Method For The Production Of Purified Invasin Protein And Use
Thereof
Shigella species are bacterial pathogens that elicit a self-limiting
gastroenteritis (shigellosis) in humans. These bacteria synthesize
and secrete proteins called the invasion plasmid antigens or
Ipa proteins, which are required for the invasiveness, and thus
the virulence, of this pathogen. One of the Ipa proteins, IpaC,
is essential for promoting the uptake of Shigella by intestinal
epithelial cells. During shigellosis, IpaC elicits a strong immune
response in infected individuals and it was recently shown that
IpaC is able to function as an immunological adjuvant that enhances
the immune response to normally non-immunogenic substances when
the two are co-administered at a mucosal site. In early experiments,
IpaC was mixed with ovalbumin and the mixture was administered
to mice by the intranasal route. Exposure to the IpaC/ovalbumin
mixture led to a pronounced serum IgA and IgG response against
ovalbumin. No such response is observed if IpaC is omitted from
the mixture.
Patent: Pending
License: Negotiable
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