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NetB and necrotic enteritis: the hole movable story
Julian I Rood1,2, Anthony L Keyburn2,3, Robert J Moore1,2,4
1a Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology , Monash University , Clayton , VIC , Australia.
Avian Pathology : Journal of the W.V.P.A
|March 25, 2016
Summary
Clostridium perfringens NetB toxin is essential for avian necrotic enteritis. Vaccines targeting NetB show promise for protecting poultry against this costly disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Molecular Pathogenesis
- Toxinology
Background:
- Avian necrotic enteritis is a significant economic disease in poultry.
- Clostridium perfringens is the main cause of this disease.
- The NetB toxin is a key virulence factor identified in C. perfringens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm the role of NetB toxin in the pathogenesis of avian necrotic enteritis.
- To investigate the structural and epidemiological characteristics of NetB.
- To evaluate NetB as a vaccine antigen.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an isogenic set of C. perfringens strains (wild type, netB mutant, complemented derivative) in a chicken disease model.
- Conducted epidemiological surveys of netB prevalence in poultry isolates.
- Determined the crystal structures of monomeric and heptameric NetB.
- Assessed the efficacy of NetB-containing vaccines in chickens.
Main Results:
- NetB toxin was confirmed as essential for disease development, fulfilling molecular Koch's postulates.
- Epidemiological data showed higher netB prevalence in diseased poultry.
- The crystal structure revealed the NetB pore architecture (approx. 26 Å diameter).
- Vaccine preparations containing NetB conferred protection against necrotic enteritis.
Conclusions:
- NetB toxin is a critical determinant of C. perfringens pathogenicity in avian necrotic enteritis.
- The netB gene's location on conjugative plasmids impacts disease epidemiology.
- NetB is a promising antigen for developing effective and commercially viable vaccines against avian necrotic enteritis.
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