ABSTRACTShiga toxin (Stx)-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) strains cause food-borne outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis and, less commonly, a serious kidney-damaging sequela called the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Stx, the primary virulence factor expressed by STEC, is an AB5toxin with two antigenically distinct forms, Stx1a and Stx2a. Although both toxins have similar biological activities, Stx2a is more frequently produced by STEC strains that cause HUS than is Stx1a. Here we asked whether Stx1a and Stx2a act differently when delivered orally by gavage. We found that Stx2a had a 50% lethal dose (LD50) of 2.9 μg, but no morbidity occurred after oral intoxication with up to 157 μg of Stx1a. We also compared several biochemical and histological parameters in mice intoxicated orally versus intraperitoneally with Stx2a. We discovered that both intoxication routes caused similar increases in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, indicative of kidney damage, as well as electrolyte imbalances and weight loss in the animals. Furthermore, kidney sections from Stx2a-intoxicated mice revealed multifocal, acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Of particular note, we detected Stx2a in kidney sections from orally intoxicated mice in the same region as the epithelial cell type in which ATN was detected. Lastly, we showed reduced renal damage, as determined by renal biomarkers and histopathology, and full protection of orally intoxicated mice with monoclonal antibody (MAb) 11E10 directed against the toxin A subunit; conversely, an irrelevant MAb had no therapeutic effect. Orally intoxicated mice could be rescued by MAb 11E10 6 h but not 24 h after Stx2a delivery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yibao Chen ◽  
Xiangmin Li ◽  
Shuang Wang ◽  
Lingyu Guan ◽  
Xinxin Li ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains are important zoonotic foodborne pathogens, causing diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. However, antibiotic treatment of STEC infection is associated with an increased risk of HUS. Therefore, there is an urgent need for early and effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we isolated lytic T7-like STEC phage PHB19 and identified a novel O91-specific polysaccharide depolymerase (Dep6) in the C terminus of the PHB19 tailspike protein. Dep6 exhibited strong hydrolase activity across wide ranges of pH (pH 4 to 8) and temperature (20 to 60°C) and degraded polysaccharides on the surface of STEC strain HB10. In addition, both Dep6 and PHB19 degraded biofilms formed by STEC strain HB10. In a mouse STEC infection model, delayed Dep6 treatment (3 h postinfection) resulted in only 33% survival, compared with 83% survival when mice were treated simultaneously with infection. In comparison, pretreatment with Dep6 led to 100% survival compared with that of the control group. Surprisingly, a single PHB19 treatment resulted in 100% survival in all three treatment protocols. Moreover, a significant reduction in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines was observed at 24 h postinfection in Dep6- or PHB19-treated mice. These results demonstrated that Dep6 or PHB19 might be used as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent STEC infection. IMPORTANCE Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important foodborne pathogen worldwide. The Shiga-like toxin causes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. Although antibiotic therapy is still used for STEC infections, this approach may increase the risk of HUS. Phages or phage-derived depolymerases have been used to treat bacterial infections in animals and humans, as in the case of the “San Diego patient” treated with a phage cocktail. Here, we showed that phage PHB19 and its O91-specific polysaccharide depolymerase Dep6 degraded STEC biofilms and stripped the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from STEC strain HB10, which was subsequently killed by serum complement in vitro. In a mouse model, PHB19 and Dep6 protected against STEC infection and caused a significant reduction in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. This study reports the use of an O91-specific polysaccharide depolymerase for the treatment of STEC infection in mice.


2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debaleena Basu ◽  
Xiao-Ping Li ◽  
Jennifer N. Kahn ◽  
Kerrie L. May ◽  
Peter C. Kahn ◽  
...  

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) infections can lead to life-threatening complications, including hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children in the United States. Stx1 and Stx2 are AB5 toxins consisting of an enzymatically active A subunit associated with a pentamer of receptor binding B subunits. Epidemiological evidence suggests that Stx2-producingE. colistrains are more frequently associated with HUS than Stx1-producing strains. Several studies suggest that the B subunit plays a role in mediating toxicity. However, the role of the A subunits in the increased potency of Stx2 has not been fully investigated. Here, using purified A1 subunits, we show that Stx2A1 has a higher affinity for yeast and mammalian ribosomes than Stx1A1. Biacore analysis indicated that Stx2A1 has faster association and dissociation with ribosomes than Stx1A1. Analysis of ribosome depurination kinetics demonstrated that Stx2A1 depurinates yeast and mammalian ribosomes and an RNA stem-loop mimic of the sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) at a higher catalytic rate and is a more efficient enzyme than Stx1A1. Stx2A1 depurinated ribosomes at a higher levelin vivoand was more cytotoxic than Stx1A1 inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Stx2A1 depurinated ribosomes and inhibited translation at a significantly higher level than Stx1A1 in human cells. These results provide the first direct evidence that the higher affinity for ribosomes in combination with higher catalytic activity toward the SRL allows Stx2A1 to depurinate ribosomes, inhibit translation, and exhibit cytotoxicity at a significantly higher level than Stx1A1.


2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 825-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shimin Zhang ◽  
Shaw-Huey Feng ◽  
Bingjie Li ◽  
Hyung-Yong Kim ◽  
Joe Rodriguez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTOur laboratory has developed more than a hundred mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) againstBurkholderia pseudomalleiandBurkholderia mallei. These antibodies have been categorized into different groups based on their specificities and the biochemical natures of their target antigens. The current study first examined the bactericidal activities of a number of these MAbs by anin vitroopsonic assay. Then, thein vivoprotective efficacy of selected MAbs was evaluated using BALB/c mice challenged intranasally with a lethal dose of the bacteria. The opsonic assay using dimethyl sulfoxide-treated human HL-60 cells as phagocytes revealed that 19 out of 47 tested MAbs (40%) have prominent bactericidal activities againstB. pseudomalleiand/orB. mallei. Interestingly, all MAbs with strong opsonic activities are those with specificity against either the capsular polysaccharides (PS) or the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the bacteria. On the other hand, none of the MAbs reacting to bacterial proteins or glycoproteins showed prominent bactericidal activity. Further study revealed that the antigenic epitopes on either the capsular PS or LPS molecules were readily available for binding in intact bacteria, while the epitopes on proteins/glycoproteins were less accessible to the MAbs. Ourin vivostudy showed that four MAbs reactive to either the capsular PS or LPS were highly effective in protecting mice against lethal bacterial challenge. The result is compatible with that of ourin vitrostudy. The MAbs with the highest protective efficacy are those reactive to either the capsular PS or LPS of theBurkholderiabacteria.


2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 1491-1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Pilar Mejias ◽  
Gabriel Cabrera ◽  
Romina Jimena Fernández-Brando ◽  
Ariela Baschkier ◽  
Giselle Ghersi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is defined as the triad of anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. Enterohemorrhagic Shiga toxin (Stx)-producingEscherichia coli(EHEC), which causes a prodromal hemorrhagic enteritis, remains the most common etiology of the typical or epidemic form of HUS. Because no licensed vaccine or effective therapy is presently available for human use, we recently developed a novel immunogen based on the B subunit of Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2B) and the enzyme lumazine synthase fromBrucellaspp. (BLS) (BLS-Stx2B). The aim of this study was to analyze maternal immunization with BLS-Stx2B as a possible approach for transferring anti-Stx2 protection to the offspring. BALB/c female mice were immunized with BLS-Stx2B before mating. Both dams and pups presented comparable titers of anti-Stx2B antibodies in sera and fecal extracts. Moreover, pups were totally protected against a lethal dose of systemic Stx2 injection up to 2 to 3 months postpartum. In addition, pups were resistant to an oral challenge with an Stx2-producing EHEC strain at weaning and did not develop any symptomatology associated with Stx2 toxicity. Fostering experiments demonstrated that anti-Stx2B neutralizing IgG antibodies were transmitted through breast-feeding. Pups that survived the EHEC infection due to maternally transferred immunity prolonged an active and specific immune response that protected them against a subsequent challenge with intravenous Stx2. Our study shows that maternal immunization with BLS-Stx2B was very effective at promoting the transfer of specific antibodies, and suggests that preexposure of adult females to this immunogen could protect their offspring during the early phase of life.


2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 819-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID W. K. ACHESON

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is but one of a group of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) that cause both intestinal disease such as bloody and nonbloody diarrhea and serious complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). While E. coli O157: H7 is the most renowned STEC, over 200 different types of STEC have been documented in meat and animals, at least 60 of which have been linked with human disease. A number of studies have suggested that non-O157 STEC are associated with clinical disease, and non-O157 STEC are present in the food supply. Non-O157 STEC, such as O111 have caused large outbreaks and HUS in the United States and other countries. The current policy in the United States is to examine ground beef for O157:H7 only, but restricting the focus to O157 will miss other important human STEC pathogens.


2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Duehr ◽  
Teddy John Wohlbold ◽  
Lisa Oestereich ◽  
Veronika Chromikova ◽  
Fatima Amanat ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Out of an estimated 31,100 cases since their discovery in 1976, ebolaviruses have caused approximately 13,000 deaths. The vast majority (∼11,000) of these occurred during the 2013-2016 West African epidemic. Three out of five species in the genus are known to cause Ebola Virus Disease in humans. Several monoclonal antibodies against the ebolavirus glycoprotein are currently in development as therapeutics. However, there is still a paucity of monoclonal antibodies that can cross-react between the glycoproteins of different ebolavirus species, and the mechanism of these monoclonal antibody therapeutics is still not understood in detail. Here, we generated a panel of eight murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) utilizing a prime-boost vaccination regimen with a Zaire ebolavirus glycoprotein expression plasmid followed by infection with a vesicular stomatitis virus expressing the Zaire ebolavirus glycoprotein. We tested the binding breadth of the resulting monoclonal antibodies using a set of recombinant surface glycoproteins from Reston, Taï Forest, Bundibugyo, Zaire, Sudan, and Marburg viruses and found two antibodies that showed pan-ebolavirus binding. An in vivo Stat2 −/− mouse model was utilized to test the ability of these MAbs to protect from infection with a vesicular stomatitis virus expressing the Zaire ebolavirus glycoprotein. Several of our antibodies, including the broadly binding ones, protected mice from mortality despite lacking neutralization capability in vitro, suggesting their protection may be mediated by Fc-FcR interactions. Indeed, three antibodies displayed cellular phagocytosis and/or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. Our antibodies, specifically the two identified cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (KL-2E5 and KL-2H7), might add to the understanding of anti-ebolavirus humoral immunity. IMPORTANCE This study describes the generation of a panel of novel anti-ebolavirus glycoprotein monoclonal antibodies, including two antibodies with broad cross-reactivity to all known ebolavirus species. The antibodies were raised using a heterologous DNA-viral vector prime-boost regimen, resulting in a high proportion of cross-reactive antibodies (25%). Similar vaccination regimens have been used successfully to induce broad protection against influenza viruses in humans, and our limited data indicate that this might be a useful strategy for filovirus vaccines as well. Several of our antibodies showed protective efficacy when tested in a novel murine challenge model and may be developed into future therapeutics.


2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1003-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Wang ◽  
Xiao-jun Hou ◽  
Kun Cai ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
Yue-nan Liu ◽  
...  

Shiga toxins produced by Escherichia coli O157:H7 cause a wide spectrum of enteric diseases, such as lethal hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. In this study, the B subunit protein of Shiga toxin type 1 (Stx1) was produced in the E. coli system, was further purified by Ni-column Affinity Chromatography method, and was then used as an immunogen to immunize laying hens for yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) production. Titers of IgY increased gradually with boosting vaccination and, finally, reached a level of 105, remaining steady over 1 year. Then the protective efficacy of IgY against Stx1 was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. It was shown that the anti-Stx1 IgY could effectively block the binding of Stx1 to the Hela cells and could protect BALB/c mice from toxin challenges. The data indicates the facility of using egg yolk IgY as a therapeutic intervention in cases of Shiga toxin intoxication.


2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
pp. 2653-2661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takaaki Mitsui ◽  
Miho Watanabe-Takahashi ◽  
Eiko Shimizu ◽  
Baihao Zhang ◽  
Satoru Funamoto ◽  
...  

Shiga toxin (Stx), a major virulence factor of enterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli(EHEC), can be classified into two subgroups, Stx1 and Stx2, each consisting of various closely related subtypes. Stx2 subtypes Stx2a and Stx2d are highly virulent and linked with serious human disorders, such as acute encephalopathy and hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Through affinity-based screening of a tetravalent peptide library, we previously developed peptide neutralizers of Stx2a in which the structure was optimized to bind to the B-subunit pentamer. In this study, we identified Stx2d-selective neutralizers by targeting Asn16 of the B subunit, an amino acid unique to Stx2d that plays an essential role in receptor binding. We synthesized a series of tetravalent peptides on a cellulose membrane in which the core structure was exactly the same as that of peptides in the tetravalent library. A total of nine candidate motifs were selected to synthesize tetravalent forms of the peptides by screening two series of the tetravalent peptides. Five of the tetravalent peptides effectively inhibited the cytotoxicity of Stx2a and Stx2d, and notably, two of the peptides selectively inhibited Stx2d. These two tetravalent peptides bound to the Stx2d B subunit with high affinity dependent on Asn16. The mechanism of binding to the Stx2d B subunit differed from that of binding to Stx2a in that the peptides covered a relatively wide region of the receptor-binding surface. Thus, this highly optimized screening technique enables the development of subtype-selective neutralizers, which may lead to more sophisticated treatments of infections by Stx-producing EHEC.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document