Fusion protein of Delta 27LFn and EFn has the potential as a novel anthrax toxin inhibitor.
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.
Kong
Yirong
Y
State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China.
Guo
Qiang
Q
Yu
Changming
C
Dong
Dayong
D
Zhao
Jian
J
Cai
Chenguang
C
Hou
Lihua
L
Song
Xiaohong
X
Fu
Ling
L
Xu
Junjie
J
Chen
Wei
W