title: Humoral immune responses of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) after DNA-mediated immunization with a beta-galactosidase reporter gene.
abstract: Humoral immune responses of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) to DNA-mediated immunization with a beta-galactosidase reporter gene expression plasmid were evaluated. Six male and 6 female adult penguins received either test plasmid, pCMV-beta, containing the beta-galactosidase gene or control plasmid, pCI, lacking a gene for expression. Three birds from each group were used previously in a diluent control group and given one injection of sterile saline. All samples were screened for anti-beta-galactosidase antibodies by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with anti-chicken immunoglobulin G as secondary antibody. Antibodies to beta-galactosidase were detected in the sera of pCMV-beta-inoculated penguins, with a peak response on day 21. Antibody titers of the test plasmid group versus both control groups on days 21, 28, and 42 differed significantly. These results demonstrate that black-footed penguins can be safely transfected with the gene encoding beta-galactosidase and will mount a humoral response against the in vivo-expressed protein. Knowledge from this initial study can be applied to the development of DNA-mediated vaccines against specific infectious diseases of penguins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Veterinary Services, Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, Connecticut 06355, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sherrill
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schock
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: St Aubin
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Burnley
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Poet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001717:Birds / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010957:Plasmids; D011897:Random Allocation; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D001616:beta-Galactosidase