Cell-mediated immune response after Brucella abortus S19 vaccination.

Cell-mediated immunity to Brucella abortus S19 vaccine was measured in young heifers by the microassay for stimulation of protein synthesis (SPS) with [3H]leucine and the skin test for delayed hypersensitivity. Brucella melitensis protein allergen and a crude B abortus S19-soluble antigen were compared in the SPS test. The SPS test was negative in 5 unvaccinated heifers and strongly positive in 3 twice-vaccinated steers. However, the SPS test was positive only in 13 of 30 S19-vaccinated heifers and the delayed hypersensitivity in 9 of 29 S19-vaccinated heifers. The 2 tests gave good agreement. Vaccination-induced residual antibody titers were partly correlated with the outcome of the tests used to measure cell-mediated immunity.     

Arthropathy associated with Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccination in cattle. I. Examination of field cases

Thirty cows presenting with lameness and persistent serological reactions to Brucella abortus had chronic granulomatous arthropathy of the femorotibial and occasionally other joints. Attempts to culture Brucella or other pathogens gave negative results but organisms of Brucella morphology were seen in fluorescent antibody-stained cryostat sections of synovial tissue. The synovial fluids contained high titres of antibodies to B. abortus and Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 and had elevated total protein and immunoglobulin concentrations showing an oligoclonal electrophoretic profile. Immune complexes and rheumatoid factor were detected in some of the fluids.     

中国牛种布鲁菌弱毒疫苗株A19 SNP位点的研究

为鉴别我国牛种布鲁菌弱毒疫苗株A19与野生菌株,运用生物信息学方法结合基因测序,对疫苗株A19基因组SNP位点分析筛选,选取其中部分SNP位点,通过与布鲁菌常见种、生物型标准参考菌株和弱毒疫苗株基因组SNP位置核苷酸测序比较,验证SNP位点的A19特异性。结果表明,共筛选获得A19基因组29个SNP位点,验证ClpX G825-C825、LysR A605-C605、Omp2b G503-A503这3个SNP位点为A19（或S19）特异,揭示了A19基因组SNP位点分布情况,为疫苗株 A19与野生菌株鉴别提供了分子依据。     

Diagnostic characterization of a feral swine herd enzootically infected with Brucella.

Eighty feral swine were trapped from a herd that had been documented to be seropositive for Brucella and which had been used for Brucella abortus RB51 vaccine trials on a 7,100-hectare tract of land in South Carolina. The animals were euthanized and complete necropsies were performed. Samples were taken for histopathology, Brucella culture, and Brucella serology. Brucella was cultured from 62 (77.5%) animals. Brucella suis was isolated from 55 animals (68.8%), and all isolates were biovar 1. Brucella abortus was isolated from 28 animals (35.0%), and isolates included field strain biovar 1 (21 animals; 26.3%), vaccine strain Brucella abortus S19 (8 animals, 10.0%), and vaccine strain Brucella abortus RB51 (6 animals, 7.5%). Males were significantly more likely to be culture positive than females (92.9% vs. 60.6%). Thirty-nine animals (48.8%) were seropositive. Males also had a significantly higher seropositivity rate than females (61.9% vs. 34.2%). The relative sensitivity rates were significantly higher for the standard tube test (44.6%) and fluorescence polarization assay (42.6%) than the card agglutination test (13.1%). Lesions consistent with Brucella infection were commonly found in the animals surveyed and included inflammatory lesions of the lymph nodes, liver, kidney, and male reproductive organs, which ranged from lymphoplasmacytic to pyogranulomatous with necrosis. This is the first report of an apparent enzootic Brucella abortus infection in a feral swine herd suggesting that feral swine may serve as a reservoir of infection for Brucella abortus as well as Brucella suis for domestic livestock.     

The anamnestic response to Brucella abortus-infected and vaccinated cattle

Fifty-four cattle were sensitised to Brucella antigens either by vaccination with Brucella abortus strain 19 (S19) or B. abortus 45/20 (S45/20) and 24 of these were challenged 12 weeks after mating with virulent B. abortus strain 544 (S544). A further 12 cattle which were not vaccinated were exposed to S544. After 40 weeks, all these cattle (66), together with 5 cattle which were not sensitised by vaccination or challenge were subsequently inoculated with one dose of S45/20 and the anamnestic response was measured by the complement fixation test. Ten to 15 weeks later the cattle were slaughtered and tissues cultured. Of the 52 (2 died) vaccinated cattle, 35 gave a positive anamnestic response and 20 of these were not challenged. Of the 17 unvaccinated cattle, one gave a positive response and this animal had been exposed to S544 prior to the inoculation with S45/20. The results indicated that the method had a level of sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 100% in serologically negative cattle that had been exposed previously to Brucella antigens. An evaluation of the method for detecting serologically negative, but infected cattle was not possible as the number of cattle suitable for examination in this study was too low.     

鉴别布鲁菌病自然感染动物与疫苗免疫动物胶体金检测试纸条的研制

用金黄色葡萄球菌A蛋白（SPA）标记胶体金技术制作金标垫,以亲和层析法纯化的BP26蛋白作为检测抗原（T线）,研制胶体金快速检测试纸条。用建立的试纸条检测小鼠布鲁菌感染血清,可成功鉴别牛布鲁菌S19感染和BP26缺失疫苗株YZ-2免疫的小鼠。试纸条检测与布鲁菌属同源性较近的几株细菌的阳性血清,结果无交叉反应;试纸条敏感性高于虎红平板凝集试验检测方法,近似于ELISA方法;准确性同于ELISA法,且更为简便快捷。该试纸条具有鉴别布鲁菌病自然感染和疫苗免疫的应用前景。     

The Fluorescent Characterization and Analysis of Two Brucella Attenuated Vaccine Infecting Mouse Macrophagocyte

The experiment was conducted to discuss the difference of binding time of green fluorescent protein B.melitensis M5 (GFP-M5) and B.abortus S19 (GFP-S19) infecting the mouse macrophagocyte (RAW264.7),lysosome,endoplasmic reticulum and golgi body in the initial stage and compare the binding rate of GFP-M5,GFP-S19 with organelle in different timeline,respectively,by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and flow cytometry.The result showed that GFP-M5 and GFP-S19 were successfully constructed.The intracellular survival ability of Brucella M5,Brucella S19,GFP-M5 and GFP-S19 were not obvisouly affected after infecting RAW264.7.GFP-M5 and GFP-S19 could enter the macrophagocyte in 30 mins,and in 2 h the Brucella could reach lysosome,endoplasmic reticulum and golgi body.In addition,the binding time for two attenuated vaccine did not show differences in 1,2,3 and 4 h.The content of GFP⁺ cell produced by RAW264.7 infected by GFP-M5 and GFP-S19 did not show significant differences (P>0.05).Therefore,the two strains did not have significant differences in the invasion ability in the initial stage of infecting host cell.     

两种布鲁氏菌弱毒株侵染小鼠巨噬细胞过程的荧光表征及分析

通过对绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）布鲁氏菌弱菌株M5（GFP-M5）和S19（GFP-S19）侵染小鼠巨噬细胞（RAW264.7）及对其与胞内溶酶体、内质网、高尔基体初次结合所用时间进行测定,探讨分析两种布鲁氏菌弱毒株侵染小鼠巨噬细胞过程的荧光表征。将GFP-M5和GFP-S19分不同时间段分别侵染RAW264.7,利用激光共聚焦和流式细胞仪观察和检测。结果显示,GFP-M5和GFP-S19均构建成功。布鲁氏菌M5和S19及GFP-M5和GFP-S19侵染RAW264.7后胞内生存能力无明显差异。GFP-M5和GFP-S19侵染30 min后均已进入小鼠巨噬细胞,2 h分别到达溶酶体、内质网和高尔基体。而两种弱毒株在1、2、3、4 h与各细胞器结合率相近。流式细胞仪检测结果显示,GFP-M5和GFP-S19侵染RAW264.7的GFP⁺细胞含量无显著差异（P>0.05）。结果提示,两种弱毒株在侵染进入宿主细胞的初期及侵袭能力并没有明显差异。     

IS711和omp2作为布氏杆菌种属及种株间分子鉴别诊断标记的研究

布氏杆菌为世界性具重要公共卫生意义的人兽共患疫病原，分6个种。建立种间及种株间安全敏感、经济有效的快速鉴别诊断方法对布病防制及分子流行病学研究具有重要意义。布氏杆菌IS711和omp2基因具有种属特异性，可用于布氏杆菌的PCR分子诊断。其中IS711为转座因子，在不同种布菌种存在插入位置的多态性，外膜蛋白OMP2编码基因则存在反向重复序列及种株间的多态性。为此，分别采用复式-PCR、PCR和限制性酶切片段长多态性（RFLP）分析，对分属于B．mclitcnsis、B．suis和B．abortus的不同种布氏杆菌的不同种株，M5、M16、S2、S6和S19进行分子鉴别诊断。结果显示，根据IS711基因特定PCR扩增片段长多态性，可进行布氏杆菌种间的快速鉴别；而omp2编码基因PCR扩增片段PsrⅠ、KpnⅠ、NcoⅠ和Eco47 Ⅲ等4种限制酶片段长多态性，则可成为布氏杆菌菌株间特异的分子鉴别诊断标记，甚至疫苗株M5和野毒株M16之间的分子诊断标记。     

流产布氏杆菌S19突变株构建及在小鼠感染模型中的免疫保护评估

通过构建标记疫苗株来解决流产布氏杆菌(B.abortus)鉴别诊断方面的缺陷,本研究以bp26基因作为重组靶住点,S19为亲本,利用bp26基因ORF外侧序列作为同源重组序列,卡那霉素抗性基因(Kanr)为抗性筛选标记,通过双交叉重组筛选获得bp26基因缺失突变的重组S19株,命名为S19-△26.小鼠感染结果表明,突变株S19-△26的残留毒力与亲本株S19相比较没有发生明显改变,康复时间约为15周,突变株S19-△26、亲本株S19和B.abortus强毒株S544接种小鼠后的第3周能检测出"O"抗原的特异性抗体,而第6周开始S19和S544接种小鼠BP26特异性抗体明显升高,S19-△26接种的小鼠一直没检测到BP26特异性抗体.小鼠免疫保护试验显示,脾脏分离CFU数比空白对照要低310g10,S544攻击后脾脏细菌分离数表明突变株具有与亲本疫苗株免疫保护性无明显差异.结果表明,S19-△26免疫能够通过血清学方法与野生型B.abortus感染后的免疫反应相区别,具备作为标记疫苗的潜力.     

Plasmid transfer and plasmid-mediated genetic exchange in Brucella abortus.

Naturally-occurring plasmids and gene transfer mechanisms have not yet been reported in brucellae. Here we show that Brucella abortus is capable of maintaining and transferring the broad-host-range plasmids pTH10 (IncP), pSa (IncW) and R751 (IncP), and describe pTH10-mediated transfer of B. abortus chromosomal genes to Escherichia coli. All three plasmids transferred by conjugation from E. coli to B. abortus S19, and from B. abortus S19 to B. abortus 292 (biovar 4). They were stably maintained with no effect on biotyping characteristics. Plasmid pTH10 is a Tn1-containing derivative of RP4. It confers temperature-sensitive resistance to kanamycin, tetracycline and ampicillin to E. coli, but its tetracycline resistance and temperature sensitivity were poorly expressed in B. abortus. Plasmids pTH10 and pSa both transferred from B. abortus to E. coli DP50, a strain that is auxotrophic for diaminopimelic acid (DAP) Plasmid pTH10 (but not pSa) mobilized Brucella chromosomal gene(s) for DAP synthesis to DP50, yielding non-DAP-requiring (NDR) transconjugants. Neither plasmid transferred the NDR marker from their original E. coli host strains, nor did pTH10 transfer it from NDR transconjugants. Escherichia coli NDR transconjugant EP8.11 was cured of pTH10 by passage at the nonpermissive temperature, but retained the NDR marker and the Tn1-encoded resistance to ampicillin, indicating Tn1-mediated integration of Brucella chromosomal DNA into the E. coli chromosome.     

布鲁氏菌表面抗原研究进展

布鲁氏菌表面最主要的抗原是脂多糖(LPS)和外膜蛋白(OMPs),R-LPS是R型布鲁氏菌主要的表面抗原,S型布鲁氏菌的S-LPS已被证明是一个主要的毒力因子,它的O链部分含有布鲁氏菌表面绝大多数的抗原位点,是一个很重要的保护性抗原;OMPs被认为是布鲁氏菌表面潜在的抗原结构,在光滑型布鲁氏菌表面,由于OMPs受到了LPS-O链的干扰,致使它的抗原性没有充分地表现出来,但在绵羊布鲁氏菌表面却出现了不同的情况。未来几年,对OMPs的研究将成为该领域的热点,尤其是对Omp25突变体的研究。     

Brucella clearance as a sensitive method for the detection of cross reactions of Brucella abortus with Yersinia enterocolitica 03, 06, 09 and Salmonella urbana and Salmonella abony

Determination of the Brucella clearance rate has proved to enable assessment of Brucella immune reaction in rat, even after vaccination with Yersiniae and Salmonellae. Vaccination with Yersinia (Y.) enterocolitica O6 and O9 produced 95 per cent of "high responders", whereas 65 per cent of "high responders" and 25 per cent of "non-responders" were recorded in the wake of O3. Salmonella (S.) urbana vaccination gave 50 per cent of "high responders" and 27 per cent of "non-responders", while 100 per cent "non-responders" resulted from S. dublin. Vaccination, using Brucella abortus Buck 19, gave 100 per cent "high responders". The differentiated nature of immune reactions to Y. enterocolitica O3, S. urbana, and S. abony has been attributed to an individual genetic capability of reaction to the cross-reactive antigen.     

Serological cross-reactions between different brucella species and Yersinia enterocolitica. Agglutinating activity of 19 S and 7 S antibodies aginst somatic antigen of Brucella abortus and Yersinia enterocolitica type IX

Antisera from rabbits immunized with acetone-killed whole cells and with lipopolysaccharides from Brucella abortus (B.a.) and Yersinia enterocolitica type IX (Y.e.) were gel-filtered on Sephadex G-200 columns.All the antisera had serologically cross-reacting agglutinins against B.a. and Y.e. both in the 19 S and in the 7 S antibody fractions.The homologous and the heterologous agglutinating activity of 19 S and of 7 S antibodies was tested before and after treatment with dithiothreitol (DTT) and subsequent alkylation. Unlike 19 S antibodies, 7 S antibodies were resistant to the DTT reduction.The results from heterologous absorptions of the respective 19 S and 7 S antibody fractions indicated that 19 S antibodies both to B.a. and to Y.e. had a greater tendency towards being absorbed to the cross-reacting antigenic determinants than had the corresponding 7 S antibodies. The agglutination titres for 19 as well as 7 S antibody fractions derived from the immunizations with B.a. (both whole cells and LPS) fell more markedly after heterologous absorptions than did the analogous titres for corresponding Y.e. antibody fractions. Possible explanations of these differences are discussed.     

Detection of antigenic fractions from Brucella abortus S45/20 which bind to non-agglutinating antibodies using electroblotting and enzyme-linked antibody probes

Outer membrane antigens which bind to non-agglutinating antibodies (NAAb) elicited by smooth (S19) and rough (S45/20) Brucella abortus strains, were extracted from S45/20 by stirring in cold 2.5% NaCl and then analyzed by SDS-PAGE, electroblotting and enzyme-linked antibody test. Eight bands were observed in the gel stained with Coomassie blue. Seven antigenic fractions were transferred to nitrocellulose by blotting. A 27-kd band was recognized by bovine anti-S45/20 non-agglutinating serum and not by purified NAAb against surface antigens. Bands 10 kd and 14.3 kd bound to bovine anti-S45/20 NAAb from calves immunized with either S19 or S45/20. A 12.0-kd band was recognized by the serum and NAAb from calves immunized with S45/20 but not by those injected with S19. There are thus antigenic fractions shared by S19 and S45/20 which bind in vitro to NAAb.     

A Preliminary Study of the Development of 19s and 7s Immunoglobulins in Sera of Two Sheep Vaccinated With Brucella Abortus, Strain 19

The pattern of antibody response to vaccination with Brucella abortus, strain 19, was studied in two sheep. Agglutinative activity was detected by the third and fifth days and complement - fixing activity by the fifth and seventh days post-vaccination.

Density gradient centrifugation and DEAE cellulose column chromatography showed the 19S antibody developed first, followed soon after by 7S antibody. The former had disappeared by the 25th day but the latter persisted longer in both sheep. A small amount of 19S antibody was detected in sheep 1 following a booster dose of vaccine but 7S antibody constituted the major secondary response.

The standard tube agglutination test was found to be more efficient than the complement-fixation test for titration of 19S antibody. An increase in the salt concentration to 10% in tube agglutination test rendered it more sensitive in demonstrating 7S antibody.

     

Assessment of an intradermal test for the detection of bovine brucellosis

Forty-eight cattle were sensitised toBrucella antigens either by vaccination withBrucella abortus strain 19 (S19) orB. abortus 45/20 (S45/20) and 24 of these and 12 unvaccinated cattle were subsequently challenged with virulentB. abortus strain 544 (S544). All these cattle (n=60), together with 12 control cattle which were neither vaccinated nor challenged, were subsequently subjected to an intradermal test using a S45/20 protein antigen. Reactions were interpreted subjectively by observation and palpation and were measured to the nearest mm with calipers at 48 and 72 hours after injection of protein antigen. Ten weeks later the cattle were slaughtered and tissues cultured for the presence ofB. abortus. Two of the 48 vaccinated cattle died, 40 of the remaining 46 gave a positive response to the intradermal test at 48 hours and 36 were positive at 72 hours. In the controls any increase in the skin thickness had disappeared by 72 hours. An increase in skin thickness was still present at 72 hours in all other cattle except those vaccinated with S19 only. The intradermal test was found to be sensitive but not specific in detecting infected cattle and both sensitive and highly specific if used (with the exception of S19) to detect exposure toBrucella antigen.     

A study of cattle infected with Brucella abortus and which showed aberrant serological reactions

SUMMARY Sixty cows, 48 of which had been vaccinated with live Brucella abortus strain 19 (S19) or with killed B. abortus strain 45/20 (S45/20) and 12 of which were unvaccinated animals, were challenged with B. abortus strain 544. Ten of the 27 cattle found to be infected after challenge showed aberrant serological reactions to the Rose Bengal Plate test, serum agglutination test and/or complement fixation test. These 10 cattle were all previously vaccinated with S19 or S45/20. It was concluded that infection in cattle vaccinated with S19 or S45/20 may be more difficult to detect than infection in animals that have no history of vaccination.     

THE EFFECT OF CHALLENGE WITH VIRULENT BRUCELLA ABORTUS ON BEEF CATTLE VACCINATED AS CALVES OR ADULTS WITH EITHER BRUCELLA ABORTUS STRAIN 19 OR 45/20

SUMMARY Groups of female calves were vaccinated subcutaneously with the standard dose of Brucella abortus strain 19 (S19) or with B. abortus 45/20 (S45/20). These calves and non-vaccinated control calves were mated at 15 months of age and challenged by way of the conjunctival sac with B. abortus strain 544 (S544). The incidence of abortion, stillbirths, weakling calves and healthy calves was observed after challenge and specimens were collected for culture at parturition and slaughter. Fifteen healthy calves were born to 18 animals vaccinated with S19, 12 were born to 18 animals vaccinated with S45/20 and 2 were born to 8 animals that were not vaccinated. B. abortus was isolated from 5 of the animals vaccinated with S19, 13 of the animals vaccinated with S45/20 and 9 of the 12 animals that were not vaccinated. Only one of the 5 infected animals vaccinated with S19 was vaccinated as an adult.     

Genetic diversity at alkB locus in Brucella abortus

DNA polymorphism of the alkB gene, a DNA repair gene, was assessed by PCR on Brucella abortus biovars 1 (strains 99, S19, 45/20, RB51 and 2308), 3 (Tulya strain), 5 (B3196 strain) and 6 (870 strain). A DNA repetitive element, named IS711, was detected in all studied biovars 1 and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. We found that the element in alkB gene, bounded by 14 bp imperfect inverted repeats (IRs), is 840 bp long and appears to duplicate a consensus target site, CTAG. Analysing its nucleotide sequence of both forward and reverse strands, more than 10 open reading frames (ORFs) were found. Two potential transposase coding regions were chosen comparing all possible ORFs with the database. Comparing IS711 elements isolated from Brucella species, including both those characterized in our work and the published ones, differences in length and in nucleotide composition were observed among Brucella species, members of the same species and within the same strain. Our results confirm the heterogeneity of IS711 elements in Brucella genus and suggest the possibility to use this element to assess gene and genome diversity and to identify new molecular markers for Brucella species.