| Autor: |
Bager, Ragnhild J., Nesta, Barbara, Pors, Susanne E., Soriani, Marco, Serino, Laura, Boyce, John D., Adler, Ben, Bojesen, Anders M. |
| Zdroj: |
Infection and Immunity; March 2013, Vol. 81 Issue: 6 p1964-1973, 10p |
| Abstrakt: |
ABSTRACTThe Gram-negative bacterium Gallibacterium anatisis a major cause of salpingitis and peritonitis in egg-laying chickens, leading to decreased egg production worldwide. Widespread multidrug resistance largely prevents treatment of this organism using traditional antimicrobial agents, while antigenic diversity hampers disease prevention by classical vaccines. Thus, insight into its pathogenesis and knowledge about important virulence factors is urgently required. A key event during the colonization and invasion of mucosal surfaces is adherence, and recently, at least three F17-like fimbrial gene clusters were identified in the genomes of several G. anatisstrains. The objective of this study was to characterize the putative F17-like fimbrial subunit protein FlfA from G. anatis12656-12 and determine its importance for virulence. In vitroexpression and surface exposure of FlfA was demonstrated by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy. The predicted function of FlfA as a fimbrial subunit protein was confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy. An flfAdeletion mutant (?flfA) was generated in G. anatis12656-12, and importantly, this mutant was significantly attenuated in the natural chicken host. Furthermore, protection against G. anatis12656-12 could be induced by immunizing chickens with recombinant FlfA. Finally, in vitroexpression of FlfA homologs was observed in a genetically diverse set of G. anatisstrains, suggesting the potential of FlfA as a serotype-independent vaccine candidate This is the first study describing a fimbrial subunit protein of G. anatiswith a clear potential as a vaccine antigen. |
| Databáze: |
Supplemental Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
|
