title: Identification of a surface epitope specific of virulent strains of Haemophilus parasuis.
abstract: Haemophilus parasuis is a bacterium from the Pasteurellaceae family that comprises strains of different degree of virulence. Non-virulent strains are considered components of the upper respiratory tract microbiota, while virulent strains can invade systemic organs and cause fibrinous polyserositis (Glässer's disease). Genomic comparison of virulent and non-virulent strains led to the identification of a family of genes differentially associated to virulence, the virulence-associated trimeric autotransporters (vtaA). Monoclonal antibody 69C6 reacted with the surface of virulent strains and has allowed now the identification of an epitope in the C terminus of the passenger domain of the VtaAs from virulent strains. Protein modelling indicated that the epitope is probably exposed, although sera from pigs vaccinated with the passenger domain of VtaA9 and from convalescent animals did not react with the 69C6 epitope. Induction of antibodies against the 69C6 epitope by vaccination would allow a response targeting specifically virulent strains of H. parasuis.
authors.affiliation: IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain. Electronic address: flor.correa@irta.cat.
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Correa-Fiz
authors.affiliation: IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galofre-Mila
authors.affiliation: IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa-Hurtado
authors.affiliation: IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aragon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D044137:Haemophilus parasuis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000072417:Protein Domains; D013552:Swine; D000069320:Type V Secretion Systems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D000069320:Type V Secretion Systems
keywords: Epitope prediction; Glässer’s disease; Trimeric autotransporter; Vaccine