The C-terminal domain of Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin as a vaccine candidate against bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis.
Bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis is caused by Clostridium perfringens and leads to sudden death. Alpha toxin, together with perfringolysin O, has been identified as the principal toxin involved in the pathogenesis. We assessed the potential of alpha toxin as a vaccine antigen. Using an intestinal loop model in calves, we investigated the protection afforded by antisera raised against native alpha toxin or its non-toxic C-terminal fragment against C. perfringens-induced intestinal necrosis. Immunization of calves with either of the vaccine preparations induced a strong antibody response. The resulting antisera were able to neutralize the alpha toxin activity and the C. perfringens-induced endothelial cytotoxicity in vitro. The antisera raised against the native toxin had a stronger neutralizing activity than those against the C-terminal fragment. However, antibodies against alpha toxin alone were not sufficient to completely neutralize the C. perfringens-induced necrosis in the intestinal loop model. The development of a multivalent vaccine combining the C-terminal fragment of alpha toxin with other C. perfringens virulence factors might be necessary for complete protection against bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis.
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Evy
E
Goossens
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Stefanie
S
Verherstraeten
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Bonnie R
BR
Valgaeren
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Bart
B
Pardon
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Leen
L
Timbermont
Department of Surgery and Anesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Stijn
S
Schauvliege
Department of Surgery and Anesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Diego
D
Rodrigo-Mocholí
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Freddy
F
Haesebrouck
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Richard
R
Ducatelle
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Piet R
PR
Deprez
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Filip.VanImmerseel@UGent.be.
Filip
F
Van Immerseel
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; C040649:alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens