Host immunity in the protective response to vaccination with heat-killed Burkholderia mallei.
BACKGROUND
We performed initial cell, cytokine and complement depletion studies to investigate the possible role of these effectors in response to vaccination with heat-killed Burkholderia mallei in a susceptible BALB/c mouse model of infection.


RESULTS
While protection with heat-killed bacilli did not result in sterilizing immunity, limited protection was afforded against an otherwise lethal infection and provided insight into potential host protective mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that mice depleted of either B cells, TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma exhibited decreased survival rates, indicating a role for these effectors in obtaining partial protection from a lethal challenge by the intraperitoneal route. Additionally, complement depletion had no effect on immunoglobulin production when compared to non-complement depleted controls infected intranasally.


CONCLUSIONS
The data provide a basis for future studies of protection via vaccination using either subunit or whole-organism vaccine preparations from lethal infection in the experimental BALB/c mouse model. The results of this study demonstrate participation of B220+ cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in protection following HK vaccination.
Whitlock
Gregory C
GC
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA. gcwhilo@utmb.edu
Lukaszewski
Roman A
RA
Judy
Barbara M
BM
Paessler
Slobodan
S
Torres
Alfredo G
AG
Estes
D Mark
DM
D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D042726:Burkholderia mallei / Q000276:immunology*; D005896:Glanders / Q000276:immunology*; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014611:Vaccination; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D007371:Interferon-gamma