Be. Menzies et Ds. Kernodle, PASSIVE-IMMUNIZATION WITH ANTISERUM TO A NONTOXIC ALPHA-TOXIN MUTANT FROM STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS IS PROTECTIVE IN A MURINE MODEL, Infection and immunity, 64(5), 1996, pp. 1839-1841
A nonhemolytic, nonlethal variant of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin
constructed via oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis and containing a
single amino acid substitution (H-35 to L) was used to immunize a rab
bit. The resulting antiserum was cross-reactive with wild-type alpha-t
oxin and neutralized its hemolytic activity in vitro. Passive immuniza
tion of mice,vith rabbit antiserum conferred protection against lethal
challenge with wild-type alpha-toxin and against acute lethal challen
ge with a high-alpha-toxin-producing S. aureus strain. H35L alpha-toxi
n may be useful as a protective immunogen in S. aureus vaccine studies
.