DOMAINS WITHIN THE VIBRIO-CHOLERAE TOXIN COREGULATED PILIN SUBUNIT THAT MEDIATE BACTERIAL-COLONIZATION

Several experimental approaches have provided evidence suggesting that a domain within the C-terminal region of the TcpA pilin, delineated b y the single disulfide loop, is directly responsible for the colonizat ion function mediated by the toxin coregulated pilus (TCP) of Vibrio c holerae. This evidence includes the mapping of domains recognized by p rotective monoclonal antibodies to this region, the ability of peptide s from within this region to elicit cholera protective antibody, the c onstruction of tcpA missense mutations that abolish TCP function, and the requirement of a periplasmic disulfide isomerase to produce functi onal TCP. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.