title: Evaluation of immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a plasmid DNA vaccine encoding ribosomal protein L9 of Brucella abortus in BALB/c mice.
abstract: Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease. No Brucella vaccine is available for use in humans and existing animal vaccines have limitations. We have previously described the ribosomal protein L9 to have the vaccine potential. In this study, L9 based DNA vaccine (pVaxL9) was generated and evaluated in mouse model. Intramuscular immunisation of pVaxL9 was able to elicit the anti-L9 IgG antibody response of both IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes when compared with PBS and pVax immunised control animals. Heightened antibody response was observed in mice groups immunised with pVaxL9 priming and recombinant L9 boosting (PB) and where pDNA immunisation was carried out by in vivo electroporation (EP). The vaccine groups proliferated splenocytes and released Th1 type cytokines e.g. IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2. Further, flow cytometric analysis revealed that IFN-γ was released by both by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells particularly in PB and EP groups when compared with mice immunised with empty control vector. The L9 based pDNA vaccine was able to confer significant protection in mice against challenge with virulent B. abortus with PB and EP groups offering better protection. Taken together, it can be concluded that L9 based DNA vaccine is immunogenic and confer protection in mouse model.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior 474002, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior 474002, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Prachiti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Afley
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior 474002, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sudhir K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dohre
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology & Toxicology, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior 474002, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior 474002, Madhya Pradesh, India. Electronic address: subodh@drde.drdo.in.
authors.forename: Subodh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002004:Brucella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018274:Electroporation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D002004:Brucella Vaccine; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C049650:ribosomal protein L9
keywords: Brucella abortus; DNA vaccine; In vivo electroporation; L9 protein; Prime boost vaccination