结核病 Mtb8.4/hIL-12 嵌合基因疫苗免疫保护效果研究

目的 研究Mtb8.4/hIL-12 嵌合基因疫苗的免疫原性及对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果.方法 将雌性C57BL/6N小鼠40只,随机分为5组,即Mtb8.4/hIL-12嵌合基因、Mtb8.4基因疫苗组、BCG组、空载体组和PBS组.小鼠脾细胞培养上清液检测细胞因子水平;并按效靶比例分别为100∶1、50∶1、10∶1进行细胞毒性T细胞(CTL)杀伤检测.用结核杆菌H37Rv强毒株静脉攻击小鼠,计数肺和脾组织中的结核杆菌菌落数,对小鼠部分肺和脾组织作病理切片,HE染色观察组织病变程度,Z-N染色查抗酸杆菌,观察该疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果.结果 Mtb8.4/hIL-12嵌合基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染有一定的免疫保护效果,能够诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,细胞因子IFN-γ和IL-2分泌增加,IL-4分泌减少,特异性CTL活性增加;使小鼠肺和脾组织中的结核杆菌菌落数较空载体组显著减少,组织病变明显减轻,其效果优于卡介苗(BCG)组和Mtb8.4基因疫苗组.结论 hIL-12与Mtb8.4构建成嵌合基因疫苗后,使Mtb8.4基因疫苗的免疫效力得到很大提高.     

含信号肽Mtb8.4基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护作用

目的研究含信号肽MTB8.4基因疫苗的免疫原性及对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护作用。方法雌性C57BL/6N小鼠32只,随机分为4组,即含信号肽的MTB8.4(MS)基因疫苗组、BCG组、pcDNA3.1 组和PBS组。ELISA检测小鼠脾细胞培养上清中细胞因子水平;并按效、靶比例分别为100∶1、50∶1、10∶1进行CTL杀伤检测。用结核杆菌H37Rv强毒株静脉攻击小鼠,计数肺和脾组织中的结核杆菌菌落数,观察小鼠部分肺和脾组织的病变程度;Z-N染色查结核杆菌,观察该疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护作用。结果MS基因疫苗能够诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,细胞因子IFN-γ和IL-2分泌增加,IL-4分泌减少,特异性CTL活性增加;免疫组小鼠肺和脾组织中的结核杆菌菌落数较空载体组显著减少,组织病变明显减轻。结论结核病MS基因疫苗能诱导较强的Th1型细胞免疫应答,对小鼠结核杆菌感染有一定的免疫保护作用,但尚需进一步提高。     

人IL-12表达质粒联合含信号肽Mtb8.4基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果

目的研究结核分枝杆菌含信号肽Mtb8.4(MS)基因疫苗与人白细胞介素12(hIL-12)联合免疫小鼠后,诱导的细胞免疫应答及对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。方法将40只C57BL/6N小鼠随机分为联合免疫组(MS基因疫苗 hIL-12组)、MS基因疫苗组、卡介苗(BCG)组、空载体组和PBS组。将基因疫苗、空载体和PBS,经肌内注射免疫各组小鼠,每隔3周免疫1次,共免疫3次;BCG组经尾部皮下注射1×106CFU BCG免疫1次。采用ELISA法检测小鼠脾细胞培养上清中细胞因子的水平;用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法检测免疫小鼠细胞毒性T细胞的杀伤活性。用结核杆菌强毒株H37Rv静脉攻击小鼠后,计数肺和脾组织中结核杆菌的菌落数。对小鼠的部分肺和脾组织作病理切片,经HE染色观察组织病变的程度,经ZN染色检查抗酸杆菌,观察该疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。结果联合免疫组能诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,免疫小鼠脾细胞培养上清液中IFN-γ和IL-2的水平,与BCG组相当,显著高于MS基因疫苗组,IL-4分泌减少,特异性CTL的杀伤活性增强,对小鼠结核杆菌感染有较好的免疫保护效果。表现为小鼠肺和脾组织中结核杆菌的菌落数显著减少,组织病变明显减轻,其效果与卡介苗(BCG)组相当,但优于MS基因疫苗组。结论以hIL-12表达质粒与MS基因疫苗联合免疫后,能显著增强MS基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。     

pIHsp65GM的构建及其对结核杆菌感染小鼠的保护

目的构建pIHsp65GM双顺反子真核表达质粒,并在真核细胞中表达,研究该基因疫苗的免疫原性及其对小鼠感染结核杆菌后的免疫保护效果。方法制备基因疫苗,将C57BL/6小鼠于胫前肌注射质粒DNA免疫,末次免疫后用h37rv强毒株经尾静脉攻击小鼠,计数肺和脾组织中结核杆菌的菌落数,对小鼠的部分肺和脾组织作病理切片,经HE染色观察组织病变的程度,测血清特异性IgG,MTT测定脾淋巴细胞特异性增殖指数,测小鼠脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ的水平,乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法测定免疫小鼠特异性细胞毒性T细胞(CTL)活性。结果 pIHsp65GM基因疫苗构建成功并且诱导小鼠特异性IgG的产生、脾淋巴细胞增殖以及IFN-γ的分泌(平均含量显著高于2个阴性对照组(P<0.001))。pIHsp65GM免疫组小鼠的脾和肺的平均结核菌载量分别低于两个阴性对照组的相应器官的结核菌载量(P<0.001),同时也显著高于BCG免疫对照组。结论成功构建和表达pIHsp65GM质粒,该基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染有一定的免疫保护效果,能够诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞     

Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因疫苗免疫原性

目的:构建克隆结核分枝杆菌Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因疫苗,并在COS7细胞中表达,研究该疫苗的免疫原性。方法:克隆Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因,并导入真核表达载体pCIneo中,构建pCIneoMtb8.4/hIL12重组真核质粒。用限制性内切酶消化、PCR及DNA序列测定等鉴定后,转染COS7细胞,用RTPCR和Westernblot鉴定Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因在转录水平的表达。用Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因疫苗免疫C57BL/6N小鼠,收集脾细胞培养上清检测细胞因子的水平,并用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法测定细胞毒性T细胞(CTL)的杀伤作用。结果:pCIneoMtb8.4/hIL12重组质粒构建成功。以其转染COS7细胞后,Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因在转录水平获得表达。Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因疫苗能诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,IFNγ和IL2的分泌增加,IL4的分泌减少,特异性CTL的杀伤活性增强。结论:成功地构建pCIneoMtb8.4/hIL12重组质粒,并在COS7细胞中表达。构建的Mtb8.4/hIL12基因疫苗具有较强的免疫原性,可明显诱导CTL的杀伤活性。     

细胞因子IL-2、IL-12及IL-18增强结核杆菌ESAT-6 DNA疫苗的免疫保护作用

目的探讨白细胞介素-2(IL-2)、白细胞介素-12(IL-12)以及白细胞介素-18(IL-18)对结核分枝杆菌ESAT-6DNA疫苗免疫保护作用的影响。方法 50只雌性Balb/c小鼠随机分为IL-2-pcDNA-ESAT-6、IL-12-pcDNA-ESAT-6、IL-18-pcDNA-ESAT-6、pcDNA-ESAT-6以及PBS对照组,分别于0、2、4周共免疫3次。末次免疫2周后各组处死5只小鼠,ELISA检测小鼠血清IgG、IgA,并分别检测0、2、4、6周小鼠阴道灌洗液中sIgA水平。CCK-8法检测免疫小鼠脾细胞的增殖情况,并测定脾细胞上清中细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-2、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-10的分泌水平。末次免疫2周后,腹腔注射结核杆菌H37Rv感染小鼠,感染后4周取小鼠肺组织进行菌落培养计数;同时通过HE染色以及肺组织炎症因子检测评估其炎症情况。结果细胞因子IL-2、IL-12以及IL-18均能够显著增加小鼠血清IgG、IgA以及阴道灌洗液sIgA的分泌(P0.05),并促进免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞的增殖(P0.05);IL-2、IL-12及IL-18还能够显著增加脾细胞中IFN-γ、IL-2、TNF-α的分泌水平;此外,相较于ESAT-6真核疫苗组以及PBS对照组,IL-2、IL-12及IL-18均能够显著降低小鼠肺组织菌体载量以及炎性侵润,并减少炎性因子分泌。结论细胞因子IL-2、IL-12及IL-18均能不同程度的增强结核杆菌ESAT-6 DNA疫苗的体液以及细胞免疫应答水平,并显著提高其免疫保护效果。     

抗原85B-6kDa早期分泌靶抗原(Ag85B-ESAT-6)亚单位疫苗黏膜免疫对结核分枝杆菌的免疫应答

目的 评价抗原85B-6kDa早期分泌靶抗原融合蛋白(AE)亚单位疫苗经黏膜免疫小鼠诱导的免疫应答及其对结核分枝杆菌(MTB)感染的保护力。方法 分别用AE、 AE联合环二腺苷酸(c-di-AMP)亚单位疫苗经鼻黏膜免疫小鼠,ELISA检测抗体水平以及1型辅助T(Th1)细胞的细胞因子γ干扰素(IFN-γ)、白细胞介素2(IL-2)和Th2细胞的IL-10分泌水平,实时荧光定量PCR检测IFN-γ、 IL-2、 IL-10和肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)的mRNA水平。MTB静脉感染免疫小鼠,ELISA检测感染小鼠血清抗体及脾细胞细胞因子分泌水平,HE染色分析肺病理改变,平板法计数菌落形成单位(CFU)检测脾和肺荷菌数。结果 AE和AE联合c-di-AMP经鼻黏膜免疫可诱导小鼠产生高水平的特异性抗体,促进脾细胞增殖、脾和肺脏Th1/Th2型细胞因子和TNF-α转录增加、脾Th1/Th2型细胞因子分泌增加。小鼠MTB感染后,与对照组相比,AE和AE联合c-di-AMP免疫小鼠特异性抗体水平仍升高,Th1/Th2型细胞免疫应答增强,肺组织呈炎症反应,肺、脾荷菌数显著降低,且AE联合c-di-...     

MUC1基因疫苗诱导小鼠特异性CTL和体液免疫应答

目的 :观察MUC1基因疫苗诱导小鼠特异性杀伤性T细胞及体液免疫应答的作用。方法 :采用股四头肌肌肉注射 ,将构建的MUC1基因疫苗pcDNA3.1 MUC1免疫雌性BALB/c小鼠 ,每次间隔 3wk ,共 3次。最后 1次免疫后第 3周 ,接种表达MUC1的EMT6乳腺癌细胞进行免疫保护实验。用 4h51Cr释放法检测小鼠脾细胞特异性CTL杀伤活性 ;免疫组化染色法检测小鼠血清特异性抗体的水平。结果 :在效靶比为 10 0∶1、5 0∶1、2 5∶1、12 .5∶1时 ,MUC1基因疫苗免疫组特异性CTL对EMT6靶细胞杀伤活性分别为 5 4 .1%、39.8%、2 6 .4 %和2 0 .1% ,对照组分别为 13.2 %、10 .0 %、8.2 %、7.2 %和 11.7%、9.8%、7.7%、7.0 % ,前者与后二者差异显著 (P <0 .0 1)。免疫组化染色检测显示 ,人乳腺癌组织MUC1呈染色阳性 ;MUC1基因疫苗免疫组仅见 4 0 % (4/ 10 )的小鼠有肿瘤形成 ,而 pcDNA3.1对照组和生理盐水阴性对照组 10 0 %可见肿瘤形成、生长 ,表明MUC1基因疫苗免疫组小鼠具有一定的免疫保护作用。结论 :MUC1基因疫苗可诱导小鼠产生特异性CTL及体液免疫应答 ,对小鼠体内荷瘤可能具有一定的预防作用     

探讨BCG初次免疫结核杆菌DNA疫苗加强免疫方案的效应

目的:探讨BCG初次免疫(BCG-prime),结核杆菌共表达DNA疫苗加强免疫(DNA疫苗-boost)的策略对小鼠的免疫效果。方法:将BCG及结核杆菌重组DNA疫苗依次免疫小鼠,通过检测CTL和NK细胞的杀伤活性和特异性淋巴细胞增殖,以及小鼠血清抗体及细胞因子的水平,观测BCG-prime、共表达结核杆菌Ag85A/GM-CSFDNA疫苗boost策略对小鼠的免疫效果。结果:采用prime-boost免疫策略组的小鼠CTL的杀伤活性明显增强、特异性淋巴细胞明显增殖、IFN-γ的水平明显增高,NK细胞杀伤活性与对照组相比也有一定提高,但未超过BCG单独免疫效果。免疫小鼠血清特异性抗体的滴度超过单独DNA疫苗免疫组。结论:在采用BCG-prime-结核杆菌DNA疫苗boost免疫策略后,能增强对小鼠的免疫效应,尤其是Th1型细胞免疫反应增强明显,为进一步在动物体内进行保护性效应试验的研究提供了实验依据。     

IL-2增强肺炎支原体P1C核酸疫苗的肌注免疫效果

目的:研究IL-2对肺炎支原体(Mycoplasma pneumoniae,Mp)P1C核酸疫苗经肌注免疫BALB/c小鼠后的免疫应答水平和免疫保护作用.方法:将P1C-IL-2核酸疫苗肌注免疫BALB/c鼠,ELISA检测疫苗免疫后56天小鼠血清IgG和IgG亚类、支气管灌洗液中SIgA、IFN-γ和IL-4的水平;用2×107 Mp菌落形成单位鼻饲感染BALB/c鼠,建立感染小鼠模型,病理切片检测Mp感染后小鼠肺部炎症病理改变;将系列10倍稀释的支气管灌洗液接种于SP4固体平板,并进行菌落计数.结果:P1C-IL-2核酸疫苗免疫组小鼠血清中的总IgG、IgG1、IgG2a、IFN-γ和IL-4水平均较P1C单基因疫苗组显著增高(P＜0.05),但两组支气管灌洗液中SIgA差异无显著性(P＞0.05).Mp感染后第1、3、6天P1C-IL-2双基因疫苗组小鼠肺组织病理评分(HPS)较P1C单基因疫苗免疫组显著增高,但支气管灌洗液中的Mp菌落数明显减少;第9天后两组HPS和Mp菌落数差异无显著性.结论:IL-2能显著增强P1C疫苗肌注的免疫保护作用和免疫应答水平,但同时在Mp感染早期激发了较重的肺组织炎症.     

In vitro cellular immune responses to complex and newly defined recombinant antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The immunological diagnosis and development of new antituberculosis vaccines require the characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens inducing cell-mediated immune responses. In this study, we have tested peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from tuberculosis (TB) patients (n = 43) and Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-vaccinated healthy subjects (n = 24) for in vitro cellular immune responses, as indicated by antigen-induced proliferation and interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion, in response to a panel of complex (culture filtrate and cell wall preparations) and single recombinant antigens (Mtb8.4, Mtb9.8, Mtb9.9, Mtb32A, Mtb39A, Mtb40, Mtb41 and Ag85B) of M. tuberculosis. The results of cellular responses showed that the majority (ranging from 70 to 98%) of TB patients and healthy donors responded to the complex antigens in antigen-induced proliferation and IFN-gamma secretion assays. However, when PBMC from the same groups of patients and healthy donors were tested with the recombinant antigens, TB patients showed strong recognition (>50% responders) of Mtb9.8 and Mtb39A in proliferation assays (median SI = 6.2 and 6.4, respectively) and of Mtb9.8, Mtb39A, Mtb40 and Ag85B in IFN-gamma assays (median delta IFN-gamma= 15.5, 10.8, 7.8 and 8.1 U/ml, respectively). BCG-vaccinated healthy donors showed weak (<30% responders) to moderate (31-50% responders) responses to all of the recombinant antigens in both assays. When PBMC of a subset of TB patients (n = 11) were tested for secretion of protective Th1 cytokines [IFN-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-12] and the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, the complex CF and CW antigens as well as the recombinant Mtb9.8, Mtb9.9, Mtb40 and Ag85B induced the secretion of both types of cytokines. On the other hand, Mtb41 induced only IL-10, while Mtb8.4, Mtb32Aand Mtb39A induced the secretion of one or more of Th1 cytokines, but not IL-10. In conclusion, the recombinant antigens inducing the secretion of Th1 cytokines could be useful as subunit vaccine candidates against TB.     

Increased pulmonary tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-17A responses compensate for decreased gamma interferon production in anti-IL-12 autovaccine-treated, Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated mice

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-23 (which share a p40 subunit) are pivotal cytokines in the generation of protective Th1/Th17-type immune responses upon infection with the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The role of IL-12 and IL-23 in protection conferred by the tuberculosis vaccine Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is, however, less well documented. By using an autovaccine approach, i.e., IL-12p70 cross-linked with ovalbumin and PADRE peptide formulated with the GSK proprietary adjuvant system AS02(V), we could specifically neutralize IL-12 while leaving the IL-23 axis intact. Neutralization of IL-12 before M. tuberculosis challenge rendered C57BL/6 mice highly susceptible, resulting in 30-fold-higher CFU in spleen and lungs and accelerated mortality. In contrast, neutralization of IL-12 in BCG-vaccinated mice prior to M. tuberculosis challenge only marginally affected vaccine-mediated protection. Analysis of cytokine production in spleen and lungs 3 weeks post-TB challenge by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and functional and flow cytometric assays showed significantly reduced mycobacterium-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses in M. tuberculosis-infected and BCG-vaccinated mice that had been treated with the autovaccine. Purified protein derivative-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, and IL-17A levels, however, were highest in lungs from BCG-vaccinated/IL-12-neutralized animals, and even unstimulated lung cells from these mice produced significant levels of the three cytokines. Mycobacterium-specific IL-4 and IL-5 production levels were overall very low, but IL-12 neutralization resulted in increased concanavalin A-triggered polyclonal secretion of these Th2-type cytokines. These results suggest that TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17A may be more important pulmonary effector molecules of BCG-mediated protection than IFN-γ in a context of IL-12 deficiency.     

嵌合人偏肺病毒(hMPV)表位的重组流感病毒免疫保护效果

目的评价重组嵌合表达人偏肺病毒(hMPV)表位的流感病毒的免疫应答及免疫保护效果。方法用8质粒系统拯救出的在NS基因中嵌合hMPV表位的重组流感病毒免疫BALB/c小鼠,检测其刺激机体产生的针对hMPV和流感病毒的抗体滴度,及脾细胞分泌细胞因子含量。免疫后小鼠用hMPV和流感病毒进行攻击,对攻击后小鼠肺组织和鼻甲骨中病毒含量采用数字PCR方法进行测定,同时对肺组织进行HE染色,评价其对肺部损伤的保护作用。结果重组流感病毒株rFLU/hMPV/B(嵌入了hMPV的B细胞表位)免疫小鼠后,产生了针对hMPV和流感病毒的特异性抗体。rFLU/hMPV/CTL+Th(嵌入了CTL表位/Th细胞表位)免疫小鼠后,产生了针对流感病毒的特异性抗体及hMPV特异的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞反应(IFN-γ分泌增多)。rFLU/hMPV/B和rFLU/hMPV/CTL+Th引起了平衡的Th1/Th2免疫应答。用hMPV和流感病毒攻击重组病毒免疫后小鼠,肺组织病理HE染色结果显示重组病毒免疫后小鼠肺病变明显减轻,肺组织和鼻甲骨中hMPV和流感病毒含量也明显减少。结论重组的2株嵌合有hMPV B细胞表位和CTL表位/Th细胞表位的重组流感病毒株,可刺激机体产生针对hMPV和/或流感病毒体液免疫应答,嵌合有hMPV CTL表位/Th细胞表位的重组流感病毒株还可刺激机体产生hMPV特异性的细胞免疫应答,对hMPV和流感病毒攻击也有一定保护作用,该重组病毒株有潜在疫苗应用价值。     

重组BCG—Sj26GST疫苗诱导小鼠sIL—2R和IFN—γ的变化

目的研究日本血吸虫重组 BCG- Sj2 6 GST疫苗对小鼠脾细胞 s IL- 2 R和 IFN- γ的影响。方法第 1次实验采用 1× 10 6 和 1× 10 8CFU疫苗皮下免疫 BAL B/ C鼠 ,免疫后 8周用日本血吸虫尾蚴进行攻击感染 ,感染后 6周剖杀小鼠 ,同时设有 PBS对照组。第 2次实验用 1× 10 6 CFU疫苗皮下和静脉注射分别免疫小鼠 ,于免疫后 0、4、8、10、14和 16周各剖杀 4只 ,分离脾脏 ,用 Sj2 6或 Con A刺激脾细胞 ,用 EL ISA法检测脾细胞上清液中 s IL 2 - R和 IFN -γ含量。结果疫苗免疫 ,尾蚴攻击后 ,s IL- 2 R和 IFN- γ水平显著升高 ;动态观察发现 s IL- 2 R和 IFN- γ分别于免疫后 8～ 10周和 4～ 8周达最高水平。结论日本血吸虫重组 BCG- Sj2 6 GST疫苗可加强宿主 Th1反应 ,促进 Th1细胞分泌 IL- 2和 IFN- γ,它们与免疫细胞相互作用 ,提高宿主抗血吸虫感染的保护力     

Rv0315, a novel immunostimulatory antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, activates dendritic cells and drives Th1 immune responses

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the most deadly infectious diseases, with approximately two million people dying of TB annually. An effective therapeutic method for activating dendritic cells (DCs) and driving Th1 immune responses would improve host defenses and further the development of a TB vaccine. Given the importance of DC maturation in eliciting protective immunity against TB, we investigated whether Rv0315, a newly identified Mtb antigen, can prompt DC maturation. We found that Rv0315 functionally activated DCs by augmenting the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 as well as MHC class I/II molecules. Moreover, it increased DC secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Unlike LPS, however, Rv0315 induced the secretion of IL-12p70, but not IL-10. In addition, Rv0315-treated DCs accelerated the proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) splenic T cells from Mtb-infected mice, with increased levels of IFN-γ, in syngeneic and allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions, indicating that Rv0315 contributes to Th1 polarization of the immune response. Importantly, both mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor κB signaling mediated the expression of DC surface markers and cytokines. Taken together, our results indicate that Rv0315 is a novel DC maturation-inducing antigen that drives T cell immune responses toward Th1 polarization, suggesting that Rv0315 plays a key role in determining the nature of the immune response to TB.     

Gamma interferon and monophosphoryl lipid A-trehalose dicorynomycolate are efficient adjuvants for Mycobacterium tuberculosis multivalent acellular vaccine

In this study, we examined the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of six immunodominant Mycobacterium tuberculosis recombinant antigens (85B, 38kDa, ESAT-6, CFP21, Mtb8.4, and 16kDa) in a multivalent vaccine preparation (6Ag). Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and monophosphoryl lipid A-trehalose dicorynomycolate (Ribi) adjuvant systems were used separately or in combination for immunization with the recombinant antigens. Our results demonstrate that immunization of mice with Ribi emulsified antigens in the presence of IFN-gamma (Ribi+6Ag+IFN-gamma) resulted after challenge with a virulent M. tuberculosis strain in a significant reduction in the CFU counts that was comparable to that achieved with the BCG vaccine ( approximately 0.9-log protection). Antigen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers in the Ribi+6Ag+IFN-gamma-immunized mice were lower than in mice immunized with Ribi+6Ag and were oriented toward a Th1-type response, as confirmed by elevated IgG2a levels. In addition, splenocyte proliferation, IFN-gamma secretion, and NO production were significantly higher in splenocytes derived from Ribi+6Ag+IFN-gamma-immunized mice, whereas IL-10 secretion was decreased. These findings confirm the induction of a strong cellular immunity in the vaccinated mice that correlates well with their enhanced resistance to M. tuberculosis. The adjuvant effect of IFN-gamma was dose dependent. A dose of 5 mug of IFN-gamma per mouse per immunization gave optimal protection, whereas lower or higher amounts (0.5 or 50 mug/ mouse) of IFN-gamma failed to enhance protection.     

Vaccine immunity to coccidioidomycosis occurs by early activation of three signal pathways of T helper cell response (Th1, Th2, and Th17)

We have previously reported that C57BL/6 mice vaccinated with a live, attenuated mutant of Coccidioides posadasii, referred to as the ΔT vaccine, are fully protected against pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. This model was used here to explore the nature of vaccine immunity during the initial 2-week period after intranasal challenge. Elevated neutrophil and eosinophil infiltration into the lungs of nonvaccinated mice contrasted with markedly reduced recruitment of these cells in vaccinated animals. The numbers of lung-infiltrated macrophages and dendritic cells showed a progressive increase in vaccinated mice and corresponded with reduction of the lung infection. Concentrations of selected inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were initially higher in lung homogenates of vaccinated mice but then generally decreased at 14 days postchallenge in correlation with containment of the organism and apparent dampening of the inflammation of host tissue. Profiles of cytokines detected in lung homogenates of ΔT-vaccinated mice were indicative of a mixed T helper 1 (Th1)-, Th2-, and Th17-type immune response, a conclusion which was supported by detection of lung infiltration of activated T cells with the respective CD4(+) gamma interferon (IFN-γ)(+), CD4(+) interleukin-5 (IL-5)(+), and CD4(+) IL-17A(+) phenotypes. While Th1 and Th2 immunity was separately dispensed of by genetic manipulation without loss of ΔT vaccine-mediated protection, loss of functional Th17 cells resulted in increased susceptibility to infection in immunized mice. Characterization of the early events of protective immunity to Coccidioides infection in vaccinated mice contributes to the identification of surrogates of immune defense and provides potential insights into the design of immunotherapeutic protocols for treatment of coccidioidomycosis.