title: Genetically engineered Bifidobacterium animalis expressing the Salmonella flagellin gene for the mucosal immunization in a mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A critical component of the host defense against enteric infections is the immunological response of the mucosal membrane, a major starting point of infectious disease, such as typhoid fever. The mucosal immune system consists of an integrated network of lymphoid tissues, mucous membrane-associated cells, and effector molecules. In the present study, we developed a recombinant Bifidobacterium animalis (B. animalis) genetically modified with the Salmonella flagellin gene for mucosal immunization as an oral typhoid vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We constructed an oral vaccine against Salmonella typhimurium, consisting of recombinant B. animalis containing the flagellin gene of Salmonella. The recombinant B. animalis was administered orally to mice every other day for 6 weeks. Anti-flagellin antibodies in the serum and stools were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected significantly higher levels of flagellin-specific IgA in the serum and stools of the mice treated with the recombinant B. animalis containing the flagellin gene than was seen in those treated with parental B. animalis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that an oral vaccination using recombinant B. animalis genetically modified with the flagellin gene of Salmonella may be effective against Salmonella infections.
authors.affiliation: International Center for Medical Research and Treatment, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirakawa
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Shohiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Akinobu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.forename: Yasunobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawabata
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005408:Flagellin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D005408:Flagellin