Arg-gingipain a DNA vaccine induces protective immunity against infection by Porphyromonas gingivalis in a murine model.
Arginine-specific cysteine proteinases (RgpA and RgpB) produced by the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis are suspected virulence factors and are involved in interrupting host defense mechanisms as well as in penetrating and destroying periodontal connective tissues. To induce a protective immune response against P. gingivalis, we constructed an rgpA DNA vaccine. BALB/c mice were immunized intradermally by Gene Gun with plasmid DNA carrying rgpA. Antibody responses against P. gingivalis were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The rgpA DNA vaccine induced high levels of serum antibodies against P. gingivalis. Sera from the rgpA DNA vaccine-immunized mice diminished the proteolytic activity of RgpA and RgpB and inhibited the binding of P. gingivalis to a type I collagen sponge. Moreover, the sera effectively reduced the hemagglutination of P. gingivalis, indicating that the hemagglutinin activity of the organism is associated with RgpA. We found with a murine abscess model that mice immunized with the rgpA DNA vaccine were resistant to an invasive P. gingivalis W50 challenge. These results suggest that the rgpA DNA vaccine induced specific antibodies against the enzyme and that this vaccine could confer protective immunity against P. gingivalis infection.
Yonezawa
H
H
Oral Health Science Center, Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Dental College, Mihama-ku, Chiba-City, Chiba 261-8502, Japan. yonezawa@tdc.ac.jp
Ishihara
K
K
Okuda
K
K
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases