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Shift in S-layer protein expression responsible for antigenic variation in Campylobacter fetus
E Wang1, M M Garcia, M S Blake
1Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
Journal of Bacteriology
|August 1, 1993
Summary
Campylobacter fetus surface layer (S-layer) proteins exhibit antigenic variation, changing size and structure. This S-layer variation is a key mechanism for immune evasion in Campylobacter fetus infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Campylobacter fetus possesses regular paracrystalline surface layers (S-layers) made of high-molecular-weight proteins.
- These S-layer proteins can vary in size and crystalline structure, influencing antigenic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antigenic variation of Campylobacter fetus S-layer proteins.
- To determine if S-layer protein variation contributes to immune evasion in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Utilized polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to characterize S-layer proteins from various Campylobacter fetus strains.
- Analyzed S-layer protein variation in sequential isolates from heifers infected with Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis.
Main Results:
- Monoclonal antibodies revealed distinct reactivities to S-layer proteins, identifying strain-specific and conserved epitopes.
- In vitro studies showed that shifts in S-layer protein size (97-kDa to 127-kDa) correlated with altered antigenic reactivity.
- In vivo analysis demonstrated antigenic variation in S-layer proteins from sequential isolates during infection.
Conclusions:
- Campylobacter fetus S-layer proteins undergo significant antigenic variation.
- This variation in S-layer proteins is a mechanism employed by Campylobacter fetus for immune system evasion.