title: A multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine induces antibody and cell-mediated immunity in immunized koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus): comparison of three different adjuvants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chlamydial infections represent a major threat to the survival of the koala. Infections caused by Chlamydia pecorum cause blindness, infertility, pneumonia and urinary tract infections and represent a threat to the survival of the species. Little is known about the immune response in koalas, or the safety of commonly used adjuvants for induction of protective systemic and mucosal immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  of study In the present study, we immunized 18 healthy female koalas subcutaneously with a combination of three chlamydial antigens [major outer membrane protein (MOMP), NrdB and TC0512 (Omp85)] mixed with one of three different adjuvants [Alhydrogel, Immunostimulating Complex (ISC) and TiterMax Gold].
  
  
  RESULTS
  All adjuvants induced strong neutralizing IgG responses in plasma against the three antigens with prolonged responses lasting more than 270 days seen in Alhydrogel and ISC immunized animals. Cloacal IgG responses lasting >270 days were also induced in ISC-immunized animals. Chlamydia-specific peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferative responses were elicited by both Alhydrogel and ISC, and these lasted >270 days in the ISC group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data show that a multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine, given subcutaneously, can elicit Chlamydia-specific cell-mediated and antibody responses in the koala demonstrating that the development of a protective vaccine is feasible.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Timms
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rawlinson
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brumm
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Jonathon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Beagley
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000276:immunology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D016882:ISCOMs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D048368:Phascolarctidae / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011060:Poloxalene / Q000008:administration & dosage; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D016882:ISCOMs; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; C086752:TiterMax; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; D011060:Poloxalene