Sensing the dissociation of a polymeric enzyme by means of an engineered intrinsic probe.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of Brucella lumazine synthase (BLS) is its versatility to undergo reversible dissociation and reassociation as a polymeric scaffold. We have proposed a mechanism of dissociation and unfolding of BLS. Using static light scattering (SLS) analysis, we were able to demonstrate that the decameric assembly dissociates into two different conditions [pH 5 or 2M guanidinium chloride (GdnHCl) pH 7] forming stable folded pentamers.

Brucella spp. lumazine synthase: a novel adjuvant and antigen delivery system to effectively induce oral immunity.

Brucella lumazine synthase (BLS) has been previously used with success as a delivery system for systemic immunization against murine cysticercosis. We herein determined the usefulness of BLS as a new antigen-delivery system and mucosal-adjuvant using KETc1, one of the peptides of the anti-cysticercosis vaccine. A protection of up to 98% was induced when KETc1 was used as a chimera fused to BLS.

Immunological and pathological responses in BALB/c mice induced by genetic administration of Tc 13 Tul antigen of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Tc13 is a trans-sialidase family protein of Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas' disease. Recently, in vitro studies had suggested that Tc13 might participate in the pathogenesis of the disease. In order to study the role of Tc13 antigens in an in vivo model, we administered plasmid DNA encoding a Tc13 antigen from the Tulahuén strain (Tc13 Tul) to BALB/c mice and evaluated the immunological and pathological manifestations as well as the capacity of this antigen to confer protection against T.

Multiple display of a protein domain on a bacterial polymeric scaffold.

The multiple display of protein domains on polymeric scaffolds is an emerging technology for many applications. BLS is a highly immunogenic protein that has an oligomeric structure formed by a 17.2 kDa subunit arranged as a dimer of pentamers.

Brucella spp. lumazine synthase: a novel antigen delivery system.

Lumazine synthase from Brucella spp. (BLS) was evaluated as a protein carrier to improve antigen delivery of KETc1, one of the peptides of the anti-cysticercosis vaccine. KETc1 becomes antigenic, preserved its immunogenicity and its protective capacity when expressed as a recombinant chimeric protein using Brucella spp.

Engineering of a polymeric bacterial protein as a scaffold for the multiple display of peptides.

Protein assemblies with a high degree of repetitiveness and organization are known to induce strong immune responses. For that reason they have been postulated for the design of subunit vaccines by means of protein engineering. The enzyme lumazine synthase from Brucella spp.

Trypanosoma cruzi: molecular identification and characterization of new members of the Tc13 family. Description of the interaction between the Tc13 antigen from Tulahuén strain and the second extracellular loop of the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor.

Trypanosoma cruzi Tc13 antigens belong to the trans-sialidase superfamily. Their sequences have been described only partially and, up to now, their physiological activity has not been elucidated. Here we present two new members of this family from the Tulahuén strain (Tc13 Tul) and the CL Brener clone (Tc13 CL), being the latter the first Tc13 sequence fully described.