title: Evaluation of protection against Chlamydophila abortus challenge after DNA immunization with the major outer-membrane protein-encoding gene in pregnant and non-pregnant mice.
abstract: The protective effect of DNA vaccination with the gene encoding the major outer-membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydophila abortus has been studied in non-pregnant and pregnant mouse models after chlamydial challenge. OF1 outbred mice were vaccinated intramuscularly three times every 3 weeks, mated and challenged with C. abortus 2 weeks after the last injection of DNA. In non-pregnant mice, the MOMP DNA vaccine elicited a specific humoral response with predominantly IgG2a antibodies, suggesting a Th1-type immune response. The induced antibodies showed no in vitro neutralizing effect on C. abortus infectivity. Moreover, immunization with the momp gene showed no reduction in the mean splenic bacterial counts of non-pregnant or pregnant mice or in the mean placental bacterial counts of pregnant mice after the C. abortus challenge. Nevertheless, the MOMP DNA immunization induced a non-specific and partial protection in fetuses against challenge.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Pathologie Infectieuse et Immunologie, INRA - Centre de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Héchard
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grépinet
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodolakis
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D023501:Chlamydophila / Q000276:immunology*; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA