Immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine of Avian Reovirus orally delivered by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium

This study aimed to assess the ability of a Salmonella typhimurium-mediated Avain Reovirus DNA vaccine in eliciting antibody production. Six-day-old SPF chickens were orally immunized with SL7207 (pVAX-σC) twice at 2-week interval, detectable antibody was generated 2 weeks after immunization and was significantly higher than the control groups (P<0.01) and ten chickens (66.7%) were considered safe in the subsequent challenge. These results show that SL7207 (pVAX-σC) can induce protective antibody in chickens and the newly-constructed vaccine is also effective in protection chickens against ARV infection.     

Immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine of Avian Reovirus orally delivered by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium

This study aimed to assess the ability of a Salmonella typhimurium-mediated Avain Reovirus DNA vaccine in eliciting antibody production. Six-day-old SPF chickens were orally immunized with SL7207 (pVAX-σC) twice at 2-week interval, detectable antibody was generated 2 weeks after immunization and was significantly higher than the control groups (P < 0.01) and ten chickens (66.7%) were considered safe in the subsequent challenge. These results show that SL7207 (pVAX-σC) can induce protective antibody in chickens and the newly-constructed vaccine is also effective in protection chickens against ARV infection.     

Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium delivering DNA vaccine encoding duck enteritis virus UL24 induced systemic and mucosal immune responses and conferred good protection against challenge

Orally delivered DNA vaccines against duck enteritis virus (DEV) were developed using live attenuated Salmonella typhimurium (SL7207) as a carrier and Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) as a mucosal adjuvant. DNA vaccine plasmids pVAX-UL24 and pVAX-LTB-UL24 were constructed and transformed into attenuated Salmonella typhimurium SL7207 resulting SL7207 (pVAX-UL24) and SL7207 (pVAX-LTB-UL24) respectively. After ducklings were orally inoculated with SL7207 (pVAX-UL24) or SL7207 (pVAX-LTB-UL24), the anti-DEV mucosal and systemic immune responses were recorded. To identify the optimum dose that confers maximum protection, we used different doses of the candidate vaccine SL7207 (pVAX-LTB-UL24) during oral immunization. The strongest mucosal and systemic immune responses developed in the SL7207 (pVAX-LTB-UL24) (10¹¹ CFU) immunized group. Accordingly, oral immunization of ducklings with SL7207 (pVAX-LTB-UL24) showed superior efficacy of protection (60-80%) against a lethal DEV challenge (1000 LD₅₀), compared with the limited survival rate (40%) of ducklings immunized with SL7207 (pVAX-UL24). Our study suggests that the SL7207 (pVAX-LTB-UL24) can be a candidate DEV vaccine.     

Evaluation of safety and efficacy of DNA vaccines against bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) in calves

Four DNA vaccines against BoHV-1 were evaluated for their efficacy in calves. Twelve animals were divided into four groups which were injected with four different DNA vaccines: pVAX-tgD (Vaccine A); pVAX-tgD co-immunised with pVAX-48CpG (Vaccine B); pVAX-UbiLacI-tgD-L (Vaccine C); pVAX-UbiLacI-tgD-L co-immunised with pVAX-48CpG (Vaccine D). Three additional calves were given the plasmid vector and served as controls. Ninety days after the first vaccination all calves were challenge infected with BoHV-1.All animals developed a severe form of infections bovine rhinotracheitis. Only the calves given the pVAX-tgD co-immunised with pVAX-48CpG (Vaccine B) developed humoral antibodies against BoHV-1 between 56 and 90 days after the first vaccination, whereas in calves of other groups and in the controls, antibodies appeared only after the infection. In the calves vaccinated with either pVAX-tgD (Vaccine A) or pVAX-tgD combined with pVAX-48CpG (Vaccine B), BoHV-1-specific IFN-γ secreting cells were detected in PBMCs 90 days after the first vaccination and their number increased after challenge exposure. In the other groups the IFN-γ secreting cells were detected after virus infection and at low values.     

携带新城疫病毒F基因DNA疫苗的减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌的构建及其免疫原性

根据GenBank中发表的新城疫病毒(NDV)融合蛋白(F)基因序列,设计1对引物,通过RT-PCR扩增出鹅源NDV分离株JS5F基因(约1700bp),测序确认后,将其克隆入真核表达载体pVAX1,获得重组真核表达质粒pVAX1-F。pVAX1-F经脂质体转染COS-7细胞,间接免疫荧光试验检测出F基因在COS-7细胞中的表达产物。将pVAX1-F转化减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207,构建成功携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207(pVAX1-F)。重组菌以109CFU/只的剂量2次免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫小鼠可以检测到特异性针对NDVF蛋白的血清抗体和小肠粘膜抗体应答,SL7207(pVAX1-F)免疫组抗体水平显著高于SL7207(pVAX1)组(P<0.05)。将SL7207(pVAX1-F)以109CFU/只剂量口服免疫1日龄雏鸡,免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207(pVAX1-F)免疫组对鸡具有良好的保护率(77.27%),与空白对照组和SL7207(pVAX1)空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。结果表明,该运送DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌系统在体内能成功释放所携带的质粒,并能刺激机体产生免疫应答,可对NDV强毒攻击提供良好的免疫保护作用,提示该疫苗候选株对新城疫的控制有重要应用前景。     

携带猪传染性胃肠炎病毒S/N融合双基因的减毒沙门氏菌的构建与鉴定

旨在构建携带猪传染性胃肠炎病毒(TGEV)S/N融合双基因的减毒沙门氏菌,并鉴定该疫苗菌株的生物学特性,为开展TGEV口服免疫研究奠定材料基础。采用PCR方法从克隆质粒19T-S和19T-N中分别扩增了TGEV的S基因(含主要抗原位点,2.1kb)和N基因(1.2kb),将S基因和N基因插入pVAX1载体,构建携带S/N融合双基因的真核表达质粒pVAX-S/N。将pVAX-S/N电转化减毒沙门氏菌SL7207,筛选获得重组菌株SL7207(pVAX-S/N),并对重组菌株SL7207(pVAX-S/N)的体外稳定性、目的基因在体内的转录、口服接种小鼠的安全性及在体内稳定性等特性进行了鉴定。结果表明,真核质粒pVAX-S/N构建成功,该质粒转染COS7中能表达2个目的蛋白,重组菌SL7207(pVAX-S/N)在Kan+抗性下体外培养稳定性好,口服接种小鼠3d可从回肠组织检测到目的基因的转录,以0.5×109、1×109和2×109 CFU口服对小鼠均具有安全性,重组菌在接种小鼠的肝、脾于4周左右逐渐被机体清除。结果表明成功构建TGEVS/N双基因疫苗SL7207(pVAX-S/N),该疫苗具有良好的稳定性与安全性等特点,为开展TGEV口服免疫研究奠定了基础。     

猪支原体肺炎亚单位疫苗的免疫应答

利用分子克隆、定点突变以及重组表达技术获得猪肺炎支原体的主要免疫原蛋白p36、p46、p65和p97R1-Nrdf。设立以重组蛋白p36、p46和p65为试验Ⅰ组,以p36、p46、p65和p97R1-Nrdf为试验Ⅱ组,猪支原体疫苗安百克（M＋PAC）为试验Ⅲ组,PBS＋佐剂为空白对照组来免疫BALB/c小鼠。检测小鼠血清、肺脏以及经蛋白刺激脾淋巴细胞的猪肺炎支原体抗体、IFN-γ和IL-4。结果显示,Ⅱ组的猪肺炎支原体抗体水平极显著高于Ⅰ、Ⅲ组（P〈0.01）;Ⅱ组IFN-γ水平极显著高于Ⅲ组,而Ⅱ组与Ⅰ组、Ⅰ组与Ⅲ组的IFN-γ水平无显著差异（P〈0.05）;但Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组的IL-4水平差异不显著（P〈0.05）,但都极显著高于对照组（P〈0.01）;肺的检测结果中猪肺炎支原体抗体、IFN-γ和IL-4水平呈现一致性,都为Ⅱ组〉Ⅰ组〉Ⅲ组〉对照组;而经刺激脾淋巴细胞检测结果为Ⅱ组的猪肺炎支原体抗体和IFN-γ水平最高,而IL-4水平为Ⅲ组最高。由此可见,Ⅱ组通过激活体液免疫和细胞免疫途径,产生的猪支原体肺炎抗体水平最高;Ⅰ组亦能通过这2种免疫途径达到与Ⅲ组同样的免疫效果。     

中国美利奴羊不同MBL型个体感染绵羊肺炎支原体的免疫应答分析

为探讨中国美利奴羊不同甘露(聚)糖结合凝集素(MBL)型个体感染绵羊肺炎支原体的免疫应答变化,对4种不同MBL型个体进行MBL水平测定,选择其中20只作为对照组,50只为试验组,在相同饲养条件下试验组人工感染绵羊肺炎支原体,分别在攻毒前1 d(-1 d)、攻毒后1 d(1 d)、1周(7 d)、2周(14 d)、3周(21 d)用ELISA方法定量分析血清中TNF-α、IFN-γ、补体C1、C3水平.结果显示,A型和B型其MBL浓度较低,C型MBL浓度较高,与对照组相比,在攻毒后1周,A型和B型IFN-γ表达显著降低(P＜o.05),攻毒后2周,补体C3表达显著降低,TNF-α升高显著(P＜0.05);与A型和B型相比,在攻毒后1周,C型IFN-γ表达增加(P＜0.05),在攻毒后2周,补体C3表达增加、TNF-α显著降低(P＜o.05),补体C1各组均不显著.结论:低血清MBL浓度与绵羊支原体肺炎有一定的相关性,不同基因型之间其TNF-α、IFN-γ、补体C1、C3水平有差异,低浓度MBL绵羊更易发生比较严重的炎症反应.     

Protection of mice against Chlamydophila abortus infection with a bacteriophage-mediated DNA vaccine expressing the major outer membrane protein

A bacteriophage-delivered DNA vaccine against Chlamydophila abortus was constructed by cloning a eukaryotic cassette containing the ompA gene (which expresses the Major Outer Membrane Protein) into a bacteriophage lambda vector. Four groups, each of 20 BALB/c mice were inoculated separately with the phage vaccine, a conventional DNA vaccine based on the same ompA expression cassette, a live attenuated vaccine (strain 1B) or the empty phage vector. The phage and DNA vaccines and empty phage vector were administered intramuscularly on days 0, 14 and 28; the attenuated vaccine was given once on day 0. Half the animals in each group were challenged on day 42 by intraperitoneal injection of live C. abortus and sacrificed on day 49. Phage-vaccinated mice developed moderate antibody levels against C. abortus and yielded higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 compared with the attenuated live vaccine group. Clearance of chlamydiae from spleens was significantly better in the attenuated vaccine group compared with the phage vaccine group, while both groups were significantly superior to the DNA vaccine and control groups (p<0.01). Although levels of protection in the mouse model were lower in phage-vaccinated animals, than in 1B vaccinated animals, phage vaccines offer several other advantages, such as easier handling and safety, potentially cheaper production and no chance of reversion to virulence. Although these are preliminary results in a model system, it is possible that with further optimisation immunization with phage vaccines may provide a novel way to improve protection against C. abortus infection and trials in large animals are currently being initiated.     

鸡毒支原体F弱毒疫苗株感染SPF鸡对IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10产生的影响

为了解鸡毒支原体（Mycoplasma Gallisepticum,MG）F弱毒疫苗株感染SPF鸡对IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10共4种细胞因子产生的影响,本研究分别以活菌浓度为109（A组）、106（B组）CCU/mL的MG F株及生理盐水（C组）点眼接种SPF鸡,采用ELISA方法对免疫前后外周血4种细胞因子的动态变化规律进行研究。结果显示免疫后A、B组的4种细胞因子浓度明显升高;其中IFN-γ质量浓度A组于第7、14天显著高于其他组（P〈0.05）,B组于第7天显著高于C组（P〈0.05）;IL-2质量浓度各组于第3、5、7天差异显著（P〈0.05）,由高至低以此为：A、B和C组;A组与B组IL-4和IL-10质量浓度差异不显著（P〉0.05）,但两组IL-4质量浓度于第5、7、14天显著高于C组（P〈0.05）;且2组IL-10质量浓度于第5、7、14、21天显著高于C组（P〈0.05）。免疫MG F株可较好的提高IFN-γ、IL-2介导的细胞免疫作用和IL-4、IL-10介导的体液免疫作用,且MG F株活菌浓度与接种鸡的细胞免疫作用呈正相关性。     

三种猪繁殖与呼吸综合征疫苗免疫效果评价

为研究不同猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)疫苗的的免疫特性,分别采用PRRSV变异株(JXA1-R)弱毒疫苗、经典PRRSV(VR 2332)弱毒疫苗、变异株(JXA1)灭活疫苗,免疫接种PRRSV抗原和抗体阴性的健康断奶仔猪,免疫接种后70d用PRRSV变异株强毒攻毒,ELISA检测血清中PRRSV特异的抗体水平及IFN-γ、IL 2、IL 4、IL 8、IL 10的水平,并进行临床症状和肺部病理组织学观察和评分。结果表明,VR 2332、JXA1-R弱毒疫苗对免疫猪攻毒保护效果差异不显著,均为63.6%(7/11),JXA1灭活疫苗免疫攻毒保护效果较差,为36.4%(4/11)。试验还发现病毒感染猪血清中细胞因子IFN-γ和IL-10的比值可以作为评价疫苗免疫效果的一个指标。     

Characterization of the long-term immune response to vaccination against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Danish dairy cows

Vaccination of cattle against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) provides partial protection by delayed shedding of MAP and reduced numbers of clinically affected animals. The duration of vaccine induced immune response is not known. The primary objective of this study was therefore to characterize the long-term effect of whole-cell based vaccination against MAP on the immune response. A secondary objective was to evaluate whether immunodiagnosis of MAP and Mycobacterium bovis infections is affected by MAP vaccination. Two studies were performed: (1) A retrospective longitudinal study including 895 vaccinated and 2526 non-vaccinated dairy cows in 9 Danish dairy herds aiming at characterizing the long-term antibody-response to vaccination; and (2) a cross-sectional study of responses in the IFN-γ assay carried out in 140 vaccinated animals in two herds to evaluate the effect of vaccination on the cell-mediated immune response and to evaluate a possible interference with the diagnosis of M. bovis infections. The results showed that 37% of samples from vaccinated animals and 5% of samples from non-vaccinated animals, respectively, were test positive in the milk antibody ELISA. The prevalence of antibody responses of the vaccinated animals was relatively constant from 2 to 6 years of age, but decreased in older animals. Among the 140 vaccinated animals 88% tested positive with the IFN-γ test to johnin PPD and 50% responded to PPDb with IFN-γ production above a similar cut-off. Although Denmark is free of M. bovis, two of the vaccinated animals responded with higher IFN-γ levels when cultured with PPDb compared to PPDa. In conclusion, immunization with whole-cell MAP vaccines elicits both humoral and cell-mediated immune reactions, which may interfere with surveillance and diagnosis of both MAP and M. bovis infections using currently available tests.     

Immunoadjuvant activities of a recombinant chicken IL-12 in chickens vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus recombinant HN protein

Recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV/HN) expressing Newcastle disease virus (NDV) HN gene and rFPV/HN/chIL-12 co-expressing chicken IL-12 (chIL-12) and HN (rHN/chIL-12) genes have been characterized. rHN/chIL-12 or rchIL-12, expressed by our previous construct rFPV/chIL-12, co-administered with rHN was assessed for adjuvant activities of chIL-12. Chickens were vaccinated with various amounts of rHN/chIL-12 mixed with mineral oil (MO), intramuscularly. Levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody production depended on the concentration of the injected rHN or rHN/chIL-12. The lower HI antibody titers were obtained in chicken groups rHN/chIL-12/7-rHN/chIL-12/9, receiving 60ng rHN/8ng chIL-12 with MO, 30ng rHN/4ng chIL-12 with MO or 15ng rHN/2ng chIL-12 with MO, respectively, compared to those in chicken groups rHN/7-rHN/9, receiving rHN with MO alone. However, chickens in group rHN/chIL-12/7 or rHN/chIL-12/8 and rHN with MO alone showed the same effective protection. Chicken group rHN/chIL-12/9 was even more protective than that in group rHN/9. When rchIL-12 was co-injected with 15ng rHN plus MO, chickens produced low levels of HI antibody titers; while higher levels of IFN-γ production and an effective protection rate (83%) were obtained. On the other hand, low levels of IFN-γ production and low protection response (50%) were obtained in chickens injected with rHN with MO alone. Taken together, when the concentration of rHN decreased to certain levels, rchIL-12 reduced HI antibody production. The increase in the induction of IFN-γ production might suggest the enhancement of the cell-mediated immunity which conferred the protection from the NDV challenge.     

Potentiation of cell-mediated immune responses against recombinant HN protein of Newcastle disease virus by recombinant chicken IL-18

In this study, recombinant fowlpox viruses (rFPV/HN) expressing Newcastle disease virus (NDV) HN protein and rFPV/HN/chIL-18 co-expressing chicken IL-18 (chIL-18) and HN protein have been constructed and characterized. The co-expressed rHN/chIL-18 antigen or rchIL-18, expressed by our previous construct rFPV/chIL-18 and co-administered with NDV rHN, was assessed for its immunostimulatory activities and protection against NDV challenge in 2-week-old chickens. Chickens were vaccinated, intramuscularly, with various amounts of rHN or rHN/chIL-18 mixed with mineral oil. Production of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody depended on the concentration of the injected rHN or rHN/chIL-18. The lower HI antibody titers were obtained in chickens group rHN/chIL-18/6 and rHN/chIL-18/7, receiving 50 ng rHN/16.5 ng chIL-18 with mineral oil and 20 ng rHN/6.6 ng chIL-18 with mineral oil, respectively, compared to those in chickens rHN/6 and rHN/7, respectively receiving 50 ng and 20 ng rHN with mineral oil alone. However, the same protection rates were obtained from chickens in groups rHN/chIL-18/6 and rHN/6. Chicken groups rHN/chIL-18/7 and rHN/chIL-18/8 showed higher protective achievements than those in groups rHN/7 and rHN/8, respectively. When rchIL-18 was co-injected with 20ng rHN plus mineral oil, low level of HI antibody titer was produced; whereas, higher level of IFN-γ production and full protection rates were obtained. On the other hand, lower levels of IFN-γ production and lower protection rate (67%) were obtained in chickens injected with the same amount of rHN with mineral oil alone. Similar results were obtained when 10 ng rHN was used. Thus, when the concentration of rHN decreased to 50 ng or less, rchIL-18 reduced HI antibody production. The increase in IFN-γ production suggested that the enhancement of the cell-mediated immunity might confer the protection from NDV challenge, even accompanied with low HI antibody induction.     

猪附红细胞体eno基因重组蛋白的制备及免疫效果研究

为了研究猪附红细胞体eno基因重组蛋白的免疫效果,本试验将猪附红细胞体eno基因与pET-15b载体进行连接,转化大肠杆菌BL21感受态细胞。对表达菌株进行诱导表达、纯化,利用纯化后的猪附红细胞体eno重组蛋白（命名为rMseno）对小鼠进行免疫,从而评价该重组蛋白在小鼠体内产生的免疫应答水平。试验将20只4周龄的雄性昆明小鼠随机分为A、B、C、D 4个组。免疫A组接种纯化后的重组蛋白rMseno;免疫B组接种经IPTG诱导表达后的重组菌E.coli-Mseno;对照C组接种等量PBS;对照D组接种未经过诱导表达的重组菌E.coli-Mseno。通过ELISA检测方法分别测定血清中抗猪附红细胞体特异抗体水平及γ干扰素（IFN-γ）和白细胞介素4（IL-4）细胞因子水平,最后通过脾脏淋巴细胞增殖试验来反映小鼠体内T淋巴细胞的增殖情况。结果显示,构建的重组pET-15b-eno质粒目的基因片段大小为1 632 bp,与预期大小相同;纯化的重组蛋白rMseno大小为61 ku,并能够被鼠抗猪附红细胞体血清所识别;免疫A组和免疫B组小鼠血清中抗猪附红细胞体特异抗体水平,IFN-γ、IL-4细胞因子水平以及T淋巴细胞增殖指数均显著或极显著高于对照组（P<0.05;P<0.01）。结果表明,猪附红细胞体eno基因重组蛋白能够诱导小鼠产生较高的体液免疫水平以及细胞免疫应答水平。     

IFN-γ renders human intestinal epithelial cells responsive to lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae by down-regulation of DMBT1

Although intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are continuously exposed to high densities of enteric bacteria, they are not highly responsive to microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). However, inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) are potentially capable of priming IECs to enhance responsiveness to MAMPs. In this study, we observed that heat-killed Vibrio cholerae (HKVC) and its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) poorly induced IL-8 production in a human IEC line, HT-29. However, both HKVC and the LPS showed a substantial induction of IL-8 production in IFN-γ-primed HT-29 cells. LPS-induced IL-8 production was proportional to the IFN-γ-priming period and LPS could not induce IL-8 production in the presence of polymyxin B. Moreover, LPS-induced IL-8 production in the IFN-γ-primed HT-29 cells was mediated through signaling pathways requiring p38 kinase and ERK, but not the JNK/SAPK pathway. Since deleted in malignant brain tumor 1 (DMBT1) is known to interact with and antagonize the action of LPS, we hypothesized that IFN-γ enhanced the responsiveness to LPS in HT-29 through down-regulation of DMBT1. We found that IFN-γ indeed attenuated DMBT1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in HT-29 cells. Conversely, when the cells were transfected with small interfering RNA to specifically silence DMBT1, IL-8 expression was augmented even in the absence of IFN-γ and the augmentation was further enhanced by treatment with V. cholerae LPS. Since IFN-γ is known to increase IFN-β expression in the IECs, we examined if IFN-β functioned similar to IFN-γ. Although IFN-β alone was able to induce IL-8 expression, it failed to render HT-29 cells responsive to V. cholerae LPS. In conclusion, our study suggests that IFN-γ primes IECs to become responsive to V. cholerae and its LPS by suppressing the expression of DMBT1.     

Influence of the Th2 immune response established by Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection on the protection offered by different vaccines against Chlamydophila abortus infection

Chlamydophila abortus is the aetiological agent of enzootic abortion in small ruminants in which it infects the placenta to cause abortion during the last trimester of gestation. In a mouse model, a Th1 immune response involving IFN-γ production and CD8⁺ T cells is necessary for the infection to be resolved. The authors previously demonstrated that infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, a rodent gastrointestinal nematode extensively used in experimental models to induce Th2 responses, alters the specific immune response against C. abortus infection, increasing bacterial multiplication in liver and reducing specific IFN-γ production. The aim of the present work was to clarify whether a Th2 immune response has any influence on the success of vaccination using both inactivated and attenuated vaccines. The results showed that the Th2 response established prior to vaccination did not influence the induction of protection offered by the vaccines. However, the effectiveness of this protective response can be altered, depending on the adjuvant employed in the inactivated vaccines, when the Th2 response is established after vaccination, just before challenge with C. abortus.     

Assessment of in vivo and in vitro tuberculosis diagnostic tests in Mycobacterium caprae naturally infected caprine flocks

Caprine tuberculosis in Spain is mainly caused by Mycobacterium caprae although the progression of the disease and lesion severity is similar to that caused by Mycobacterium bovis. In this study, the sensitivity of the gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) assay using an antigen cocktail containing early secretory antigenic target-6kDa (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10) peptides for stimulation was determined and compared with those obtained in single intradermal tuberculin (SIT) and single intradermal cervical comparative tuberculin (SICCT) tests and IFN-γ assay using purified protein derivative (PPD) in three different flocks infected with M. caprae under different epidemiological conditions. Correlation between specific IFN-γ production and severity of lesions was also evaluated. Sensitivities of the diagnostic tests varied greatly in the three flocks studied, with higher values in those where higher lesion scores were observed. The results show that IFN-γ assay applied in goats using PPD or the ESAT-6/CFP-10 peptides cocktail for stimulation yielded similar sensitivity values. A significant yet weak positive correlation between specific IFN-γ production and lesion scores was detected after the stimulation with PPDs (p=0.004) whereas when the blood samples were stimulated with ESAT-6/CFP-10 peptides, the correlation was not significant (p>0.05). Therefore, specific-IFN-γ production after the stimulation with PPDs or ESAT-6/CFP-10 was not an accurate indicator of lesion severity in naturally tuberculosis infected goats with M. caprae.     

Immune response to Neospora caninum native antigens formulated with immune stimulating complexes in calves

The aim of this study was to compare the immune responses to live Neospora caninum tachyzoites and N. caninum native antigens formulated with immune stimulating complexes matrix (ISCOM-matrix) in calves. Fifteen calves were used in this study: 3 were intravenously inoculated with 1 × 10(8) live tachyzoites (Group A), 3 were inoculated twice with N. caninum native antigens formulated with ISCOMs (Group B); 3 with N. caninum native antigens in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (Group C); 3 received ISCOM-matrix (ISCOMs without antigen) (Group D) and 3 were negative controls receiving PBS (Group E). The last four groups were inoculated subcutaneously. The specific total IgG and its subtypes were analyzed by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and by Western blot. IFN-γ levels in plasma was quantified using a commercial kit. All calves were challenged intravenously with 1 × 10(8) live tachyzoites at week 11 after receiving the first dose. Parasitemia was assessed in plasma samples by semi-nested PCR. Neospora-specific antibodies were detected in animals from Groups A and B in the week 2 after inoculation. The ELISA OD values were higher in Group B compared with Group A from weeks 6 to 11 (P<0.05). Analysis of the subisotype specific antibodies in experimentally infected calves revealed a predominant IgG(2) response; however, a predominant IgG(1) response was observed in animals inoculated with N. caninum native antigens formulated with ISCOM-matrix. Control calves remained seronegative until challenge infection. The pattern of bands by Western blot was similar when testing sera from animals in Groups A and B. The levels of IFN-γ production after respective immunization schedules were similar between Groups A and B. Neospora-DNA was detected in plasma samples shortly after intravenous challenge in calves from all groups including those receiving the experimental vaccine formulation. The duration of the parasitemia was similar in all groups.