Cytotoxin with a subtilase domain

Abstract

A member of a new class of bacterial toxin has been isolated and characterised. The bacterial toxin is of the AB₅ type and is characterised in that it has a subtilase domain. It is cytotoxic to Vero cells, and toxicity in vivo in mice occurs in a number of different sites. Mutation of the serine active residue results in greater than 99% reduction in activity. The protein has been purified and antibodies have been prepared for both the A subunit and B subunits, and ELISA detection methods have been developed. The nucleic acid sequence has been determined and primers specific for the toxin have been used for a preliminary screen of a range of patient samples to ascertain the extent to which the toxin is present.