Aim: Production of IgY antibodies against CfaB-EtpA-LTB (CEL) chimeric protein and evaluation of its protective effects against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) by in vivo and in vitro investigation.
Methods and results: Indirect ELISA and immunoblotting methods were applied to assess the immunogenicity and specificity of IgYs and also to evaluate the efficacy of IgYs in binding prevention and neutralizing the heat-labile (LT) toxin of ETEC bacteria. The results indicated that the anti-CEL IgY at a concentration of 2 mg ml-1 could decrease the bacterial adhesion to HT-29 cells by 74% compared to the control group.At a concentration of 750 μg ml-1, the IgY antibody managed to neutralize the disruptive LT toxin effect on the Y1 cell line. At a concentration of 2 mg ml-1, 81% reduction was observed in the fluid accumulation in the ileal loop assay.
Conclusion: According to our findings, passive immunotherapy with anti-CEL IgY can prevent bacterial colonization and toxicity, thus facilitating in controlling the enteric diseases caused by ETEC infection.
Keywords: EtpA; IgY; LT toxin; colonization factors; diarrhea; enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC).
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.