Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a bacterium that is commonly found in the oral cavity and is associated with periodontal disease. The bacterium produces several toxins, including the Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) and Leukotoxin Lkt. These toxins are known to play a role in the virulence and pathogenesis of the bacterium.

The CDT is composed of three subunits, CdtA, CdtB, and CdtC, and is known to cause DNA damage and cell cycle arrest. This toxin is thought to contribute to the evasion of the host immune system by the bacterium. The CdtA and CdtC subunits are involved in the translocation of the CdtB subunit into host cells, where it exerts its toxic effects.

Leukotoxin Lkt is a pore-forming toxin that is known to target white blood cells, including neutrophils and macrophages. This toxin is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease by contributing to the destruction of periodontal tissues. The leukotoxin Lkt is also involved in the evasion of the host immune system by the bacterium.

In conclusion, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans produces several toxins, including the Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) and Leukotoxin Lkt, which are associated with the virulence and pathogenesis of the bacterium. These toxins are involved in the evasion of the host immune system and the destruction of host tissues, and understanding their structure and function is important for the development of effective strategies to prevent and treat infections caused by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

The use of recombinant proteins/cDNA in academic research and therapeutic applications has skyrocketed. However, successful recombinant protein expression in heterologous expression systems depends on various factors, including codon preference, RNA secondary structure, and GC content. 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. Compared to pre-optimization, more experimental results demonstrated that the expression level was dramatically increased, ranging from two to a hundred times depending on the gene.

In research, cDNA and recombinant antigens can be used to identify and characterize specific genes and proteins associated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, as well as to design and validate novel diagnostic tests. cDNA can also be used to create transgenic organisms that can be used to study the pathogenesis of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

Recombinant antigens can be used in immunoassays for the detection and quantification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. These immunoassays can be used to diagnose periodontal disease, infective endocarditis, and other diseases caused by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Additionally, they can be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and to assess the risk of recurrence.

In diagnosis, Aa cDNA and recombinant antigens can be used to detect the presence of the bacteria in a sample. For example, Aa cDNA can be used to develop a real-time PCR assay for the detection of the bacteria. This type of assay is highly sensitive and specific for Aa and can be used to quickly and accurately detect the presence of the bacteria. The recombinant antigens can also be used for the rapid detection of Aa in a sample. For example, recombinant Aa outer membrane protein (OMP) antigens can be used in an ELISA assay to detect the presence of Aa in a sample.