Anti-capsular antibodies activate killing of Escherichia coli O8:K87 by the alternate complement pathway in porcine serum

Authors

• N. M. Clark, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• E. M. Berberov, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• M. Wang, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
• Rodney A. Moxley, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

November 2006

Comments

Published in Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 114:1-2 (November 15, 2006), pp. 185-191. doi:10.1016/j.vetimm.2006.07.008 Copyright © 2006 Elsevier B.V. Used by permission. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01652427

Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains that produce K88 (F4) ⁺ fimbria are important causes of diarrhea and post-diarrheal septicemia in swine. ETEC O8:K87, a serotype represented by a number of these strains, is typically serum resistant. Strain-specific antibodies are known to activate alternative C pathway-mediated killing of other serum-resistant E. coli [Hill, A.W., Shears, A.L., Hibbitt, K.G., 1978. The requirement of specific antibody for the killing of E. coli by the alternate complement pathway in bovine serum. Immunology 34, 131–136], but their antigenic targets have not been determined. We tested the hypothesis that anti-K87 antibodies activate alternative pathway-mediated killing of ETEC O8: K87. Pigs were immunized with ETEC O8:K87 strain 2534-86 cells or purified K87 polysaccharide. Post-, but not pre-immunization sera killed 2534-86 cells, and absorption with 2534-86 cells or by K87 affinity chromatography eliminated bactericidal activity. Complementation of absorbed serum with anti-K87 antibodies restored bactericidal activity, confirming the ability of these antibodies to activate C-mediated serum killing. Serum from age-matched, non-vaccinated control pigs also killed 2534-86. This activity was eliminated by absorption with 2534-86 cells, but not K87 affinity chromatography, indicating that specific non-capsular antibodies are also able to activate C-mediated killing. In all cases, Mg-EGTA-treated serum was as effective as non-treated serum in killing, suggesting that bactericidal activity was mediated predominantly if not exclusively via the alternative C pathway.