Efficacy in Pigs of Inactivated and Live Attenuated Influenza Virus Vaccines against Infection and Transmission of an Emerging H3N2 Similar to the 2011-2012 H3N2v

Vaccines provide a primary means to limit disease but may not be effective at blocking infection and pathogen transmission. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial inactivated swine influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines and experimental live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccines against infection with H3N2 virus and subsequent indirect transmission to naive pigs. The H3N2 virus evaluated was similar to the H3N2v detected in humans during 2011-2012, which was associated with swine contact at agricultural fairs. One commercial vaccine provided partial protection measured by reduced nasal shedding; however, indirect contacts became infected, indicating that the reduction in nasal shedding did not prevent aerosol transmission. One LAIV vaccine provided complete protection, and none of the indirect-contact pigs became infected. Clinical disease was not observed in any group, including nonvaccinated animals, a consistent observation in pigs infected with contemporary reassortant H3N2 swine viruses. Serum hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers against the challenge virus were not predictive of efficacy; titers following vaccination with a LAIV that provided sterilizing immunity were below the level considered protective, yet titers in a commercial vaccine group that was not protected were above that level. While vaccination with currently approved commercial inactivated products did not fully prevent transmission, certain vaccines may provide a benefit by limitating shedding, transmission, and zoonotic spillover of antigenically similar H3N2 viruses at agriculture fairs when administered appropriately and used in conjunction with additional control measures.     

Identification of immunoreactive proteins of Brucella melitensis by immunoproteomics

Infection with Brucella causes brucellosis, a chronic disease in humans, which induces abortion and sterility in livestock. Among the different Brucella species, Brucella melitensis is considered the most virulent and is the predominant species associated with outbreaks in China. To date, no safe human vaccine is available against Brucella infection. The currently used live vaccines against Brucella in livestock induce antibodies that interfere with the diagnosis of field infection in vaccinated animals, which is harmful to eradication programs. However, there is as yet no complete profile of immunogenic proteins of B. melitensis. Towards the development of a safer, equally efficacious, and field infection-distinguishable vaccine, we used immunoproteomics to identify novel candidate immunogenic proteins from B. melitensis M5. Eighty-eight immunoreactive protein spots from B. melitensis M5 were identified by Western blotting and were assigned to sixty-one proteins by mass spectrometry, including many new immunoreactive proteins such as elongation factor G, F0F1 ATP synthase subunit beta, and OMP1. These provide many candidate immunoreactive proteins for vaccine development.     

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of the Brucella melitensis bp26 gene coding for a protein immunogenic in infected sheep

Abstract We have previously identified a Brucella melitensis 28 kDa cytosoluble protein (CP28) which was highly immunogenic in infected sheep and which in addition made possible the serological differentiation between infected and B. melitensis Rev.l vaccinated sheep. Monoclonal antibodies against CP28 were used to screen a B. melitensis 16M genomic library and to clone the corresponding gene. DNA sequencing of the gene encoding CP28 of B. melitensis 16M revealed that it was nearly identical to that of the recently published bp26 gene of Brucella abortus vaccine strain S19 coding for a periplasmic protein. The differences between the B. melitensis 16M gene and that of B. abortus S19 consisted of single nucleotide substitutions, one or two codon deletions, one codon addition, and most importantly a 21-bp deletion. The corresponding region of B. abortus S19 contains two 10-bp direct repeats which could have been involved in the genesis of the deletion. Expression of the B. melitensis 16M bp26 gene in Escherichia coli studied by the use of the monoclonal antibodies showed the same characteristics as reported for the B. abortus S19 bp26 gene, i.e. the presence of a higher molecular mass preprotein and a lower molecular mass band which probably corresponds to the mature protein exported to the periplasm. Immunoblotting performed with sera from either naturally infected or B. melitensis H38 experimentally infected sheep confirmed the importance of the B. melitensis CP28/BP26 protein as diagnostic antigen.     

Expression, purification, and improved antigenic specificity of a truncated recombinant bp26 protein of Brucella melitensis M5-90: a potential antigen for differential serodiagnosis of brucellosis in sheep and goats

Antibodies produced in animals vaccinated using live attenuated vaccines against Brucella spp. are indistinguishable using current conventional serological tests from those produced in infected animals. One potential approach is to develop marker vaccines in which specific genes have been deleted from parental vaccine strains that show good immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy. Corresponding methods of detection for antibodies raised by the marker vaccine should also be developed. A specific fragment of the bp26 gene of Brucella melitensis M5-90 was cloned into vector pQE32 to construct the recombinant plasmid (pQE32-rΔbp26). It was used to transform Escherichia coli M15 (pREP4) host cells, which expressed the rΔbp26 protein. Subsequently, the recombinant protein was purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography. The results of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the purified rΔbp26 protein was represented by only one band, with a molecular weight of 14 kDa, and it showed good antigenic specificity on western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The purified rΔbp26 protein was intended to be used as an antigen to develop a novel ELISA to differentiate animals vaccinated with bp26 mutants of Brucella spp. from those infected naturally and those vaccinated with the parental vaccine strains.     

Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccination in elk. I. Efficacy of reduced dosage

Bovine brucellosis is a serious zoonotic disease affecting some populations of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and bison (Bison bison) in the Greater Yellowstone Area, USA. The fear that elk and/or bison may spread Brucella abortus to livestock has prompted efforts to reduce or eliminate the disease in wildlife. Brucella abortus strain RB51 (RB51) vaccine has recently been approved for use in cattle. Unlike strain 19 vaccine, RB51 does not cause false positive reactions on standard brucellosis serologic tests. If effective, it may become the vaccine of choice for wildlife. In February 1995, 45 serologically negative female elk calves were trapped and taken to the Sybille Wildlife Research and Conservation Education Unit near Wheatland, Wyoming, USA. In May 1995, 16 of these elk calves were hand-vaccinated with 1 x 10(9) colony forming units (CFU) of RB51, 16 were vaccinated with 1 x 10(8) CFU RB51 by biobullet, and 13 were given a saline placebo. The elk were bred in fall of 1996 and they were challenged with 1 x 10(7) CFU of B. abortus strain 2308 by intraconjunctival inoculation in March 1997. Thirteen (100%) control elk aborted, 14 (88%) hand-vaccinated elk aborted, and 12 (75%) biobullet vaccinated elk aborted or produced nonviable calves. These results suggest that a single dose of 1 x 10(8) to 1 x 10(9) CFU RB51 does not provide significant protection against B. abortus induced abortion in elk. However, the vaccine appears to be safe at this dose and additional study may reveal a more effective RB51 vaccine regimen for elk.     

Vaccination Method Affects Immune Response and Bacterial Growth but Not Protection in the Salmonella Typhimurium Animal Model of Typhoid

Understanding immune responses elicited by vaccines, together with immune responses required for protection, is fundamental to designing effective vaccines and immunisation programs. This study examines the effects of the route of administration of a live attenuated vaccine on its interactions with, and stimulation of, the murine immune system as well as its ability to increase survival and provide protection from colonisation by a virulent challenge strain. We assess the effect of administration method using the murine model for typhoid, where animals are infected with S. Typhimurium. Mice were vaccinated either intravenously or orally with the same live attenuated S. Typhimurium strain and data were collected on vaccine strain growth, shedding and stimulation of antibodies and cytokines. Following vaccination, mice were challenged with a virulent strain of S. Typhimurium and the protection conferred by the different vaccination routes was measured in terms of challenge suppression and animal survival. The main difference in immune stimulation found in this study was the development of a secretory IgA response in orally-vaccinated mice, which was absent in IV vaccinated mice. While both strains showed similar protection in terms of challenge suppression in systemic organs (spleen and liver) as well as survival, they differed in terms of challenge suppression of virulent pathogens in gut-associated organs. This difference in gut colonisation presents important questions around the ability of vaccines to prevent shedding and transmission. These findings demonstrate that while protection conferred by two vaccines can appear to be the same, the mechanisms controlling the protection can differ and have important implications for infection dynamics within a population.     

Preliminary study about sublingual administration of bacteria-expressed pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine in miniature pigs

Sublingual (SL) administration of influenza vaccine would be non-invasive and effective way to give human populations protective immunity against the virus, especially when pandemic influenza outbreaks. In this study, the efficacy of pandemic influenza virus-based subunit vaccines was tested after sublingual (SL) adjuvant administration in pigs. Eight specific pathogen-free Yucatan pigs were divided into 4 groups: nonvaccinated but challenged (A) and vaccinated and challenged (B, C, and D). The vaccinated groups were subdivided by vaccine type and inoculation route: SL subunit vaccine (hemagglutinin antigen 1 [HA1] + wild-type cholera toxin [wtCT], B); IM subunit vaccine (HA1 + aluminum hydroxide, C); and IM inactivated vaccine (+ aluminum hydroxide, D). The vaccines were administered twice at a 2-week interval. All pigs were challenged with pandemic influenza virus (A/swine/GCVP-KS01/2009 [H1N1]) and monitored for clinical signs, serology, viral shedding, and histopathology. After vaccination, hemagglutination inhibition titre was higher in group D (320) than in the other vaccinated groups (40–80) at the time of challenge. The mobility and feed intake were reduced in group C. Both viral shedding and histopathological lesions were reduced in groups B and D. Although this study has limitation due to the limited number of pigs (2 pigs per a group), the preliminary data in this study provided the protective potential of SL administration of bacteria-expressed pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine in pigs. There should be additional animal studies about effective adjuvant system and vaccine types for the use of SL influenza vaccination.     

Immune Response in Goats to Different Payloads of FMDV Monovalent Vaccine: Protection Against Virulent Challenge and Development of Carrier Status

The relationship of Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus antigen payload and number of dose of vaccine conferring protection against virus challenge in goats was studied. Goats vaccinated with oil adjuvant Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines containing different antigen payloads with or without booster resisted virulent challenge at 21 days post-vaccination or 7 days after booster respectively. However, localized sub-clinical infection was observed in two vaccinated goats on 35 days post-challenge. RNA could be detected from 31.8% of vaccinated goats (10^2.69–10^4.99 viral RNA copies per cotton swab of nasal secretions) on day 35 post-challenge. Since no live virus could be isolated after 5 days post-challenge, the risk of these animals transmitting the disease was probably very low. The finding showed that oil adjuvant Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines containing antigen payload of 1.88 μg may prevent or reduce the local virus replication at the oropharynx and shedding of virus from nasal secretions and thereby reduce the amount of virus released into the environment subsequent to exposure to live virus. This study also showed that goats with poor sero conversion to vaccination can be infected without overt clinical signs and became carriers like sheep.     

Complete genome sequences of Brucella melitensis strains M28 and M5-90, with different virulence backgrounds

Brucella melitensis is a Gram-negative coccobacillus bacteria belonging to the Alphaproteobacteria subclass. It is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes brucellosis, a disease affecting sheep, cattle, and sometimes humans. The B. melitensis strain M5-90, a live attenuated vaccine cultured from the B. melitensis virulent strain M28, has been an effective tool to control brucellosis in goats and sheep in China. Here we report the complete genome sequences of B. melitensis M28 and M5-90, strains with different virulence backgrounds, which will serve as a valuable reference for future studies.     

Comparative proteome analysis of laboratory grown Brucella abortus 2308 and Brucella melitensis 16M

Brucella species are pathogenic agents that cause brucellosis, a debilitating zoonotic disease that affects a large variety of domesticated animals and humans. Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus are considered major health threats because of their highly infectious nature and worldwide occurrence. The availability of the annotated genomes for these two species has allowed a comparative proteomics study of laboratory grown B. melitensis 16M and B. abortus 2308 by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting. Computer-assisted analysis of the different 2-D gel images of strains 16M and 2308 revealed significant quantitative and qualitative differences in their protein expression patterns. Proteins involved in membrane transport, particularly the high affinity amino acids binding proteins, and those involved in Sec-dependent secretion systems related to type IV and type V secretion systems, were differentially expressed. Differential expression of these proteins may be responsible for conferring specific host preference in the two strains 2308 and 16M.     

Toxoplasma gondii: chimeric Dr fimbriae as a recombinant vaccine against toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii is responsible for fetopathy in farm animals and humans and severe disease in immunocompromised individuals (i.e. AIDS patients). Effective vaccines, inducing protective and long-lasting immunity to this global parasite, are still desired. In the work, we evaluated the immunogenic and immunoprotective activity of Escherichia coli chimeric Dr fimbriae bearing selected antigenic epitopes of three T. gondii antigens (SAG1, GRA1 and MAG1), in comparison with conventional recombinant antigens obtained in E. coli expression system. Our data demonstrate a very high protective efficacy of recombinant antigens supplemented with Freund's adjuvants, whereas chimeric Dr fimbriae as a vaccine proved non-protective. The recombinant antigen vaccine induced a strong specific antibody response and prevented the brain cysts formation by 89%. The results are promising and should be confirmed in further study on farm animals by use of less aggressive than Freund's adjuvant preparations.     

Vaccination with Recombinant Adenoviruses Expressing the Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus F or H Proteins Overcomes Viral Immunosuppression and Induces Protective Immunity against PPRV Challenge in Sheep

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious disease of small ruminants caused by the Morbillivirus peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). Two recombinant replication-defective human adenoviruses serotype 5 (Ad5) expressing either the highly immunogenic fusion protein (F) or hemagglutinin protein (H) from PPRV were used to vaccinate sheep by intramuscular inoculation. Both recombinant adenovirus vaccines elicited PPRV-specific B- and T-cell responses. Thus, neutralizing antibodies were detected in sera from immunized sheep. In addition, we detected a significant antigen specific T-cell response in vaccinated sheep against two different PPRV strains, indicating that the vaccine induced heterologous T cell responses. Importantly, no clinical signs and undetectable virus shedding were observed after virulent PPRV challenge in vaccinated sheep. These vaccines also overcame the T cell immunosuppression induced by PPRV in control animals. The results indicate that these adenovirus constructs could be a promising alternative to current vaccine strategies for the development of PPRV DIVA vaccines.     

基于Erns和E2基因的猪瘟标记疫苗研究概述

猪瘟(Classical swine fever,CSF)是猪的一种急性、热性和致死性传染病。该病流行范围很广,而且致死率极高,给世界养猪业造成严重危害。目前,猪瘟流行地区或国家仍然采用接种弱毒疫苗的方法作为预防猪瘟的主要策略,但接种弱毒疫苗的传统预防控制方法无法区别猪瘟疫苗免疫抗体和野毒感染抗体。为了净化、消灭猪瘟,新型标记疫苗的研究已迫在眉睫。近些年,陆续有国内外研究者应用分子生物学和基因工程方法,对猪瘟野毒株或弱毒株进行基因修饰构建出新毒株,其中以Erns和E2为基础构建新毒株的方法占据着重要地位。部分候选疫苗具有较好的免疫效果,可用于区分免疫和自然感染动物,而且有望作为新一代疫苗来替代传统弱毒疫苗。     

布氏杆菌病疫苗的应用和研究现状

布氏杆菌病是由布氏杆菌引起的一种重要的人兽共患病。布氏杆菌具有宿主广泛、传染性强以及感染后根治困难等特点,对畜牧业和人类健康均构成严重威胁,疫苗免疫是预防和控制布氏杆菌病的主要措施。迄今国内外已有多个弱毒活疫苗在使用,但均存在一定的缺陷,因此研究更理想的疫苗一直是控制布氏杆菌病的重点。目前除了常规诱变筛选新的弱毒株外,人们正通过基因工程技术构建重组弱毒疫苗、DNA疫苗以及亚单位疫苗。本文简述了布氏杆菌病疫苗的应用及新型疫苗的研究现状。     

Replication and clearance of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus from the brains of animals vaccinated with chimeric SIN/VEE viruses

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an important, naturally emerging zoonotic pathogen. Recent outbreaks in Venezuela and Colombia in 1995, involving an estimated 100,000 human cases, indicate that VEEV still poses a serious public health threat. To develop a safe, efficient vaccine that protects against disease resulting from VEEV infection, we generated chimeric Sindbis (SIN) viruses expressing structural proteins of different strains of VEEV and analyzed their replication in vitro and in vivo, as well as the characteristics of the induced immune responses. None of the chimeric SIN/VEE viruses caused any detectable disease in adult mice after either intracerebral (i.c.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation, and all chimeras were more attenuated than the vaccine strain, VEEV TC83, in 6-day-old mice after i.c. infection. All vaccinated mice were protected against lethal encephalitis following i.c., s.c., or intranasal (i.n.) challenge with the virulent VEEV ZPC738 strain (ZPC738). In spite of the absence of clinical encephalitis in vaccinated mice challenged with ZPC738 via i.n. or i.c. route, we regularly detected high levels of infectious challenge virus in the central nervous system (CNS). However, infectious virus was undetectable in the brains of all immunized animals at 28 days after challenge. Hamsters vaccinated with chimeric SIN/VEE viruses were also protected against s.c. challenge with ZPC738. Taken together, our findings suggest that these chimeric SIN/VEE viruses are safe and efficacious in adult mice and hamsters and are potentially useful as VEEV vaccines. In addition, immunized animals provide a useful model for studying the mechanisms of the anti-VEEV neuroinflammatory response, leading to the reduction of viral titers in the CNS and survival of animals.     

Efficacy of a plant‐produced virus‐like particle vaccine in chickens challenged with Influenza A H6N2 virus

The efficacy, safety, speed, scalability and cost‐effectiveness of producing hemagglutinin‐based virus‐like particle (VLP) vaccines in plants are well‐established for human influenza, but untested for the massive poultry influenza vaccine market that remains dominated by traditional egg‐grown oil‐emulsion whole inactivated virus vaccines. For optimal efficacy, a vaccine should be closely antigenically matched to the field strain, requiring that influenza A vaccines be updated regularly. In this study, an H6 subtype VLP transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana was formulated into a vaccine and evaluated for efficacy in chickens against challenge with a heterologous H6N2 virus. A single dose of the plant‐produced H6 VLP vaccine elicited an immune response comparable to two doses of a commercial inactivated H6N2 vaccine, with mean hemagglutination inhibition titres of 9.3 log₂ and 8.8 log₂, respectively. Compared to the non‐vaccinated control, the H6 VLP vaccine significantly reduced the proportion of shedders and the magnitude of viral shedding by >100‐fold in the oropharynx and >6‐fold in the cloaca, and shortened oropharyngeal viral shedding by at least a week. Despite its potency, the cost of the antigenic mismatch between the inactivated H6N2 vaccine and challenge strain was evident not only in this vaccine's failure to reduce viral shedding compared to the non‐vaccinated group, but its apparent exacerbation of oropharyngeal viral shedding until 21 days post‐challenge. We estimate that a kilogram of plant leaf material can produce H6 VLP vaccines sufficient for between 5000 and 30 000 chickens, depending on the effective dose and whether one or two immunizations are administered.     

Initial characterization of an autoclaved Toxoplasma vaccine in mice

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoal disease that has a major significance from the perspectives of public health and veterinary medicine. Therefore, an obvious long-term goal of many scientists would be the development of an effective vaccine. In this study, autoclaved vaccine was evaluated for its ability to protect mice against Toxoplasma gondii RH challenge as an acute infection model. Results showed that autoclaved Toxoplasma vaccine (ATV) when combined with BCG as an adjuvant was effective in triggering cell mediated immunity as shown by a significant increase in the percentage of splenic CD8+ T-lymphocytes. Following challenge, death of mice vaccinated with ATV was delayed for nine days. There was a significant decrease in parasite density in different organs, and a marked reduction of pathological changes in the liver suggesting that significant immune responses were mounted following vaccination. Future studies are warranted to test the vaccine against challenge with brain cysts as a chronic infection model and to evaluate it with other recent immunization strategies that can further enhance its immunogenicity.     

Comparative proteome analysis of Brucella melitensis vaccine strain Rev 1 and a virulent strain, 16M

The genus Brucella consists of bacterial pathogens that cause brucellosis, a major zoonotic disease characterized by undulant fever and neurological disorders in humans. Among the different Brucella species, Brucella melitensis is considered the most virulent. Despite successful use in animals, the vaccine strains remain infectious for humans. To understand the mechanism of virulence in B. melitensis, the proteome of vaccine strain Rev 1 was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and compared to that of virulent strain 16M. The two strains were grown under identical laboratory conditions. Computer-assisted analysis of the two B. melitensis proteomes revealed proteins expressed in either 16M or Rev 1, as well as up- or down-regulation of proteins specific for each of these strains. These proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. It was found that certain metabolic pathways may be deregulated in Rev 1. Expression of an immunogenic 31-kDa outer membrane protein, proteins utilized for iron acquisition, and those that play a role in sugar binding, lipid degradation, and amino acid binding was altered in Rev 1.     

Detection of neutralizing antibodies against α-toxin of different Clostridium septicum strains in cell culture

Clostridium septicum, a ubiquitious organism, is the pathogen which causes the classical malignant edema after injuries. Because of its strong cytotoxic alpha-toxin, infections are often lethal. To prevent losses in animals, vaccination with alpha-toxoid vaccines is carried out. Quality control of the vaccines is done by a neutralization test in mice. A cytotoxin test and as an alternative method to detect neutralizing antibodies, a cytotoxin inhibition test was standardized. In the studies, alpha-toxin of the C. septicum reference strain (NC 547) from the National Collection of Type Cultures was compared with alpha-toxin of a field strain from an outbreak in Germany. Sera from five heterologous polyvalent and three monovalent vaccines from eight rabbit groups were available. Each vaccination had been carried out according to the procedure of the German Pharmacopoeia. In three out of the five sera of the groups vaccinated with the heterologous polyvalent vaccine, cytotoxin neutralizing antibodies were detected. High antibody titers were observed in sera of rabbits vaccinated with a vaccine of strain NC 547, lower titers in the sera of rabbits vaccinated with a vaccine of the field strain. No cytotoxin neutralizing antibodies could be found in the sera of rabbits vaccinated with the monovalent C. chauvoei vaccine. The toxins of all strains showed the same ranking of the vaccines. Vaccines which caused high antibody titers in the animals were detected by all toxins as such, as well as vaccines which had medium or low antibody inducing capacity. The results were independent of the C. septicum strain used for the production of alpha-toxin.     

Assessment of vaccination by a phase I Coxiella burnetii-inactivated vaccine in goat herds in clinical Q fever situation

A study was carried out to assess the efficacy of vaccination, using a phase I Coxiella burnetii-inactivated vaccine (Coxevac?; CEVA), within three goat herds experiencing Q fever abortions waves. The stratification of the population (n = 905) was based on parity and on infection status related to both serological and qPCR vaginal shedding results. Control (n = 443) and vaccinated (n = 462) groups were established in each farm. Vaccination was administered to does before mating and to kids after active immunity acquisition (at least 3–4 months old). The vaccine effectiveness was analyzed at subsequent farrowing on both clinical incidence and vaginal shedding at the delivery day. Among the 231 animals considered as susceptible, that is, seronegative nonshedders, about 90% were infected whatever the group, showing that vaccination did not prevent infection under high infection exposure. Fortunately, vaccination induced an overall decrease in shedding levels. A significant average difference between groups was estimated to 1.16 log(10) bacteria per swab for primiparous and even higher (1.81 log(10)) for initially susceptible ones. Thus, in a clinical context, vaccination should be implemented first in renewal animals. Indeed, young animals are those which best respond to vaccination by significantly reducing C. burnetii burden and, conversely, which excrete bacteria most massively if not vaccinated.