title: Cloning, expression and characterization of a cell wall surface protein, 6-phosphogluconate-dehydrogenase, of Streptococcus suis serotype 2.
abstract: Streptococcus suis type 2 is a pathogen responsible for diverse diseases in both pigs and humans. In order to understand the pathogenesis of the S. suis type 2 infection, the gene encoding a cell surface protein, 6-phosphogluconate-dehydrogenase (6PGD) of S. suis type 2 was cloned and sequenced, and recombinant 6PGD protein (r6PGD) was produced in a prokaryotic expression system. Sequence analysis of the cloned 6 pdg gene showed 82% similarity with Streptococcus pneumoniae 6 pdg at the nucleic acid level. Western blotting using r6PGD-specific antiserum confirmed the cell surface location of the 6PGD protein of S. suis type 2. The role of 6PGD in S. suis type 2 pathogenesis as an adhesin and its immunogenicity in mice was further investigated. The results showed that the recombinant protein interfered with the adhesion of S. suis type 2 to Hep2 and HeLa cells by 72% and 66%, respectively. Immunization of CD-1 mice with r6PGD increased the protective efficacy by 80% following intraperitoneal administration of a lethal dose of S. suis type 2. Immunization of CD-1 mice with r6PGD elicited a significant protective immune response, which demonstrated the importance of 6PGD to bacterial pathogenesis. Identification and characterization of the role of S. suis type 2 6PGD in adhesion and immunogenicity will allow us to use this protein to develop new antimicrobial therapies and/or vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Pathogens, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Shulin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Manli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Meilin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Weicheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bei
authors.forename: Huanchun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010734:Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010734:Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase