In vitro evaluation methods for Clostridium botulinum type C and D vaccines

Reagents were prepared for use in ELISAs to determine the concentration of the antigenic components of Clostridium botulinum type C and D. The results obtained were compared with the L+dose assay and a good correlation was found between the two assays for measurement of the C and D neurotoxin concentration. These ELISAs were also used to determine the concentration of the neurotoxins in toxoid form. The relationship between the C neurotoxin dose, in toxoid form, and the immune response in guinea pigs could be deduced from the data obtained. The relationship for the D neurotoxin was not that clear, as the same concentration of the antigen resulted in variable potency values. However, these ELISAs can be used to formulate the concentration of the C and D components in the final bivalent vaccine. Replacement of the preliminary potency assay on the monovalent components after production with the in vitro assays will shorten the total production time of the vaccine by about 60 days. The economical and ethical implications are the reduction in the use of animals to evaluate the vaccine.     

A型肉毒神经毒素(BoNT/A)基因序列分析及其B细胞表位预测

比较GenBank中4个不同毒株的A型肉毒神经毒素（BoNT／A）的基因组序列,发现其基因序列的一致性高迭92．2％-99．9％。基于保守性高的BoNT／A氨基酸序列,根据BioSun和LaserGene软件包中的表住分析相关参数,辅以对BoNT／A蛋白的二级结构的分析,综合预测BoNT／A的B细胞表位。结果表明,BoNT／A轻链的142-150、284-292区段,轻链的284-292,重链的440-450、465-480、538-549、699-710、751-760、1087-1095、1224-1231、1263-1270区段是B细胞表位优势区的可能性较大。多参数方案井结合不同软件综合预测BoNT／A蛋白的B细胞表位,为进一步实验鉴定BoNT／A的B细胞表位及其多表位疫苗设计和研究奠定了基础。     

Sequence of the gene encoding type F neurotoxin of Clostridium botulinum

Primers designed to conserved regions of botulinum and tetanus clostridial toxins were used to amplify DNA fragments from non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum type F (202F) DNA using polymerase chain reaction technology. The fragments were cloned and the complete nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding type F toxin determined. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence demonstrated the presence of an open frame encoding a protein of 1274 amino acids, similar to other botulinum neurotoxins. Upstream of the toxin gene is the end of an open reading frame which encodes the C-terminus of a protein with homology to non-toxic-non-hemagglutinin component of type C progenitor toxin.     

Properties of a protease-sensitive acceptor component in mouse brain synaptosomes for Clostridium botulinum type B neurotoxin

To characterize an acceptor for Clostridium botulinum type B neurotoxin, its binding kinetics were examined with mouse brain synaptosomes treated with various enzymes. The amount of 125I-labelled neurotoxin bound to synaptosomes decreased upon treatment with lysyl endopeptidase, neuraminidase, or phospholipase C. The binding of the neurotoxin was partially recovered by incubation of neuraminidase-treated synaptosomes with ganglioside GT1b or GD1a. Gangliosides incorporated into untreated, lysyl endopeptidase-treated, and phospholipase C-treated synaptosomes had no effect on the binding of the neurotoxin. These results may suggest that type B neurotoxin binds to gangliosides in cooperation with a certain protease-sensitive substance on the neural membranes.     

C型肉毒毒素的制备及类毒素保护力初探

将C型肉毒梭菌经适宜条件的产毒培养后纯化,并进行相关鉴定。制备的C型肉毒毒素用分段脱毒法脱毒,并进行类毒素保护力的初步研究。以不同蛋白含量C型肉毒类毒素免疫小鼠后攻毒,结果显示,蛋白含量为0.625μg的类毒素免疫2针或蛋白含量为1.25μg的类毒素免疫1针均可保护50LD50的C型肉毒毒素攻击。蛋白含量为5μg的C型肉毒类毒素与福氏不完全佐剂配制的抗原免疫小鼠3次所得抗血清的保护力(Anti LD50/ml)为4.3×104。说明用该纯化工艺制备的C型肉毒类毒素具有很好的免疫原性,作为抗原成分用于C型肉毒疫苗和C型肉毒抗毒素的研究和生产具有较好的应用潜力。     

Clinical application of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin purified by a simple procedure for patients with urinary incontinence caused by refractory destrusor overactivity

Type A neurotoxin of Clostridium botulinum was purified by a simple procedure using a lactose gel column. This procedure was previously reported for type B neurotoxin. Hemagglutinin-positive toxins (19S and 16S) were bound to the column under acid conditions, and the neurotoxin alone was dissociated from these hemagglutinin-positive toxins by changing the pH of the column to an alkaline condition. The toxicity of this purified toxin preparation was retained for at least 1 year at -30 degrees C by supplementing it with either 0.1% albumin or 0.05% albumin plus 1% trehalose. This preparation was used to treat 18 patients with urinary incontinence caused by refractory idiopathic and neurogenic detrusor overactivity; 16 of the patients showed excellent improvement. Improvements started within 1 week after injection in most cases and lasted 3-12 months [corrected]     

Characterization of six type A strains of Clostridium botulinum that contain type B toxin gene sequences

Six Clostridium botulinum isolates exhibiting type A toxicity as measured by the mouse bioassay were found to contain both type A and type B neurotoxin DNA sequences. The six strains were divided into three groups based on the DNA sequence of the type B neurotoxin gene. Members of each group exhibited 100% sequence identity over the 3876 bp type B toxin open reading frame. The type B toxin sequence of all groups differed at more than 60 positions when compared to the BGB control strain.     

Expression, purification, and characterization of Clostridium botulinum type B light chain

A full-length synthetic gene encoding the light chain of botulinum neurotoxin serotype B, approximately 50 kDa (BoNT/B LC), has been cloned into a bacterial expression vector pET24a+. BoNT/B LC was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21.DE3.pLysS and isolated from the soluble fraction. The resultant protein was purified to homogeneity by cation chromatography and was determined to be >98% pure as assessed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel stained with SilverXpress and analyzed by densitometry. Mass spectroscopic analysis indicated the protein to be 50.8 kDa, which equaled the theoretically expected mass. N-terminal sequencing of the purified protein showed the sequence corresponded to the known reported sequence. The recombinant BoNT/B light chain was found to be highly stable, catalytically active, and has been used to prepare antisera that neutralizes against BoNT/B challenge. Characterization of the protein including pH, temperature, and the stability of the protein in the presence or absence of zinc is described within. The influence of pH differences, buffer, and added zinc on secondary and tertiary structure of BoNT/B light chain was analyzed by circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence measurements. Optimal conditions for obtaining maximum metalloprotease activity and stabilizing the protein for long term storage were determined. We further analyzed the thermal denaturation of BoNT/B LC as a function of temperature to probe the pH and added zinc effects on light chain stability. The synthetic BoNT/B LC has been found to be highly active on its substrate (vesicle associated membrane protein-2) and, therefore, can serve as a useful reagent for BoNT/B research.