Specific immuno capturing of the Staphylococcal superantigen toxic‐shock syndrome toxin‐1 in plasma

Toxic‐shock syndrome is primarily caused by the Toxic‐shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST‐1), which is secreted by the Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. The toxin belongs to a family of superantigens (SAgs) which exhibit several shared biological properties, including the induction of massive cytokine release and V_β‐specific T‐cell proliferation. In this study we explored the possibility to use monoclonal Variable domains of Llama Heavy‐chain antibodies (VHH) in the immuno capturing of TSST‐1 from plasma. Data is presented that the selected VHHs are highly specific for TSST‐1 and can be efficiently produced in large amounts in yeast. In view of affinity chromatography, the VHHs are easily coupled to beads, and are able to deplete TSST‐1 from plasma at very low, for example, pathologically relevant, concentrations. When spiked with 4 ng/mL TSST‐1 more than 96% of TSST‐1 was depleted from pig plasma. These data pave the way to further explore application of high‐affinity columns in the specific immuno depletion of SAgs in experimental sepsis models and in sepsis in humans. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009; 104: 143–151 © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素B基因的克隆和在大肠杆菌中高效表达

利用PCR方法从金黄色葡萄球菌TSTw基因组DNA中扩增出约700bp的DNA片段,将之克隆到pGEM7Zf(+)载体上并转化大肠杆菌 DH5α菌株。重组质粒的测序结果表明克隆到了seb基因,它含有717bp（不包括N端81bp的信号肽编码区）,其核苷酸序列与文献报道完全一致。将其连接于表达载体7ZTS上,转化到大肠杆菌JM109（DE3）内。表达的SEB占总蛋白33.5%。      

葡萄球菌B型肠毒素突变体的分子设计、高效表达与活性初步研究

葡萄球菌B型肠毒素（SEB0是重要的超抗原,依据SEB分子的晶体结构并结合表面分析,模拟设计了与MHCⅡ类分子和TCR VB区亲合力降低的三位点突变体mSEB(Y89A,C93S,Y94A)。通过PCR重叠延伸法获得突变体基因,导入PBV220载体中,于E.coliDH5α中获得高效表达,纯化的突变毒素T细胞激活活性仅为野生型毒素的1/5左右。     

Identification of the antigenic epitopes in staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E and design of a superantigen for human cancer therapy

Monoclonal antibodies have a potential for cancer therapy that may be further improved by linking them to effector molecules such as superantigens. Tumor targeting of a superantigen leads to a powerful T cell attack against the tumour tissue. Encouraging results have been observed preclinically and in patients using the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A, SEA. To further improve the concept, we have reduced the reactivity to antibodies against superantigens, which is found in all individuals. Using epitope mapping, antibody binding sites in SEA and SEE were found around their MHC class II binding sites. These epitopes were removed genetically and a large number of synthetic superantigens were produced in an iterative engineering procedure. Properties such as decreased binding to anti-SEA as well as higher selectivity to induce killing of tumour cells compared to MHC class II expressing cells, were sequentially improved. The lysine residues 79, 81, 83 and 84 are all part of major antigenic epitopes, Gln204, Lys74, Asp75 and Asn78 are important for optimal killing of tumour cells while Asp45 affects binding to MHC class II. The production properties were optimised by further engineering and a novel synthetic superantigen, SEA/E-120, was designed. It is recognised by approximately 15% of human anti-SEA antibodies and have more potent tumour cell killing properties than SEA. SEA/E-120 is likely to have a low toxicity due to its reduced capacity to mediate killing of MHC class II expressing cells. It is produced as a Fab fusion protein at approximately 35 mg/l in Escherichia coli.     

Characterization and distribution of a new enterotoxin-related superantigen produced by Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are a family of structurally related pyrogenic exotoxins consisting of the five prototypic SEs (types A to E) and three newly characterized SEs (types G to I) produced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). They also work as superantigens and cause food poisoning and shock symptoms in humans. In this study, we cloned a new variant gene of the seg and characterized its superantigenic properties and distribution among the clinical isolates of S. aureus. The gene encodes a 233 amino acid protein which is highly homologous to SEG (97.7%). The variant SEG (SEGv) expressed by the cloned gene exerted mitogenic activity on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells at the concentration of 100 pg/ml. T cells bearing Vbeta3, 12, 13.1, 13.2, 14 and 15 were preferentially expanded after stimulation with the recombinant protein. The mRNA of the variant seg gene was detected in the total RNA of the organisms bearing this gene. By PCR, 27 out of 48 clinical isolates of S. aureus (56%) possessed either the seg or variant seg gene. These findings suggest that SEG, or SEGv, is one of the most frequently produced superantigen exotoxins by S. aureus and may participate in the inflammatory process of the host by activating a distinct set of Vbeta families of T cells.     

Identification of Murine T Cells Reactive with the Bacterial Superantigen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis-Derived Mitogen (YPM) and Factors Involved in YPM-Induced Toxicity in Mice

We previously reported that Yersinia pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen (YPM) acts as a superantigen to human T cells. In this study, we assessed the superantigenicity and toxicity of YPM using murine experimental models. YPM activated T cells to produce interleukin-2 in a major histocompatibility complex class II molecule-dependent manner. The T-cell blasts induced by YPM expressed T-cell receptor (TCR) β-chain variable region (Vβ)7, VβS.1, Vβ8.2 and Vβ8.3. The injection of YPM into mice pre-sensitized with D-galactosamine induced lethal shock. This shock was blocked by the injection of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to CD4, TCR Vβ7 plus Vβ8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), but not by injection to CD8 or unrelated Vβ. These results indicate that YPM-induced shock requires the presence of CD4⁺ T cells bearing TCR Vβ7 and Vβ8, and that endogenous TNF-a and IFN-γ mediate the lethal effects.     

金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素A(SEA)对小鼠体内肉瘤抑制效果

以实验室建立的$180小鼠肿瘤模型为研究对象,采用腹腔注射给药,观察葡萄球菌肠毒素A（SEA）在体内抑制肿瘤的效果。实验表明,SEA抑肿瘤率为40．18％,显示对肿瘤有一定的抑制作用;能显著刺激脾脏细胞增殖,使脾指数升高至11．3mg/g;使血清和脾组织中IL-2水平分别升至69．77pg/mL和682．43pg/mL;且能诱导肿瘤组织中产生大量的CD4^＋T细胞和CD8^＋T细胞。结果显示,SEA在机体内对免疫功能有正向调节作用,从而在一定程度上抑制了肿瘤细胞的生长。     

A monoclonal antibody against staphylococcal enterotoxin B superantigen inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry in vitro

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金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素A基因的克隆

利用PCR方法从金葡菌基因组DNA中扩增出约 80 0bp的DNA片段 ,将之克隆到pUC19 T载体上并转化E .coliDH5α菌株。重组质粒的测序结果表明 ,克隆到了sea基因 ,它含有 774bp的阅读框架 (包括N端 72bp的信号肽编码区 ) ,其核苷酸序列与文献报道完全一致。     

Change of specific T cells in an emerging neonatal infectious disease induced by a bacterial superantigen

A new epidemic, NTED, has recently occurred in Japan. The cause of NTED is a bacterial superantigen, TSST-1. The aim of the present study was to analyze the change in Vβ2⁺ T cells reactive to TSST-1 in NTED in order to establish T-cell-targeted diagnostic criteria for NTED. Blood samples from 75 patients with clinically diagnosed NTED were collected from 13 neonatal intensive care units throughout Japan. We investigated the percentages of Vβ2⁺, Vβ3⁺ and Vβ12⁺ T cells and their CD45RO expressions in the samples using flow cytometry. In 18 of the 75 patients, we conducted multiple examinations of the T cells and monitored serial changes. The Vβ2⁺ T-cell population rapidly changed over three phases of the disease. Whereas the percentage of Vβ2⁺ T cells was widely distributed over the entire control range, CD45RO expression on Vβ2⁺ T cells in CD4⁺ in all 75 patients was consistently higher than the control range. Patients cannot necessarily be diagnosed as having NTED based on expansion of Vβ2⁺ T cells alone in the early acute phase. Instead, CD45RO expression on specific Vβ2⁺ cells is a potential diagnostic marker for a rapid diagnosis of NTED. We present three diagnostic categories of NTED. Fifty patients (66.7%) were included in the category 'definitive NTED'. It is important to demonstrate an increase of Vβ2⁺ T cells in the following phase in cases of 'probable NTED' or 'possible NTED'.