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Characterization of P40, a cytadhesin of Mycoplasma agalactiae

Bénédicte Fleury1, Dominique Bergonier, Xavier Berthelot

  • 1Unité Mixte de Recherche ENVT-INRA 959, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, F-31076 Toulouse Cedex 3, France.

Infection and Immunity
|September 14, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma agalactiae's P40 protein is crucial for bacterial adhesion and triggers a strong immune response in infected sheep. This immunodominant protein is a potential target for diagnostics and therapeutics against this pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Mycoplasma agalactiae causes significant economic losses in livestock.
  • Understanding key virulence factors like P40 is essential for developing control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To genetically and functionally characterize the immunodominant P40 protein of Mycoplasma agalactiae.
  • To investigate the role of P40 in bacterial adhesion and the host immune response.

Main Methods:

  • Gene cloning, sequencing, and site-directed mutagenesis of the P40 gene.
  • Expression of recombinant P40 in Escherichia coli.
  • Analysis of P40 localization, antigenicity, and role in adherence using antibody fragments.
  • Detection of the P40 gene in field strains and analysis of immune response in infected sheep.

Main Results:

  • P40 shares sequence similarity with known adhesins.
  • P40 is a membrane protein with strong antigenic and hydrophilic motifs.
  • Antibodies against P40 inhibited bacterial adhesion to host cells.
  • P40 elicited a strong, persistent immune response in infected sheep.
  • The P40 gene is specific to M. agalactiae strains, with variations in serotype C.

Conclusions:

  • P40 is an adhesin and a major surface antigen of Mycoplasma agalactiae.
  • P40 plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of M. agalactiae infections.
  • P40 is a promising candidate for developing diagnostic tools and vaccines against Mycoplasma agalactiae.

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