Induction of protective immunity by vaccination against Chlamydia trachomatis using the major outer membrane protein adjuvanted with CpG oligodeoxynucleotide coupled to the nontoxic B subunit of cholera toxin

The present study was undertaken to test the efficacy of immunization with the native major outer membrane protein (nMOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis mouse pneumonitis (MoPn) serovar in combination with a novel immunostimulatory adjuvant consisting of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) linked to the nontoxic B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB-CpG) to elicit a protective immune response to C. trachomatis. High levels of Chlamydia-specific IgG antibodies were detected in the sera from BALB/c mice immunized intramuscularly and subcutaneously (i.m. + s.c.) with the nMOMP/CTB-CpG vaccine or with nMOMP adjuvanted with a mixture of CT and CpG ODN (CT + CpG). Further, these immunization schemes gave rise to significant T-cell-mediated Chlamydia-specific immune responses. No Chlamydia-specific humoral or cell-mediated immune responses were detected in the control mice vaccinated with ovalbumin together with either CTB-CpG or CT + CpG. Following an intranasal challenge with C. trachomatis the groups of mice immunized with nMOMP plus CTB-CpG, CT + CpG or live C. trachomatis were found to be protected based on their change in body weight and lung weight as well as number of inclusion forming unit recovered from the lungs, as compared with control groups immunized with ovalbumin plus either adjuvants. Interestingly, IFN-γ-producing CD4⁺, but not CD8⁺, T-cells showed a significant correlation with the outcomes of the challenge. In conclusion, nMOMP in combination with the novel adjuvant CTB-CpG elicited a significant antigen-specific antibody and cell-mediated immune responses as well as protection against a pulmonary challenge with C. trachomatis.     

Th1-type epitopes-based cocktail PDDV attenuates hepatic fibrosis in C57BL/6 mice with chronic Schistosoma japonicum infection

Schistosomiasis is one of the world's major public health problems in terms of morbidity and mortality, which is characterized by a marked egg-induced CD4⁺ T-cell programmed granulomatous inflammation and cumulative fibrosis. Here PDDV (peptide–DNA dual vaccine), a widely used non-viral gene delivery system, was applied. The cocktail PDDV, based on four Th1-type epitope peptides identified from Schistosoma japonicum vaccine candidates and CpG ODN1826, could induce dominant Th1-type response in C57BL/6J mice (P < 0.05). The histopathological staging and collagen assessment for fibrosis showed that the cocktail PDDV presented an obvious down-regulation effect on hepatic fibrosis caused by chronic S. japonicum infection (P < 0.05), and IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-13 mRNAs in liver detected by RT-PCR also showed that the cocktail PDDV represented the ability to up-regulate Th1-type responses, which paralleled with a decrease expression of α-SMA (P < 0.05) and the up-regulated MMP9/TIMP1 balance (P < 0.05) when compared to the control groups. Therefore, it is indicated that the cocktail PDDV can significantly attenuate hepatic fibrosis, in parallel with the decreased HSCs activation and the up-regulated MMP9/TIMP1 balance in favor of matrix degradation, which may be partially dependent on the increased Th1 response to restore the Th1/Th2 balance.     

Comparison of the protective effects of killed Burkholderia pseudomallei and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide against live challenge

Melioidosis is a fatal disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. Currently there is no vaccine available. Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides with unmethylated CpG dinucleotide motifs (CpG ODN) can stimulate vertebrate immune cells and clear certain pathogens that are susceptible to a strong Th1 response. In our previous study, pretreatment with CpG ODN alone or CpG-ODN with cationic liposomes for 2–10 or 30 days before B. pseudomallei infection in mice conferred 80–100% protection. In the present study we investigated the protective effect of CpG-ODN together with heat-killed (HK) or paraformaldehyde-killed B. pseudomallei (PP). HK or PP were used to immunize BALB/c mice twice at 15-day intervals before intra-peritoneal challenge with 5LD50 of B. pseudomallei and observed for 30 days. We found that PP could significantly protect mice (60%) with an increased survival time (24.8 ± 11.63 days) while in the HK and PBS groups, all infected mice died within 6 days. Although either CpG ODN or PP conferred significant protection, giving them in combination did not enhance it further. Serum IFN-γ levels on day-5 (before challenge) of the PP and PP + CpG ODN groups were significantly higher than those of the PBS control group. The results further support the importance of IFN-γ in host protection against B. pseudomallei and suggest further study on paraformaldehyde-killed bacteria as a component of a future B. pseudomallei vaccine.     

CpG-ODN combined with Neospora caninum lysate,but not with excreted-secreted antigen,enhances protection against infection in mice

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) have shown to be potent immunoadjuvants for several pathogens, but there is limited information concerning their use in immunization protocols against neosporosis. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of CpG-ODN combined with Neospora lysate antigen (NLA) or excreted-secreted antigen (NcESA) to induce protective immune response against Neospora caninum infection in mice. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated subcutaneously three times at 2-week intervals with NLA, NLA + CpG, NcESA, NcESA + CpG, CpG (adjuvant control) or PBS (infection control). Serological assays showed an increased specific IgG2a response in animals immunized with either antigen plus adjuvant and elevated levels of the IgG1 isotype in those vaccinated with antigens alone. Splenocyte proliferative responses upon antigen stimulation were higher in groups immunized with NLA or NcESA combined with CpG, showing increased IL-12 levels. Also, mice vaccinated with NcESA or NcESA + CpG demonstrated higher IFN-γ levels and IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio. After lethal challenge, mice immunized with NLA + CpG or NLA had lower morbidity score and body weight changes in comparison to other groups, and animals did not succumb during acute infection. In contrast, NcESA + CpG or NcESA groups exhibited the highest morbidity scores, body weight impairment and mortality rates, associated with greatest brain parasite burden and inflammation. In conclusion, CpG-ODN was able to induce a Th1-type humoral immune response with predominant IgG2a levels for either NLA or NcESA, but resulting in an effective Th1-driven cellular immune response and total protection only when combined with NLA. Vaccination with NcESA alone or combined with CpG resulted in a strong cellular immune response associated with high levels of IFN-γ and inflammation, rendering mice more susceptible to parasite challenge.     

Protective effect of ligand-binding domain of fibronectin-binding protein on mastitis induced by Staphylococcus aureus in mice

The immunoprotective effect of the ligand-binding domain of fibronectin-binding protein (lFnBP) from Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was investigated in a mouse mastitis model. The recombinant lFnBP (rlFnBP) and inactivated S. aureus were emulsified in Freund's adjuvant, mineral oil adjuvant or Seppic adjuvant, respectively. Seven groups of mice (n = 12 each) were immunized with these six vaccines or phosphate-buffered saline. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers of mice immunized with rlFnBP vaccine were higher than those in the inactivated vaccine group (P < 0.01). Antiserum capacities to opsonize adhesion and phagocytosis were significantly greater in the rlFnBP immunization group than in the killed bacteria group (P < 0.05). The immunized lactating mice were challenged with S. aureus. At 24 h postinfection, the numbers of bacteria recovered in the rlFnBP group were significantly lower than those in the killed bacteria group (P < 0.001). Levels of both interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ from the mammary glands in the rlFnBP group were higher than those in the inactivated group (P < 0.05). Better protection of mammary gland tissue was shown in the rlFnBP group. Thus, the rlFnBP, emulsified in an oil adjuvant, provided strong immune protection against S. aureus mastitis in mice, and could therefore be a promising vaccine candidate against bovine mastitis induced by S. aureus.     

Enhancement of the protective efficacy of a Chlamydia trachomatis recombinant vaccine by combining systemic and mucosal routes for immunization

Chlamydia trachomatis causes respiratory and sexually transmitted infections. Here, we tested a vaccine formulated with the recombinant major outer membrane protein from C. trachomatis mouse pneumonitis (CT-MoPn) for its ability to protect mice against an intranasal (i.n.) challenge. The adjuvants CpG and Montanide were used for systemic routes, intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.), and cholera toxin for mucosal routes, sublingual (s.l.) and colonic (c.l.). Mucosal immunizations were performed either alone or in combination with systemic routes. Mice inoculated i.n. with 10⁴ inclusion-forming units (IFU) of CT-MoPn served as a positive control and the Neisseria gonorrhoeae recombinant porin B (Ng-rPorB) as the negative antigen control. Immunized animals were challenged i.n. with 10⁴ IFU of CT-MoPn. Following immunization the combination groups showed high chlamydial serum IgG titers (s.l. + i.m. + s.c. 25,600; c.l + i.m. + s.c. 102,400) and the IgG2a/IgG1 ratios indicated a Th1 response. Following the i.n. challenge the s.l. + i.m. + s.c. group showed the best protection as demonstrated by an increase in body weight of 0.3% over the 10 day course of infection. A statistically significant difference was found when compared with the Ng-rPorB immunized animals that had lost 20% of their original body weight (P < 0.05). In addition, the repeated measures ANOVA test showed significant difference in body weight change for the combined immunized groups vs their mucosal counterparts and also the systemic immunized group. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was also observed in the number of IFUs recovered from the lungs when the s.l. + i.m. + s.c. (2.8 × 10⁶) and c.l. + i.m. + s.c. (3.4 × 10⁶) groups were compared to their respective mucosal only groups (s.l.: 61.9 × 10⁶ and c.l: 136.2 × 10⁶) and the control Ng-rPorB immunized mice (198.2 × 10⁶) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a combined systemic plus mucosal vaccination provides better protection against a respiratory challenge with C. trachomatis than either systemic or mucosal immunizations alone.     

Induction of protection against vaginal shedding and infertility by a recombinant Chlamydia vaccine

A vaccine formulated with the Chlamydia muridarum recombinant major outer membrane protein, plus the adjuvants CpG and Montanide, was tested for its ability to protect BALB/c mice against a vaginal challenge. Mice were immunized by mucosal [intravaginal (i.vag.) plus colonic (col.), or intranasal (i.n.) plus sublingual (s.l.)], or systemic [intramuscular (i.m.) plus subcutaneous (s.c.)] routes, and a combination of mucosal priming and systemic boosting routes. A negative control group was vaccinated with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae porin B (Ng-rPorB) and a positive control group was inoculated in the nares with live Chlamydia. The strongest Chlamydia-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were observed in the groups immunized by a combination of mucosal and systemic routes. Following the vaginal challenge, groups immunized using mucosal priming followed by systemic immunization had a significant decrease in the number of mice with positive vaginal cultures. For example, of the mice immunized i.n./s.l. + i.m./s.c., 24% had positive cultures during the six weeks of the experiment versus 69% for the negative control group immunized with Ng-rPorB (P < 0.05). Similarly, the groups of mice primed by the mucosal routes and boosted by the systemic routes had significantly less IFU in the vaginal cultures when compared to the Ng-rPorB animals (P < 0.05). These combination groups were also protected against infertility. The two groups had fertility rates of 100% (i.n./s.l. + i.m./s.c.) and 81% (i.vag./col. + i.m./s.c.) equivalent to the positive-control group immunized with live Chlamydia (100% fertility; P > 0.05). These results show the importance of the schedule and routes of vaccination and represent the first study to show protection against infertility by a Chlamydia recombinant subunit vaccine.     

Immune responses induced by heat killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a vaccine against fungal infection

Heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae (HKY) used as a vaccine protects mice against systemic aspergillosis and coccidioidomycosis. Little is known about the immune response induced by HKY vaccination, consequently our goal was to do an analysis of HKY-induced immune responses involved in protection. BALB/c mice were vaccinated subcutaneously 3 times with HKY, a protective reagent, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, spleen, lymph nodes, and serum collected 2-5 weeks later. Cultured spleen or lymph node cells were stimulated with HKY. Proliferation of HKY-stimulated spleen or lymph node cells was tested by Alamar Blue reduction and flow cytometry. Cytokines from lymphocyte supernatants and antibody to glycans in serum collected from HKY-vaccinated mice were measured by ELISA. The results show that HKY promoted spleen cell and lymph node cell proliferation from HKY-vaccinated mice but not from PBS-vaccinated control mice (all P < 0.05). Cytokine measurement showed HKY significantly promoted IFNγ, IL-6 and IL-17A production by spleen cells and lymph node cells (all P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Cytokine production by HKY-stimulated cells from PBS-vaccinated mice was lower than those from HKY-vaccinated (P < 0.05). Cytokines in BAL from HKY-vaccinated were higher, 1.7-fold for IFNγ and 2.1-fold for TNFα, than in BAL from PBS-vaccinated. Flow cytometry of lymphocytes from HKY-vaccinated showed 52% of CD3⁺ or 56% of CD8⁺ cells exhibited cell division after stimulation with HKY, compared to non-stimulated controls (26 or 23%, respectively) or HKY-stimulated cells from PBS-vaccinated (31 or 34%). HKY also induced antibody against Saccharomyces glucan and mannan with titers 4- or 2-fold, respectively, above that in unvaccinated. Taken together, the results suggested that HKY vaccination induces significant and specific Th1 type cellular immune responses and antibodies to glucan and mannan.     

Protective effect against toxoplasmosis in mice induced by DNA immunization with gene encoding Toxoplasma gondii ROP18

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite infecting mammals and birds including humans. Rhoptry protein 18 has been implicated as an important virulence factor. In this study, we constructed a DNA vaccine expressing rhoptry protein 18 (ROP18) of T. gondii, and evaluated the immune response and protective immunity in Kunming mice. The gene sequence encoding ROP18 was inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX I. Intramuscular immunization of mice with pVAX-ROP18 elicited specific humoral responses and stimulated lymphoproliferation (P < 0.05). The cellular immune response was associated with the production of IFN-γ, indicating that a Th1 type response was elicited, which was confirmed by the production of large amounts of IgG2a (P < 0.05). By the expression of the CD69, an activation marker of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, we found that pVAX-ROP18 enhanced the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lymphoid in mice. After lethal challenge, the mice immunized with the pVAX-ROP18 showed a significantly increased survival time (27.9 ± 15.1 days) compared with control mice which died within 7 days of challenge (P < 0.05). Our results show for the first time, that a ROP18 vaccine construct can enhance the T. gondii-specific CTL. Th1 responses and increased survival suggested that ROP18 is a promising vaccine candidate against infection with T. gondii.     

Basal and stimulus-induced cytokine expression is selectively impaired in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of newborn foals

Neonates are thought to be generally deficient in production of Th-1-associated cytokines at birth, and thereby more susceptible to bacterial infections. Using neonatal foals as a model, this study examined the age-dependent maturation of both basal and stimulus-induced immune responses, as reflected by the expression of a panel of Th-1-associated and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results showed that although the basal production of IFN-γ and IL-6 was impaired (P < 0.05) in PBMCs of neonatal foals at birth, the basal production of IL-8, IL-12(p35/p40) and IL-23(p19/p40) were either in excess of or comparable to that of older foals. In response to Rhodococcus equi and CpG-ODN stimulation in vitro, PBMCs of neonatal foals showed increased (P < 0.05) expression of IFN-γ and IL-6, and preferentially increased expression of either IL-23(p19/p40) with R. equi stimulation or IL-12(p35/p40) with CpG-ODN stimulation. The magnitude of these stimulus-induced responses (except for IL-23p19), were significantly (P < 0.05) less for newborn foals than for older foals. The selective impairment of age-dependent basal and stimulus-induced cytokine expression by newborn foals may reflect the different functional state of various TLR pathways in newborns, and be directly associated with their age-dependent susceptibility to infection. Our results indicate that CpG-ODNs can selectively stimulate deficient cytokines (P < 0.05) from PBMCs in newborn foals in vitro, suggesting immunoprophylactic or therapeutic potential of CpG-ODNs.     

Risk reduction assessment of waterborne Salmonella and Vibrio by a chlorine contact disinfectant point-of-use device

Unsafe drinking water continues to burden developing countries despite improvements in clean water delivery and sanitation, in response to Millennium Development Goal 7. Salmonella serotype Typhi and Vibrio cholerae bacteria can contaminate drinking water, causing waterborne typhoid fever and cholera, respectively. Household water treatment (HWT) systems are widely promoted to consumers in developing countries but it is difficult to establish their benefits to the population for specific disease reduction. This research uses a laboratory assessment of halogenated chlorine beads treating contaminated water to inform a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of S. Typhi and V. cholerae disease in a developing country community of 1000 people. Laboratory challenges using seeded well water resulted in log₁₀ reductions of 5.44 (±0.98 standard error (SE)) and 6.07 (±0.09 SE) for Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and V. cholerae, respectively. In well water with 10% sewage and seeded bacteria, the log₁₀ reductions were 6.06 (±0.62 SE) and 7.78 (±0.11 SE) for S. Typhimurium and V. cholerae, respectively. When one infected individual was contributing to the water contamination through fecal material leaking into the water source, the risk of disease associated with drinking untreated water was high according to a Monte Carlo analysis: a median of 0.20 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.017–0.54) for typhoid fever and a median of 0.11 (IQR 0.039–0.20) for cholera. If water was treated, risk greatly decreased, to a median of 4.1 × 10⁻⁷ (IQR 1.6 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.1 × 10⁻⁵) for typhoid fever and a median of 3.5 × 10⁻⁹ (IQR 8.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1.3 × 10⁻⁸) for cholera. Insights on risk management policies and strategies for public health workers were gained using a simple QMRA scenario informed by laboratory assessment of HWT.     

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of ApxIA and ApxIIA DNA vaccine against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae lethal challenge in murine model

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the major etiological agent of swine pleuropneumonia that causes critical economic losses in swine industry. The use of DNA vaccines encoding Apx exotoxin structural proteins is a promising novel approach for immunization against A. pleuropneumoniae. The goal of this study was to design DNA vaccines which encode the gene of ApxIA or ApxIIA, and to evaluate the elicited immune responses and protective efficacy in mice. Significant humoral immune responses were induced by these DNA vaccines through intramuscular immunization. The IgG subclass (IgG1 and IgG2a) analysis indicates that divalent DNA vaccine induces both Th1 and Th2 immune responses. The protective efficacy was evaluated by the survival against lethal challenge with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1. The groups of vaccination with pcDNA-apxIA or divalent (pcDNA-apxIA and pcDNA-apxIIA) DNA vaccine provided protective efficacy significantly higher than that of the negative control groups (P < 0.05). However, pcDNA-apxIIA vaccine conferred protection was limited and not significant than that of the negative control groups (P > 0.05). These results show that the divalent DNA vaccine could confer the best protection. This finding indicates that DNA immunization should facilitate the development of a ‘third-generation’ of vaccines and provide a novel strategy against A. pleuropneumoniae infection.     

Vaccination with recombinant Clostridium perfringens toxoids α and β promotes elevated antepartum and passive humoral immunity in swine

Due to the increasingly restricted use of antimicrobials in animal production systems, the prevention and control of Clostridium perfringens type A- and C-induced diarrhea in piglets should be based on passive immunization via the prepartum vaccination of sows. Given the current obstacles in the production of conventional clostridial vaccines, the use of recombinant proteins has been considered to represent a promising alternative. In the present study, the neutralizing antibody response of immunized sows and their litters to a bivalent vaccine containing the C. perfringens recombinant toxoids alpha (rTA) and beta (rTB) produced in Escherichia coli was assessed. Rabbits (n = 8) and pregnant sows (n = 7) were immunized with 200 μg of each recombinant antigen using Al(OH)₃ as adjuvant. The alpha and beta antitoxin titer detected in the rabbits’ serum pool was 9.6 and 20.4 IU/mL, respectively. The mean alpha and beta antitoxin titers in the sows’ sera were 6.0 ± 0.9 IU/mL and 14.5 ± 2.2 IU/mL, and the corresponding individual coefficients of variation (CV) were 16.04% and 14.91%, respectively. The mean alpha and beta antitoxin titers in the litters’ serum pools were 4.2 ± 0.4 IU/mL and 10.9 ± 1.7 IU/mL, and the CV between litters was 9.23% and 9.85%, respectively. The results showed that the rTA and rTB proteins produced and tested in the present study induced an immune response and can be regarded as candidates for the development of a commercial vaccine against C. perfringens type A- and C-induced diarrhea in pigs.     

c-di-GMP as a vaccine adjuvant enhances protection against systemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection

Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is a novel immunomodulator and immune enhancer that triggers a protective host innate immune response. The protective effect of c-di-GMP as a vaccine adjuvant against Staphylococcus aureus infection was investigated by subcutaneous (s.c.) vaccination with two different S. aureus antigens, clumping factor A (ClfA) and a nontoxic mutant staphylococcal enterotoxin C (mSEC), then intravenous (i.v.) challenge with viable methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in a systemic infection model. Mice immunized with c-di-GMP plus mSEC or c-di-GMP plus ClfA vaccines then challenged with MRSA produced strong antigen-specific antibody responses demonstrating immunogenicity of the vaccines. Bacterial counts in the spleen and liver of c-di-GMP plus mSEC and c-di-GMP plus ClfA-immunized mice were significantly lower than those of control mice (P < 0.001). Mice immunized with c-di-GMP plus mSEC or c-di-GMP plus ClfA showed significantly higher survival rates at day 7 (87.5%) than those of the non-immunized control mice (33.3%) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, immunization of mice with c-di-GMP plus mSEC or c-di-GMP plus ClfA induced not only very high titers of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), but c-di-GMP plus mSEC also induced significantly higher levels of IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 compared to alum adjuvant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) and c-di-GMP plus ClfA induced significantly higher levels of IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 compared to alum adjuvant (P < 0.001). Our results show that c-di-GMP should be developed as an adjuvant and immunotherapeutic to provide protection against systemic infection caused by S. aureus (MRSA).     

Immune responses of a chimaeric protein vaccine containing Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens and LTB against experimental M. hyopneumoniae infection in pigs

A recombinant chimaeric protein containing three Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens (C-terminal portion of P97, heat shock protein P42, and NrdF) fused to an adjuvant, the B subunit of heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (LTB), was used to immunize pigs against enzootic pneumonia. The systemic and local immune responses, as well as the efficacy of the chimaeric protein in inducing protection against experimental M. hyopneumoniae infection were evaluated. In total, 60 male piglets, purchased from a M. hyopneumoniae-free herd, at 4 weeks of age were randomly allocated to six different experimental groups of 10 animals each: recombinant chimaeric protein by intramuscular (IM) (1) or intranasal (IN) (2) administration, commercial bacterin by IM administration (3), and the adjuvant LTB by IM (4, control group A) or IN (5, control group B) administration. All groups were immunized at 24 and 38 days of age and challenged at 52 days of age. The sixth group that was not challenged was used as the negative control (IN [n = 5] or IM [n = 5] administration of the LTB adjuvant). Compared with the non-challenged group, administration of the chimaeric protein induced significant (P < 0.05) IgG and IgA responses against all individual antigens present in the chimaera, but it could not confer a significant protection against M. hyopneumoniae infection in pigs. This lack of effectiveness points towards the need for further studies to improve the efficacy of this subunit-based vaccine approach.     

A live attenuated strain of Yersinia pestis KIM as a vaccine against plague

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is a potential weapon of bioterrorism. Y. pestis evades the innate immune system by synthesizing tetra-acylated lipid A with poor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-stimulating activity at 37 °C, whereas hexa-acylated lipid A, a potent TLR4 agonist, is made at lower temperatures. Synthesis of Escherichia coli LpxL, which transfers the secondary laurate chain to the 2′-position of lipid A, in Y. pestis results in production of hexa-acylated lipid A at 37 °C, leading to significant attenuation of virulence. Previously, we described a Y. pestis vaccine strain in which crp expression is under the control of the arabinose-regulated araC P_BAD promoter, resulting in a 4-5 log reduction in virulence. To reduce the virulence of the crp promoter mutant further, we introduced E. coli lpxL into the Y. pestis chromosome. The χ10030(pCD1Ap) (ΔlpxP32::P_lpxLlpxL ΔP_crp21::TT araC P_BADcrp) construct likewise produced hexa-acylated lipid A at 37 °C and was significantly more attenuated than strains harboring each individual mutation. The LD₅₀ of the mutant in mice, when administered subcutaneously or intranasally was >10⁷-times and >10⁴-times greater than wild type, respectively. Mice immunized subcutaneously with a single dose of the mutant were completely protected against a subcutaneous challenge of 3.6 × 10⁷ wild-type Y. pestis and significantly protected (80% survival) against a pulmonary challenge of 1.2 × 10⁴ live cells. Intranasal immunization also provided significant protection against challenges by both routes. This mutant is an immunogenic, highly attenuated live Y. pestis construct that merits further development as a vaccine candidate.     

Immunization with inflammatory proteome of Brugia malayi adult worm induces a Th1/Th2-immune response and confers protection against the filarial infection

Mastomys coucha and jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) were immunized with four cytokine-stimulating SDS-PAGE resolved fractions F5 (68–84 kDa), F6 (54–68 kDa), F10 (38–42 kDa) and F14 (20–28 kDa) of Brugia malayi adult worm to determine which of these fractions has the potential to influence the establishment of subsequently introduced B. malayi infection in the animals. The proteins in the fractions were analyzed by 2DE and MALDI-TOF. Immunization with F6 suppressed the establishment of third stage larva (L₃) initiated infection in M. coucha (64%; P < 0.01) and jird (42%; P < 0.01). Survival of intraperitoneally implanted adult worms in M. coucha was lowered by F6 (72%; P < 0.01) and F14 (66%; P < 0.05) but not by F5 and F10. Immunization with F6 intensely upregulated both Th1 (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IgG1, IgG2a and lymphoproliferation) and Th2 (IgG2b and IL-10) responses and NO release. Immunostimulatory proteins HSP60, intermediate filament protein, and translation elongation factor EF-2 were identified in F6 fraction by 2DE and MALDI. The findings suggest that F6 protects the host from the parasite via Th1/Th2 type responses and thus holds promise for development as a vaccine.     

Randomized placebo controlled human volunteer trial of a live oral cholera vaccine VA1.3 for safety and immune response

A live oral cholera vaccine developed from a non-toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor strain VA1.3 was tested in a double-blind randomized placebo controlled study for safety and immunogenicity in 304 men aged between 16 and 50 years from Kolkata, India. A dose of 5 × 10⁹ CFU (n = 186) or a placebo (n = 116) containing the diluent buffer was administered. The vaccine did not elicit adverse events except in two vaccine recipients with mild diarrhoea and vomiting. None excreted the vaccine strain. Vibriocidal antibody response developed in 105/186 (57%) and 5/116 (4%) in vaccine and placebo recipients, respectively. In a subgroup, anti-CT antibody rose (≥2-folds) in 23/30 (77%) and 6/19 (32%) in vaccine and placebo recipients, respectively. These studies demonstrate that VA1.3 at a dose of 5 × 10⁹ is safe and immunogenic in adults from a cholera endemic region.     

Cloning, expression and evaluation of the efficacy of a recombinant Haemaphysalis concinna Hc-23 antigen in rabbits

Haemaphysalis concinna is wide spread in China, and negatively impacted on husbandry production and then resulted in severe economic losses. Methods available for the control of ticks are mainly based on chemotherapy. However, this approach is associated with a number of disadvantages; searching for alternative tick control measures is necessary and vaccination is one of the best control strategies. Through H. concinna Hc-23 gene PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing, sequence analysis showed that Hc-23 genes could be amplified in nymphal, larvae and adult ticks. BLAST analysis suggested that Hc-23 gene was 99.83% homology with P27/30 of Chinese strains H. longicornis, and 99.67% with Japanese strains, but 88.06% with Rhipicephalus tick troponin I gene. The recombinant Hc23 expressed in BL21(DE3) with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) was used to immunize 6 rabbits, then another 6 were immunized with PBS and 6 with control FCA (as control) were challenge-infested with ticks at different developmental stages of the same specie. The result showed that ticks that fed on rHc23-immunized rabbits were observed to feed longer compared to the control (P ≤ 0.05), the engorged body weights of ticks feeding on rHc23-immunized rabbits were lighter than the control (P ≤ 0.05), and an apparent reduction in laying amount was observed for adult ticks fed on rHc23-immunized rabbits (P ≤ 0.05). These results demonstrated that the Hc-23 protein might be a useful vaccine candidate antigen for biological control of ticks.