title: A Prototype Recombinant-Protein Based Chlamydia pecorum Vaccine Results in Reduced Chlamydial Burden and Less Clinical Disease in Free-Ranging Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).
abstract: Diseases associated with Chlamydia pecorum infection are a major cause of decline in koala populations in Australia. While koalas in care can generally be treated, a vaccine is considered the only option to effectively reduce the threat of infection and disease at the population level. In the current study, we vaccinated 30 free-ranging koalas with a prototype Chlamydia pecorum vaccine consisting of a recombinant chlamydial MOMP adjuvanted with an immune stimulating complex. An additional cohort of 30 animals did not receive any vaccine and acted as comparison controls. Animals accepted into this study were either uninfected (Chlamydia PCR negative) at time of initial vaccination, or infected (C. pecorum positive) at either urogenital (UGT) and/or ocular sites (Oc), but with no clinical signs of chlamydial disease. All koalas were vaccinated/sampled and then re-released into their natural habitat before re-capturing and re-sampling at 6 and 12 months. All vaccinated koalas produced a strong immune response to the vaccine, as indicated by high titres of specific plasma antibodies. The incidence of new infections in vaccinated koalas over the 12-month period post-vaccination was slightly less than koalas in the control group, however, this was not statistically significant. Importantly though, the vaccine was able to significantly reduce the infectious load in animals that were Chlamydia positive at the time of vaccination. This effect was evident at both the Oc and UGT sites and was stronger at 6 months than at 12 months post-vaccination. Finally, the vaccine was also able to reduce the number of animals that progressed to disease during the 12-month period. While the sample sizes were small (statistically speaking), results were nonetheless striking. This study highlights the potential for successful development of a Chlamydia vaccine for koalas in a wild setting.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Dr, Sippy Downs, 4558, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Waugh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, 4059, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Shahneaz Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carver
authors.affiliation: Endeavour Veterinary Ecology, 1695 Pumicestone Rd, Toorbul, 4510, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanger
authors.affiliation: Endeavour Veterinary Ecology, 1695 Pumicestone Rd, Toorbul, 4510, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loader
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Dr, Sippy Downs, 4558, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polkinghorne
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, 4059, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beagley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Dr, Sippy Downs, 4558, Queensland, Australia.|Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, 4059, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Timms
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001315:Australia; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D002689:Chlamydia; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia / Q000382:microbiology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D048368:Phascolarctidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins