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http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/20349
Title: | Rickettsia conorii O antigen is the target of bactericidal Weil-Felix antibodies |
Authors: | Kim, H. K. Premaratna, R. Missiakas, D. M. Premaratna, R. |
Keywords: | O antigen |
Issue Date: | 2019 |
Publisher: | Washington, DC : National Academy of Sciences |
Citation: | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.2019;116(39):19659-19664. |
Abstract: | Rickettsial diseases have long been diagnosed with serum antibodies cross-reactive against Proteus vulgaris (Weil-Felix reaction). Although Weil-Felix antibodies are associated with the development of immunity, their rickettsial target and contribution to disease pathogenesis are not established. Here, we developed a transposon for insertional mutagenesis of Rickettsia conorii, isolating variants defective for replication in cultured cells and in spotted fever pathogenesis. Mutations in the polysaccharide synthesis operon (pso) abolish lipopolysaccharide O-antigen synthesis and Weil-Felix serology and alter outer-membrane protein assembly. Unlike wild-type R. conorii, pso mutants cannot elicit bactericidal antibodies that bind O antigen. The pso operon is conserved among rickettsial pathogens, suggesting that bactericidal antibodies targeting O antigen may generate universal immunity that could be exploited to develop vaccines against rickettsial diseases. |
Description: | indexed in MEDLINE. |
URI: | http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/20349 |
ISSN: | 0027-8424 (Print) 1091-6490 (Electronic) |
Appears in Collections: | Journal/Magazine Articles |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Weil–Felix.pdf | 1.3 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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