Protection efficacy of the Brucella abortus ghost vaccine candidate lysed by the N-terminal 24-amino acid fragment (GI24) of the 36-amino acid peptide PMAP-36 (porcine myeloid antimicrobial peptide 36) in murine models

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 78; no. 10; pp. 1541 - 1548
• Main Authors: KWON, Ae Jeong, MOON, Ja Young, KIM, Won Kyong, KIM, Suk, HUR, Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 2016; Japan Science and Technology Agency; The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
• Subjects: Animals; antimicrobial peptide; Bacteriology; Brucella abortus; Brucella abortus - immunology; Brucella abortus - metabolism; Brucella Vaccine - immunology; Brucella Vaccine - metabolism; brucellosis; Brucellosis - prevention & control; Cytokines - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Immunity, Cellular; Immunity, Humoral; Infections; Lipopolysaccharides; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Peptide Fragments - metabolism; Proteins - metabolism; Swine; Vaccination; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.16-0036

Brucella abortus cells were lysed by the N-terminal 24-amino acid fragment (GI24) of the 36-amino acid peptide PMAP-36 (porcine myeloid antimicrobial peptide 36). Next, the protection efficacy of the lysed fragment as a vaccine candidate was evaluated. Group A mice were immunized with sterile PBS, group B mice were intraperitoneally (ip) immunized with 3 × 108 colony-forming units (CFUs) of B. abortus strain RB51, group C mice were immunized ip with 3 × 108 cells of the B. abortus vaccine candidate, and group D mice were orally immunized with 3 × 109 cells of the B. abortus vaccine candidate. Brucella lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific serum IgG titers were considerably higher in groups C and D than in group A. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were significantly higher in groups B–D than in group A. After an ip challenge with B. abortus 544, only group C mice showed a significant level of protection as compared to group A. Overall, these results show that ip immunization with a vaccine candidate lysed by GI24 can effectively protect mice from systemic infection with virulent B. abortus.