Active and passive mouse-protecting capacity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa protein vaccines

Six different vaccines were prepared, each containing the soluble, practically lipopolysaccharide-free protein extract of 2 or 3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. In active mouse protection tests the vaccines were shown to give protection against both homologous and heterologous serotype strains, and against strain PA-103 producing exotoxin A. In rabbits the vaccines were found to stimulate the production of protective antibodies demonstrable in a passive mouse protection test. The immune serum had a protective effect against the exotoxin A-producing strain PA-103, too. Toxicity of the vaccines was studied in mice (mouse weight gain test) and in rabbits (intracutaneous skin test and pyrogenicity). The vaccines were not or only slightly toxic.     

Monoclonal IgM antibody protection in mice against infection with an encapsulated strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Passive protective activities of three different classes of monoclonal antibodies in mice against challenge with strain ATCC 31432 (capsular type I) of Staphylococcus epidermidis were examined. Monoclonal IgM antibody passively protected mice against challenge with the homologous strain, whereas monoclonal IgG1 and IgG2b antibodies did not. The protective activity of IgM was absorbed by the cell surface antigen extracted from the homologous strain but not by the antigen from heterologous strains. Rapid reduction of viable cells took place in the peritoneal cavity of mice immunized with monoclonal IgM as early as 6 h after the challenge with the homologous strain. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent inhibition assay showed there was remarkable inhibition with the homologous cell surface antigen but not with heterologous preparations from other strains. Results suggest that in the mouse the major passive protection against the S. epidermidis strain is provided by the IgM antibody to the cell surface antigen.     

Mouse virulent strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Relation of antiphagocytic activity to the protection-inducing antigen.

Using 10(9) or 10(7) colony-forming units of a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis (strain 1142) in saline or 5% mucin, respectively, 90 to 100% of mice died within 24 to 48 hr after intraperitoneal challenge infection. These organisms gradually multiplied in the peritoneal cavity when injected intraperitoneally into mice, while the mouse avirulent strain (strain 1124) rapidly decreased and no organisms were found there 20 hr after injection. This strain was capable of inducing resistance against challenge with homologous strains. The resistance appeared as early as the first week and disappeared the 4th week after the immunization. However, no resistance was induced with strain 1124 against challenge with strain 1142. Also, hyperimmune rabbit serum prepared with strain 1142 passively protected against challenge with homologous strain in mice. The protective antibody was absorbed out with homologous organisms but not with strain 1124. Subsequently, a surface substance was obtained from strains 1142 or 1124 by the method of Morse. The 1142 surface substance was capable of inducing a resistance against challenge with the homologous strain but not with the 1124 surface substance. Also, this substance absorbed the protective antibody in hyperimmune rabbit serum prepared with the homologous strain but not with the 1124 surface substance nor with the Smith surface antigen extracted from the Smith strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Conversely, the protective antibody in rabbit anti-Smith strain serum against challenge with the homologous strain was absorbed with the Smith surface antigen but not with the 1142 surface substance. In the agar diffusion test, the 1142 surface substance and the Smith surface antigen produced single precipitin lines only against homologous antisera. Biochemical analysis of the 1142 surface substance showed that the substance contained neither nucleic acids nor proteins but is composed of hexosamine, glycerol, phosphorus, alanine, glycine and phenylalanine.     

Mouse immune response to meningococcal antigens

The mouse immune response against Neisseria meningitidis was studied by using an extract from group Y (Slaterus) known to contain protein antigens common to other meningococci. By using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay, high titers of specific IgM and IgG class antibodies were measured which lasted over 2 months after immunization. These antibodies cross-reacted with similar extracts from other meningococci groups. Bactericidal antibodies directed against protein antigens were also elicited after immunization and they belonged to IgM, IgG2a, and IgG2b isotypes. Cellular immunity, expressed as delayed type hypersensitivity under the conditions tested, could be detected neither in homologous nor heterologous reactions.     

A new serological group (E) of Neisseria meningitidis

A new serological group of encapsulated Neisseria meningitidis, tentatively classified as group E, produced halo precipitates with homologous antiserum. Group-specific complement-fixing antibodies were produced in rabbits by inoculation with lysed cells. The group E isolates are immunologically related to group C, as shown by precipitation and quantitative agglutination. Antisera to group E strains did not protect mice challenged with groups A, B, or C organisms. Until now, a comparison of group E strains with the X, Y, and Z strains of Slaterus has not been conducted.     

Mouse Virulent Strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Using 10⁹ or 10⁷ colony-forming units of a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis (strain 1142) in saline or 5% mucin, respectively, 90 to 100% of mice died within 24 to 48 hr after intraperitoneal challenge infection. These organisms gradually multiplied in the peritoneal cavity when injected intraperitoneally into mice, while the mouse avirulent strain (strain 1124) rapidly decreased and no organisms were found there 20 hr after injection. This strain was capable of inducing resistance against challenge with homologous strains. The resistance appeared as early as the first week and disappeared the 4th week after the immunization. However, no resistance was induced with strain 1124 against challenge with strain 1142. Also, hyperimmune rabbit serum prepared with strain 1142 passively protected against challenge with homologous strain in mice. The protective antibody was absorbed out with homologous organisms but not with strain 1124. Subsequently, a surface substance was obtained from strains 1142 or 1124 by the method of Morse. The 1142 surface substance was capable of inducing a resistance against challenge with the homologous strain but not with the 1124 surface substance. Also, this substance absorbed the protective antibody in hyperimmune rabbit serum prepared with the homologous strain but not with the 1124 surface substance nor with the Smith surface antigen extracted from the Smith strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Conversely, the protective antibody in rabbit anti-Smith strain serum against challenge with the homologous strain was absorbed with the Smith surface antigen but not with the 1142 surface substance. In the agar diffusion test, the 1142 surface substance and the Smith surface antigen produced single precipitin lines only against homologous antisera. Biochemical analysis of the 1142 surface substance showed that the substance contained neither nucleic acids nor proteins but is composed of hexosamine, glycerol, phosphorus, alanine, glycine and phenylalanine.     

Duration and strain-specificity of immunity to enterotropic mouse hepatitis virus.

We examined the duration and strain-specificity of immunity to enterotropic mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). Two strains of enterotropic MHV (MHV-Y and MHV-RI) were determined to be distinct virus strains by serum neutralization and by enzyme immunoassay. BALB/cByJ mice immunized by oral infection with either MHV-Y or MHV-RI developed serum MHV IgG titers that remained stable for more than 6 months. The animals were protected from reinfection with the homologous virus strain at 1 and 6 months after an initial immunizing infection, based on intestinal histology and polymerase chain reaction for a 375-base-pair segment of the membrane glycoprotein gene. Immunity was also fully protective against challenge with the heterologous strain 1 month after initial immunization and partly protective after 6 months. Maternally-derived passive immunity prevented MHV infection in 1-week-old pups challenged with the homologous strain of MHV, and pups challenged with the heterologous virus strain were partially protected.     

H-Y antigen: No evidence for alleles in wild strains of mice

H-Y antigen(s) coded or controlled by the Y chromosome in a variety of wild mouse strains have been compared with those of the inbred laboratory strains C57BL/6 (B6) and C57BL/10 (B10). H-Y antigen(s) were detected by H-2-restricted cytotoxic T cells from B6 and B10 female mice primed in vivo and boosted in vitro with syngeneic male spleen cells: There was no difference in the degree of H-Y specific lysis of male cells from the C57BL strains and of F₁ hybrids or B6 congenic mice carrying the Y chromosome from the wild mouse strains examined. This result indicated that at the level of target cell specificity the H-Y antigen(s) from wild and laboratory strains were indistinguishable. H-Y antigen(s) were also found to be indistinguishable at the level of the in vitro induction of the anti H-Y cytotoxic response: F₁ female mice, primed in vivo and boosted in vitro with homologous F₁ male cells, all made H-Y-specific responses and where it could be examined, the target cell specificity of the anti-H-Y cytotoxic cells showed that B10 male cells as well as the homologous F₁ male cells (where the Y chromosome was derived from the wild strain) were good targets. Finally, possible differences in H-Y transplantation antigens between the wild strains and the B10 laboratory strain were examined by grafting F₁ male mice, the progeny of B10 females, and wild strain males with B10 male skin. These grafts were not rejected during an observation period of more than 9 months. Taken together, neither the cytotoxic data nor the skin graft data provide any evidence for allelism of H-Y even though the mouse strains examined were collected from widely disparate geographical locations.     

Isolates of Candida albicans that differ in virulence for mice elicit strain-specific antibody-mediated protective responses

Three distinct isolates of Candida albicans were used to establish systemic and oral infections in inbred mice that are genetically resistant or susceptible to tissue damage. Patterns of infection differed significantly between both yeasts and mouse strains. Systemic infection conferred significant protection against re-challenge with the homologous, but not the heterologous yeast; however, the protective effect was more evident in the tissue-susceptible CBA/CaH mice than in the resistant BALB/c strain. In contrast, oral infection induced protection against both homologous and heterologous oral challenge, although this was significant only in the CBA/CaH mice. CBA/CaH mice produced antibodies of both IgG1 and IgG2a subclasses, whereas BALB/c mice produced predominantly IgG1. Western blotting demonstrated considerable differences between epitopes recognised by serum antibodies from mice of both strains after immunisation with each of the three yeasts. Thus, different strains of yeast show considerable specificity in antibody responses elicited by either systemic or oral infection.     

Passive protection of mice against infection with Trypanosoma cruzi with plasma: the use of blood- and vector bug-derived trypomastigote challenge

A study was made of the protective effects of plasma (CMP) from mice convalescent from infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. A single dose of CMP was injected into mice infected with blood trypomastigotes of 1 of each of 5 strains of T. cruzi. Protection was greatest with strains BG, M1 and Y, and least with strain Peru. Strain Tulahuen was of intermediate susceptibility. The protective effect of CMP was found to be similar in mice infected by metacyclic trypomastigotes harvested from vector bugs and mice infected by blood trypomastigotes. Plasma (IMP) from mice hyperimmunized with 6 doses of a killed T. cruzi epimastigote vaccine with saponin as an adjuvant gave no protection against challenge with strain Y, although a group of mice hyperimmunized in parallel with those from which IMP was taken were strongly resistant to challenge.     

Immunological response of three mouse strains to typhoid vaccine and Vi antigen

Vi-agglutinin, active cutaneous anaphylaxis and protective responses (ed(50)) of three mouse strains (CFW, NIH, and Balb/cAnN) to acetone-inactivated typhoid vaccine and soluble Vi antigen were compared. Seven days after immunization with either typhoid vaccine or Vi antigen the three strains of mice differed with respect to Vi-antibody titers. Significant differences were observed in the protective responses. Each mouse strain was significantly better protected by the intraperitoneal than by subcutaneous route of immunization. Active cutaneous anaphylaxis was more pronounced in showing strain differences in response to Vi antigen. The serological responses to Vi antigen of the strains of mice did not correlate with their protective response.     

Evaluation of outcomes of combined specific prophylaxis with the antibiotic resistant immunogenic plague pathogen strain and emergency prophylaxis with aminoglycosides in the experimental plague model in white mice]

It was shown that aminoglycosides (streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, sisomicin, tobramycin, amikacin) prevented manifestation of postvaccine immunity in albino mice immunized by vaccine strain Yersinia pestis EV. Avirulent strain Y. pestis 363 Monr with chromosome resistance to aminoglycosides of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations provided manifestation of antiplague immunity when streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin and amikacin were administered for prophylaxis. ED50 achieved 1.0-1.2 x 10(3) CFU and in control group (without treatment) 9.3 x 10(2) CFU. Gentamicin and amikacin were highly effective for experimental plague prophylaxis (90-100% animal survival), but inhibited development of postinfective immunity. Protective index (PI) value was 1.1 x 10(2). It was demonstrated that combination of specific prophylaxis (Y. pestis 363 Monr) and emergency prophylaxis with aminoglycosides in albino mice infected with approximately 1000 LD50 of virulent strain Y. pestis 358 (5 hours after infection) was highly effective and provided protective effect against subsequent infection with plague pathogen. Value of PI was 1.1 x 10(5) and practically did not differ from PI (1.7 x 10(5)) in control group (intact mice, immunized with strains EV [symbol: see text] 363 Monr).     

Immunization with an Autotransporter Protein of Orientia tsutsugamushi Provides Protective Immunity against Scrub Typhus

BackgroundScrub typhus is an acute febrile disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi infection. Recently, the rapid increase of scrub typhus incidence in several countries within the endemic region has become a serious public health issue. Despite the wide range of preventative approaches that have been attempted in the past 70 years, all have failed to develop an effective prophylactic vaccine. Currently, the selection of the proper antigens is one of the critical barriers to generating cross-protective immunity against antigenically-variable strains of O. tsutsugamushi.Conclusions/SignificanceImmunization of ScaA proteins provides protective immunity in mice when challenged with the homologous strain and significantly enhanced protective immunity against infection with heterologous strains. To our knowledge, this is the most promising result of scrub typhus vaccination trials against infection of heterologous strains in mouse models thus far.     

Induction of antimeningitis immunity by synthetic peptides. II. Immunoactive synthetic fragments of OpaB protein from Neisseria meningitidis

Mice of various lines were immunized by 11 synthetic peptides that correspond to the sequences of fragments of the OpaB protein from the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis involving the known human T-helper epitopes and all the potential mouse T-helper epitopes calculated for the protein. The mice were immunized with the free peptides without their conjugation with a protein carrier. Most of the peptides were found to induce in mice the production of antipeptide antibodies. The mice protection against the experimental infection by a virulent strain of N. meningitidis of the B serotype was studied, and two peptides were shown to exert the most pronounced protective effect.     

Induction of Resistance in Mice by the Capsular Polysaccharide Antigens of Staphylococcus aureus

Mice actively immunized with capsular polysaccharides extracted from capsular type strains A, B, C, and D, determined by the serum-soft agar technique, were protected against lethal infection by homologous strains, but no animals survived infection by heterologous substance immunization even with at high doses. Passive protective antibody in rabbit antisera prepared using these strains was absorbed out only by homologous capsular polysaccharide in mice. These results indicated that resistance was specific for capsular polysaccharide. The substance contained mainly neutral sugar, small amounts of hexosamine, methyl-pentose, and phosphate although these amounts varied depending on the capsular types strains.     

Protective cross activity of the extracellular mucus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Extracellular slime was isolated from 15 P. aeruginosa typing strains of different O-serotypes (immunotypes). The isolated slime, partially purified by ethanol precipitation, was later referred to as crude slime. Glycolipoprotein was obtained from crude slime and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was obtained from acetone-dried microbial cells by the method of aqueous-phenol extraction. All these antigenic preparations were studied in the active mouse cross-protection tests: immunized mice were challenged with 7 strains of different immunotypes, strain No. 170 019 or toxigenic strain PA-103. In experiments on mice the slime of different P. aeruginosa serotypes (immunotypes) was found to stimulate immunity to intraperitoneal infection with P. aeruginosa, both homologous or heterologous in respect to their immunotype, including toxigenic strains. Slime glycoprotein also stimulated active cross-immunity in mice, but the level of this immunity was higher than that of immunity stimulated by crude slime. LPS showed mostly weak protective activity in experiments on mice.     

The protective activity of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A in in vivo experiments

The protective activity of the sera of mice immunized with the preparations of native and detoxified N. meningitidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS), group A, as well as with monoclonal antibodies to N. meningitidis antigens, groups A and B, was studied on the mucin model of meningococcal infection. The study showed that the maximum level of anti-LPS antibodies in mice was observed on day 7 after the injection of LPS. Immune sera obtained from mice were capable of protecting the animals from fetal meningococcemia induced by N. meningitidis strains of homologous and heterologous groups. As shown by the results of this study, the alkaline treatment of N. meningitidis native LPS did not decrease the protective properties of antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies under study were found to possess high preventive activity in mice challenged with N. meningitidis, groups A and B. Anti-LPS monoclonal antibodies showed greater protective activity than antipolysaccharide monoclonal antibodies.     

The effect of iron deficiency and iron overload on the evolution of Chagas disease produced by three strains of Trypanosoma cruzi in CFW mice.

1. CFW mice were fed either on control diet or on iron-deficient diet. 2. After 5 months the mice were infected with CL, Y or YuYu strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. 3. On the fifth day after the infection, the mice on control diet were divided in three groups: one group remained as controls, two groups were injected either with desferrioxamine or iron-dextran. 4. The severity of the disease was evaluated by parasitemia and mortality. 5. The experimental groups were compared with the infected group fed on the control diet. 6. In mice fed on the iron-deficient diet, the disease was more severe for CL strain and less severe for Y and YuYu strains. 7. Treatment with desferrioxamine produced a less severe disease with YuYu strain and no difference with the other strains. 8. On Treatment with iron-dextran, the disease became more severe with Y and CL strains; no effect was observed with YuYu strain. 9. These findings may be due to intraspecific differences among the strains.     

Induction of Anti-Meningitis Immunity by Synthetic Peptides: II. Immunoactive Synthetic Fragments of the OpaB Protein from Neisseria meningitidis

Mice of various lines were immunized by 11 synthetic peptides that correspond to the sequences of fragments of the OpaB protein from the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis involving the known human T-helper epitopes and all the potential mouse T-helper epitopes calculated for the protein. The mice were immunized with the free peptides without their conjugation with a protein carrier. Most of the peptides were found to induce in mice the production of antipeptide antibodies. Mice protection against the experimental infection by a virulent strain of N. meningitidis of the B serotype was studied, and two peptides were shown to exert the most pronounced protective effect.     

The Relationship of Capsular-type of Staphylococcus epidermidis to Virulence and Induction of Resistance in the Mouse

Biochemical, immunological and morphological properties of mouse virulent Staphylococcus epidermidis strains ATCC-31432, SE-360 and SE-10 isolated from clinical specimens were compared. Heat-killed organisms and cell surface polysaccharides extracted from cell surface fractions induced resistance in mice only against challenge with the homologous strain. Hyperimmune rabbit serum prepared with these strains passively protected mice against challenge infection only with the homologous strain. Protective activity in immune sera was absorbed by homologous whole cell and cell surface polysaccharide, but not by heterologous organisms and cell surface polysaccharide. In agar diffusion tests, cell surface polysaccharides from strains ATCC-31432, SE-360 and SE-10 produced single precipitin lines only with the homologous antiserum. The outermost layer of ultra-thin sections of the three strains was labelled by homologous but not by heterologous ferritin-conjugated serum. Biochemical analysis of the cell surface polysaccharides showed that they were composed of hexosamine, glycerol, phosphorous, alanine, glycine and phenylalanine. The three strains ATCC-31432, SE-360 and SE-10 were regarded as different from each other. Thirteen of 300 fresh isolates of Staph. epidermidis randomly selected from human clinical specimens proved to be virulent for mice. With ATCC-31432, SE-360 and SE-10 tentatively designated as capsular-type I, type II and III, respectively, a majority of mouse virulent strains belonged to capsular-type II.