Brucellosis is a disease caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Brucella. Most of Brucella species are capable of infecting humans, and they are all considered zoonotic since different animals are their preferential hosts. Brucella ovis infects preferentially sheep, causing mostly genital lesions in males, which are associated with subfertility or even sterility. In ewes, the infection occasionally results in abortion. Our group have previously demonstrated that a B. ovis mutant strain that lacks an ABC transporter (a transmembrane transporter that allow the bacterium to import or export several substances) is strongly attenuated for intracellular survival in macrophages as well as in vivo persistence in mice. Later on, this mutant strain (B. ovis ΔabcBA) was proven to trigger an immune response in rams that is similar to that induced by infection with the wild type strain. However, considering that the mutant strain was strongly attenuated so it did not persist for a prolonged period of time in vivo, we tested a delivery system, based on alginate microencapsulation, which tends to extend exposure of the host to the vaccine strain due to its slow release of the vaccine strain in vivo. Indeed, alginate microencapsulation improved protection induced by the candidate vaccine strain (B. ovis ΔabcBA) in mice. Therefore, our goal in this study was to evaluate protection induced by the vaccine candidate B. ovis ΔabcBA against experimental challenge with wild type B. ovis in rams.

Fig. 1. Vaccine microcapsules: scanning electron microscopy showing one capsule with approximately 0.4 mm in diameter (top left), and a detail of its surface (top right). The bottom panel shows one capsule containing numerous fluorescent labeled (red) vaccine strain.

Rams were subcutaneously immunized with B. ovis ΔabcBA vaccine strain (either encapsulated with sterile alginate or with the non encapsulated). Serum, urine, and semen samples were collected during two months after immunization. The rams were then challenged with wild type B. ovis, and the results were compared to non immunized and experimentally challenged rams. Immunization, particularly with encapsulated B. ovis ΔabcBA, prevented infection, secretion of wild type B. ovis in the semen and urine, shedding of neutrophils in the semen, and the development of clinical changes as well as gross and microscopic lesions induced by wild type B. ovis. Collectively, our data indicate that this B. ovis ΔabcBA strain is an exceptionally good vaccine strain for preventing brucellosis caused by B. ovis infection in rams. The vaccine prevented infection, development of clinical and pathological changes, and shedding of the pathogenic strain. Therefore, in addition to preventing infection and disease, this vaccine has the potential to prevent environmental contamination and transmission of the disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first vaccine to provide sterile immunity against Brucella sp.

Renato de Lima Santos
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Escola de Veterinária
Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias
Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Publication

Encapsulated Brucella ovis Lacking a Putative ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter (ΔabcBA) Protects against Wild Type Brucella ovis in Rams.
Silva AP, Macêdo AA, Costa LF, Rocha CE, Garcia LN, Farias JR, Gomes PP, Teixeira GC, Fonseca KW, Maia AR, Neves GG, Romão EL, Silva TM, Mol JP, Oliveira RM, Araújo MS, Nascimento EF, Martins-Filho OA, Brandão HM, Paixão TA, Santos RL.
PLoS One. 2015 Aug 28

Read offline:     

Related Articles:

	Vaccine design in the OMICs Era A retrospection into the field of vaccinology reveals the triumph of medical science over infectious diseases that were once a death sentence. Research on vaccines has come a long way…
	A molecular passport authorizes intracellular travel for a… Whether from external environmental factors or spontaneous intracellular processes, the DNA in our cells is under constant bombardment by DNA damage. Because unrepaired DNA damage can cause cell death, our…
	Arming macrophages to stop cancer progression Macrophages are a type of immune cells that fight infection and support tissue remodeling. They are best known as phagocytes which engulf bacteria and damaged cells stimulating other immune cells.…
	No adverse outcomes for infants associated with mums booster… What is whooping cough, or pertussis? Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that can be very serious for young infants. Symptoms include violent coughing fits…
	Campylobacter antimicrobial resistance in dogs and humans Campylobacteriosis has been the most frequently reported zoonotic disease in humans in Europe since 2005, and the annual number of notified   campylobacteriosis   cases   has   increased in   many   European countries in…
	Satiated macrophages produce interferon-beta to orchestrate… Acute inflammation is a localized, self-limited host defense mechanism against invading microorganism and tissue injury. Rapid recruitment of white blood cells called neutrophils (polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes) from the blood to…