Open AccessA recombinant Escherichia coli heat‐stable enterotoxin (STa) fusion protein eliciting anti‐STa neutralizing antibodies
Author(s) -
Löwenadler Björn,
Lake Mats,
Elmblad Annette,
Holmgren Erik,
Holmgren Jan,
Karlström Anders,
Svennerholm AnnMari
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1991.tb04894.x
Subject(s) - enterotoxin , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , recombinant dna , heat stable enterotoxin , fusion protein , virology , antibody , neutralizing antibody , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , virus , immunology , gene
A recombinant fusion protein consisting of native Escherichia coli heat‐stable enterotoxin (STa) and a dimer of a synthetic IgG‐binding fragment (ZZ), derived from Staphylococus aureus protein A was produced in E. coli . The fusion protein (ZZSTa) was secreted in large quantities into the growth medium and recovered by affinity chromatography on IgG‐Sepharose. Rabbits immunized with the fusion protein responded by producing high serum levels of anti‐STa antibodies that also effectively neutralized STa toxicity in infant mice. The fusion peptide ZZSTa had a substantially decreased toxicity as compared with native STa. A polymeric form of ZZSTa separated by size fractionation was about 100 times less toxic than the monomeric fusion protein, yet both forms had the same capacity to induce neutralizing antibodies. This suggests that modified non‐toxic forms of ZZSTa with retained immunogenicity may be produced and tested for their usefulness as functional components in a vaccine against diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli .