title: Immunization of sheep with a combination of intiminγ, EspA and EspB decreases Escherichia coli O157:H7 shedding.
abstract: Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 are zoonotic pathogens associated with haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and the haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Ruminants are the main reservoir of this organism and most outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 infections are food borne. Food contamination by ruminant manure has been reported as the primary source of human infection, therefore inhibition of E. coli O157:H7 colonization and shedding in ruminants could control the risk of human exposure to this pathogen. In the present study a vaccine based on the translocon proteins EspA and EspB and the outer membrane adhesion factor intiminγ significantly reduced faecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 by orally infected sheep. Protection correlates with serum antibody responses to the defined antigens and validates the targeting of these colonization factors. Whereas vaccination has been described in cattle, this is the first study describing a significant decrease in faecal shedding following systemic immunization of sheep.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. maryam.atefyekta@ugent.be
authors.forename: M Atef
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yekta
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Goddeeris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanrompay
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D022361:Escherichia coli Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C087863:EaeB protein, E coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D022361:Escherichia coli Vaccines; C102051:EspA protein, E coli; C073819:eaeA protein, E coli