title: Fusion protein of Delta 27LFn and EFn has the potential as a novel anthrax toxin inhibitor.
abstract: PA-binding domain of LF (LFn) or PA-binding domain of EF (EFn) is the anthrax protective antigen (PA) binding domain of anthrax lethal factor (LF) or edema factor (EF). Here we show the development of a novel anthrax toxin inhibitor, fusion protein of N-terminal 27 amino acids deletion of LFn (Delta27LFn) and EFn. In a cell model of intoxication, fusion protein of Delta27LFn and EFn (Delta27LFn-EFn) was a 62-fold more potent toxin inhibitor than LFn or EFn, and this increased activity corresponded to a 39-fold higher PA-binding affinity by Biacore analysis. More importantly, Delta27LFn-EFn could protect the highly susceptible Fischer 344 rats from anthrax lethal toxin challenge. This work suggested that Delta27LFn-EFn has the potential as a candidate therapeutic agent against anthrax.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yirong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Changming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Dayong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chenguang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen