title: α-Galactosylceramide protects swine against influenza infection when administered as a vaccine adjuvant.
abstract: Natural killer T (NKT) -cells activated with the glycolipid ligand α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) stimulate a wide array of immune responses with many promising immunotherapeutic applications, including the enhancement of vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer. In the current study, we evaluated whether α-GalCer generates protective immunity against a swine influenza (SI) virus infection when applied as an intramuscular vaccine adjuvant. Immunization of newly weaned piglets with UV-killed pandemic H1N1 A/California/04/2009 (kCA04) SI virus and α-GalCer induced high titers of anti-hemagglutinin antibodies and generated virus-specific T cells that localized in intrapulmonary airways and in alveolar walls. Vaccination with α-GalCer resulted in a systemic increase in NKT-cell concentrations, including in the respiratory tract, which was associated with complete inhibition of viral replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract and much reduced viral shedding. These results indicate that NKT-cell agonists could be used to improve swine vaccine formulations in order to reduce the clinical signs of SI infection and limit the spread of influenza viruses amongst commercial pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Bianca L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Artiaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Guan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hackmann
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology and Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD), College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Qinfang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology and Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD), College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Jürgen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Richt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salek-Ardakani
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Castleman
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.|Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lednicky
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Driver
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D005699:Galactosylceramides; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; C493154:alpha-galactosylceramide