title: Immunogenicity of an electron beam inactivated Rhodococcus equi vaccine in neonatal foals.
abstract: Rhodococcus equi is an important pathogen of foals that causes severe pneumonia. To date, there is no licensed vaccine effective against R. equi pneumonia of foals. The objectives of our study were to develop an electron beam (eBeam) inactivated vaccine against R. equi and evaluate its immunogenicity. A dose of eBeam irradiation that inactivated replication of R. equi while maintaining outer cell wall integrity was identified. Enteral administration of eBeam inactivated R. equi increased interferon-γ production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to stimulation with virulent R. equi and generated naso-pharyngeal R. equi-specific IgA in newborn foals. Our results indicate that eBeam irradiated R. equi administered enterally produce cell-mediated and upper respiratory mucosal immune responses, in the face of passively transferred maternal antibodies, similar to those produced in response to enteral administration of live organisms (a strategy which previously has been documented to protect foals against intrabronchial infection with virulent R. equi). No evidence of adverse effects was noted among vaccinated foals.
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Angela I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.affiliation: National Center for Electron Beam Research and Departments of Poultry Science and Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Suresh D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brake
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kaytee B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bourquin
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: Antech Diagnostics, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Fabiano N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Waithaka
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mwangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Love
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Maria Julia B
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Felippe
authors.affiliation: Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Noah D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006736:Horses / Q000276:immunology*; D007110:Immunity, Active; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines