Yersinia enterocolitica aroA mutants as carriers of the B subunit of the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin to the murine immune system

Microb Pathog. 1990 Aug;9(2):105-16. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(90)90084-4.

Abstract

Plasmid p5F which directs the expression of the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LT-B) from the ptac promoter was introduced into the attenuated Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 aroA mutant strain YAM.1. YAM.1 (p5F) expressed high levels of cell-associated and secreted LT-B in a stable fashion when grown on normal laboratory medium. The strain was used as a live oral vaccine in BALB/c mice and vaccinated mice developed high levels of gut-associated and systemic antibodies to both LT-B and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the vaccine strain. Anti-LT-B and anti-LPS responses in the sera were predominantly of the IgG class whereas gut-associated antibodies were predominantly IgA. ELISPOT assays carried out on selected tissues prepared from vaccinated mice showed significant numbers of cells synthesising IgG and IgA antibodies to LT-B. These results show that Y. enterocolitica aroA mutants can be used effectively as carriers of heterologous antigens to the murine immune system.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / biosynthesis
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Enterotoxins / genetics*
  • Enterotoxins / immunology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • Immunization
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mutation*
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / genetics*
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Enterotoxins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli