Identification and validation of a linear protective neutralizing epitope in the β-pore domain of alpha toxin.

ABSTRACT: The plethora of virulence factors associated with Staphylococcus aureus make this bacterium an attractive candidate for a molecularly-designed epitope-focused vaccine. This approach, which necessitates the identification of neutralizing epitopes for incorporation into a vaccine construct, is being evaluated for pathogens where conventional approaches have failed to elicit protective humoral responses, like HIV-1 and malaria, but may also hold promise for pathogens like S. aureus, where the elicitation of humoral immunity against multiple virulence factors may be required for development of an effective vaccine. Among the virulence factors employed by S. aureus, animal model and epidemiological data suggest that alpha toxin, a multimeric β-pore forming toxin like protective antigen from Bac

SUBMITTER: Oscherwitz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4311967 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature