Biotechnological potential and phenotypic and molecular characterization of Salmon...
| Grant number: | 05/04465-1 |
| Support type: | Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE |
| Duration: | March 01, 2007 - November 30, 2007 |
| Field of knowledge: | Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine |
| Principal Investigator: | Leandro Licursi de Oliveira |
| Grantee: | Leandro Licursi de Oliveira |
| Company: | Invent Biotecnologia Ltda. - ME |
| City: | Ribeirão Preto |
| Assoc. researchers: | Mirela de Barros Tamarozzi |
Abstract
Salmonella are microrganisms belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family that are widely distributed among animals and environment, playing an important role in public health. The genus Salmonella comprises two species: S. enterica, which is subdivided into over 2,300 serovars, and Salmonella bongori. Estimated costs of human salmonelosis in the United States are around 2.3 billion dollars. Some serovars of S. enterica may cause severe systemic infections, whereas others cause gastroenteritis, depending on the serovar and on the host involved. Recently, it has been observed an increasing interest on the oral administration of antibodies for prevention and for localized treatment of infections in the gastrointestinal tract. Among all the antibody classes utilized, IgY, which is the mammalian IgG equivalent, was shown to be an excellent tool for laboratory research. IgY has been proved to be effective against several enteric pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella serovars and rotavirus, inhibiting microorganism growth in vitro and preventing or reducing the symptoms of diseases in animal models. However, in order to raise the potentiality of IgY as an immunotherapy, it must be protected from gastric degradation with acid and enzymes, to reach the intestinal mucosa as intact molecules. Thus, the aim of this work is to establish the protocol for enteric protection of the antibodies, testing different coating used in pharmaceutical industry and to construct a recombinant strain of E. coli expressing the subunit C of Long Polar Frimbriae of S. enterica Typhimurium, which is responsible for the adhesion in M cells of the intestinal mucosa. Our search for a strategy of enteric protection, as well as the antigen directed for production of specific antibodies, will allow us to design an immunotherapy against enteric intection by Salmonella. (AU)