Intratracheal immunization with pili protein protects against mortality associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in mice

We examined the protective effect of intratracheal immunization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa pili protein against respiratory infection caused by P. aeruginosa. Mice were immunized intratracheally or subcutaneously with purified pili protein or bovine serum albumin as a control. Intratracheally but not subcutaneously pili protein-immunized mice showed significant improvement of survival after intratracheal challenge with the PAO1 strain. Furthermore, bacterial cell counts in pili protein-immunized murine lungs were significantly decreased compared to controls at 18 h after the challenge. Antipili protein antibody titers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of intratracheally pili protein-immunized mice were higher than in bovine serum albumin immunized mice. However, antipili antibody titers were not increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of subcutaneously pili protein-immunized mice, despite the high serum antipili antibody titers. Inoculation of P. aeruginosa induced immediate increases in interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of pili protein-immunized mice, reflecting an adequate and rapid immune response against P. aeruginosa respiratory tract infection. Our findings suggest that intratracheal pili protein immunization is effective against respiratory tract infection caused by P. aeruginosa in mice.     

Plasmodium gallinaceum: Transmission-blocking immunity in chickens. II. The effect of antigamete antibodies in vitro and in vivo and their elaboration during infection

Heat-inactivated serum from chickens with transmission-blocking immunity to Plasmodium gallinaceum prevented the in vitro development of oökinetes from gametocytes of P. gallinaceum only when present during the period between the initiation of gametogeriesis and the release of the microgametes. When added after this time immune serum failed to suppress oökinete development. Immune serum did not prevent the formation of gametes from gametocytes. These results are interpreted to indicate that immune serum contains factors which prevent fertilization of the malarial gametes but which do not affect the development of the zygote once fertilization has taken place. Two distinct reactions of malarial gametes with serum from chickens with transmission-suppressing immunity are described—the gamete-agglutination (AG) reaction and the microgamete surface-fixation (SF) reaction. Both reactions were associated with the immunoglobulin fraction of immune serum. The presence of SF antibodies during a blood infection correlated closely with effective transmission-blocking immunity in vivo; AG antibodies, on the other hand, were present in various circumstances in the absence of transmission-blocking immunity. AG and SF antibodies occurred not only in birds immunized with P. gallinaceum-gamete preparations but also during or following infections in unimmunized birds; SF antibodies appeared only following the peak of asexual infection in unimmunized birds and were of low titer. In immunized birds blood infections following live challenge invariably boosted low levels of SF antibodies. The results of immunization of chickens and Rhesus monkeys with gametes of their respective malaria parasites, P. gallinaceum and P. knowlesi, are compared.     

Heligmosomoides polygrus (equals nematospiroides dubius): humoral and intestinal immunologic responses to infection in mice

Measurements of serum IgG₁, IgG_2a, IgM, and IgA levels and antibody titers in these immunoglobulin classes were made at intervals after initial infection and challenge infection of mice immunized by two or three previous infections. Identical measurements were made on the content of the small intestine in mice which had been exposed to the same infection schedule. Sections of small intestine taken after initial infection and challenge infection were examined by the fluorescent antibody technique for changes in populations of immunoglobulin-containing cells and by routine histologic procedures for histopathologic changes.In serum, only IgG₁ was consistently increased after initial infection, and antibody in IgG₁ was detected within the first 2 wk of infection. In immunized animals, only IgG₁ and antibody of this class always responded to challenge infection, although antibody in other immunoglobulin classes was detected.IgA concentration of the intestinal content did not differ significantly after initial infection or challenge infection of immunized mice. Immunized mice had about twice the IgG₁ concentration in intestinal content as singly infected animals. No intestinal antibody was detected after initial infection; only IgG₁ antibody was detected in the intestinal content of immunized and challenged mice.Cell infiltrates in the intestinal mucosa and submucosa of immunized animals contained numerous IgG₁-containing cells. Mast cells and globular leukocytes were observed in the intestine of immunized animals.     

Altered renal immune complexes deposition in female BWF1 lupus mice following Plasmodium chabaudi infection

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease that has a mysterious relationship with malaria infection. The current study was designated to compare between the effect of the live and the gamma irradiated Plasmodium chabaudi infection on BWF1 lupus murine model. A total of 30 female BWF1 mice were randomly divided into three groups (10 mice/group) as follows: group (I) lupus group (lupus non infected); group (II) live malaria infected group (lupus + live malaria infection); and group (III) irradiated malaria-infected group (lupus + gamma irradiated malaria infection). Live P. chabaudi infection was accompanied with a decrease in survival rate and food consumption in comparison to the control group of mice while gamma irradiated P. chabaudi -infection was unable to do this effect. Additionally, live P. chabaudi infection was accompanied with an increased level of proteinuria and increased rate of immune complexes deposition in kidney. Moreover, infection with live, but not gamma-irradiated P. chabaudi was accompanied with an increase in nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in plasma of lupus mice. The levels of both total cholesterol and triglycerides in plasma of lupus mice after live P. chabaudi infection were obviously decreased in comparison to the control group. On the other hand, gamma-irradiated P. chabaudi infection resembled the control group. Our data revealed that infection of lupus mice with live but not gamma-irradiated P. chabaudi has several histological and biochemical effects.     

Native flagellin does not protect mice against an experimental Proteus mirabilis ascending urinary tract infection and neutralizes the protective effect of MrpA fimbrial protein

Proteus mirabilis expresses several virulence factors including MR/P fimbriae and flagella. Bacterial flagellin has frequently shown interesting adjuvant and protective properties in vaccine formulations. However, native P. mirabilis flagellin has not been analyzed so far. Native P. mirabilis flagellin was evaluated as a protective antigen and as an adjuvant in co-immunizations with MrpA (structural subunit of MR/P fimbriae) using an ascending UTI model in the mouse. Four groups of mice were intranasally treated with either MrpA, native flagellin, both proteins and PBS. Urine and blood samples were collected before and after immunization for specific antibodies determination. Cytokine production was assessed in immunized mice splenocytes cultures. Mice were challenged with P. mirabilis, and bacteria quantified in kidneys and bladders. MrpA immunization induced serum and urine specific anti-MrpA antibodies while MrpA coadministered with native flagellin did not. None of the animals developed significant anti-flagellin antibodies. Only MrpA-immunized mice showed a significant decrease of P. mirabilis in bladders and kidneys. Instead, infection levels in MrpA-flagellin or flagellin-treated mice showed no significant differences with the control group. IL-10 was significantly induced in splenocytes of mice that received native flagellin or MrpA-flagellin. Native P. mirabilis flagellin did not protect mice against an ascending UTI. Moreover, it showed an immunomodulatory effect, neutralizing the protective role of MrpA. P. mirabilis flagellin exhibits particular immunological properties compared to other bacterial flagellins.     

Plasmodium yoelii: the thymus-dependent lymphocyte in mice immunodepressed by malaria

Euthymic mice, athymic nude mice, and mice treated with antithymocyte serum were infected with Plasmodium yoelii and immunized 10 days postinfection with pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSSIII). As a control, uninfected mice were also immunized with SSSIII. Splenic plaque-forming cells as well as serum antibody titers to SSSIII were measured 5 days after immunization. In infected euthymic mice, both plaque-forming cells (PFC) and serum antibody were severely depressed. In contrast, plaque-forming cells and serum antibody were approximately normal in infected nude mice and in infected mice treated with antithymocyte serum. Splenic adherent cells from infected euthymic mice failed to function as accessory cells in the in vitro antibody response to a second antigen, the sheep erythrocyte. Moreover, they lacked suppressor activity when cultured with spleen cells from uninfected mice. In contrast, adherent spleen cells from infected mice treated with antithymocyte serum displayed accessory cell function.     

Intramammary immunization with live-attenuated Staphylococcus aureus protects mice from experimental mastitis

Female mice were immunized by the intramammary route with live-attenuated Staphylococcus aureus according to different schedules and challenged with virulent S. aureus. Immunization in late pregnancy or early lactation induced a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the number of S. aureus CFU recovered from glands after the challenge and a significant increase (P<0.05) in the levels of milk and serum specific IgG and IgA antibodies. Mice immunized before pregnancy were not protected from S. aureus challenge. Immunization did not increase the number of somatic cells in milk when compared with control mice. Protection from S. aureus intramammary infection may be achieved if mice are locally immunized during late pregnancy or early lactation.     

IL-33/ST2 contributes to severe symptoms in Plasmodium chabaudi-infected BALB/c mice

It has been reported that IL-33 contributes to potentiation of Th2 inflammatory diseases and protection against helminth infection. Increased plasma IL-33 levels have been observed in patients with severe falciparum malaria, however, the role of IL-33 in malaria remains unclear. Here we report that IL-33 enhances inflammatory responses in malaria infection. ST2-deficiency altered severity of inflammation in the liver and serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6, and IL-13 that is a Th2 cytokine during Plasmodium chabaudi infection. IL-13-deficient mice have similar phenotype with ST2-deficient mice during P. chabaudi infection. Furthermore, ST2- and IL-13-deficiency reduced mortality from P. chabaudi infection. These results indicate that IL-33/ST2 can induce production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, through production of IL-13 in P. chabaudi-infected BALB/c mice, suggesting that IL-33/ST2 play a critical role in inflammatory responses to malaria infection. Thus, these findings may define a novel therapeutic target for patients with severe malaria.     

Dietary l-proline supplementation confers immunostimulatory effects on inactivated Pasteurella multocida vaccine immunized mice

This study was conducted to determine the immunostimulatory effect of l-proline on inactivated vaccine immunized mice. Ninety-five female KM mice were randomly divided into five groups: (1) mice received dietary supplementation with 0.4 % l-proline and immunized with inactivated vaccine (V–P group); (2) mice received dietary supplementation with 0.3 % l-alanine (isonitrogenous control) and immunized with inactivated vaccine (V–A group, negative control); (3) mice were immunized with inactivated vaccine with oil adjuvant (V–O group, positive control); (4) mice were immunized with inactivated vaccine with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (V–H group, positive control); (5) mice immunized with phosphate-buffered saline (control group). All mice were dead in the control group between 36 and 48 h post infection. Mice in the V–P group showed 100 % protection after challenge with P. multocida serotype A (CQ2) at dose of 4.4 × 10⁵ CFU (2LD50). Meanwhile, serum antibody titers in the V–P group were higher than those in the V–A group before infection and those in the V–A and V–O groups at 36 h post infection. Moreover, serum IL-1β levels in the V–P group were lower than those in V–O group. Furthermore, serum GSH-PX levels in the V–P group were higher than those in the V–A and V–O groups. Collectively, dietary proline supplementation confers beneficial immunostimulatory effects in inactivated P. multocida vaccine immunized mice.     

Plasmodium chabaudi: Antigenic variation during recrudescent parasitaemias in mice

The A/S strain of Plasmodium chabaudi at different times was twice mosquito passaged and cloned by limiting dilution. Large groups of NIH mice were infected with 10⁵ parasitized red cells of populations of parasites which were considered to be identical or very similar to the population forming the first erythrocytic parasitaemia seen in mice after mosquito transmission of the parasite. Most of the mice were killed immediately after the first patent parasitaemia had become subpatent and their sera pooled. The parasitaemias of surviving mice were followed until recrudescences appeared. The protective activity of the immune serum was then tested against the original infecting population and recrudescent populations by passive transfer tests in naive mice. Protection was measured as a delay in patent parasitaemia reaching 2% compared with normal serum recipients. The immune serum significantly delayed the 2% parasitaemia but in different experiments six out of seven recrudescent populations were found to be less sensitive to the effects of the immune serum than the original infecting population. The recrudescent populations retained their reduced or total insensitivity to the action of the immune serum after two blood passages and after eryopreservation. It appears, therefore, that P. chabaudi can undergo antigenic variation.     

Plasmodium yoelii: Antibody and the maintenance of immunity in BALB/c mice

Subpatent persistence of parasitemia was detected for up to 7 weeks after infection of BALB/c mice with Plasmodium yoelii. Serum taken from recovered mice maintained parasitemias in recipient mice at a subpatent level when transferred repeatedly at 2-day intervals. Single doses of serum from convalescent donors delayed the course of infection in recipients. Small doses of transferred hyperimmune serum had the same effect, whereas large doses (>0.5 ml) totally suppressed parasitemia. Only a single secondary challenge of recovered mice was required in order to produce a maximally protective hyperimmune serum. Mice completely protected from a primary challenge with P. yoelii by transfer of hyperimmune serum were not at all resistant to a second challenge given some weeks later. After transfer of hyperimmune serum into mice with established P. yoelii infection, parasitemia fell to subpatent levels within 48 hr. During the first 21 hr after serum transfer, a progressive reduction in the proportion of ring forms present in blood smears was observed.     

Activation and IL-10 production of specific CD4+ T cells are regulated by IL-27 during chronic infection with Plasmodium chabaudi

IL-27, a regulatory cytokine, plays critical roles in the prevention of immunopathology during Plasmodium infection. We examined these roles in the immune responses against Plasmodium chabaudi infection using the Il-27ra^−/− mice. While IL-27 was expressed at high levels during the early phase of the infection, enhanced CD4⁺ T cell function and reduction in parasitemia were observed mainly during the chronic phase in the mutant mice. In mice infected with P. chabaudi and cured with drug, CD4⁺ T cells in the Il-27ra^−/− mice exhibited enhanced CD4⁺ T-cell responses, indicating the inhibitory role of IL-27 on the protective immune responses. To determine the role of IL-27 in detail, we performed CD4⁺ T-cell transfer experiments. The Il-27ra^−/− and Il27p28^−/− mice were first infected with P. chabaudi and then cured using drug treatment. Plasmodium-antigen primed CD4⁺ T cells were prepared from these mice and transferred into the recipient mice, followed by infection with the heterologous parasite P. berghei ANKA. Il-27ra^−/− CD4⁺ T cells in the infected recipient mice did not produce IL-10, indicating that IL-10 production by primed CD4⁺ T cells is IL-27 dependent. Il27p28^−/− CD4⁺ T cells that were primed in the absence of IL-27 exhibited enhanced recall responses during the challenge infection with P. berghei ANKA, implying that IL-27 receptor signaling during the primary infection affects recall responses in the long-term via the regulation of the memory CD4⁺ T cell generation. These features highlighted direct and time-transcending roles of IL-27 in the regulation of immune responses against chronic infection with Plasmodium parasites.     

Plasmodium chabaudi AS: Distinct CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cell responses during infection in DBA/2 and BALB/c mice

Malaria infections display variation patterns of clinical course and outcome. Although CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells play an essential role in immune homeostasis, the immune regulatory roles involved in malaria infection remains to be elucidated. Herein, we compared the disparity in Treg cells response during the course of blood stage Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS (P. c chabaudi AS) infection in DBA/2 and BALB/c mice. BALB/c mice initiated a Th1/Th2 profile respond to P. c chabaudi AS infection, but DBA/2 mice failed to control P. c chabaudi AS infection and almost of them died post-peak parasitemia. At the peak parasitemia, we found that higher proportion of Treg cells with elevated Foxp3 expression in DBA/2 than in BALB/c mice. We used anti-CD25 mAb to deplete Treg cells and found that the survival time and rate were prolonged in DBA/2 mice treated with anti-CD25 mAb. Treatment with anti-CD25 mAb in vivo led to enhanced pro-inflammation responses and Foxp3 expression decline on Treg cells. In contrast, after DBA/2 was treatment with anti-IL-10R mAb, IL-10R blockade in vivo caused excessive pro-inflammation responses and Foxp3 expression loss on CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells. Earlier death was found in all of DBA/2 mice with anti-IL-10R mAb. It suggested that IL-2 and IL-10 signal involved in maintaining Foxp3 expression on Treg cells. In all, the moderate suppressive activity of Treg cells may facilitate resistance to P. c chabaudi AS infection.     

Plasmodium chabaudi: Adoptive transfer of immunity with different spleen cell populations and development of protective activity in the serum of lethally irradiated recipient mice

Groups of lethally X-irradiated NIH mice were injected with either glass wool-filtered (g.w.) immune spleen cells or nylon wool enriched immune T cells from syngeneic mice immune to Plasmodium chabaudi, or g.w. normal spleen cells. After cell recipients were infected with P. chabaudi the three groups reached similar mean peak parasitaemias on Day 11. In passive transfer tests serum obtained from mice sacrificed at this time gave little protection compared to normal serum. On Day 14 g.w. immune spleen cell recipients had subpatent infections and enriched immune T-cell recipients had a lower mean parasitaemia than g.w. normal spleen cell recipients. Serum obtained on Day 14 from g.w. immune spleen cell recipients gave better protection after passive transfer than sera from enriched immune T-cell or g.w. normal spleen cell recipients. Day 14 serum from enriched immune T-cell recipients, but not from g.w. normal spleen cell recipients, produced some initial protection after passive transfer. These results suggest that the transferred immune spleen cells contributed to the observed humoral immunity in lethally irradiated recipient mice.     

Specific cross-protective antigonococcal immunity in the murine genital tract

Specific acquired immunity to gonococci was studied in systemically immunized mice, challenged with 10(7) gonococci by intrauterine inoculation. Protection after intraperitoneal immunization was monitored by vaginal cultures taken 24 h post-challenge, since events during the first 24 h postexposure to gonococci are crucial in determining the outcome of infection. Mice were protected against gonococcal challenge by two inoculations with either live or boiled gonococci given 4 weeks apart, whereas immunization with one inoculation did not protect against challenge 1 week later. Protection was correlated with high titers of IgG antibody in serum after two immunizations, but not with the high titers of serum IgM antibody found after the one immunization. IgG antibodies, but not IgM antibodies, were shown to pass into genital secretions. Protection could be passively transferred by serum with high titers of antibody. Of most practical importance was the finding that not only were heat-stable antigens protective, but also heterologous protection resulted after immunization with three strains differing in source (disseminated gonococcal infection versus gonorrhea), opacity-transparency characteristics, and serum sensitivity. The data indicate that IgG antibodies resulting from systemic immunization with heat-stable antigens may be able to provide cross-protection immunity against gonorrhea.     

Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract regulates spleen macrophage response during Plasmodium chabaudi infection

Malaria is a major health problem that still affects numerous countries. The current study aimed to identify the role of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract in regulating mouse spleen macrophages during the progression of Plasmodium chabaudi infection. Three doses of the leaf extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) were administered to mice inoculated with P. chabaudi infected erythrocytes. The weight of the infected mice improved after the treatment with I. oblongifolia. The infection causes disorganization of macrophage distribution in the spleen. After the mice had been treated with the leaf extract, the macrophages appeared to be reorganized in the white and red pulp areas. In addition, the I. oblongifolia leaf extract (IOLE) significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity of the mice spleens infected with P. chabaudi. The phagocytic activity of spleen macrophages was increased in the infected group as indicated by the significant decrease in the number of fluorescent particles in the spleen sections. This number increased in the mice spleens after treatment with IOLE. Based on these results, it is suggested that IOLE regulate macrophage response of the spleen during the blood stage of malaria in mice.     

Plasmodium chabaudi: relationship between the occurrence of recrudescent parasitaemias in mice and the effective levels of acquired immunity

In NIH inbred mice infected with the $\text{A}\text{S}$ strain of Plasmodium chabaudi the erythrocytic infection shows an acute primary parasitaemia which becomes subpatent after about 2 weeks. A period (7–10 days) of subpatency follows before a short-lasting patent recrudescence appears. The appearance of the recrudescent parasitaemia was examined in relation to (1) the level of antiplasmodial antibody detected by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test, (2) the antiparasite activity of the serum measured by the passive protection test, and (3) the ability of the mice to control and eliminate a large intravenous challenge infection. In the period between the primary parasitaemia becoming subpatent and the onset of the recrudescence there was a slight drop in the IFA levels, and a steep decline in passive protective levels and in the ability of the mice to control a large intravenous challenge infection. It is suggested that a decline in the effector arm in the immune response contributes to emergence of the recrudescent parasitaemias.     

Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium chabaudi: A neutral endopeptidase in parasite extracts and plasma of infected animals

By using a sensitive fluorometric method with Val-Leu-Gly-Arg-3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (VLGR-AEC) as a substrate, two endopeptidase activities were identified in two fractions of Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration from soluble P. berghei and P. chabaudi extracts. Controls with normal mouse erythrocytes, with leukocytes, and with reticulocyte enriched blood and different washing procedures during the preparation of soluble P. berghei extracts showed that the MW >200 kDa fraction was a contaminant from erythrocytes and exhibited an optimal pH activity of 8.2. In contrast, the fraction 130 kDa was related to P. berghei and P. chabaudi and exhibited an optimal pH activity of 7.4. The two enzyme activities were compared with eight different substrates. The parasite endopeptidase showed a strong activity with Val-Leu-Gly-Lys-AEC (VLGK-AEC) and Ser-Gly-Lys-AEC (SGK-AEC) as substrates; in contrast, the mouse host endopeptidase poorly cleaved the VLGK-AEC and did not cleave SGK-AEC. Presence of the hydrophobic benzyl group on serine reduced the hydrolizing properties of P. berghei endopeptidase: the reverse was observed with host endopeptidase. The hydrolysis of the N-polyhydroxyalcanoyl-VLGK-AEC substrate by the parasite neutral endopeptidase strongly increased with the schizogonic stage, as shown with synchronized P. chabaudi in mice. By its physiological pH and specificity the release of this enzyme in mouse plasma during the infection could be of interest in a peptidyl-drug Strategy.     

Correlation between protective antibody response and patent infection with Hymenolepis nana in mice

Correlation between protective antibody response and patent infection with Hymenolepis nana in mice. International Journal for Parasitology16: 197–203. Mice inoculated with mouse-derived cysticercoids of Hymenolepis nana, as well as with eggs, produced IgG and IgE antibodies that were detected by double diffusion (DD) and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), respectively. When mice inoculated with eggs (day 0) were challenged with eggs (day 66), all were resistant to the challenge (assessed by the failure of cysticercoid recovery in the intestinal tissue) and produced protective antibodies evidenced by passive transfer, as well as IgG and IgE isotypes. When mice inoculated with eggs (day 0) were treated with a highly efficacious cestocide, praziquantel on day 6 at the beginning of the lumen phase, all were also resistant to the egg challenge on day 66, however, IgE, IgG, and protective antibodies were not detected. When mice treated with praziquantel before patent infection were repeatedly challenged with high doses of eggs, some of them produced IgG and IgE antibodies. From these results, it is suggested that (1) the production of protective antibody is a secondary response after patency (which may be ascribed to eggs released from mature worms), and (2) mice initially given eggs are highly resistant to egg challenge showing that an effector mechanism of acquired resistance to egg challenge may be expressed without high titres of protective antibody, at least in the serum.