Denise S.P.Q. Horton

Quantification of crotamine, a small basic myotoxin, in South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) venom by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with parallel-lines analysis

Intraspecific variation in Crotalus durissus terrificus venom composition was studied in relation to crotamine activity. Crotamine induces paralysis in extension of hind legs of mice and myonecrosis in skeletal muscle cells. To determine whether the venom of crotamine-negative rattlesnake contains a quantity of myotoxin incapable of inducing paralysis, we have developed a very sensitivity immunological assay method, an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), capable of detecting 0.6 ng of purified crotamine. The parallel-lines analysis of ELISA data showed to be useful because it shows the reliability of the experimental conditions. A variation in the amount of myotoxin in the crotamine-positive venom was observed, but not less than 0.1 mg of crotamine per mg of venom. It was not possible to detect it in crotamine-negative venom even at high venom concentrations.

An improved whole cell pertussis vaccine with reduced content of endotoxin

An improved whole cell pertussis vaccine, designated as Plow, which is low in endotoxicity due to a chemical extraction of lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) from the outer membrane, was evaluated for safety, immunogenicity and potency, comparatively to a traditional whole cell pertussis vaccine. Current whole cell pertussis vaccines are effective but contain large quantities of endotoxin and consequently display local and systemic adverse reactions after administration. Endotoxin is highly inflammatory and contributes considerably to the reactogenicity as well as the potency of these vaccines. In contrast, acellular pertussis vaccines hardly contain endotoxin and are significantly less reactogenic, but their elevated costs limit their global use, especially in developing countries. In this paper, bulk products of Plow and a traditional whole cell vaccine, formulated as plain monocomponents or combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DTPlow or DTP, respectively) were compared by in vitro and in vivo assays. Chemical extraction of LOS resulted in a significant decrease in endotoxin content (20%) and a striking decline in endotoxin related toxicity (up to 97%), depending on the used in vitro or in vivo test. The LOS extraction did not affect the integrity of the product and, more importantly, did not affect the potency and/or stability of DTPlow. Moreover, hardly any differences in antibody and T-cell responses were observed. The development of Plow is a significant improvement regarding the endotoxicity of whole cell pertussis vaccines and therefore a promising and affordable alternative to currently available whole cell or acellular pertussis vaccines for developing countries.

Different Assay Conditions for Detecting the Production and Release of Heat-Labile and Heat-Stable Toxins in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Isolates

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) produce heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable enterotoxins (ST). Despite that, the mechanism of action of both toxins are well known, there is great controversy in the literature concerning the in vitro production and release of LT and, for ST, no major concerns have been discussed. Furthermore, the majority of published papers describe the use of only one or a few ETEC isolates to define the production and release of these toxins, which hinders the detection of ETEC by phenotypic approaches. Thus, the present study was undertaken to obtain a better understanding of ST and LT toxin production and release under laboratory conditions. Accordingly, a collection of 90 LT-, ST-, and ST/LT-producing ETEC isolates was used to determine a protocol for toxin production and release aimed at ETEC detection. For this, we used previously raised anti-LT antibodies and the anti-ST monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies described herein. The presence of bile salts and the use of certain antibiotics improved ETEC toxin production/release. Triton X-100, as chemical treatment, proved to be an alternative method for toxin release. Consequently, a common protocol that can increase the production and release of LT and ST toxins could facilitate and enhance the sensitivity of diagnostic tests for ETEC using the raised and described antibodies in the present work.

Development of a Rapid Agglutination Latex Test for Diagnosis of Enteropathogenic and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Infection in Developing World: Defining the Biomarker, Antibody and Method

Background Enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC/EHEC) are human intestinal pathogens responsible for diarrhea in both developing and industrialized countries. In research laboratories, EPEC and EHEC are defined on the basis of their pathogenic features; nevertheless, their identification in routine laboratories is expensive and laborious. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to develop a rapid and simple assay for EPEC/EHEC detection. Accordingly, the EPEC/EHEC-secreted proteins EspA and EspB were chosen as target antigens. Methodology First, we investigated the ideal conditions for EspA/EspB production/secretion by ELISA in a collection of EPEC/EHEC strains after cultivating bacterial isolates in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) or DMEM containing 1% tryptone or HEp-2 cells-preconditioned DMEM, employing either anti-EspA/anti-EspB polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies developed and characterized herein. Subsequently, a rapid agglutination latex test (RALT) was developed and tested with the same collection of bacterial isolates. Principal findings EspB was defined as a biomarker and its corresponding monoclonal antibody as the tool for EPEC/EHEC diagnosis; the production of EspB was better in DMEM medium. RALT assay has the sensitivity and specificity required for high-impact diagnosis of neglected diseases in the developing world. Conclusion RALT assay described herein can be considered an alternative assay for diarrhea diagnosis in low-income countries since it achieved 97% sensitivity, 98% specificity and 97% efficiency.

Vitamin A as adjuvant to the mouse immune response to pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria vaccines

Vitamin A was used as adjuvant, comparatively with Al(OH)3, in pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. Both groups induced a primary immune response in mice, and one single booster dose elevated the antibodies titers in average 554 times to vitamin A groups and 104 times to Al(OH)3. These antibodies titers correlate with sera IL-4 in immunized animals, suggesting a Th2 response. Other cytokines detected in the sera and/or lymphocytes culture supernatants (IL-2 and IFN-□) indicated that vitamin A could also modulate a Th1 response in DPT and acellular pertussis vaccines.

Single Chain Variable Fragments Produced in Escherichia coli against Heat-Labile and Heat-Stable Toxins from Enterotoxigenic E. coli

Background Diarrhea is a prevalent pathological condition frequently associated to the colonization of the small intestine by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains, known to be endemic in developing countries. These strains can produce two enterotoxins associated with the manifestation of clinical symptoms that can be used to detect these pathogens. Although several detection tests have been developed, minimally equipped laboratories are still in need of simple and cost-effective methods. With the aim to contribute to the development of such diagnostic approaches, we describe here two mouse hybridoma-derived single chain fragment variable (scFv) that were produced in E. coli against enterotoxins of ETEC strains. Methods and Findings Recombinant scFv were developed against ETEC heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable toxin (ST), from previously isolated hybridoma clones. This work reports their design, construction, molecular and functional characterization against LT and ST toxins. Both antibody fragments were able to recognize the cell-interacting toxins by immunofluorescence, the purified toxins by ELISA and also LT-, ST- and LT/ST-producing ETEC strains. Conclusion The developed recombinant scFvs against LT and ST constitute promising starting point for simple and cost-effective ETEC diagnosis.

Antibodies to Shiga toxins in Brazilian cattle

Abstract Cattle are considered a reservoir of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC). There is no information about the presence of antibodies against Shiga toxins in Brazilian bovine serum. Using ELISA, all sera tested showed antibodies against the two main STEC virulence factors; Stx1 and Stx2. Neutralizing antibodies against Stx1 and/or Stx2 were detected in all but one serum. In conclusion, our results indicated that these animals had been exposed to STEC producing both toxins. HighlightsBrazilian bovine sera presented antibodies titers against Stx1 and Stx2.All, but one sera presented antibodies with neutralizing ability.Brazilian cattle have been exposed to STEC producing both toxins.

Potential for colonization of O111:H25 atypical enteropathogenic E. coli

Using clonal phylogenetic methods, it has been demonstrated that O111:H25 atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) strains belong to distinct clones, suggesting the possibility that their ability to interact with different hosts and abiotic surfaces can vary from one clone to another. Accordingly, the ability of O111:H25 aEPEC strains derived from human, cat and dogs to adhere to epithelial cells has been investigated, along with their ability to interact with macrophages and to form biofilms on polystyrene, a polymer used to make biomedical devices. The results demonstrated that all the strains analyzed were able to adhere to, and to form pedestals on, epithelial cells, mechanisms used by E. coli to become strongly attached to the host. The strains also show a Localized-Adherence-Like (LAL) pattern of adhesion on HEp-2 cells, a behavior associated with acute infantile diarrhea. In addition, the O111:H25 aEPEC strains derived either from human or domestic animals were able to form long filaments, a phenomenon used by some bacteria to avoid phagocytosis. O111:H25 aEPEC strains were also encountered inside vacuoles, a characteristic described for several bacterial strains as a way of protecting themselves against the environment. They were also able to induce TNF-α release via two routes, one dependent on TLR-4 and the other dependent on binding of Type I fimbriae. These O111:H25 strains were also able to form biofilms on polystyrene. In summary the results suggest that, regardless of their source (i.e. linked to human origin or otherwise), O111:H25 aEPEC strains carry the potential to cause human disease.

Expression of functional recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein in Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells

Address: 1Laboratorio de Imunologia Viral, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, Brasil, 2Laboratorio de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, Brasil, 3Laboratorio de Imunogenetica, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, Brasil, 4Servico de Controle de Qualidade, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 Sao Paulo, Brasil and 5Departamento de Engenharia Quimica, Escola Politecnica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brasil * Corresponding author