Vibrio cholerae O1 surface and cholera toxin B subunit antigens (V. cholerae O1 and CTB antigens)

Vibrio cholerae O1 surface and cholera toxin B subunit antigens are the primary immunogenic components used in oral cholera vaccines to provide protection against Vibrio cholerae infection. The O1 surface antigens, primarily lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the Inaba and Ogawa serotypes, are responsible for inducing vibriocidal antibodies that prevent the bacteria from colonizing the intestinal mucosa [1, 3]. The cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) is a non-toxic protein that facilitates the binding of the holotoxin to GM1 ganglioside receptors on the surface of enterocytes [2, 4]. By including CTB in vaccines, the immune system generates antitoxin antibodies that block the entry of the active A-subunit into cells, thereby preventing the massive efflux of water and electrolytes that characterizes cholera [3, 4]. These antigens work synergistically to elicit both local mucosal IgA and systemic immune responses [2]. Clinically, they are targeted by oral vaccines like Dukoral to provide short-term protection against cholera and offer some cross-protection against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) due to the structural similarity between CTB and ETEC heat-labile toxin [1, 3].

Other names

Cholera vaccine antigensVibrio cholerae O1 LPS and CTBInaba and Ogawa antigensWC/rBS antigens

Induction of mucosal secretory IgA and systemic antibodies against the O1 lipopolysaccharide and the cholera toxin B subunit to prevent bacterial colonization and neutralize toxin binding to GM1 ganglioside receptors.