Immunogenicity of the B monomer of Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin expressed on the surface of Streptococcus gordonii

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Ricci, Susanna;Medaglini, Donata;Rush, Catherine M.;Marcello, Alessandro;Peppoloni, Samuele;Manganelli, Riccardo;Palú, Giorgio;Pozzi, Gianni
Abstract

The B monomer of the Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin (LTB) was expressed on the surface of the human oral commensal bacterium Streptococcus gordonii. Recombinant bacteria expressing LTB were used to immunize BALB/c mice subcutaneously and intragastrically. The LTB monomer expressed on the streptococcal surface proved to be highly immunogenic, as LTB-specific immunoglobulin G (Igc) serum titers of 140,000 were induced after systemic immunization. Most significantly, these antibodies were capable of neutralizing the enterotoxin in a cell neutralization assay. Following mucosal delivery, antigen-specific IgA antibodies were found in feces and antigen-specific IgG antibodies were found in sera. Analysis of serum Ige subclasses showed a clear predominance of IgG1 when recombinant bacteria were inoculated subcutaneously, while a prevalence of IgG2a was observed upon intragastric delivery, suggesting, in this case, the recruitment of a Th1 type of immune response.

Journal

Infection and Immunity

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Volume

68

ISBN/ISSN

1098-5522

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Issue

2

Pages Count

7

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Publisher

American Society for Microbiology

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EISSN

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DOI

10.1128/IAI.68.2.760-766.2000