Development and characterization of a catalytically inactive cysteine protease domain of RtxA1/MARTXVv as a potential vaccine for Vibrio vulnificus

ABSTRACT Recent studies have defined several virulence factors as vaccine candidates against Vibrio vulnificus. However, most of these factors have the potential to cause pathogenic effects in the vaccinees or induce incomplete protection. To overcome these drawbacks, a catalytically inactive form, CPDVv(C3725S), of the well‐conserved cysteine protease domain (CPD) of V. vulnificus multifunctional autoprocessing repeats‐in‐toxin (MARTXVv/RtxA1) was recombinantly generated and characterized. Notably, active and passive immunization with CPDVv(C3725S) conferred protective immunity against V. vulnificus strains. These results may provide a novel framework for developing safe and efficient subunit vaccines and/or therapeutics against V. vulnificus that target the CPD of MARTX toxins.