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Selective phage infection mediated by epitope expression on F pilus
A C Malmborg1, E Söderlind, L Frost
1Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Sweden.
Journal of Molecular Biology
|November 14, 1997
Summary
Researchers engineered Escherichia coli to display peptides on F pili, blocking phage infection. This F pilus system enabled targeted bacterial infection via antibody-antigen interactions, demonstrating efficient selection of specific antibody fragments.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Bacteriology
- Immunology
Background:
- Proteins and peptides can be displayed on bacterial and bacteriophage surfaces.
- F pili on Escherichia coli are involved in filamentous bacteriophage infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To express peptide antigens on the surface of F pili in Escherichia coli.
- To investigate the potential of this system for selective bacterial infection.
Main Methods:
- Peptides were expressed as fusions to F pilin, the F pilus building block.
- Infection blocking by wild-type M13 phage was assessed.
- Infection mediated by antibody-antigen interaction between phage and F pili was demonstrated.
Main Results:
- Expression of peptides on F pili blocked infection by wild-type M13 phage.
- Antibody-antigen interaction enabled specific infection of engineered E. coli.
- A model library showed a 2500-fold enrichment of phage carrying a specific antibody fragment.
Conclusions:
- Displaying peptides on F pili offers a method to block phage infection.
- This engineered system facilitates targeted bacterial infection through specific antibody-antigen recognition.
- The system demonstrates efficient selection of phage displaying desired antibody fragments.