Levamisole potentiation of antigen specific lymphocyte blastogenic response in Brucella abortus exposed but nonresponsive cattle

Incubation of Brucella abortus (field strain) infected and strain 19 vaccinated bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes with B. abortus antigen and levamisole caused a consistently significant increase in [3H] thymidine uptake when compared to cultures without levamisole. Levamisole did not potentiate B. abortus-induced blastogenic response of lymphocytes from non-exposed cattle. A dose response study showed that 10 micrograms/culture induced maximum potentiation of B. abortus-induced lymphocyte stimulation. Using the 10 micrograms/well concentration of levamisole, further studies were conducted to determine the net potentiation of the blastogenic responses in lymphocytes from B. abortus (field strain) infected cattle. B. abortus strain 19 vaccinated but nonresponsive and non-exposed cattle. Levamisole significantly potentiated the B. abortus-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis in lymphocytes from unresponsive cattle.     

Kinetics of in vitro bovine lymphocyte immunostimulation with a Brucella abortus antigen.

A Brucella abortus-soluble antigen was investigated, using in vitro assay of lymphocyte immunostimulation, to determine which concentration of this antigen and which period of incubation of the lymphocyte cultures would induce maximum specific lymphocyte immunostimulation as an additional method for further study of B abortus infection in cattle. Soluble antigen was prepared from autoclaved cells of B abortus strain 1119-3. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained from cattle infected with B abortus and from healthy control cattle not infected with B abortus. The lymphocytes were prepared by the Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient technique, suspended in RPMI 1640 medium (1.5 X 10(6)/ml), cultured with several dilutions of soluble antigen, and incubated. Prior to termination of incubation, cultures were labeled with 1 muCi of [3H]thymidine and, after harvesting, assayed for [3H]thymidine incorporation in DNA by a liquid scintillation spectrometer. Maximum specific immunostimulation of lymphocytes from B abortus-infected cattle was induced in this assay system with 6 days' incubation and 22 microgram of protein/ml/1.5 X 10(6) lymphocytes, using protein content to express concentration of soluble antigen in this system.     

Differential reactivity of bovine lymphocytes to species of Brucella

The reactivity of bovine lymphocytes to 4 species of Brucella was tested in thymidine-uptake assays, using long-term cultured lymphocytes and freshly obtained blood mononuclear cells. Lymphocytes were taken from cows that had been challenge exposed with a virulent strain of B abortus at midgestation. The cows were classified retrospectively as being naturally resistant or susceptible to brucellosis. Lymphocytes taken from these cows had 3 patterns of reactivity with species of Brucella: pattern 1 was defined by reactivity with 4 species (B abortus, B canis, B suis, and B melitensis); pattern 2 was defined by reactivity with all these species, except B melitensis; pattern 3 was defined by reactivity with B abortus and B canis, but not with B suis or B melitensis. There was a statistically significant correlation between susceptibility to brucellosis and expression of lymphocyte cross-reactivity with B suis (P less than 0.01) and with B melitensis (P less than 0.001).     

Specific lymphocyte stimulation in cattle naturally infected with strains of Brucella abortus and cattle vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19.

Cell-mediated immune responses in cattle naturally infected with strains of Brucella abortus and in cattle vaccinated with B abortus strain 19 during calfhood were studied by an in vitro lymphocyte-stimulation procedure. Lymphocytes were prepared from peripheral bovine blood by the Ficoll-diatrizoate technique, suspended in RPMI-1640 medium (1.5 X 10(6) lymphocytes/ml), cultured with B abortus-soluble antigen or phytohemagglutinin, and incubated for 6 days. Sixteen hours prior to termination of incubation, cultures were labeled with 1 muCi of [3H]thymidine (3HdT) and, after harvesting, assayed for 3HdT incorporation into DNA by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Lymphocytes from cattle with bacteriologically confirmed isolation of B abortus underwent a significantly higher lymphocyte stimulation with B abortus-soluble antigen than did cattle vaccinated with B abortus strain 19 during calfhood (P less than 0.005). Standard seroagglutination tests were conducted simultaneously with lymphocyte-stimulation tests, but there was no apparent correlation between levels of humoral antibodies and the cell-mediated immune responses as measured by in vitro specific lymphocyte stimulation.     

Monoclonal antibodies to Brucella surface antigens associated with the smooth lipopolysaccharide complex

Hybridomas producing antibodies to determinants associated with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Brucella abortus and B melitensis were obtained by polyethylene glycol fusion of the SP2/0 myeloma cell line with B lymphocytes harvested from a Sprague-Dawley-derived rat previously immunized with whole B abortus strain 1119 organisms. Two clones, BRU38 and BRU28 , were selected for their ability to react with whole B abortus organisms and purified smooth-LPS ( f5p ). The BRU38 monoclonal antibodies were absorbed with live, rough strain 45/20 and smooth strains of B abortus and B melitensis organisms, whereas only smooth strains absorbed the antibody activity from BRU28 . Complete inhibition of the monoclonal's activity could be achieved with crude smooth-LPS, a purified f5p fraction, and a water-soluble acid degraded polysaccharide. Absorption of BRU38 and BRU28 with rough Brucella LPS, polysaccharide-B antigen, keto- deoxyoctanoic acid, or with several sugars and fatty acids known to be components of the Brucella LPS complex had no effect on the monoclonals. The data indicate that antigenic determinants are associated with the smooth LPS complex, probably with the O-side chain, and are expressed patchwise and in different quantities on several strains of B abortus and B melitensis. The B abortus rough strain 45/20 contains surface determinants which lead to the agglutination of smooth strain 1119 organisms. The potential use of monoclonals in competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for diagnostic purposes is discussed.     

Sepracell-MN for mononuclear cell separation from cattle: effect on mitogen-and antigen-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis

Mononuclear leukocytes (MNC) were separated from heparinized and EDTA-treated whole bovine blood by centrifugation after mixing with a commercial colloidal silica preparation (Sepracell-MN (S-MN]. Cell yields and lymphocyte blast transformation (LBT) to pokeweed mitogen (PWM), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), and Brucella abortus antigens were tested against MNC obtained from heparinized whole blood using Ficoll-Hypaque (FH). Separation with S-MN was more rapid and less labor intensive than separation with FH. There was a higher average total yield of MNC but a lower percentage of monocytes in the FH- than in the S-MN-separated MNC. In mitogen-induced LBT assays, MNC responded comparably to each mitogen regardless of the separation technique or anticoagulant used, and a cell concentration effect was demonstrated. In general, FH-separated MNC responded greater to PWM than did S-MN/EDTA separated MNC, but S-MN/heparin separated MNC had the greatest LBT responses to PWM. Overall, S-MN/EDTA separated MNC had the greatest responses to PHA, and responses to Con A were variable among experiments with respect to the separation technique. In antigen-induced LBT assays, two B. abortus antigens were used: a heat-killed strain S1119 (HKA) and a gamma-irradiated strain 19 (gamma BA). The LBT responses of three steers vaccinated with live B. abortus strain 19 were compared with three nonvaccinated steers in three separate experiments. Using HKA, FH separation resulted in an overall greater LBT response for vaccinates than nonvaccinates and a greater differential between responses of vaccinates and nonvaccinates than did S-MN derived MNC regardless of the anticoagulant used. Using gamma BA, FH produced the most responsive MNC in one experiment and S-MN/heparin produced the most responsive MNC in the other. At the highest cell concentration tested, FH-separated MNC had the greatest LBT responses for vaccinated calves, but differences between S-MN- and FH-separated MNC responses were not significantly different (P greater than 0.05). In conclusion, S-MN is a rapid and simple technique for separation of MNC from bovine blood. The technique produces an adequate cell population for mitogen-induced LBT studies; however, FH-separated MNC were generally more responsive in the B. abortus-induced LBT assay.     

In vitro transformation of lymphocytes from blood and milk of cows with subclinical paratuberculosis

Lymphocytes from blood or milk of 12 cows were evaluated in vitro for the lymphocyte's capability to proliferate in response to mitogens (phytohemagglutinin-A, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen) and to an antigen prepared from Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (purified protein derivative, PPD-J). Responses of 4 control cows were compared with those of 4 cows subclinically infected with M paratuberculosis and with 4 apparently noninfected herdmates. Blood lymphocytes or milk lymphocytes from control cows had no detectable responses to PPD-J. Blood lymphocytes from infected cows had significant (P less than 0.05) responses to PPD-J, but milk lymphocytes from these cows did not. Conversely, milk lymphocytes from apparently noninfected herdmate cows had significant (P less than 0.05) responses to PPD-J, but blood lymphocytes from these cows did not. There were no significant differences in the responses of blood lymphocytes from control, noninfected, or infected cows to the mitogens. However, milk lymphocytes from infected cows had significantly (P less than 0.05) lower responses than did lymphocytes from the milk of control or noninfected cows to all mitogens. The decreased responsiveness of milk lymphocytes from cows subclinically infected with M paratuberculosis may indicate that immunocompetency of the mammary gland was altered.     

Detection of brucella antibodies of different immunoglobulin classes in cow milk by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were conducted on milk of cows from which Brucella abortus was isolated and that of noninfected controls. Horseradish peroxidase-labeled rabbit antibovine immunoglobulins IgG, IgG1, and IgA were used as conjugates. A heat-killed whole-cell suspension of B abortus strain 19 was used as the antigen. Differences in antibody profiles were observed in milk of cows from which B abortus was isolated and in milk of noninfected cows. Antibody profiles were similar in milk of cows infected with B abortus and that of cows from which B abortus strain 19 was isolated.     

Differential expression of CD5 on B lymphocytes in cattle infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

CD5 is a cell surface molecule involved in antigen recognition and is present on all T lymphocytes and a subset of B lymphocytes. The purpose of this study was to examine CD5+ expression on peripheral blood B cells from healthy, noninfected cattle and cattle with subclinical and clinical paratuberculosis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were freshly isolated or cultured for 7 days in the presence or absence of live Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis), and then analyzed by flow cytometry for CD5 expression within the B cell subpopulation. Analysis demonstrated a significant increase (P<0.01) in B cells in clinical animals as compared to healthy control cows and subclinically infected cows. In addition, three subpopulations within the CD5+ B cell population were identified: CD5dim, CD5bright, and a minor population that was characterized as CD5extra bright. A decrease in the CD5dim B cell population along with a concomitant increase in CD5bright B cells was observed in infected cows, an effect that was highly significant (P<0.01) for subclinically infected cows in cultured PBMC. In vitro infection with live M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis did not affect CD5+ expression patterns on B cells, regardless of animal infection status. Addition of exogenous IL-10 to PBMC cultures resulted in decreased numbers of CD5(bright) B cells for healthy control cows, whereas, a synergistic effect of IL-10 and infection with live M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis resulted in increased CD5bright B cells for subclinically infected cows. These results suggest that differential expression of CD5bright and CD5dim subpopulations on B cells in animals with paratuberculosis may reflect a shift in host immunity during the disease process.     

Evaluation of polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, and beta-glucan antigens in gel immunodiffusion tests for brucellosis in cattle.

In Venezuela, 1,012 cattle sera were screened for their ability to precipitate Brucella melitensis 16M smooth-lipopolysaccharide (S-LPS), B melitensis B115 polysaccharide B (poly B), B abortus 1119-3 O-polysaccharide (PS), or B abortus 1119-3 cyclic 1,2 linked beta-D-glucan (beta-glucan) in an agar-gel immunodiffusion assay. These sera were previously classified as being Brucella abortus-infected, S-19-vaccinated, or negative after an assessment of historical records and results of 5 standard serologic tests. Most of the sera (85%) from infected cattle precipitated S-LPS, poly B, and PS. Serologic results for poly B and PS were identical. On the other hand, 13% of the sera from vaccinated cattle precipitated S-LPS, but none of these sera precipitated poly B or PS. It was concluded that purified PS can alternate with poly B as an antigen to differentiate sera of B abortus-infected from B abortus S-19-vaccinated cattle. None of these sera precipitated beta-glucan.     

Cell titration assay for measuring blastogenesis of bovine lymphocytes

The blastogenic response of bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and to microbial antigens was measured using a lymphocyte titration assay. Culture conditions, including lymphocyte concentrations, incubation periods and medium formulation, were established which produced linear or nearly linear responses over a range of cell concentrations. These conditions were established by testing lymphocytes from unimmunized cattle and from heifers infected with Brucella abortus with PHA and a B. abortus extract. Four cell concentrations in 2-fold increments were selected for measuring responses to PHA (3.125 X 10(3) to 2.5 X 10(4) cells/well) and to antigens (5.0 X 10(4) to 4.0 X 10(5) cells/well). The strength of response varied among animals and also over time for individual animals, but the titration assay allowed exponential proliferation to be distinguished from decline, which may have been due to overcrowding of microtiter wells, exhaustion of nutrients or induction of regulatory events. This assay provided a more reliable and discriminating method of evaluating lymphocyte proliferation responses than that achieved by single point assays. The displacement of the titration curves could be used to estimate the relative frequency of lymphocytes responding to antigens or mitogens.     

Use of hydrophobic cloths as antibody adsorbents for enzyme immunoassay: detection of Brucella antigens

A cloth-ELISA (C-ELISA) antigen capture assay for the detection of Brucella melitensis and B. abortus was developed. Segments (6-mm squares) of hydrophobic polyester cloth coated with diluted serum from a B. abortus-infected cow were incubated with saline suspensions of heat-killed Brucella cells, or with cultures of bovine or sheep blood or bovine tissue homogenates that had been inoculated with B. abortus or B. melitensis added to trypticase soy broth (TSB) and incubated for 2-3 days. The captured antigen was detected by a bovine anti-Brucella antibody-horseradish peroxidase conjugate system. The enrichment culture technique detected as few as three Brucella colony-forming units (c.f.u.) in 0.5 ml of bovine blood and was positive in cultures in which the Brucella concentration had reached 3 X 10(6) c.f.u. ml-1 (after 2 or 3 days incubation). The combined enrichment-cloth-ELISA method gave complete correlation with cultural isolation and results were available 3 days before colonies appeared in conventional culture. Hydrophobic cloths have potential use in diagnostic procedures since they provide simple, rapid and economical assays.     

Reinfection of lambs with bovine respiratory syncytial virus.

Eight lambs which were experimentally infected with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) when they were six to eight weeks old were challenged with the same virus seven months later. After reinfection, lambs developed mild clinical disease and the virus was isolated from nasal swabs from three lambs and peripheral blood from two lambs. Reinfection resulted in changes in peripheral blood cell populations. There was an early increase in the number of CD8+ T lymphocytes and B (LCA p220+) lymphocytes but the proportions of CD4+ and CD4-CD8- T lymphocytes were significantly reduced. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from lambs reinfected with bovine RSV showed significantly higher responses to bovine RSV antigen in vitro than those obtained from control lambs but their responses to the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin were significantly lower than in control lambs. RSV-specific IgG, IgM and IgA levels of serum samples obtained 10 days after challenge were significantly higher than those of serum samples obtained before challenge.     

Induction of lymphocyte responsiveness by the outer membrane-peptidoglycan complex of rough strains of Brucella abortus

The outer membrane-peptidoglycan complex (OM-PG) from rough strains of Brucella abortus was tested for its ability to induce lymphocyte responsiveness in cattle. Six groups of heifers were immunized with varying doses and administration schedules of rough OM-PG and assayed for responsiveness of their lymphocytes in proliferation assays in vitro. All OM-PG preparations were emulsified in a commercial adjuvant for administration. Two other groups of heifers were immunized with strain 19 vaccine or adjuvant alone. Three groups of heifers received two inoculations of OM-PG antigens from a naturally-occurring rough strain at a 57-day interval. The doses of OM-PG given in these three groups were 400 micrograms, 1200 micrograms, and 4000 micrograms at each inoculation. The frequency of cows that responded in lymphocyte proliferation assays increased with the dose of OM-PG given. Two groups received single inoculations of OM-PG, either 2400 micrograms or 8000 micrograms. Although there were responsive cows in these immunization groups, their frequency was lower than in the groups receiving the same total dose in two inoculations. A sixth group of cows was inoculated with OM-PG from a rough transposon mutant of B. abortus, and the frequency of responsive cows in this immunization group was comparable to that of responsive cows immunized with the same dose of OM-PG from the spontaneous rough mutant. In comparisons of cows inoculated with strain 19 to those inoculated with OM-PG preparations, differences were observed in the relative responsiveness of their lymphocytes to whole cells and OM-PG in the in vitro lymphocyte proliferation assays. These differences suggested that lymphocytes stimulated by strain 19 vaccination have different specificities than those stimulated by immunization with OM-PG of rough mutant strains of B. abortus.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for differentiation of the antibody response of cattle naturally infected with Brucella abortus or vaccinated with strain 19

Purified O chain of Brucella abortus was passively attached to polystyrene to differentiate antibody responses of cattle vaccinated with B abortus strain 19 from those of naturally infected cattle. In the indirect assay, using O polysaccharide as antigen, a single serum dilution was used and mouse monoclonal antibody to bovine L chain conjugated with horseradish peroxidase was the detection reagent. Measurable antibody was not found in sera of vaccinated cattle, except for 3 sera from cattle that were persistently infected with strain 19. Sera from 25 cattle infected with pathogenic strains contained antibody on the basis of results of indirect enzyme immunoassay, using smooth lipopolysaccharide or O chain as antigens, or results of competitive enzyme immunoassay, using the O-chain antigen. Results in sera from calves with experimentally induced Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 0:9 infection or inoculated with a low dose of B abortus strain 2308 were comparable with those in sera of cattle that were vaccinated with strain 19. The data correlated with those from competitive enzyme immunoassay, using one serum dilution and horseradish peroxidase-conjugated mouse monoclonal antibody to smooth lipopolysaccharide. On the basis of results of the indirect enzyme immunoassay, all sera (except those samples obtained before inoculation) contained antibody to smooth lipopolysaccharide.     

The long-term culture of bovine monocyte-derived macrophages and their use in the study of intracellular proliferation of Brucella abortus.

Although the immune response to Brucella abortus is multifaceted, the key event in contending with this pathogen appears to be the interaction of the organism with cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. A cell culture system was developed which allowed the long-term maintenance of blood monocyte-derived macrophages in Teflon culture vessels in a relatively unstimulated state. The assay system was optimized for timing of bacteria-macrophage interaction and numbers of bacteria and macrophages used in each assay. Interaction of B. abortus strain 2308 with bovine mononuclear phagocytes from animals phenotypically resistant and susceptible to infection with B. abortus was investigated. This cell culture and assay system should provide a useful model for the investigation of intracellular parasitism in cattle.     

Bovine T-lymphocyte lines reactive with Brucella abortus

Bovine T-cell lines reactive with Brucella abortus were established by repeated stimulation with B abortus and mitomycin C-treated autologous antigen-presenting cells. Representative results were obtained, using 33 cell lines from 14 cows. Cultures responded to the virulent laboratory strain 2308, the vaccine strain 19, and the rough mutant strain RB51 in thymidine-incorporation assays. The cells in these cultures required antigen-presenting cells for their response to B abortus. Autologous antigen-presenting cells were optimal for most lines tested, although some T-cell lines could respond to B abortus in the presence of some, but not all, allogeneic antigen-presenting cells. The cell lines expressed cell surface markers characteristics of activated bovine T cels. Of the cell lines tested for expression of cluster-determinant (CD) 4 and CD8 cell surface antigens, no cells in any cultures expressed the bovine CD8 equivalent, but all cultures included CD4+ cells in variable amounts. Some cell lines consisted of up to 50% CD2+CD4-CD8- cells. None of the cell lines tested expressed surface immunoglobulin or other bovine B-cell markers. Thus, these long-term cell lines appear to include 2 T-lymphocyte subsets: the helper/inducer subset and a second subset expressing a phenotype similar to major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted cytolytic cells in other species.     

Attenuation and immunogenicity of a Brucella abortus htrA cycL double mutant in cattle

PHE1 is a htrA cycL double gene deletion mutant of virulent Brucella abortus strain 2308 (S2308) which has previously been evaluated in the murine and caprine models of bovine brucellosis. This report describes the results of studies conducted with this mutant in the natural bovine host. Six sexually mature, non-gravid heifers were inoculated via the conjunctival sac with 1 x 10(10) colony forming units (CFU) of either the parental S2308 or the htrA cycL gene deletion mutant, PHE1. At 4, 7 and 11 days post-inoculation, PHE1 was found to colonize the bovine host at lower levels than S2308. In a second experiment, eight heifers in mid-gestation were infected with 1 x 10(7) CFU of either strain via the conjunctival sac. The virulent S2308 caused abortions or weak calves in 4/4 cows, while all four cows infected with PHE1 had healthy calves. Furthermore, PHE1 exhibited decreased resistance to killing by cultured bovine neutrophils and macrophages compared to the parental strain. These studies demonstrate that the B. abortus htrA cycL gene deletion mutant PHE1 is highly attenuated in the bovine host when compared to the virulent parental S2308.     

Evaluation of three Brucella soluble antigens used in an indirect Elisa to discriminate S19 vaccinated from naturally infected cattle

An O-polysaccharide (O-chain) and a hot-water extracted polysaccharide (PS), both obtained from Brucella abortus 1119-3, and a B. melitensis 16M native hapten (NH) were evaluated by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on three groups of cattle sera. The sera tested were: (a) 75 sera from cows naturally infected with B. abortus; (b) 130 sera from non-infected and non-vaccinated cattle; and (c) 61 sera from non-infected heifers recently vaccinated with B. abortus Strain 19 (S19). Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and the capability to discriminate vaccinated cattle (ADV) were determined. Using PS antigen, Se was 100% and the Sp was 97.7%, while the highest Sp was obtained by using the O-chain (99.2% ). For the NH antigen, Se was 94.7% and the Sp was 90.0%. The ADV of the three antigens was approximately 85%. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between O-chain/PS and O-chain/NH antigens. The agreement among antigens determined by kappa coefficient was 0.899 for O-chain/PS, 0.845 for O-chain/NH and 0.795 for PS/NH.     

The bovine p150/95 molecule (CD11c/CD18) functions in primary cell-cell interaction.

The monoclonal antibody (MAb), C5B6, recognizes the CD11c/CD18 molecule on the surface of bovine peripheral blood monocytes. C5B6 was reactive with 69-83% monocytes, all granulocytes, and less than 5% of lymphocytes from cattle. Of the lymphocyte series, the antibody had specificity for large lymphocytes and two lines expressing T cell markers, but was not reactive with small lymphocytes, thymocytes, a tumor cell line of B-cell lineage, an interleukin 2 (IL2)-dependent T cell line, fibroblasts, or human, sheep, goat or pig peripheral blood mononuclear cells. No dual fluorescence was seen using C5B6 and antibodies to bovine IgM, CD2, CD4 or CD8. Immunoprecipitation of 125I labeled peripheral blood mononuclear cells with C5B6 antibody defined two bands: 150,000 and 95,000 Da. Antibody to the beta chain (CD18) of the leukocyte adhesion receptor family precipitates the 95 kDa beta subunit and the three associated alpha subunits (180, 165 and 150). The bands obtained using MAb C5B6 correlated with the p150/95 bands observed using an antibody that precipitated the alpha and beta chains of the leukocyte adhesion receptor family. Functionally, the primary but not the secondary proliferative response to alloantigens was inhibited by C5B6 MAb. No effect was seen using C5B6 MAb in cytotoxicity assays or in the secondary proliferative response to Brucella abortus or bovine herpes virus type 1.