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Antibody-Mediated Immunity To Vibrio Cholerae At Epithelial Surfaces, Kara Jeanette Levinson
Antibody-Mediated Immunity To Vibrio Cholerae At Epithelial Surfaces, Kara Jeanette Levinson
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera, has an estimated worldwide disease burden in the millions and remains a significant public health threat. Immunity to V. cholerae is primarily antibody-mediated and though V. cholerae colonization evokes a mucosal immune response, it is the secretory IgA (SIgA) antibodies produced against bacterial surface antigens, specifically lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that confer protective immunity. SIgA antibodies are thought to function by inhibiting colonization by cross-linking and agglutination of pathogens, thereby limiting access to the epithelium, a process known as immune exclusion. Recent studies in other enteric pathogens have demonstrated that SIgA …
Neutralizing Antibodies Against The Ricin Toxin Binding Subunit (Rtb), Anastasiya Yermakova
Neutralizing Antibodies Against The Ricin Toxin Binding Subunit (Rtb), Anastasiya Yermakova
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Ricin is a toxin that is naturally produced by the seeds of the castor bean plant Ricinus communis, and is part of a family of A-B toxins that includes Shiga, cholera, and anthrax toxins. The toxin consists of two subunits, RTA and RTB, which are linked by a disulfide bond. RTA is an RNA N-glycosidase that selectively targets and inactivates 28S ribosomal RNA, thereby arresting protein synthesis and leading to cell death. RTB is a galactose/ N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectin that mediates attachment, entry, and intracellular trafficking of ricin in host cells. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or therapeutics available against …