霍乱毒素

霍乱毒素是一种很强的粘膜免疫佐剂,本介绍了霍乱毒素的结构、霍乱毒素毒性的分子机理及近年来在霍乱毒素佐剂活性方面的研究进展,并探讨了霍乱毒素佐剂活性的分子机理。     

以霍乱毒素B亚基为佐剂的SARS病毒核酸疫苗的构建

由于冠状病毒主要通过粘膜系统侵人细胞,因此有效的粘膜免疫效应对于SARS的免疫预防具有重要作用。通过将SARS冠状病毒免疫保护相关的核衣壳蛋白和辐条蛋白与霍乱毒素B亚基基因融合,并克隆至真核基因表达载体,所构建的DNA候选疫苗在细胞内可表达霍乱毒素B亚基与SARS抗原的融合蛋白,从而可用于评价是否可有效产生粘膜免疫。     

霍乱毒素无毒B亚单位（CTB）黏膜免疫佐剂的研究进展

霍乱毒素（CT）具有很强的黏膜免疫佐剂活性,是当今研究热点之一,但CT的黏膜免疫佐剂效应机理尚未完全弄清。本文主要就霍乱毒素无毒B亚单位（CTB）的黏膜免疫佐剂作用进行综述。     

纯化重组霍乱毒素B亚单位与天然霍乱毒素B亚单位性质的对比研究

霍乱毒素Ｂ亚单位（ＢＳ）已用于新型口服霍乱疫苗、佐剂及蛋白质载体,但成本高,来源困难．用重组霍乱毒素Ｂ亚单位（ｒＢＳ）代替ＢＳ可克服上述缺点．ｒＢＳ用于上述目的前必须证实其在物理、化学及免疫学性质方面与天然同类产品的一致性．用亲和层析法从各批次大罐发酵所获工程菌Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉＭＭ２（ｐＭＭ－ＣＴＢ）培养物上清中制备得到了小批量ｒＢＳ纯品,在同等条件下与ＢＳ（Ｓｉｇ－ｍａ公司产品）进行理化、免疫学性质的对比研究,证实二者在ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ中电泳带位置一致、分子量相同,纯度达９９％;在反相ＨＰＬＣ中出峰行为一致,纯度达１００％;在半干式聚焦电泳分析中电泳带分布相同,等电点为７．９１．ｒＢＳＮ端起的２０个氨基酸序列为ＴＰＱＮＩＴＤＬＣＡＥＹＨＮＴＱＩＨＴＬ,与克隆基因来源株的毒素Ｂ亚单位同一段序列完全一致．氨基酸组成分析证实ｒＢＳ与ＢＳ相近．在免疫学性质分析中,ｒＢＳ与ＢＳ在免疫双扩散试验中与抗ＣＴ均出一条沉淀线且相互吻合;在免疫电泳试验中二者与抗ＣＴ在相应位置上产生一条沉淀弧;二者均能与神经节苷脂ＧＭ１结合且这种结合均可通过二者与抗ＣＴ的预保温处理而被阻断．对比研究结果揭示ｒＢＳ与ＢＳ性质完全一致,可代替ＢＳ用于     

粘膜免疫佐剂研究进展

粘膜免疫佐剂在新型疫苗的设计中具有重要作用。常用的粘膜免疫佐剂主要包括细菌性物质、细胞因子以及抗原递送系统。本文综述了这些佐剂的研究进展,以期为新型疫苗研究提供参考。     

霍乱毒素B亚基基因具有自己的启动子

本研究发现并证实霍乱毒素B亚基基因上游Xba Ⅰ～Cla Ⅰ限制性片段内存在具有启动子活性的序列;在该启动子作用下,霍乱毒素B亚基表达水平可达200mg/L,氯霉素乙酰基转移酶基因表达水平随培养条件不同在0.3～10mg/L之间,大肠杆菌β-半乳糖苷酶基因的表达量达4100U/ml。在该启动子的控制下霍乱毒素B亚基基因可以高效表达,该启动子的存在可能是由于霍乱毒素操纵子中霍乱毒素B亚基表达量是A亚基的6倍。     

霍乱毒素B亚基基因具有自己的启动子

本研究发现并证实霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基基因上游ＸｂａＩ～ＣｌａＩ限制性片段内存在具有启动子活性的序列;在该启动子作用下,霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基表达水平可达２００ｍｇ／Ｌ,氯霉素乙酰基转移酶基因表达水平随培养条件不同在０．３～１０ｍｇ／Ｌ之间,大肠杆菌β－半乳糖苷酶基因的表达量达４１００单位／ｍｌ。在该启动子的控制下霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基基因可以高效表达,该启动子的存在可能是霍乱毒素操纵子中霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基表达量是Ａ亚基的６倍的原因。     

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit activates dendritic cells and enhances antitumor immunity

Activation of dendritic cells (DC) is crucial for priming of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), which have a critical role in tumor immunity, and it is considered that adjuvants are necessary for activation of DC and for enhancement of cellular immunity. In this study, we examined an adjuvant capacity of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB), which is non-toxic subunit of cholera toxin, on maturation of murine splenic DC. After the in vitro incubation of DC with rCTB, the expression of MHC class II and B7-2 on DC was upregulated and the secretion of IL-12 from DC was enhanced. In addition, larger DC with longer dendrites were observed. These data suggest that rCTB induced DC maturation. Subsequently, we examined the induction of tumor immunity by rCTB-treated DC by employing Meth A tumor cells in mice. Pretreatment with subcutaneous injection of rCTB-treated DC pulsed with Meth A tumor lysate inhibited the growth of the tumor cells depending on the number of DC. Moreover, intratumoral injection of rCTB-treated DC pulsed with tumor lysate had therapeutic effect against established Meth A tumor. Immunization with DC activated by rCTB and the tumor lysate increased number of CTL precursor recognizing Meth A tumor. The antitumor immune response was significantly inhibited in CD8+ T cell-depleted mice, although substantial antitumor effect was observed in CD4+ T cell-depleted mice. These results indicated that rCTB acts as an adjuvant to enhance antitumor immunity through DC maturation and that CD8+ T cells play a dominant role in the tumor immunity. Being considered to be safe, rCTB may be useful as an effective adjuvant to raise immunity for a tumor in clinical application.     

Cytokine responses to recombinant cholera toxin B subunit produced by Bacillus brevis as a mucosal adjuvant

We attempted to clarify the mechanism of the mucosal adjuvanticity of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB), which is inherently uncontaminated with the holotoxin produced by Bacillus brevis and has a powerful mucosal adjuvant activity, on cytokine responses compared with that of cholera toxin (CT). rCTB had no ability to stimulate cyclic AMP formation in mouse peritoneal macrophages (Mphi). Cytokine production by non-immunized Mphi cultured with rCTB or CT and by the spleen cells of mice co-immunized intranasally with ovalbumin (OVA) and rCTB or CT was examined. rCTB alone did not induce interleukin (IL)-1alpha/beta or IL-6 production by Mphi, but combination of rCTB with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhanced both IL-1alpha/beta production. Conversely, CT plus LPS suppressed IL-1alpha/beta production more than LPS alone. Both rCTB and CT suppressed IL-12 secretion induced by interferon gamma (IFN gamma) plus LPS. IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 were secreted by mouse spleen cells restimulated with OVA after intranasal co-administration of OVA together with rCTB, and in response to CT, the same cytokines were secreted. The different effect of rCTB on Mphi from that of CT may mean a difference between the mechanisms of rCTB and CT during the early stage of an immune response.     

Effects of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit on IL-1beta production by macrophages in vitro

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) is a safe and potent mucosal adjuvant. As a clue to the mechanism of the adjuvant effect of rCTB, the profile of cytokines secreted in vitro by the mouse peritoneal macrophage (Mphi) treated with rCTB was examined. IL-1beta secretion, intracellular production, and expression of its mRNA of LPS-stimulated Mphi was greatly enhanced by treatment with rCTB. IL-1beta production in response to other microbial stimulators, such as Pansorbin, Sansorbin, insoluble peptidoglycan, and Taxol, was also potentiated by rCTB. Mphi pretreated with rCTB before 24 hr could maintain the ability to produce a high level of IL-1beta, suggesting that this ability may be involved in the adjuvant activity of rCTB on Mphi stimulation. The possibility of close association between rCTB and signal transduction of a Toll-like receptor family in Mphi is discussed.     

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to the cholera toxin

Monoclonal antibodies to cholera toxin were obtained. They do not cross-react with the termolabile toxin (LT) of Escherichia coli, ricin, diphtherial toxin, staphylococcus enterotoxins of SEA, SEB, SEI, SEG, or the lethal factor and protective antigen of the anthrax toxin. Pairs of antibodies for the quantitative measurement of the cholera toxin in sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were selected. The detection limit of the toxin is 0.2 ng/ml for plate EIA and 0.44 ng/ml for microchip EIA. The presence of milk, broth, or surface water in the toxin samples does not reduce the sensitivity of EIA.     

Effects of recombinant cholera toxin b subunit (rCTB) on cellular immune responses: enhancement of delayed-type hypersensitivity following intranasal co-administration of Mycobacterium bovis-BCG with rCTB

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) is a safe and potent mucosal adjuvant. To gain insight into the mechanism underlying the adjuvant effect of rCTB, the effects of rCTB on cell-mediated immune responses of mice and guinea pigs were examined after intranasal administration of Mycobacterium bovis -bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) with and without rCTB. Delayed-type hypersensitivity, for skin reactions in guinea pigs and for footpad swelling reactions in mice, to purified protein derivative (PPD) were enhanced by intranasal co-administration of BCG and rCTB, as compared to giving BCG alone to these animals. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma production of spleen cells and antigen specific spleen cell proliferation, stimulated with PPD, were enhanced in the presence of rCTB. These results strongly suggest that rCTB enhances cellular as well as humoral immune responses.     

Construction of cholera toxin B subunit-producing Vibrio cholerae strains using the Mariner-FRT transposon delivery system

The most widely used oral whole-cell-recombinant B subunit cholera vaccine contains the nontoxic cholera toxin B subunit (CTXB) and either heat- or formalin-killed Vibrio cholerae O1 strains. Vibrio cholerae O1 strains in the vaccine provide antibacterial immunity, and CTXB contributes to the vaccine's efficacy by stimulating production of anti-CTXB antibody. Various attempts have been made to increase CTXB production. In this study, the mariner-FRT transposon delivery system developed by Chiang and Mekalanos was used to place the ctxB gene under the control of a strong chromosomal promoter in a nontoxigenic V. cholerae El Tor strain, M7922. The expression level of CTXB in transposon insertion mutant clones was screened by ganglioside-dependent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among CTXB-producing V. cholerae clones that were isolated, M7922-C1 produced the highest amount of CTXB (3.17+/-1.69 microg mL(-1)). M7922-C1 harbors a single insertion of ctxB into VC0972, which encodes a putative porin protein. Although the level of CTXB expression in this strain was not exceptionally high, this study indicates the possibility of using this delivery system to construct vaccine strains that overexpress specific antigens.     

大肠杆菌热稳定肠毒素与霍乱毒素B亚单位融合蛋白免疫原性的评价

构建了霍乱毒素B亚单位(CTB)和大肠杆菌热稳定肠毒素(ST）的重组表达载体pMCST1、pMCST2。二的不同是,前为单拷贝ST,后为双拷贝ST。在大肠杆菌DH50α中融合蛋白高效表达。用这两种重组蛋白分别免疫小鼠,都诱导产生了高滴度的抗CTB和抗ST的血清。表明这两组融合蛋白具有良好的CTB和ST的免疫原性,为进一步构建抗CTB和抗ST的产毒性细菌腹泻疫苗打下了基础。     

烟草生产霍乱毒素B亚单位疫苗的免疫分析

用纯化的ＣＴＢ后腿肌肉注射免疫小鼠,每次１２．５μｇ,每隔１４天加强一次,共注射三次,末次免疫后两周收集血清,免疫小鼠诱导产生了特异性抗ＣＴＢ抗体。在ＣＨＯ细胞中,免疫小鼠血清能够中和ＣＴ的细胞病变效应;小鼠肠结扎实验表明,抗ＣＴＢ血清能够抑制ＣＴ结合细胞表面受体ＧＭ１神经节苷脂。这表明转基因烟草产ＣＴＢ在小鼠中能够产生抗细菌毒素的保护免疫力。     

转基因烟草生产霍乱毒素B亚单位的纯化

提取转基因烟草叶片总蛋白,用经溴化氰活化的Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ４Ｂ偶联有抗ＣＴ ＩｇＧ色谱柱,得到了表达产物ＣＴＢ蛋白质。经ＰＡＧＥ、Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ、琼脂糖免疫扩散和免疫电泳等方法鉴定表明该蛋白与天然ＣＴＢ相同。