الفهرس 
Title : A study to evaluate cell wall surface anchor family protein [SLUG_02990; SlsF] of Staphylococcus lugdunensis as a vaccine candidate
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Abstract
Staphylococcus lugdunensis is one of the coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) that have been considered for decades as non-virulent or opportunistic pathogens of low virulence. However, S. lugdunensis stood out among other CoNS as an important human pathogen with notable clinical and microbiological characteristics. S. lugdunensis is part of the skin normal flora at the same time is responsible for serious nosocomial infections that are as severe as those caused by S. aureus. The range of infections that S. lugdunensis is quite wide, it includes; aggressive endocarditis (native valve, prosthetic valve, and pacemaker-related), skin and soft tissue infections, bloodstream infection, sepsis, or septic shock. In addition,acute oral infection presented as abscesses or osteomyelitis, bone and joint infection (infective arthritis, or prosthetic joint infection), and rarely peritonitis, urinary tract infections.Central nervous system infections and ocular infections have also been reported.
Nowadays, attention has been drawn towards finding effective weapons for combating S. lugdunensis other than antimicrobials, in an attempt to limit its growing virulence especially in nosocomial infections. Bacterial surface exposed antigens represent good candidates for vaccine components due to the potential role they play in the interaction between the host and the pathogen. So, we decided to evaluate one of the putative cell wall anchor family proteins of S. lugdunensis, SlsF, as a potential vaccine candidate that could be beneficial especially in immunocompromised patients.
Bioinformatics analyses of the SlsF protein allowed us to determine the surface exposed part of the protein, denoted in our study as SlsF (41-625). This would allow for better antigenic response in the murine animal model. Recombinant DNA technology was used to clone, express and purify the SlsF (41-625) polypeptide for animal immunization and hence, antibodies production.
In our study, we were able to utilize the recombinant SlsF (41-625) polypeptide to produce polyclonal antibodies in mice sera; these antibodies were able to provide significant protection against S. lugdunensis challenge in the presented animal model.