Humoral immune responses of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) after DNA-mediated immunization with a beta-galactosidase reporter gene

Humoral immune responses of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) to DNA-mediated immunization with a beta-galactosidase reporter gene expression plasmid were evaluated. Six male and 6 female adult penguins received either test plasmid, pCMV-beta, containing the beta-galactosidase gene or cont...

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Published inJournal of zoo and wildlife medicine Vol. 32; no. 1; p. 17
Main Authors Sherrill, J, Schock, T, Dunn, J L, St Aubin, D J, Burnley, V V, Poet, S E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.2001
Subjects
Animals
Animals, Zoo
Antibody Formation
beta-Galactosidase - genetics
beta-Galactosidase - immunology
Bird Diseases - prevention & control
Birds - immunology
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary
Female
Genes, Reporter
Immunization - veterinary
Immunization, Secondary
Immunoglobulin G - immunology
Male
Plasmids
Random Allocation
Vaccines, DNA - administration & dosage
Vaccines, DNA - immunology
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Summary:Humoral immune responses of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) to DNA-mediated immunization with a beta-galactosidase reporter gene expression plasmid were evaluated. Six male and 6 female adult penguins received either test plasmid, pCMV-beta, containing the beta-galactosidase gene or control plasmid, pCI, lacking a gene for expression. Three birds from each group were used previously in a diluent control group and given one injection of sterile saline. All samples were screened for anti-beta-galactosidase antibodies by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with anti-chicken immunoglobulin G as secondary antibody. Antibodies to beta-galactosidase were detected in the sera of pCMV-beta-inoculated penguins, with a peak response on day 21. Antibody titers of the test plasmid group versus both control groups on days 21, 28, and 42 differed significantly. These results demonstrate that black-footed penguins can be safely transfected with the gene encoding beta-galactosidase and will mount a humoral response against the in vivo-expressed protein. Knowledge from this initial study can be applied to the development of DNA-mediated vaccines against specific infectious diseases of penguins.
ISSN:1042-7260
1937-2825
DOI:10.1638/1042-7260(2001)032[0017:HIROBF]2.0.CO;2