Mucosal immunogenicity of a holotoxin-like molecule containing the serine-rich Entamoeba histolytica protein (SREHP) fused to the A2 domain of cholera toxin

Infect Immun. 1998 Feb;66(2):462-8. doi: 10.1128/IAI.66.2.462-468.1998.

Abstract

One strategy for the induction of mucosal immune responses by oral immunization is to administer the antigen in conjunction with cholera toxin. Cholera toxin consists of one A polypeptide (CTA) which is noncovalently linked to five B subunits (CTB) via the A2 portion of the A subunit (CTA2). Coupling of antigens to the nontoxic B subunit of cholera toxin may improve the immunogenicity of antigens by targeting them to GM1 ganglioside on M cells and intestinal epithelial cells. Here, we describe the construction of a translational fusion protein containing the serine-rich Entamoeba histolytica protein (SREHP), a protective amebic antigen, fused to a maltose binding protein (MBP) and to CTA2. When coexpressed in Escherichia coli with the CTB gene, these proteins assembled into a holotoxin-like chimera containing MBP-SREHP-CTA2 and CTB. This holotoxin-like chimera (SREHP-H) inhibited the binding of cholera toxin to GM1 ganglioside. Oral vaccination of mice with SREHP-H induced mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) and serum IgG antiamebic antibodies and low levels of mucosal anti-CTB antibodies. Our studies confirm that the genetic coupling of antigens to CTA2 and their coexpression in E. coli can produce holotoxin-like molecules that are mucosally immunogenic without the requirement for supplemental cholera toxin, and they establish the SREHP-H protein as a candidate for evaluation as a vaccine to prevent amebiasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Cholera Toxin / immunology*
  • Entamoeba histolytica / immunology*
  • Female
  • Immunity, Mucosal
  • Immunoglobulin A / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Cholera Toxin