Balb/c mouse model and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for evaluation of the immunoprotectivity against Q fever.
The Balb/c mice were infected with Coxiella burnetii and samples of blood and major organs from the infected mice were collected on days 1 to 14 after infection. The DNAs extracted from the samples were detected by a developed real-time quantitative PCR specific for C. burnetii and high loads of C. burnetii were found in spleens, livers, and lungs, particularly in spleens. The Balb/c mice were immunized with whole cell antigen (WCA) of C. burnetii and coxiella loads in spleens of mice were assessed by the real-time quantitative PCR on day 7 after challenge with C. burnetii. The analysis suggested that phase I whole cells were excellent immunogen that elicited complete protection against coxiella infection by two-booster but not one-booster immunization. The results suggest that the combination of Balb/c model and the real-time quantitative PCR assay is a reliable and sensitive way to evaluate the efficiency of vaccines against Q fever.
Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Fengtai, Beijing 100071, China.
Jingbo
J
Zhang
Bohai
B
Wen
Meiling
M
Chen
Jun
J
Zhang
Dongsheng
D
Niu
D000818:Animals; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011778:Q Fever / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012290:Rickettsial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology
D012290:Rickettsial Vaccines