Expression and characterization of HlyX hemolysin from Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni: potentiation of hemolytic activity by LipL32.

HAUK P; NEGROTTO S; ROMERO EC; VASCONCELLOS SA; GENOVEZ ME; WARD RJ; SCHATTNER M; GOMEZ RM; HO PL

BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Año: 2005 vol. 333 p. 1341 - 1347

0006-291X

The HlyX, a putative hemolysin identified from the Leptospira genomes, was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and its hemolytic activity was confirmed. Mouse polyclonal antiserum against the recombinant HlyX recognized HlyX-related antigens in a panel of Leptospira species extracts and it was also able to abolish the hemolytic activity of HlyX. A mixture of HlyX and LipL32, a known hemolysin from Leptospira, induced hemolysis in a synergistic way that was fully inhibited by antiserum against either protein. Moreover, sera from patients with leptospirosis also recognized the recombinant HlyX, showing that it is presented to the host immune system during Leptospira infection.