scholarly journals Construction and Characterization of Bivalent Shigella flexneri 2a Vaccine Strains SC608(pCFAI) and SC608(pCFAI/LTB) That Express Antigens from Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 258-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan T. Ranallo ◽  
C. Piyumi Fonseka ◽  
Fred Cassels ◽  
Jay Srinivasan ◽  
Malabi M. Venkatesan

ABSTRACT An invasive strain of Shigella flexneri 2a (SC608) has been developed as a vector for the expression and delivery of heterologous antigens. SC608 is an aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (asd) derivative of SC602 (icsA iuc), a well-characterized live attenuated vaccine strain which has undergone several clinical trials in human volunteers. When administered orally at a single 104 (CFU) dose, SC602 is both immunogenic and efficacious against shigellosis. Using asd-based plasmid vectors, we designed SC608 to express the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) fimbrial subunit CfaB (CFA/I structural subunit) alone or in combination with the E. coli B subunit of heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB). The expression of each heterologous protein in SC608 was verified by immunoblot analysis. Each strain was comparable to the parent strain, SC602, in a HeLa cell invasion assay. After intranasal immunizations of guinea pigs, serum and mucosal immune responses were detected against both Shigella lipopolysaccharide and heterologous ETEC antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and ELISPOT analysis. All immunized animals were subsequently protected against a challenge with wild-type S. flexneri 2a in a keratoconjunctivitis Sereny test. Serum antibodies generated against LTB and CfaB demonstrated antitoxin and agglutination activities, respectively. These results suggest that CfaB and LTB expressed in SC608 retain important conformational epitopes that are required for the generation of antibodies that have functional activities. These initial experiments demonstrate that a fully invasive Shigella vaccine strain can be engineered to deliver antigens from other diarrheal pathogens.

2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 1352-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeev Altboum ◽  
Myron M. Levine ◽  
James E. Galen ◽  
Eileen M. Barry

ABSTRACT The genes that encode the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) CS4 fimbriae, csaA, -B, -C, -E, and -D′, were isolated from strain E11881A. The csa operon encodes a 17-kDa major fimbrial subunit (CsaB), a 40-kDa tip-associated protein (CsaE), a 27-kDa chaperone-like protein (CsaA), a 97-kDa usher-like protein (CsaC), and a deleted regulatory protein (CsaD′). The predicted amino acid sequences of the CS4 proteins are highly homologous to structural and assembly proteins of other ETEC fimbriae, including CS1 and CS2, and to CFA/I in particular. The csaA, -B, -C, -E operon was cloned on a stabilized plasmid downstream from an osomotically regulated ompC promoter. pGA2-CS4 directs production of CS4 fimbriae in both E. coli DH5α and Shigella flexneri 2a vaccine strain CVD 1204, as detected by Western blot analysis and bacterial agglutination with anti-CS4 immune sera. Electron-microscopic examination of Shigella expressing CS4 confirmed the presence of fimbriae on the bacterial surface. Guinea pigs immunized with CVD 1204(pGA2-CS4) showed serum and mucosal antibody responses to both the Shigella vector and the ETEC fimbria CS4. Among the seven most prevalent fimbrial antigens of human ETEC, CS4 is the last to be cloned and sequenced. These findings pave the way for CS4 to be included in multivalent ETEC vaccines, including an attenuated Shigella live-vector-based ETEC vaccine.


2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 4884-4892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Koprowski ◽  
Myron M. Levine ◽  
Richard J. Anderson ◽  
Genevieve Losonsky ◽  
Mariagrazia Pizza ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A multivalent live oral vaccine against both Shigellaspp. and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is being developed based on the hypothesis that protection can be achieved if attenuated shigellae express ETEC fimbrial colonization factors and genetically detoxified heat-labile toxin from a human ETEC isolate (LTh). Two detoxified derivatives of LTh, LThK63 and LThR72, were engineered by substitution—serine to lysine at residue 63, or lysine to arginine at residue 72. The genes encoding these two derivatives were cloned separately on expression plasmids downstream from the CFA/I operon. Following electroporation into S. flexneri 2a vaccine strain CVD 1204, coexpression of CFA/I and LThK63 or LThR72 was demonstrated by Western blot analysis, GM1 binding assays, and agglutination with anti-CFA/I antiserum. Hemagglutination and electron microscopy confirmed surface expression of CFA/I. Guinea pigs immunized intranasally on days 0 and 15 with CVD 1204 expressing CFA/I and LThK63 or LThR72 exhibited high titers of both serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and mucosal secretory IgA anti-CFA/I; 40% of the animals produced antibodies directed against LTh. All immunized guinea pigs also produced mucosal IgA (in tears) and serum IgG anti-S. flexneri 2a O antibodies. Furthermore, all immunized animals were protected from challenge with wild-type S. flexneri 2a. This prototype Shigella-ETEC hybrid vaccine demonstrates the feasibility of expressing multiple ETEC antigens on a single plasmid in an attenuated Shigella vaccine strain and engendering immune responses against both the heterologous antigens and vector strain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Midgett ◽  
Kacey Marie Talbot ◽  
Jessica L. Day ◽  
George P. Munson ◽  
F. Jon Kull

AbstractEnteric infections caused by the gram-negative bacteria enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Vibrio cholerae, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella enterica are among the most common and affect billions of people each year. These bacteria control expression of virulence factors using a network of transcriptional regulators, some of which are modulated by small molecules as has been shown for ToxT, an AraC family member from V. cholerae. In ETEC the expression of many types of adhesive pili is dependent upon the AraC family member Rns. We present here the 3 Å crystal structure of Rns and show it closely resembles ToxT. Rns crystallized as a dimer via an interface similar to that observed in other dimeric AraC’s. Furthermore, the structure of Rns revealed the presence of a ligand, decanoic acid, that inhibits its activity in a manner similar to the fatty acid mediated inhibition observed for ToxT and the S. enterica homologue HilD. Together, these results support our hypothesis that fatty acids regulate virulence controlling AraC family members in a common manner across a number of enteric pathogens. Furthermore, for the first time this work identifies a small molecule capable of inhibiting the ETEC Rns regulon, providing a basis for development of therapeutics against this deadly human pathogen.


AMB Express ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengpeng Xia ◽  
Yunping Wu ◽  
Siqi Lian ◽  
Guomei Quan ◽  
Yiting Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractEnterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4ac is a major constraint to the development of the pig industry, which is causing newborn and post-weaning piglets diarrhea. Previous studies proved that FaeG is the major fimbrial subunit of F4ac E. coli and efficient for bacterial adherence and receptor recognition. Here we show that the faeG deletion attenuates both the clinical symptoms of F4ac infection and the F4ac-induced intestinal mucosal damage in piglets. Antibody microarray analysis and the detection of mRNA expression using porcine neonatal jejunal IPEC-J2 cells also determined that the absence of FaeG subunit alleviated the F4ac promoted apoptosis in the intestinal epithelial cells. Thus, targeted depletion of FaeG is still beneficial for the prevention or treatment of F4ac infection.


1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Franklin ◽  
David H. Francis ◽  
Diane Baker ◽  
Alan G. Mathew

The objective of this study was to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method to detect and differentiate among Escherichia coli strains containing genes for the expression of 3 antigenic variants of the fimbrial adhesin K88 (K88ab, K88ac, and K88ad). Five primers were designed that allowed detection of K88+ E. coli, regardless of antigenic variant, and the separate detection of the ab, ac, and ad variants. Primers AM005 and AM006 are 21 base pair (bp) oligomers that correspond to a region of the K88 operon that is common to all 3 antigenic variants. Primers MF007, MF008, and MF009 are 24-bp oligomers that matched variable regions specific to ab, ac, and ad, respectively. Using primers AM005 and AM006, a PCR product was obtained that corresponds to a 764-bp region within the large structural subunit of the K88 operon common to all 3 antigenic variants. Primer AM005 used with MF007, MF008, or MF009 produced PCR products approximately 500-bp in length from within the large structural subunit of the K88 operon of the 3 respective antigenic variants. Fragments were identified by rates of migration on a 1% agarose gel relative to each other as well as to BstEII-digested lambda fragments. This PCR-based method was comparable to the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot test in the ability to differentiate between the antigenic variants. K88+ E. coli were differentiated from among laboratory strains and detected in ileal samples taken from cannulated pigs challenged with a known K88+ variant. K88+ E. coli were also detected from fecal swabs taken from newly weaned pigs, thus confirming that this PCR-based test could provide a convenient clinical assay for the detection of K88+ E. coli. Detection and differentiation of K88+ E. coli using general and specific primers was successful. PCR methods of detection should permit identification of K88+ antigenic variants regardless of the level of expression of the antigen.


2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jussi J. Joensuu ◽  
Mirkka Kotiaho ◽  
Tero Riipi ◽  
Veerle Snoeck ◽  
E. Tapio Palva ◽  
...  

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Tamanai-Shacoori ◽  
A. Jolivet-Gougeon ◽  
M. Pommepuy ◽  
M. Cormier ◽  
R. R. Colwell

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was studied in waste water, river water, and seawater from six locations along the west coast of Normandy by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the heat labile (LT) gene. Cellular DNA was extracted from centrifugation pellets and amplified using PCR. The PCR products were detected by gel electrophoresis and confirmed by hybridization assay, using an 850 base pair HindIII DNA fragment probe from pEWD299 conjugated to digoxigenin and specific for the LT gene. Results of the PCR amplification were compared with those of GM1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, latex agglutination, and colony hybridization. The PCR method was found to be more precise and less time consuming, especially when compared with methods requiring culture of isolates for enumeration of enterotoxigenic E. coli in water.Key words: enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, PCR, environmental water, digoxigenin.


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