Recombinant α-toxin as a protective antigen against Necrotic Enteritis
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Project Title: Recombinant α-toxin as a protective antigen against Necrotic Enteritis
Project Leader: Peter Smooker (Project 04-16)
Duration of Project: Now completed (6 December 2004 to 6 December 2005)
Project overview
The alpha-toxin protein of Clostridium perfringens was proposed to be one of the major virulence factors causing necrotic enteritis.
Project objectives
- engineer the gene encoding alpha-toxin to produce recombinant protein in E. coli. and develop protocols to produce both toxic and non-toxic variants; and
- develop protocols using recombinant alpha-toxin to demonstrate that the protein alone could induce symptoms of necrotic enteritis, and evaluate the toxin in vaccine trials.
Project progress
Recombinant proteins (both active and inactive) were produced and used in a series of experimental protocols designed to determine the role of alpha-toxin in causing disease and in the ability of the toxin to vaccinate against disease. Some indications of alpha-toxin activity were observed, however a definitive role for alpha-toxin as the primary virulence factor requires further investigation. [See Key development in the fight against necrotic enteritis - 11 August 06]
