Induction of protective immunity against brucellosis in mice by vaccination with a combination of naloxone, alum, and heat-killed Brucella melitensis 16 M.
OBJECTIVE
A T-helper cell type 1-specific response leads to the elimination of intracellular infection with Brucella. Studies have shown that naloxone (NLX) can promote a cellular immune response in this respect. The current study was carried out to evaluate the induction of protective immunity in mice against brucellosis by vaccination with a combination of NLX, alum, and heat-killed Brucella melitensis 16 M (HKB).


METHODS
Mice were categorized into five groups and received intraperitoneal vaccination on Days 0 and 7. Then serum levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4, the bacterial load, and the survival rate were measured 2 weeks after the last vaccination.


RESULTS
The serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, and immunoglobulin G in the NLX + alum + HKB group were shown to be significantly increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the lowest bacterial load was observed in this group. The survival rate in groups vaccinated with combinations containing adjuvants was 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of NLX and alum enhanced the immunogenicity of HKB, which can be used in the vaccination of animals and humans at risk of the disease.
Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Yousef
Y
Motaharinia
Mohammad Ali
MA
Rezaee
Ahmad
A
Rashidi
Ali
A
Jalili
Mohammad Jafar
MJ
Rezaie
Reza
R
Shapouri
Werya
W
Hossieni
Mohammad Reza
MR
Rahmani
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002004:Brucella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000276:immunology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044967:Serum / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D002004:Brucella Vaccine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D015847:Interleukin-4; C041524:aluminum sulfate; D009270:Naloxone; D007371:Interferon-gamma