title: Interferon-gamma responses in sheep exposed to virulent and attenuated Brucella melitensis strains.
abstract: Antibody detection is the basis of large-scale sheep brucellosis diagnosis because of its sensitivity and specificity. In contrast, information on the cellular mediated immune (CMI) response triggered after Brucella melitensis infection, a cornerstone in the protection against this pathogen, is more limited, particularly regarding the effect of the virulence of the infecting strain in the induced CMI reaction. Here, the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) profiles evoked after exposure by different routes to virulent (H38) and attenuated (Rev.1) B. melitensis strains in 14 pregnant sheep and 87 ewe lambs, respectively, were characterized accounting for different host-related factors, and compared with their serological response and with the basal IFN-γ responses observed in 155 animals non exposed to Brucella. No significant differences in the IFN-γ response of Rev.1 vaccinated animals depending on the inoculation route was observed, in contrast with their serological results. Response in H38-challenged followed a similar trend although peaked later, and an effect of the abortion on the IFN-γ response was detected. This information could help to understand the interaction bacteria-host that leads to its intracellular survival and could be useful for the design of new diagnostic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Centro VISAVET, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Sancho
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Central de Sanidad Animal, Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Camino del Jau s/n, 18320 Santa Fe, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durán-Ferrer
authors.affiliation: Centro VISAVET, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: García-Seco
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Central de Sanidad Animal, Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Camino del Jau s/n, 18320 Santa Fe, Granada, Spain; Sede social Tragsa y Tragsatec, C/Maldonado 58, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macías
authors.affiliation: Centro VISAVET, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Centro VISAVET, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Central de Sanidad Animal, Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Camino del Jau s/n, 18320 Santa Fe, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Castellana de Ganaderos Sociedad Cooperativa, C/Europa 16, 28810 Villalbilla, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legaz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diez-Guerrier
authors.affiliation: Centro VISAVET, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Centro VISAVET, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.affiliation: Centro VISAVET, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. Electronic address: jalvarez@visavet.ucm.es.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Álvarez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Brucella melitensis; Cell mediated immune response; IFN-γ; Immunology; Rev.1; Sheep