title: Comparison of subcutaneous versus intranasal immunization of male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) for induction of mucosal and systemic immunity against Chlamydia pecorum.
abstract: Chlamydia pecorum infections are debilitating in the koala, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality, with current antibiotic treatments having minimal success and adversely affecting gut microflora. This, combined with the sometimes-asymptomatic nature of the infection, suggests that an efficacious anti-chlamydial vaccine is required to control chlamydial infections in the koala. To date vaccination studies have focused primarily on female koalas, however, given the physiological differences between male and female reproductive tracts, we tested the efficacy of a vaccine in 12 captive male koalas. We evaluated the potential of both subcutaneous and intranasal vaccine delivery to elicit mucosal immunity in male koalas. Our results showed that both intranasal and subcutaneous delivery of a vaccine consisting of C. pecorum major outer membrane protein (MOMP) and the adjuvant immunostimulating complex (ISC) induced significant immune responses in male koalas. Subcutaneous immunization elicited stronger cell-mediated responses in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), and greater plasma antibody levels whereas the intranasal immunization elicited stronger humoral responses in urogenital tract (UGT) secretions. This is the first time a Chlamydia vaccine has been tested in the male koala and the first assessment of a mucosal vaccination route in this species. Our results suggest that vaccination of male koalas can elicit mucosal immunity and could contribute to the long-term survivability of wild populations of the koala.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove 4059, Queensland, Australia; Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Dr, Sippy Downs 4558, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Courtney A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Waugh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove 4059, Queensland, Australia; Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Dr, Sippy Downs 4558, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Timms
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove 4059, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.affiliation: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Fig tree Pocket, Brisbane 4519, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rawlinson
authors.affiliation: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Fig tree Pocket, Brisbane 4519, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brumm
authors.affiliation: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Fig tree Pocket, Brisbane 4519, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove 4059, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: k2.beagley@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Beagley
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D048368:Phascolarctidae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Chlamydia; Intranasal; Koala; Phascolarctos cinereus; Subcutaneous; Vaccine