The immunogenicity of fusion protein linking the carboxyl terminus of the B subunit of Shiga toxin 2 to the B subunit of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin

Vet Microbiol. 2008 Feb 5;127(1-2):209-15. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2007.08.021. Epub 2007 Aug 19.

Abstract

To augment the immunogenicity of the subunit B of Shiga toxin (Stx2e B) produced by Escherichia coli and protect piglets from edema disease in china, a fusion gene was constructed consisting of Stx2e B genetically linked at the N-terminus of the B subunit of heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) in a translational fusion. After being induced with IPTG, the expressed fusion protein of Stx2e B-LTB was about 8.8% of total proteins, approximately 13 microg/ml of the bacteria culture. The Stx2e B-LTB fusion protein was found to be nontoxic to Vero cells at the dose higher than 1 microg/ml and to mice less than 100 microg/ml. Antibody titer against the fusion protein Stx2e B-LTB was 1:76,800, much higher than that of the recombinant Stx2e B protein (1:12,800) alone. All of the mice immunized with the Stx2e B-LTB fusion protein survived when challenged with a lethal dose (LD) of Stx2e toxin. The results showed that the poor immunogenicity of Stx2e B was overcome by conjugating the stx2e B to ltB. The immunogenicity of the constructed fusion protein Stx2e B-LTB in the present study was highly qualified to protect animals against Shiga toxin produced from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The fusion protein of Stx2e B-LTB could be a candidate for a vaccine against edema disease and post-weaning diarrhea simultaneously in piglets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Enterotoxins / genetics
  • Enterotoxins / immunology*
  • Escherichia coli / immunology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / prevention & control*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Rabbits
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / toxicity
  • Shiga Toxin 2 / genetics
  • Shiga Toxin 2 / immunology*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / immunology
  • Swine Diseases / microbiology
  • Swine Diseases / prevention & control
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Enterotoxins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Shiga Toxin 2
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • shiga toxin 2 B subunit
  • heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli