HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Characterization of alpha-toxin hla gene variants, alpha-toxin expression levels, and levels of antibody to alpha-toxin in hemodialysis and postsurgical patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Abstract
Alpha-toxin is a major Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor. This study evaluated potential relationships between in vitro alpha-toxin expression of S. aureus bloodstream isolates, anti-alpha-toxin antibody in serum of patients with S. aureus bacteremia (SAB), and clinical outcomes in 100 hemodialysis and 100 postsurgical SAB patients. Isolates underwent spa typing and hla sequencing. Serum anti-alpha-toxin IgG and neutralizing antibody levels were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a red blood cell (RBC)-based hemolysis neutralization assay. Neutralization of alpha-toxin by an anti-alpha-toxin monoclonal antibody (MAb MEDI4893) was tested in an RBC-based lysis assay. Most isolates encoded hla (197/200; 98.5%) and expressed alpha-toxin (173/200; 86.5%). In vitro alpha-toxin levels were inversely associated with survival (cure, 2.19 μg/ml, versus failure, 1.09 μg/ml; P < 0.01). Both neutralizing (hemodialysis, 1.26 IU/ml, versus postsurgical, 0.95; P < 0.05) and IgG (hemodialysis, 1.94 IU/ml, versus postsurgical, 1.27; P < 0.05) antibody levels were higher in the hemodialysis population. Antibody levels were also significantly higher in patients infected with alpha-toxin-expressing S. aureus isolates (P < 0.05). Levels of both neutralizing antibodies and IgG were similar among patients who were cured and those not cured (failures). Sequence analysis of hla revealed 12 distinct hla genotypes, and all genotypic variants were susceptible to a neutralizing monoclonal antibody in clinical development (MEDI4893). These data demonstrate that alpha-toxin is highly conserved in clinical S. aureus isolates. Higher in vitro alpha-toxin levels were associated with a positive clinical outcome. Although patients infected with alpha-toxin-producing S. aureus exhibited higher anti-alpha-toxin antibody levels, these levels were not associated with a better clinical outcome in this study.
AuthorsBatu K Sharma-Kuinkel, Yuling Wu, David E Tabor, Hoyin Mok, Bret R Sellman, Amy Jenkins, Li Yu, Hasan S Jafri, Thomas H Rude, Felicia Ruffin, Wiley A Schell, Lawrence P Park, Qin Yan, Joshua T Thaden, Julia A Messina, Vance G Fowler Jr, Mark T Esser
JournalJournal of clinical microbiology (J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 53 Issue 1 Pg. 227-36 (Jan 2015) ISSN: 1098-660X [Electronic] United States
PMID25392350 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
CopyrightCopyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Chemical References
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • staphylococcal alpha-toxin
Topics
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
  • Antibodies, Bacterial (blood, immunology)
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing (blood, immunology)
  • Bacteremia
  • Bacterial Toxins (genetics, immunology)
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genotype
  • Hemolysin Proteins (genetics, immunology)
  • Hemolysis (immunology)
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Rabbits
  • Renal Dialysis (adverse effects)
  • Staphylococcal Infections (drug therapy, immunology, microbiology)
  • Staphylococcus aureus (classification, genetics, immunology)
  • Treatment Failure
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: