Immunoproteomics: Identification of cross-reactive immunogenic candidate molecules from secretory and whole cell fractions of C. botulinum type B

Botulism is the lethal illness caused by botulinum neurotoxins. Botulinum toxin is the most potent poisonous so far known to humans. It is produced by Gram positive; an obligate anaerobic and endospore forming bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. There is no detection system / licensed vaccine available commercially for the detection as well as t reatment of botulism. The aim of present study was to identify the cross immunoreactive proteins (antigens) of whole cell and secretome of this pathogen. In this study we 0have generated the polyclonal antibody against secretome and whole cell proteins. The two dimensional gel electrophoresis of secretory proteins were probed with the whole cell protein antisera and the whole cell proteins were probed with secretome proteins antisera and identified five cross reactive immunogenic proteins i.e cell surface protein, putative cell surface protein, flagellin, fla-A and hypothetical protein CLOSPO_00563. These identified antigens to be further tested for their efficacy to be used as a potential diagnostic marker / vaccine candidates for botulism.