title: Vaccination with F1-V fusion protein protects black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) against plague upon oral challenge with Yersinia pestis.
abstract: Previous studies have established that vaccination of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) with F1-V fusion protein by subcutaneous (SC) injection protects the animals against plague upon injection of the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This study demonstrates that the F1-V antigen can also protect ferrets against plague contracted via ingestion of a Y. pestis-infected mouse, a probable route for natural infection. Eight black-footed ferret kits were vaccinated with F1-V protein by SC injection at approximately 60 days-of-age. A booster vaccination was administered 3 mo later via SC injection. Four additional ferret kits received placebos. The animals were challenged 6 wk after the boost by feeding each one a Y. pestis-infected mouse. All eight vaccinates survived challenge, while the four controls succumbed to plague within 3 days after exposure. To determine the duration of antibody postvaccination, 18 additional black-footed ferret kits were vaccinated and boosted with F1-V by SC injection at 60 and 120 days-of-age. High titers to both F1 and V (mean reciprocal titers of 18,552 and 99,862, respectively) were found in all vaccinates up to 2 yr postvaccination, whereas seven control animals remained antibody negative throughout the same time period.
authors.affiliation: US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, WI 53711, USA. Tonie_Rocke@usgs.gov
authors.forename: Tonie E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Rocke
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marinari
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreeger
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Enama
authors.forename: Bradford S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000382:microbiology*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010930:Plague / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D010931:Plague Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D010931:Plague Vaccine; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins