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Journal of clinical microbiology1991; 29(3); 439-443; doi: 10.1128/jcm.29.3.439-443.1991

Identification of 15- to 17-kilodalton antigens associated with virulent Rhodococcus equi.

Abstract: Antigens of Rhodococcus equi were analyzed by immunoblotting with naturally infected foal sera. Immunoblots of whole-cell antigen preparations of clinical isolates of R. equi revealed that major protein bands with molecular masses of 15 to 17 kDa were present in all clinical isolates tested and all isolates virulent for mice. In contrast, the 15- to 17-kDa antigens were not identified by immunoblotting in ATCC 6939, a type strain of R. equi that was avirulent for mice. Whole-cell antigens of 102 environmental isolates were investigated by immunoblotting and the mouse pathogenicity test. Twenty-five of these isolates were demonstrated to contain the 15- to 17-kDa antigens by immunoblotting and were virulent for mice. The remaining 77 environmental isolates lacked the 15- to 17-kDa antigens and were avirulent for mice. These data suggest that the diffuse 15- to 17-kDa proteins are virulence-associated antigens with immunogenicity in foals and that they may be useful in marking virulent R. equi contamination in the environment of a horse-breeding farm.
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Publication Date: 1991-03-01 PubMed ID: 2037660PubMed Central: PMC269796DOI: 10.1128/jcm.29.3.439-443.1991Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is about the identification of particular antigens in the Rhodococcus equi bacterium that are associated with its virulence or disease causing capability. The presence of these 15 to 17 kDa proteins distinguishes virulent forms of R. equi from non-virulent strains, and they could serve as markers for the presence of this harmful bacterium in the horse-breeding farm environment.

Analysis of R. equi Antigens

  • The research began with the study of antigens present in the Rhodococcus equi bacterium by utilizing immunoblotting, a technique that allows identification of proteins in a mixture. Serum samples from naturally infected foals were used for this blotting process.
  • Immunoblots of whole-cell proteins extracted from clinical isolates of R. equi highlighted that there were major protein bands of 15 to 17 kDa size in all clinical isolates tested. These protein bands were also present in all isolates that were harmfully virulent for mice.

Contrasting Virulent and Avirulent Strains

  • On the other hand, a comparison was made with ATCC 6939 which is a known type strain of R. equi but does not cause infection in mice. This strain did not show the presence of 15 to 17 kDa antigens in immunoblotting.
  • This comparison signifies that these proteins are particularly linked to the virulence of this bacterium, thus differentiating disease-causing versions from harmless ones.

Studying Environmental Isolates

  • Moving beyond clinical isolates, the researchers directed their focus towards environmental isolates. They studied whole-cell antigens of 102 environmental isolates using the same technique of immunoblotting and carried out testing for pathogenicity in mice.
  • Out of these 102, 25 isolates were carrying the 15 to 17 kDa antigens as per the immunoblotting results and were also determined to be harmful for mice. However, the rest of the 77 isolates didn’t have the 15 to 17 kDa antigens and were found to be harmless for mice.

Significance of the Research

  • The consistent finding of 15 to 17 kDa proteins in virulent clinical and environmental samples of R. equi suggests that these proteins hold substantial role in causing infection.
  • The proteins also exhibited immunogenicity in foals, triggering an immune response. As such, these antigens can potentially serve as markers for the virulent strains of R. equi, aiding in the identification and control of this bacterium in the environment of horse breeding farms.

Cite This Article

APA
Takai S, Koike K, Ohbushi S, Izumi C, Tsubaki S. (1991). Identification of 15- to 17-kilodalton antigens associated with virulent Rhodococcus equi. J Clin Microbiol, 29(3), 439-443. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.29.3.439-443.1991

Publication

Journal of clinical microbiology
ISSN: 0095-1137
NlmUniqueID: 7505564
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 3
Pages: 439-443

Researcher Affiliations

Takai, S
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan.
Koike, K
    Ohbushi, S
      Izumi, C
        Tsubaki, S

          MeSH Terms

          • Actinomycetales Infections / immunology
          • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
          • Animals
          • Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry
          • Antigens, Bacterial / isolation & purification
          • Biomarkers
          • Horse Diseases / immunology
          • Horses
          • Immunoblotting
          • Lung / immunology
          • Lymph Nodes / immunology
          • Mice
          • Molecular Weight
          • Rhodococcus / immunology
          • Rhodococcus / isolation & purification
          • Rhodococcus / pathogenicity
          • Serotyping
          • Soil Microbiology
          • Virulence / immunology

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