Yersinia pestis biovar Microtus strain 201, an avirulent strain to humans, provides protection against bubonic plague in rhesus macaques.
Yersinia pestis biovar Microtus is considered to be a virulent to larger mammals, including guinea pigs, rabbits and humans. It may be used as live attenuated plague vaccine candidates in terms of its low virulence. However, the Microtus strain's protection against plague has yet to be demonstrated in larger mammals. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of the Microtus strain 201 as a live attenuated plague vaccine candidate. Our results show that this strain is highly attenuated by subcutaneous route, elicits an F1-specific antibody titer similar to the EV and provides a protective efficacy similar to the EV against bubonic plague in Chinese-origin rhesus macaques. The Microtus strain 201 could induce elevated secretion of both Th1-associated cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α) and Th2-associated cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6), as well as chemokines MCP-1 and IL-8. However, the protected animals developed skin ulcer at challenge site with different severity in most of the immunized and some of the EV-immunized monkeys. Generally, the Microtus strain 201 represented a good plague vaccine candidate based on its ability to generate strong humoral and cell-mediated immune responses as well as its good protection against high dose of subcutaneous virulent Y. pestis challenge.
Anhui Medical University; Hefei, Anhui PR China; Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province; Xining, PR China.
Qingwen
Q
Zhang
Anhui Medical University; Hefei, Anhui PR China; Laboratory of Analytical Microbiology; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing, PR China.
Qiong
Q
Wang
Laboratory of Analytical Microbiology; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing, PR China.
Guang
G
Tian
Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province; Xining, PR China.
Zhizhen
Z
Qi
Laboratory of Analytical Microbiology; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing, PR China.
Xuecan
X
Zhang
Laboratory of Analytical Microbiology; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing, PR China.
Xiaohong
X
Wu
Laboratory Animal Research Center; Academy of Military Medical Science; Beijing; PR China.
Yefeng
Y
Qiu
Laboratory of Analytical Microbiology; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing, PR China.
Yujing
Y
Bi
Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province; Xining, PR China.
Xiaoyan
X
Yang
Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province; Xining, PR China.
Youquan
Y
Xin
Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control of Qinghai Province; Xining, PR China.
Jian
J
He
Laboratory of Analytical Microbiology; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing, PR China.
Jiyuan
J
Zhou
Laboratory Animal Research Center; Academy of Military Medical Science; Beijing; PR China.
Lin
L
Zeng
Laboratory of Analytical Microbiology; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing, PR China.
Ruifu
R
Yang
Anhui Medical University; Hefei, Anhui PR China; Laboratory of Analytical Microbiology; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing, PR China.
Xiaoyi
X
Wang
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D010930:Plague / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010931:Plague Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014456:Ulcer / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines; D010931:Plague Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
Rhesus macaques; Yersinia pestis; live attenuated vaccine; plague; protection