Pilins from the B serogroup of Bacteroides nodosus: characterization, expression, and cross-protection

Abstract

Sequences of pilin genes from four strains of serogroup B of the ovine pathogen Bacteroides nodosus have been determined. These sequences permit comparisons of amino acid sequence between pilins from different subtypes (B1, B2, B3, B4) of the B serogroup and assessment of intraserogroup variation. Pili of B. nodosus strains 234 (B1) and 183 (B2) were produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring a plasmid-borne B. nodosus pilin gene, and these pili were used in sheep vaccination trials. Pili from strain 183 (B2) were found to be a senior antigen to pili from strains of other B subtypes, providing protection against footrot infection caused by strains of the other B subtypes. Pili of this strain are therefore the most suitable candidate for inclusion in a pilus-based vaccine. Pili of strain 234 from subtype B1, the reference strain of the B serogroup, provided poor protection against infection with other subtypes.

Isolation and Characterization of Three Streptococcus pneumoniae Transformation-Specific Loci by Use of a lacZ Reporter Insertion Vector

“…This region is also conserved in B. subtilis ComG3, ComG4, and ComG5 proteins. The amino acid sequence alignment of this conserved region of CglC, CglD, ComG3, ComG4, and pilins from N. gonorrhoeae (pilin E [26]), Dichelobacter nodosus (13), Moraxella nonliquefaciens (58), P. aeruginosa (46), and Neisseria meningitidis (54) is presented in Fig. 4.…”