title: GapA+ Mycoplasma gallisepticum ts-11 has improved vaccine characteristics.
abstract: Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is an important poultry pathogen that causes respiratory disease and loss of production worldwide, and is currently controlled with live attenuated vaccines. These vaccines have limitations as they vary in their pathogenicity, the protection afforded and their transmissibility, but have been shown to effectively reduce losses associated with challenge in the field. A live attenuated vaccine, ts-11, has been used for the control of M. gallisepticum in several countries. This vaccine is highly dose-dependent and the flock antibody response is weak. GapA is the primary cytadherence molecule in M. gallisepticum, and the absence of GapA expression has been observed in the vast majority of cells in the ts-11 vaccine strain. In this study the immunogenicity of a GapA(+) M. gallisepticum ts-11 vaccine was investigated in specific-pathogen-free chickens. Birds vaccinated with GapA(+) M. gallisepticum ts-11 were protected against clinical signs of disease following challenge with virulent M. gallisepticum, and GapA(+) M. gallisepticum ts-11 was shown to be non-pathogenic and more immunogenic at a lower dose than the currently available M. gallisepticum ts-11 vaccine. Thus, GapA(+) M. gallisepticum ts-11 appears to have improved potential as a vaccine candidate.
authors.affiliation: Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Pollob K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shil
authors.affiliation: Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanci
authors.affiliation: Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Glenn F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.affiliation: Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Marc S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Marenda
authors.affiliation: Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Noormohammadi
authors.affiliation: Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Markham
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D002645:Chickens; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D045686:Mycoplasma gallisepticum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014132:Trachea / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; C117938:GapA cytadhesin