Expression of anthrax lethal factor gene by osmolyte induction

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 209; no. 2; pp. 301 - 305
• Main Authors: Singh, A, Singh, S, Waheed, S.M, Khandelwal, P, Bhatnagar, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2002; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Amino acids; Anthrax; Anthrax - microbiology; Anthrax - prevention & control; anthrax toxin; Anthrax Vaccines; Antigens; Antigens, Bacterial; Bacillus anthracis; Bacillus anthracis - genetics; Bacillus anthracis - pathogenicity; Bacterial Toxins; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - isolation & purification; Cell Line; Cytosol; Edema; edema factor; Escherichia coli; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; genes; Genetics; humans; immunity; Lethal factor; Macrophages - cytology; Macrophages - microbiology; Microbiology; Osmolyte induction; osmolytes; Osmotic Pressure; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; Plasmids; Protective antigen; protein synthesis; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - isolation & purification; Toxins; Vaccines; Virulence; Lethal factor; Anthrax; Osmolyte induction; Antigen; Bacillus anthracis; Bacillales; Osmolarity; Induction; Bacteria; Technique; Bacillaceae; Component; Gene expression; Cytosol
• ISSN: 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11148.x

The anthrax toxin consists of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). PA mediates the entry of LF and EF to the cytosol where they exert their effects. Although PA is the major component of the vaccines against anthrax, LF has also been found to play an important role in enhancing protective immunity. We have developed an osmolyte-inducible LF expression system. The protein expression system contributed no additional amino acids to the recombinant LF making it suitable for the human vaccine trials.