Protection fromStaphylococcus aureusmastitis associated with poly-N-acetyl [beta]-1,6 glucosamine specific antibody production using biofilm-embedded bacteria

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 27; no. 17; p. 2379
• Main Authors: Pérez, MM, Prenafeta, A, Valle, J, Penadés, J, Rota, C, Solano, C, Marco, J, Grilló, MJ, Lasa, I, Irache, JM, Maira-Litran, T, Jiménez-Barbero, J, Costa, L, Pier, GB, de Andrés, D, Amorena, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Limited 14.04.2009
• Subjects: Aluminum; Antigens; Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biofilms; Immunology; Laboratory animals; Production capacity; Saccharides; Sheep; Slime; Staphylococcus infections; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.02.005

Staphylococcus aureusvaccines based on bacterins surrounded by slime, surface polysaccharides coupled to protein carriers and polysaccharides embedded in liposomes administered together with non-biofilm bacterins confer protection against mastitis. However, it remains unknown whether protective antibodies are directed to slime-associated known exopolysaccharides and could be produced in the absence of bacterin immunizations. Here, a sheep mastitis vaccination study was carried out using bacterins, crude bacterial extracts or a purified exopolysaccharide from biofilm bacteria delivered in different vehicles. This polysaccharide reacted specifically with antibodies to poly-N-acetyl-β-1,6-glucosamine (PNAG) and not with antibodies to other capsular antigens or bacterial components. Following intra-mammary challenge with biofilm-producing bacteria, antibody production against the polysaccharide, milk bacterial counts and mastitis lesions were determined. Bacterins from strong biofilm-producing bacteria triggered the highest production of antibodies to PNAG and conferred the highest protection against infection and mastitis, compared with weak biofilm-producing bacteria and non-cellular inocula. Thus, bacterins from strong biofilm bacteria, rather than purified polysaccharide, are proposed as a cost-efficient vaccination againstS. aureusruminant mastitis.