Isolations of protein A and protein G from the bacterial surface

Improving the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis using gold nanoparticles conjugated with purified protein derivative: special regard to staphylococcal protein A and streptococcal protein G

Different ancillary immunodiagnostic tests were traditionally-established for diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) either cellular or humoral as tuberculin skin test (TST), gamma interferon (INF-γ), and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). These tests had been consumed more time and expensive, and needed sophisticated equipment. To dissolve these problems, serological diagnosis depending on humoral immunity is the aim of this work. Herein, slide-based agglutination test was chosen as a rapid and simple field test based on purified protein derivative (PPD) antigen in addition to some supplementation materials such as Staphylococcal protein A (SPA) and Streptococcal protein G (SPG) to improve detection of BTB antibody in serum samples. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were synthesized by gamma ray, and after complete characterization, the synthesized Au NPs were spherical, small-sized, and stable without any impurities. Addition of such supplementation reagents for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis is of paramount important for the detection of serum antibodies against tuberculosis (TB) and it was considered an easily simple and possible way for improving TB diagnosis. In this work, 70 animals tested positive for TST as well as 20 animals tested negative for TST were used for the diagnosis of BTB depending on humoral immune response based on PPD slide agglutination test using reporter regents (SPA and/or SPG) either native or recombinant. The agglutination density was recorded and read in 4 degrees of positivity with scores ranging from negative (-) to very strong reaction (++++) occurred in different times of agglutination. Groups showed 100% positive reactivates employed in Exp. 1, 2, and 3 with differentiation of slide agglutination test density and was rated from moderate positivity (2+) to very strong (4+), with predominant positivity in density of (3+). Pink-colored intensity is associated with the strengthened reactions between PPD-conjugated Au NPs and serum antibody of each tested samples, which allows for visual rapid, simple, and effective attractive diagnosis of BTB. The specificity and sensitivity of the serological tests were characterized. TST offers the highest sensitivity (83.6%) among the other immunoassays, while the lowest specificity was recorded in TST (57.4%). SPA/SPG offers the best performance in term of combined sensitivity and specificity (performance index) of 175.4. Therefore, the development and uses of detection reagent (such as SPA and/or SPG) slide co-agglutination test (COAT), either native or recombinant (rSPA/SPG) for the detection of TB antibodies based on PPD antigen, as well as the uses of Au NPs rSPA/SPG as detection conjugate based on the same antigen, were also performed as a simple, rapid, sensitive, specific, eco-friendly, and low cost, which shows a great potential in field and lab diagnosis of BTB. So, high reduction in reagents that yields reactions similarly as traditional techniques was needed.

Binding properties of Streptococcus suis for immunoglobulin G and other plasma proteins

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) binding proteins on the surface of Streptococcus suis could be readily detected by direct cultivation of the bacteria on nitrocellulose membranes and subsequent treatment of the membranes with human IgG. Among the 75 S. suis isolates tested two cultures (S. suis P43, S. suis P143) caused a blue colouration of the membranes indicating IgG binding activities. The IgG binding proteins could be solubilized by heat treatment of the bacteria at an acid pH and also by mutanolysin treatment. Western blot analysis revealed numerous protein bands with IgG binding activities. The IgG binding proteins were also released into the culture supernatant of the bacteria. This could be detected for 51 of the 75 S. suis using a microfiltration assay. In binding studies with 125I-IgG S. suis P43 and S. suis P143 but none of the other S. suis isolates showed a significant binding of the protein. These two cultures additionally bound 125I-albumin, 125I-alpha 2-macroglobulin and 125I-fibrinogen all from humans but not 125I-chicken IgG or 125I-human haptoglobin 2-1. The binding profiles of the two S. suis cultures tested indicate a close relation of these binding proteins with streptococcal protein G.

Further studies on immunoglobulin G- and albumin-binding properties of streptococci of serological group L

In this study, all 88 streptococci of serological group L isolated from cows, pigs, poultry and humans bound 125I-immunoglobulin G, and, in addition, 22 cultures interacted with 125I-albumin. IgG- and albumin-binding sites were solubilized from the streptococcal surface by heat extraction at an acid pH and also by mutanolysin treatment of the bacteria. Western blot analysis of these binding proteins revealed that almost identical protein bands were responsible for 125I-IgG and -albumin binding. Certain protein fractions of the cultures interacted exclusively with 125I-IgG, indicating that there are two groups of IgG receptors among streptococci of this serogroup.

Isolation and characterization of immunoglobulin binding proteins from Staphylococcus intermedius and Staphylococcus hyicus

125-I-IgG binding activities were observed with 15 (17%) of 90 S. intermedius isolates from dogs and 39 (95%) of 41 S. hyicus isolates from pigs. Binding activities were not detected with S. hyicus isolates from cows. The IgG binding proteins of 2 S. intermedius, 2 S. hyicus, and protein A from S. aureus Cowan I were isolated from their cell surfaces. The proteins precipitated with IgG preparations from human, rabbit, pig, dog and horse, but not with IgG from cow, mouse and chicken. This indicated that these IgG binding proteins could be classified as type I receptors. In addition, the isolated proteins from all 3 staphylococcal species precipitated with polyclonal chicken anti-protein A antiserum. SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and gel isoelectric focussing of the proteins revealed numerous bands in the 42,000 D range and acid isoelectric points. The isoelectric point of the isolated proteins from both S. intermedius cultures was slightly more acidic than those from S. hyicus and S. aureus. The present results indicate a close functional and antigenic similarity, if not identity, between IgG binding proteins of S. intermedius and S. hyicus, and protein A of S. aureus.