Genetically engineered Bifidobacterium animalis expressing the Salmonella flagellin gene for the mucosal immunization in a mouse model.
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.
Takata
Tetsuo
T
International Center for Medical Research and Treatment, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
Shirakawa
Toshiro
T
Kawasaki
Yoshiko
Y
Kinoshita
Shohiro
S
Gotoh
Akinobu
A
Kano
Yasunobu
Y
Kawabata
Masato
M
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
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D005408:Flagellin