Determination of the mimic epitope of the M-like protein adhesin in swine Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The M-like protein, also known as SzP, is expressed on the surface of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus). Previous studies demonstrated that SzP is similar to M protein of group A Streptococcus in the structure and characteristics of antiphagocytosis. The M protein is an adhesin that can bind to the host cells, however it is not known whether the SzP of S. zooepidemicus also functions as an adhesin. We conducted an investigation to determine SzP as an adhesin, and one SzP epitope was identified to be responsible for mediating binding to HEp-2 cells.

Methods

The gene encoding SzP was expressed in E. coli, and the purified recombinant SzP (rSzP) was recognized by rabbit anti-S. zooepidemicus antibodies using immunoblot. Furthermore, the adher

SUBMITTER: Fan H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2567331 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature