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Published on: May 23, 2021
ECA-immunogenicity of Proteus mirabilis strains
Katarzyna Anna Duda1, Katarzyna Teresa Duda, Agnieszka Beczała
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Archivum Immunologiae Et Therapiae Experimentalis
|April 1, 2009
Summary
Proteus mirabilis strains are immunogenic, producing antibodies against enterobacterial common antigen (ECA). A full lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core is necessary for P. mirabilis to express ECA, linking it to potential roles in reactive arthritis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- Proteus species are opportunistic pathogens linked to urinary tract infections and reactive arthritis.
- Enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) is implicated in Yersinia-triggered reactive arthritis, but its immunogenicity in Proteus is understudied.
- Previous research focused on ECA from Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunogenicity of enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) in Proteus mirabilis.
- To explore the role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure in ECA expression and immunogenicity in P. mirabilis.
Main Methods:
- Production of rabbit polyclonal antisera against four P. mirabilis strains (two wild-type, two rough mutants).
- Western blotting was used to detect ECA-specific antibodies in antisera and ECA presence in LPS preparations.
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-linked ECA (ECA(LPS)) were isolated using hot phenol/water and phenol/chloroform/petroleum ether methods.
Main Results:
- All four P. mirabilis strains demonstrated ECA immunogenicity, with antisera containing ECA-specific antibodies.
- Wild-type and Ra mutant strains (R110/1959) expressed ECA(LPS), indicating its role in inducing anti-ECA responses.
- The Rc mutant strain (R4/O28) primarily expressed glycerophospholipid-linked ECA (ECA(PG)), not ECA(LPS).
Conclusions:
- A full lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core acts as an acceptor for ECA in P. mirabilis, similar to E. coli, to form immunogenic ECA(LPS).
- The immunogenicity of ECA(PG) in the Rc mutant likely involves complex formation with proteins during immunization.
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