title: Cellular and humoral immunogenicity of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis specific lipopentapeptide antigens.
abstract: Paratuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a chronic infectious disease affecting domestic and wild ruminants. Antigens currently used for the diagnosis of paratuberculosis are whole-cell derived crude preparations. The identification of MAP-specific antigens for the specific and early diagnosis of this infection is strongly needed. This study assessed the ability of the MAP-specific synthetic lipopeptide antigen Para-LP-01 to invoke specific serum antibody (Ab) and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in sheep experimentally exposed to MAP S strain. Responses were compared to those elicited by the crude whole-cell derived MAP 316v antigen (316v). Para-LP-01 induced a significant serum Ab response in MAP-infected sheep in comparison with unexposed or uninfected sheep, but failed to induce detectable CMI responses including production of IFN-γ, IL-10 and lymphoproliferation, unlike 316v which invoked both CMI and serum Ab responses in MAP-exposed sheep. Para-LP-01 is a suitable antigen for serodiagnosis of MAP-infection in sheep. The differential induction of humoral and CMI responses by lipid based antigens could enhance current understanding of the role played by cell-wall associated lipid antigens in the pathogenesis of MAP-infection.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.
authors.forename: Shyamala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thirunavukkarasu
authors.forename: Karren M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Plain
authors.forename: Torsten M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Eckstein
authors.forename: Kumudika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Whittington
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D000939:Epitopes; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D007371:Interferon-gamma