Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leukocidin toxin identified in dog skin infection bacteria
By Abouelkhair, Mohamed A et al.·Published in PloS one·2018·Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Characterization of a leukocidin identified in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that a type of bacteria called Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a common cause of skin infections (pyoderma) in dogs. This bacteria produces toxins that can harm the dog's immune system, making it harder to fight off infections. Researchers identified two specific proteins from this bacteria that can be harmful to dog immune cells when combined. However, they also discovered that a vaccine made from altered versions of these proteins could help protect dogs from these infections by reducing the harmful effects.
People also search for: dog skin infection treatment · Staphylococcus pseudintermedius vaccine · pyoderma in dogs symptoms
Abstract
Bacterial infections from Staphylococcus pseudintermedius are the most common cause of skin infections (pyoderma) affecting dogs. Two component pore-forming leukocidins are a family of potent toxins secreted by staphylococci and consist of S (slow) and F (fast) components. They impair the innate immune system, the first line of defense against these pathogens. Seven different leukocidins have been characterized in Staphylococcus aureus, some of which are host and cell specific. Through genome sequencing and analysis of the S. pseudintermedius secretome using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry we identified two proteins, named "LukS-I" and "LukF-I", encoded on a degenerate prophage contained in the genome of S. pseudintermedius isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of LukS-I components in comparison to the rest of the leukocidin family showed that LukS-I was most closely related to S. intermedius LukS-I, S. aureus LukE and LukP, whereas LukF-I was most similar to S. intermedius LukF-I S. aureus gamma hemolysin subunit B. The killing effect of recombinant S. pseudintermedius LukS-I and LukF-I on canine polymorphonuclear leukocytes was determined using a flow cytometry cell permeability assay. The cytotoxic effect occurred only when the two recombinant proteins were combined. Engineered mutant versions of the two-component pore-forming leukocidins, produced through amino acids substitutions at selected points, were not cytotoxic. Anti-Luk-I produced in dogs against attenuated proteins reduced the cytotoxic effect of native canine leukotoxin which highlights the importance of Luk-I as a promising component in a vaccine against canine S. pseudintermedius infections.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30261001/