Streptococcus equi cDNA and recombinant antigen

Streptococcus equi is a bacterium that can cause infections in horses, commonly known as “strangles.” This bacterium has several vaccines and protective antigens, including Pneumococcal vaccine antigen A (PvaA), protective antigen SpaZ, and secreted antigen GbpB-SagA-PcsB. In this article, we will discuss these vaccines and antigens and their significance in understanding Streptococcus equi infections.

Pneumococcal Vaccine Antigen A (PvaA)

Pneumococcal vaccine antigen A (PvaA) is a protein found on the surface of Streptococcus equi. This antigen has been found to be highly immunogenic, meaning that it can elicit a strong immune response in the host.

Studies have shown that the presence of antibodies against PvaA can protect against Streptococcus equi infections. This suggests that PvaA may be a potential target for the development of a vaccine against this bacterium.

Protective Antigen SpaZ

Protective antigen SpaZ is another antigen found on the surface of Streptococcus equi. This antigen has been found to be important for the bacterium’s virulence and immune evasion.

Studies have shown that the presence of antibodies against SpaZ can protect against Streptococcus equi infections. This suggests that SpaZ may be a potential target for the development of new treatments for strangles.

Secreted Antigen GbpB-SagA-PcsB

The secreted antigen GbpB-SagA-PcsB is a complex of several proteins that are important for the bacterium’s survival and virulence. This antigen has been found to be highly variable among different strains of Streptococcus equi, which can contribute to the bacterium’s ability to evade the host immune system.

Recent studies have identified several proteins within the GbpB-SagA-PcsB complex that may be potential targets for the development of new treatments and vaccines against Streptococcus equi infections.

The use of recombinant proteins/cDNA in academic research and therapeutic applications has skyrocketed. However, in heterologous expression systems, successful recombinant protein expression is dependent on a variety of factors, including codon preference, RNA secondary structure, and GC content. When compared to pre-optimization, more and more experimental results demonstrated that the expression level was dramatically increased, ranging from two to hundred times depending on the gene. Bioclone has created a proprietary technology platform that has resulted in the creation of over 6,000 artificially synthesized codon-optimized cDNA clones (cloned in E. coli expression Vector), which are ready for production of the recombinant proteins.

Streptococcus equi cDNA and recombinant antigen can be used to detect antibodies in horses. This method is based on the use of a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In this assay, horse serum is incubated with the cDNA or recombinant antigen, allowing the antibodies to bind specifically to the antigen. A secondary antibody conjugated to an enzyme is then added, and this complex binds to the antigen-antibody complex. The enzyme catalyzes a reaction that produces a colorimetric signal, which can be quantified to measure the levels of antibodies present in the horse serum. This ELISA method is useful for detecting and quantifying antibodies in horses and can be used for diagnosis and monitoring of disease.