Abstract
A new member of the staphylococcal bi-component leucotoxins family, LukE (32 kDa) and LukD (34.3 kDa) has been characterized from Staphylococcus aureus strain Newman. LukE was 58-68% identical with the class S proteins, whereas LukD was 71-77% identical with the class F proteins of the family. A partial immunoreactivity with the various affinity-purified antibodies specific for the other proteins was observed. Immunoprecipitation assay and gene probing confirmed a 30% frequency among human clinical isolates, differing from the distribution of the other known leucotoxins (P<0.005). LukE+LukD was as effective as the Panton-Valentine leucocidin for inducing dermonecrosis when injected in the rabbit skin, but not hemolytic and poorly leucotoxic compared to other leucotoxins expressed by Staphylococcus aureus.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Bacterial Proteins*
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Bacterial Toxins / chemistry
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Bacterial Toxins / genetics*
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Bacterial Toxins / toxicity*
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Base Sequence
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Cloning, Molecular
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Exotoxins / chemistry
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Exotoxins / genetics*
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Exotoxins / toxicity*
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Humans
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Immunodiffusion
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Necrosis
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Neutrophils / drug effects
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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Rabbits
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Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Proteins / toxicity
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Skin / drug effects
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Skin / immunology
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Skin / pathology
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Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
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Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
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Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*
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Transcription, Genetic
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Bacterial Toxins
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Exotoxins
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LukD protein, Staphylococcus aureus
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LukE protein, Staphylococcus aureus
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RNA, Messenger
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Recombinant Proteins