title: Evaluation of the Leptospira interrogans Outer Membrane Protein OmpL37 as a Vaccine Candidate.
abstract: The identification of potential vaccine candidates against leptospirosis remains a challenge. However, one such candidate is OmpL37, a potentially surface-exposed antigen that has the highest elastin-binding ability described to date, suggesting that it plays an important role in host colonization. In order to evaluate OmpL37's ability to induce a protective immune response, prime-boost, DNA and subunit vaccine strategies were tested in the hamster model of lethal leptospirosis. The humoral immune response was evaluated using an indirect ELISA test, and the cytokine profile in whole blood was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Unlike the DNA vaccine, the administration of recombinant OmpL37 induced a strong IgG antibody response. When individually administrated, both formulations stimulated a TNF-α mediated inflammatory response. However, none of the OmpL37 formulations or vaccination strategies induced protective immunity. Further studies are required towards the identification of new vaccine targets against leptospirosis.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Larré
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Alex
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Grassmann
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Andrade
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schuch
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amilton Clair Pinto
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Seixas Neto
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.|Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daiane Drawanz
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alan John Alexander
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Odir Antônio
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Dellagostin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018272:Porins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C100900:OmpL protein, bacteria; D018272:Porins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019444:Vaccines, DNA