Molecular cloning and expression of epsilon toxin from Clostridium perfringens type D and tests of animal immunization

• DOI: 10.4238/vol9-1gmr711
• Publication Date: 2010-02-18T06:50:30Z
• Authors: A.M. Souza; J.K.P. Reis; R.A. Assis; C.C. Horta; F.F. Siqueira; S. Facchin; E.R. Alvarenga; C.S. Castro; F.M. Salvarani; R.O.S. Silva; P.S. Pires; C. Contigli; F.C.F. Lobato; E. Kalapothakis
• Keywords: Clostridium perfringens

Epsilon toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens types B and D causes enterotoxemia in sheep, goats calves.Enterotoxemia can cause acute or superacute disease, with sudden death of the affected animal.It provokes huge economic losses when large numbers livestock are affected.Therapeutic intervention is challenging, because disease progresses very rapidly.However, it be prevented immunization specific immunogenic vaccines.We cloned etx gene, encoding epsilon toxin, into vector pET-11a; recombinant (rec-ε) was expressed inclusion bodies used for animal immunization.Serum protection evaluated cross-serum neutralization tests were to characterize toxin.To analyze potency ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.brGenetics Molecular Research 9 (1): 266-276 (2010) Immunization using from C. (as an antigen), rabbits immunized 50, 100 200 µg aluminum hydroxide gel as adjuvant.Titers 10, 30 40 IU/mL obtained, respectively.These titers higher than minimum level required European Pharmacopoeia (5 IU/mL) USA Code Federal Regulation (2 IU/mL).This rec-ε a good candidate vaccine production against caused type D.