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Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin C2 mutants: biological activity assay in vitro

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

Abstract

Staphylococcal enterotoxin C2 (SEC2) is one member of bacterial superantigens produced by Staphylococcus aureus. It can be attributed to its superantigenic activity to cross-link major histocompatibility complex class II molecules with T-cell receptors and activate a large number of resting T cells resulting in release of massive cytokines, which will produce significant tumor inhibition in vivo and in vitro. However, it could be not broadly applied to cure malignant tumors in clinic because of emetic activity of SEC2. The aim of this study was to inactivate emetic activity of SEC2 through site-directed mutagenesis. Cys93, Cys110 and His118 were selected as substitutional sites based on the functional sites responsible for emesis. The mutated proteins were used to determine Peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation activity and anti-tumor activity in vitro. Results showed that these mutated proteins efficiently stimulated T cell and exhibited the same tumor-inhibition effect as SEC2. It is possible to inactivate emetic activity of SEC2 through site-directed mutagenesis and provide satisfying agents for tumor treatment in clinic.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Liaoning province Post-doctoral fund of China and the Science Fund of Liaoning province education department, China (No. 05L148). We are grateful to associate professor Zhengli Dai of Liaoning University School of foreign languages for kindly revising our manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036, China

    Jing Hui, Yan Cao, Fang Xiao, Jin Zhang, Hui Li & Fengqing Hu

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  1. Jing Hui
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  2. Yan Cao
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  3. Fang Xiao
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  4. Jin Zhang
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  5. Hui Li
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  6. Fengqing Hu
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Correspondence to Fengqing Hu.

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Jing Hui and Yan Cao have equal contribution.

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Hui, J., Cao, Y., Xiao, F. et al. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin C2 mutants: biological activity assay in vitro. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 35, 975–980 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-008-0372-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-008-0372-3

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