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Detection of antibodies to toxin-coregulated pili in sera from cholera patients

Stephen R Attridge1, Gun Wallerström, Firdausi Qadri

  • 1Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. stephen.attridge@adelaide.edu.au

Infection and Immunity
|February 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Monoclonal antibodies targeting Vibrio cholerae El Tor toxin-coregulated pili (TCP) showed protection against experimental cholera in mice. Seroconversion to El Tor TCP was detected in over half of cholera patients studied.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Toxin-coregulated pili (TCP) are key virulence factors in Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor.
  • Understanding immune responses to TCP is crucial for developing effective cholera countermeasures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To generate monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against El Tor TCP.
  • To evaluate the protective potential of these MAbs in a mouse model of cholera.
  • To assess seroconversion to El Tor TCP in cholera patients.

Main Methods:

  • Production of MAbs against purified El Tor TCP.
  • Testing MAb efficacy in an infant mouse model of experimental cholera.
  • Immunoblotting assays to detect anti-pilus antibodies in patient sera.

Main Results:

  • Two MAbs demonstrated biotype-specific protection against experimental cholera in infant mice, despite limited bactericidal activity.
  • Immunoblotting revealed anti-pilus responses in five out of nine cholera patients, indicating seroconversion to El Tor TCP.

Conclusions:

  • MAbs against El Tor TCP can confer protection against cholera, suggesting TCP as a potential vaccine target.
  • Serological evidence of anti-pilus responses in patients supports the role of TCP in human cholera infection.

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