炭疽活疫苗家兔免疫力与血清抗芽胞IgG关系的研究

炭疽疫苗是预防炭疽流行和炭疽生物恐怖的重要手段。已有动物实验表明,炭疽活疫苗的保护力优于以保护性抗原为主要成份的无细胞疫苗,但两类现行疫苗都有待重新评价和改进。炭疽疫苗的效力必须用适当的实验室方法进行检测与分析才能了解其性质和细节。试验中力图探寻炭疽活疫苗家兔免疫力与血清抗芽胞抗体水平的关系。用“皮上划痕人用炭疽活疫苗”免疫家兔,以特定制备的炭疽芽胞抗原用ELISA法检测血清抗炭疽芽胞IgG抗体水平,并用强毒炭疽杆菌攻击进行效力试验。免疫家兔血清几何平均抗芽胞IgG滴度在免疫后一个月内持续升高,14d达到206,28d时达到776,这时其抵抗20MLD毒菌攻击的保护率为80％,符合中国生物制品规程要求的保护力。一个月后抗体水平开始下降,42d时滴度降至223。实验所揭示的炭疽减毒活疫苗诱导的家兔抗芽胞IgG抗体与抗炭疽保护力之间的关系,既为评价现行疫苗提供了资料,也为研制新型疫苗建立了参考性指标。     

PA domain4-Fc融合蛋白抗血清可以保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素损害

目的:探讨炭疽杆菌保护性抗原PA(protective antigen)domain4能否作为炭疽疫苗和炭疽感染时紧急预防用药.方法:构建含有PA domain4和人IgG Fc片段的表达载体,通过免疫大耳白兔获得针对该融合蛋白的免疫血清,通过小鼠巨噬细胞保护试验验证PA domain4-Fc是否具有疫苗和紧急预防用功能.结果:获得了表达PA domain4-Fc融合蛋白的CHO细胞株和针对PA domain4-Fc的兔抗血清,细胞保护试验证实PA domain4-Fc抗血清能够保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素的攻击,但PA domain4-Fc蛋白本身并不能直接拮抗炭疽毒素对细胞的损害.结论:PA domain4-Fc抗血清可以保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素损害,表明PA domain4-Fe具有作为炭疽疫苗的可能,但PA domain4-Fc蛋白不能直接竞争性拮抗炭疽毒素损害细胞.     

阳离子脂质体DOTAP佐剂对H5N1流感病毒裂解疫苗免疫效果的影响

目的研究阳离子脂质体DOTAP佐剂对H5N1型流感病毒裂解疫苗免疫效果的影响。方法制备DOTAP阳离子脂质体流感病毒裂解疫苗(简称DOTAP流感裂解疫苗),检测其包封率。将BALB/c小鼠分为13组,分别用含0.1、1.0、10.0μg HA/只剂量以DOTAP、Al(OH)3、CPG-ODN为佐剂以及不含佐剂的流感裂解疫苗于0、21天皮下免疫,PBS作为对照组,用血凝抑制试验检测小鼠初次免疫后21、42天血清HI抗体滴度;用ELISA检测初次免疫后21、42天血清特异性IgG抗体、IgG1、IgG2a亚类抗体滴度,以及初次免疫后42天小鼠脾脏单个核细胞体外经抗原刺激后细胞因子IL-2、IL-4、IFN-γ的分泌水平。将BALB/c小鼠分为3组,分别用含不同DOTAP剂量(100、300、600μg/只)的DOTAP流感裂解疫苗于0、21天皮下免疫,检测初次免疫后21、42天小鼠血清HI抗体滴度和IgG抗体滴度。结果 DOTAP流感裂解疫苗粒径在300~400 nm,带正电荷,包封率在50%以上;DOTAP流感裂解疫苗诱导的HI抗体水平和特异性IgG抗体水平均高于流感裂解疫苗,而与铝佐剂和Cp G-ODN佐剂间差异无统计学意义;DOTAP流感裂解疫苗产生的抗体仍以IgG1亚类抗体为主,免疫后42天诱导的IgG2a亚类抗体水平高于流感裂解疫苗和铝佐剂,低于Cp G-ODN佐剂;DOTAP流感裂解疫苗免疫后既分泌高水平Th1型细胞因子IFN-γ,同时也分泌高水平Th2型细胞因子IL-4;不同DOTAP剂量的DOTAP流感裂解疫苗免疫后,其HI抗体滴度和IgG抗体滴度在低、中、高剂量组之间存在明显的量效关系。结论 DOTAP作为H5N1型流感病毒裂解疫苗的佐剂可显著提高流感裂解疫苗的免疫原性,其对体液免疫应答的增强作用不低于铝佐剂和Cp G-ODN佐剂,并具有诱导细胞免疫应答的能力。     

炭疽致死毒素中和试验检验标准

提出了一种毒素中和试验的操作细节标准。此实验室试验,测量含炭疽致死毒素抗体抗血清的特异性保护J774A．1细胞抗炭疽芽胞杆菌致死毒素的细胞毒性作用的能力,其比色试验建立在活细胞降解MTT的基础上,用炭疽吸附疫苗(AVA)制备的人和家兔抗血清验证这个试验结果。试验结果显示高水平的重复性和复现性,尤其是     

枸杞多糖对甲型H1N1流感裂解疫苗黏膜接种的免疫增强作用

探讨枸杞多糖(Lycium barbarum polysaccharide,LBP)对不同剂量甲型H1N1流感裂解疫苗黏膜免疫的佐剂效力。设单独免疫LBP组和不免疫组作为对照,BALB/c小鼠以滴鼻方式免疫两次,间隔三周,二次免疫后两周收集小鼠血清、鼻洗液和脾脏淋巴细胞。结果显示血清中甲流特异性IgG和HI抗体滴度与接种疫苗剂量呈正相关,LBP的添加可提高体内抗体水平。高剂量组小鼠鼻洗液中也检测到特殊异性sIgA。单独疫苗组和添加佐剂组均能在体内诱导产生IgG1和IgG2a,所有组别IgG1抗体水平均略高于IgG2a,表明滴鼻接种裂解疫苗诱导Th1/Th2混合型免疫,LBP对Th1和Th2型免疫反应均有增强作用。高剂量疫苗添加LBP佐剂组小鼠脾脏细胞分泌IFN-γ水平显著高于其他组别,表明其在小鼠体内诱导了较强烈的细胞免疫反应。以上实验结果均证实LBP可以作为佐剂增强甲流裂解疫苗经黏膜途径免疫时的免疫效力。     

炭疽芽胞杆菌疫苗研究进展

炭疽芽胞杆菌引起的炭疽病死亡率非常高 ,当前的疫苗具有效力不稳定、对吸入性炭疽的保护率低、免疫程序繁琐、存在副作用等缺点。近年来人们在改造传统疫苗的同时又有一些新的发现 ,如保护性抗原 (PA)的抗体在体内可杀死芽胞 ;通过粘膜免疫能够诱导机体分泌IgA抗体 ;抗多聚谷氨酸 (γ D PGA)抗体可以同炭疽杆菌的繁殖体作用 ,从而杀死繁殖体 ;寻找到新的免疫原。DNA疫苗、活载体疫苗的出现为新一代安全、免疫程序简单、具更高保护率的疫苗奠定了基础     

针对炭疽保护性抗原不同结构域的中和性单克隆抗体的筛选和鉴定

炭疽保护性抗原（PA）是炭疽毒素的重要组分,同时也是现有炭疽疫苗的主要有效成分,在炭疽杆菌的致病与免疫中发挥关键作用。以重组PA为免疫原,采用B淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术,结合炭疽毒素敏感细胞的毒性中和试验,大量筛选抗PA单克隆抗体,获得了9株炭疽毒素中和性单抗。进一步分析表明这些单抗以IgG1亚类为主,分别识别PA 3个结构域的4个不同中和表位区。针对结构域2的4株单抗识别同一表位区,其中3株单抗的中和活性强于抗PA多抗;针对结构域4的4株单抗识别两个不同表位区;另有1株单抗识别位于结构域3的表位。实验结果提示PA具有多个中和表位,分别位于其不同结构域,其中结构域2、4包含主要中和表位。实验中获得的针对不同表位的中和性单抗为深入研究PA的免疫保护机理提供了工具,也为研制针对炭疽毒素的被动免疫制剂和治疗药物打下基础。     

鼠疫溶菌疫苗免疫小鼠的体液免疫应答

为选择以F1抗原为主要有效成分的鼠疫溶菌疫苗(Whole cell lysate of Yersinia pestis vaccine,WCLY)的免疫程序,设计了这组试验。在37℃培养鼠疫EV菌,通过超声波裂解法制备鼠疫溶菌疫苗。设计(0,2周)、(0,4周)、(0,2,4周)三种免疫程序,以每剂总蛋白量7.9μg、31.5μg和126.0μg三个剂量皮下接种NIH小鼠。分别在第一针免疫后2、4、8、12周采集血清,通过间接ELISA检测抗鼠疫菌F1抗原和总抗原抗体。结果显示:免疫后血清抗体上升很快,2周内即可测出;无论哪种免疫程序,至12周时抗体滴度仍保持高水平;加强免疫后,抗体水平在4周或8周达到较高,可与活疫苗免疫者相比;溶菌疫苗的接种剂量为7.9μg时,动物只出现轻度不良反应。提示鼠疫溶菌疫苗需要两剂免疫,最短可间隔2周,接种剂量应不超过7.9μg,疫苗中应富含F1抗原。     

玉竹多糖对流感病毒裂解疫苗的黏膜佐剂效应

探讨玉竹多糖(Polygonatum odoratun polysaccharides,POP)对流感病毒裂解疫苗黏膜免疫的佐剂效果。以BALB/c小鼠为模型,将H7N9流感病毒裂解疫苗单独或者添加不同剂量的POP(400、600、800、1 000和1200μg)做佐剂一次性滴鼻免疫小鼠,免疫三周后小鼠以致死剂量同源病毒攻击。实验结果表明,当在疫苗中加入1 000μg POP时,与疫苗单独免疫相比,单次滴鼻免疫就明显增强了小鼠抵抗致死量病毒感染的能力,体重丢失减少,肺部残余病毒滴度下降,存活率提高;血清中疫苗特异性IgG抗体和HI抗体以及鼻洗液中SIgA抗体都提高了;IgG亚类抗体检测显示,POP的加入显著增加了IgG1的抗体滴度,但抑制了IgG2a的产生,说明诱导的免疫应答偏向于Th2型。实验表明POP在一定剂量时能增强疫苗诱导的免疫应答,显示出黏膜佐剂效应。     

重组炭疽水肿因子的表达与生物活性分析

炭疽毒素包括3种蛋白因子,即保护性抗原（PA）、致死因子（LF）和水肿因子（EF）。EF是钙调蛋白依耐的腺苷酸环化酶,可使细胞cAMP浓度升高,导致宿主防御能力下降。为深入研究炭疽毒素的作用机理,构建了原核表达质粒,在大肠杆菌中表达出重组EF（rEF）。经鉴定,rEF以可溶形式表达于细菌胞质中。经过金属螯和层析、阳离子交换层析和凝胶层析,每升诱导培养物可获得约5mg 重组蛋白。用重组蛋白免疫家兔获得了兔多抗,能够在细胞试验中中和rEF,体外细胞试验显示rEF具有很好的生物活性,在J774A.1和CHO细胞试验中,能与LF共同竞争和PA的结合位点,相互抑制。上述工作为深入研究炭疽毒素的作用机理,开发针对EF的毒素抑制剂打下基础     

Effective mucosal immunity to anthrax: neutralizing antibodies and Th cell responses following nasal immunization with protective antigen

Mucosal, but not parenteral, immunization induces immune responses in both systemic and secretory immune compartments. Thus, despite the reports that Abs to the protective Ag of anthrax (PA) have both anti-toxin and anti-spore activities, a vaccine administered parenterally, such as the aluminum-adsorbed anthrax vaccine, will most likely not induce the needed mucosal immunity to efficiently protect the initial site of infection with inhaled anthrax spores. We therefore took a nasal anthrax vaccine approach to attempt to induce protective immunity both at mucosal surfaces and in the peripheral immune compartment. Mice nasally immunized with recombinant PA (rPA) and cholera toxin (CT) as mucosal adjuvant developed high plasma PA-specific IgG Ab responses. Plasma IgA Abs as well as secretory IgA anti-PA Abs in saliva, nasal washes, and fecal extracts were also induced when a higher dose of rPA was used. The anti-PA IgG subclass responses to nasal rPA plus CT consisted of IgG1 and IgG2b Abs. A more balanced profile of IgG subclasses with IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b Abs was seen when rPA was given with a CpG oligodeoxynucleotide as adjuvant, suggesting a role for the adjuvants in the nasal rPA-induced immunity. The PA-specific CD4(+) T cells from mice nasally immunized with rPA and CT as adjuvant secreted low levels of CD4(+) Th1-type cytokines in vitro, but exhibited elevated IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 responses. The functional significance of the anti-PA Ab responses was established in an in vitro macrophage toxicity assay in which both plasma and mucosal secretions neutralized the lethal effects of Bacillus anthracis toxin.     

Identification of Bacillus anthracis proteins associated with germination and early outgrowth by proteomic profiling of anthrax spores

The use of anthrax spores as a bioweapon has spurred efforts aimed at identifying key proteins expressed in Bacillus anthracis. Because spore germination and outgrowth occur prior to and are required for disease manifestations, blocking germination and early outgrowth with novel vaccines or inhibitors targeting critical B. anthracis germination and outgrowth-associated factors is a promising strategy in mitigating bioterror. By screening 587 paired protein spots that were isolated from dormant and germinating anthrax spores, respectively, we identified 10 spore proteins with statistically significant germination-associated increases and decreases. It is likely that proteins whose levels change during germination may play key roles in the germination and outgrowth processes, and they should be listed as priority targets for development of prophylactic and therapeutic agents against anthrax. The 31 new proteins identified in this study also complement an emerging proteomic database of B. anthracis.     

A microtiter fluorometric assay to detect the germination of Bacillus anthracis spores and the germination inhibitory effects of antibodies

Bacillus anthracis spore germination is usually detected in vitro by alterations in spore refractility, heat resistance, and stainability. We developed a more quantitative, sensitive, and semi-automated procedure for detecting germination by using a microtiter kinetic reader for fluorescence spectrophotometry. The procedure was based on the increase in fluorescence of spores with time during their incubation in germination medium containing a fluorescent nucleic acid-binding dye which stained germinated B. anthracis but not ungerminated (UG) spores. Spore germination in the presence of several germinants was characterized. Although L-alanine and inosine alone stimulated rapid germination in this assay, a medium containing optimal concentrations of L-alanine, adenosine, and casamino acids gave low background fluorescence, stimulated germination completely, and at a reasonable rate. Suspensions of heat-activated, UG spores of B. anthracis strain Ames were preincubated with antibodies (Abs) against whole spores to assess their effect on germination. Analyses of the germination data obtained revealed significant differences between spores pretreated with these Abs and those treated with non-immune sera or IgG. Germination inhibitory activity (GIA) was detected for several polyclonal rabbit anti-spore Ab preparations. These included anti-Ames strain spore antisera, IgG purified from the latter, and spore affinity-purified Abs from antisera elicited against four strains of B. anthracis. Abs elicited against UG as well as completely germinated Ames spores inhibited germination. Abs were ranked according to their GIA, and those specific for UG spores usually exhibited greater GIA. Direct binding to spores of these Abs was detected by an ELISA with whole un-germinated Ames spores. Although specific binding to spores by the anti-spore Abs was shown, their titers did not correlate with their GIA levels. Current efforts are focused on identifying the spore antigens recognized by the anti-spore Abs, characterizing the role of these targeted antigens in disease pathogenesis, and evaluating the ability of specific anti-spore Abs to protect against infection with B. anthracis.     

A Single-Dose PLGA Encapsulated Protective Antigen Domain 4 Nanoformulation Protects Mice against Bacillus anthracis Spore Challenge

Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax, is a major bioterror agent. Vaccination is the most effective prophylactic measure available against anthrax. Currently available anthrax vaccines have issues of the multiple booster dose requirement, adjuvant-associated side effects and stability. Use of biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles to deliver the antigens to immune cells could solve the issues associated with anthrax vaccines. We hypothesized that the delivery of a stable immunogenic domain 4 of protective antigen (PAD4) of Bacillus anthracis encapsulated in a poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) - an FDA approved biocompatible and biodegradable material, may alleviate the problems of booster dose, adjuvant toxicity and stability associated with anthrax vaccines. We made a PLGA based protective antigen domain 4 nanoparticle (PAD4-NP) formulation using water/oil/water solvent evaporation method. Nanoparticles were characterized for antigen content, morphology, size, polydispersity and zeta potential. The immune correlates and protective efficacy of the nanoparticle formulation was evaluated in Swiss Webster outbred mice. Mice were immunized with single dose of PAD4-NP or recombinant PAD4. The PAD4-NP elicited a robust IgG response with mixed IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes, whereas the control PAD4 immunized mice elicited low IgG response with predominant IgG1 subtype. The PAD4-NP generated mixed Th1/Th2 response, whereas PAD4 elicited predominantly Th2 response. When we compared the efficacy of this single-dose vaccine nanoformulation PAD4-NP with that of the recombinant PAD4 in providing protective immunity against a lethal challenge with Bacillus anthracis spores, the median survival of PAD4-NP immunized mice was 6 days as compared to 1 day for PAD4 immunized mice (p<0.001). Thus, we demonstrate, for the first time, the possibility of the development of a single-dose and adjuvant-free protective antigen based anthrax vaccine in the form of PAD4-NP. Further work in this direction may produce a better and safer candidate anthrax vaccine.     

Protective effect of Bacillus anthracis surface protein EA1 against anthrax in mice

Bacillus anthracis spores germinate to vegetative forms in host cells, and produced fatal toxins. A toxin-targeting prophylaxis blocks the effect of toxin, but may allow to grow vegetative cells which create subsequent toxemia. In this study, we examined protective effect of extractable antigen 1 (EA1), a major S-layer component of B. anthracis, against anthrax. Mice were intranasally immunized with recombinant EA1, followed by a lethal challenge of B. anthracis spores. Mucosal immunization with EA1 resulted in a significant level of anti-EA1 antibodies in feces, saliva and serum. It also delayed the onset of anthrax and remarkably decreased the mortality rate. In addition, the combination of EA1 and protective antigen (PA) protected all immunized mice from a lethal challenge with B. anthracis spores. The numbers of bacteria in tissues of EA1-immunized mice were significantly decreased compared to those in the control and PA alone-immunized mice. Immunity to EA1 might contribute to protection at the early phase of infection, i.e., before massive multiplication and toxin production by vegetative cells. These results suggest that EA1 is a novel candidate for anthrax vaccine and provides a more effective protection when used in combination with PA.     

The early humoral immune response to Bacillus anthracis toxins in patients infected with cutaneous anthrax

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, produces a tripartite toxin composed of two enzymatically active subunits, lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF), which, when associated with a cell-binding component, protective antigen (PA), form lethal toxin and edema toxin, respectively. In this preliminary study, we characterized the toxin-specific antibody responses observed in 17 individuals infected with cutaneous anthrax. The majority of the toxin-specific antibody responses observed following infection were directed against LF, with immunoglobulin G (IgG) detected as early as 4 days after the onset of symptoms in contrast to the later and lower EF- and PA-specific IgG responses. Unlike the case with infection, the predominant toxin-specific antibody response of those immunized with the US anthrax vaccine absorbed and UK anthrax vaccine precipitated licensed anthrax vaccines was directed against PA. We observed that the LF-specific human antibodies were, like anti-PA antibodies, able to neutralize toxin activity, suggesting the possibility that they may contribute to protection. We conclude that an antibody response to LF might be a more sensitive diagnostic marker of anthrax than to PA. The ability of human LF-specific antibodies to neutralize toxin activity supports the possible inclusion of LF in future anthrax vaccines.     

炭疽杆菌检测方法的研究现状与展望

炭疽是严重威胁人类健康的烈性传染病,其病原体为炭疽芽孢杆菌。炭疽芽孢杆菌在我国公布的《人间传染的病原微生物名录》中被列为第二类病原微生物(高致病性病原微生物),其芽孢可作为生物战剂和生物恐怖的原材料,因此,发展灵敏、高效的炭疽杆菌检测方法十分重要和紧迫。按检测的靶标分类,针对炭疽杆菌的检测方法主要有四大类:针对炭疽杆菌芽孢的检测方法,针对细菌繁殖体的检测方法,针对炭疽杆菌基因的检测方法和针对炭疽毒素蛋白的检测方法。其中,针对炭疽杆菌芽孢和细菌繁殖体的检测已经有比较成熟的方法,但其在特异性以及临床的实用性方面难以令人满意;针对炭疽杆菌基因的检测技术在特异性和灵敏度上有较大的提高,但在临床诊断等方面还有欠缺;而针对炭疽毒素蛋白的检测技术的发展,使得直接对炭疽杆菌的主要致病因子的检测成为可能,这对于临床诊断以及流行病学研究具有重要意义。本文对当前炭疽杆菌检测方法的最新进展做了简要的归纳,关注了不同检测方法的适用范围和检测能力,并展望了相关领域的发展趋势,希望能为从事炭疽杆菌检测方法研究的同行提供参考和帮助。     

Characterisation of the immune response to the UK human anthrax vaccine

The UK human anthrax vaccine consists of the alum-precipitated culture supernatant of Bacillus anthracis Sterne. In addition to protective antigen (PA), the key immunogen, the vaccine also contains a number of other bacteria- and media-derived proteins. These proteins may contribute to the transient side effects experienced by some individuals and could influence the development of the PA-specific immune response. Bacterial cell-wall components have been shown to be potent immunomodulators. B. anthracis expresses two S-layer proteins, EA1 and Sap, which have been demonstrated to be immunogenic in animal studies. These are also immunogenic in man so that convalescent and post-immunisation sera contain specific antibodies to Ea1, and to a lesser extent, to Sap. To determine if these proteins are capable of modifying the protective immune response to PA, A/J mice were immunised with equivalent amounts of recombinant PA and S-layer proteins in the presence of alhydrogel. IgG isotype profiles were determined and the animals were subsequently challenged with spores of B. anthracis STI. The results suggest that there was no significant shift in IgG isotype profile and that the presence of the S-layer proteins did not adversely affect the protective immune response induced by PA.     

Immunogenicity and efficacy of an anthrax/plague DNA fusion vaccine in a mouse model

The efficacy of multi-agent DNA vaccines consisting of a truncated gene encoding Bacillus anthracis lethal factor (LFn) fused to either Yersinia pestis V antigen (V) or Y .?pestis F1 was evaluated. A/J mice were immunized by gene gun and developed predominantly IgG1 responses that were fully protective against a lethal aerosolized B.?anthracis spore challenge but required the presence of an additional DNA vaccine expressing anthrax protective antigen to boost survival against aerosolized Y.?pestis.