The search for early markers of plague: evidence for accumulation of soluble Yersinia pestis LcrV in bubonic and pneumonic mouse models of disease.
Markers of the early stages of plague, a rapidly progressing deadly disease, are crucial for enabling the onset of an effective treatment. Here, we show that V-antigen protein (LcrV) is accumulated in the serum of Yersinia pestis-infected mice before bacterial colonization of the spleen and dissemination to blood, in a model of bubonic plague. LcrV accumulation is detected earlier than that of F1 capsular antigen, an established marker of disease. In a mouse model of pneumonic plague, LcrV can be determined in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid somewhat later than F1, but before dissemination of Y. pestis to the blood. Thus, determination of soluble LcrV is suggested as a potential useful tool for monitoring disease progression in both bubonic and pneumonic plague. Moreover, it may be of particular advantage in cases of infections with F1 nonproducing strains.
Flashner
Yehuda
Y
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel. yehudaf@iibr.gov.il
Fisher
Morly
M
Tidhar
Avital
A
Mechaly
Adva
A
Gur
David
D
Halperin
Gideon
G
Zahavy
Eran
E
Mamroud
Emanuelle
E
Cohen
Sara
S
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D010930:Plague / Q000175:diagnosis*; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; C043908:LcrV protein, Yersinia; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C086725:caf1 protein, Yersinia pestis