Antibodies induced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) adhesin major structural subunit and minor tip adhesin subunit equivalently inhibit bacteria adherence in vitro.

Antibodies that block the adherence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) to host intestinal epithelial cells are protective. Multiepitope-fusion-antigens (MEFAs) carrying epitopes of ETEC adhesin major subunits or tip minor subunits induced antibodies against ETEC adherence. Adherence inhibition effectiveness of antibodies induced by major subunit epitopes versus minor tip subunit epitopes, however, has not been comparatively characterized. In this study, we immunized mice with a major subunit MEFA or a tip MEFA, evaluated MEFA anti-adhesin immunogenicity, and examined induced-antibodies against bacteria in vitro adherence or in vivo colonization in mice. Mice subcutaneously immunized with major subunit MEFA CFA/I/II/IV or tip MEFA showed no adverse effects and developed strong antigen-specific antibody responses. Data showed that antibodies derived from two MEFAs were equally effective against adherence of the bacteria expressing CS1, CS2, CS3, CS4/CS6, CS5/CS6, or CS6 adhesin in vitro. Subsequently, we immunized mice with CFA/I fimbriae, major subunit CfaB, or minor tip adhesin subunit CfaE. We found that antibodies induced by CFA/I, CfaB and CfaE equally inhibited in vitro adherence of ETEC strain H10407. Furthermore, we immunized mice with CFA/I fimbriae, CfaB, or CfaE, and then challenged the mice with H10407. Data showed that although not significantly, fewer H10407 bacteria colonized the immunized mice. These results suggest that ETEC adhesin major subunit and minor tip subunit should be equally effective in inducing neutralizing anti-adhesin antibodies, and that major subunit CFA/I/II/IV MEFA or tip MEFA, perhaps combined with toxoid fusion 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A, can be used for development of broadly protective vaccines against ETEC diarrhea.

Immunogenicity characterization of genetically fused or chemically conjugated heat-stable toxin toxoids of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in mice and pigs.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) producing type Ib heat-stable toxin (STa) are a main cause of children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea, thus STa needs to be targeted in ETEC vaccine development. However, because this 19-amino acid STa is poorly immunogenic, attempts to genetically fuse or chemically couple it to carrier proteins have been made to enhance STa immunogenicity. In this study, we selected one genetic fusion and one chemical conjugate to comparatively evaluate STa immunogenicity. The genetic fusion is 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A carrying three toxoid (STaN12S) genetically fused to a double mutant LT monomer (mnLTR192G/L211A); the chemical conjugate is BSA-STaA14T, which has toxoid STaA14T chemically coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA). We immunized mice with the STa toxoid fusion and chemical conjugates, and examined antibody responses. Furthermore, we immunized pigs and evaluated derived antibodies for efficacy to passively provide protection against ETEC diarrhea using a piglet model. Data showed that mice subcutaneously immunized with BSA-STaA14T or 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A developed a strong anti-STa antibody, and the induced antibodies exhibited equivalent toxin-neutralizing activities. Pigs immunized with 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A or BSA-STaA14T developed similar levels of anti-STa antibodies; piglets with passively acquired antibodies induced by the genetic fusion appeared better protected against STa + ETEC. Results from the current study indicate that the fusion and conjugate approaches are viable options for facilitating STa immunogenicity and developing ETEC vaccines.

Co-administered Tag-Less Toxoid Fusion 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A and CFA/I/II/IV MEFA (Multiepitope Fusion Antigen) Induce Neutralizing Antibodies to 7 Adhesins (CFA/I, CS1-CS6) and Both Enterotoxins (LT, STa) of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC).

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) bacteria remain a leading cause of children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. Vaccines that induce antibodies to block ETEC bacterial adherence and to neutralize toxin enterotoxicity can be effective against ETEC-associated diarrhea. Recent studies showed that 6xHis-tagged CFA/I/II/IV multiepitope fusion antigen (MEFA) induced broad-spectrum antibodies to inhibit adherence of the seven most important ETEC adhesins (CFA/I, CS1 to CS6) (Ruan et al., 2014a) and 6xHis-tagged toxoid fusion antigen 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A (previously named as 3xSTaN12S-dmLT) elicited antibodies to neutralize both heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable toxin (STa) produced by ETEC strains (Ruan et al., 2014b). In this study, we constructed two new genes to express tag-less toxoid fusion 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A and tag-less CFA/I/II/IV MEFA and then examined immunogenicity of each tag-less protein in mouse immunization. We further combined two tag-less proteins and investigated antigen co-administration in mice. Data showed that mice immunized with tag-less 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A or tag-less CFA/I/II/IV MEFA developed antigen-specific IgG antibody responses, and mice co-administered with two tag-less proteins induced neutralizing antibodies against seven adhesins and both toxins. These results indicated tag-less toxoid fusion 3xSTaN12S-mnLTR192G/L211A and tag-less CFA/I/II/IV MEFA administered individually or combined induced neutralizing antitoxin and/or anti-adhesin antibodies, and suggested the potential application of two tag-less proteins for ETEC vaccine development.

MEFA (multiepitope fusion antigen)-Novel Technology for Structural Vaccinology, Proof from Computational and Empirical Immunogenicity Characterization of an Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) Adhesin MEFA.

Vaccine development often encounters the challenge of virulence heterogeneity. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) bacteria producing immunologically heterogeneous virulence factors are a leading cause of children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. Currently, we do not have licensed vaccines against ETEC bacteria. While conventional methods continue to make progress but encounter challenge, new computational and structure-based approaches are explored to accelerate ETEC vaccine development. In this study, we applied a structural vaccinology concept to construct a structure-based multiepitope fusion antigen (MEFA) to carry representing epitopes of the seven most important ETEC adhesins [CFA/I, CFA/II (CS1-CS3), CFA/IV (CS4-CS6)], simulated antigenic structure of the CFA/I/II/IV MEFA with computational atomistic modeling and simulation, characterized immunogenicity in mouse immunization, and examined the potential of structure-informed vaccine design for ETEC vaccine development. A tag-less recombinant MEFA protein (CFA/I/II/IV MEFA) was effectively expressed and extracted. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that this MEFA immunogen maintained a stable secondary structure and presented epitopes on the protein surface. Empirical data showed that mice immunized with the tagless CFA/I/II/IV MEFA developed strong antigen-specific antibody responses, and mouse serum antibodies significantly inhibited in vitro adherence of bacteria expressing these seven adhesins. These results revealed congruence of antigen immunogenicity between computational simulation and empirical mouse immunization and indicated this tag-less CFA/I/II/IV MEFA potentially an antigen for a broadly protective ETEC vaccine, suggesting a potential application of MEFA-based structural vaccinology for vaccine design against ETEC and likely other pathogens.

Passive antibodies derived from intramuscularly immunized toxoid fusion 3xSTaN12S-dmLT protect against STa+ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) diarrhea in a pig model.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains are among the most common causes of children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. Developing effective vaccines against ETEC associated diarrhea becomes a top priority. ETEC heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable toxin (STa) toxoid fusion 3xSTaN12S-dmLT was demonstrated recently to induce neutralizing antitoxin antibodies in intraperitoneally or subcutaneously immunized mice. However, whether antibodies derived from this toxoid fusion are protective against ETEC diarrhea has not been examined. In this study, we intramuscularly immunized pregnant gilts with toxoid fusion 3xSTaN12S-dmLT, challenged suckling piglets with a STa-positive ETEC strain, and assessed protective efficacy of passive acquire antitoxin antibodies against ETEC diarrhea. Data showed all three immunized gilts developed anti-STa IgG and IgA antibodies, and piglets born to the immunized dams acquired anti-STa and anti-LT antibodies. When challenged with a STa+ ETEC strain, none of the piglets born to the immunized dams developed watery diarrhea, with 20 piglets remained normal and the other 8 piglets developed mild diarrhea indicated with stained butt. In contrast, the control dams and born piglets had no anti-STa or anti-LT antibodies detected, and 26 out 32 piglets developed watery diarrhea after challenge of the STa+ ETEC strain. These results indicated that passive acquired anti-STa antibodies are protective against ETEC diarrhea, and suggested potential application of toxoid fusion 3xSTaN12S-dmLT in ETEC vaccine development.

Antibodies derived from an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) adhesin tip MEFA (multiepitope fusion antigen) against adherence of nine ETEC adhesins: CFA/I, CS1, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5, CS6, CS21 and EtpA.

Diarrhea continues to be a leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years in developing countries. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a leading bacterial cause of children's diarrhea and travelers' diarrhea. ETEC bacteria initiate diarrheal disease by attaching to host receptors at epithelial cells and colonizing in small intestine. Therefore, preventing ETEC attachment has been considered the first line of defense against ETEC diarrhea. However, developing vaccines effectively against ETEC bacterial attachment encounters challenge because ETEC strains produce over 23 immunologically heterogeneous adhesins. In this study, we applied MEFA (multiepitope fusion antigen) approach to integrate epitopes from adhesin tips or adhesive subunits of CFA/I, CS1, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5, CS6, CS21 and EtpA adhesins and to construct an adhesin tip MEFA peptide. We then examined immunogenicity of this tip MEFA in mouse immunization, and assessed potential application of this tip MEFA for ETEC vaccine development. Data showed that mice intraperitoneally immunized with this adhesin tip MEFA developed IgG antibody responses to all nine ETEC adhesins. Moreover, ETEC and E. coli bacteria expressing these nine adhesins, after incubation with serum of the immunized mice, exhibited significant reduction in attachment to Caco-2 cells. These results indicated that anti-adhesin antibodies induced by this adhesin tip MEFA blocked adherence of the most important ETEC adhesins, suggesting this multivalent tip MEFA may be useful for developing a broadly protective anti-adhesin vaccine against ETEC diarrhea.

Inhibition of Salmonella-induced apoptosis as a marker of the protective efficacy of virulence gene-deleted live attenuated vaccine.

Vaccination is one of the best protection strategies against Salmonella infection in humans and chickens. Salmonella bacteria must induce apoptosis prior to initiating infection, pathogenesis and evasion of host immune responses. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of vaccinating chickens against Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) using a vaccine candidate strain (JOL919), constructed by deleting the lon and cpxR genes from a wild-type SE using an allelic exchange method. In present study day old chickens were inoculated with 1×10(7)cfu (colony forming unit) of JOL919 per os. We measured cell-mediated immunity, protective efficacy and extent of apoptosis induction in splenocytes. Seven days post-immunization, the number of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+ CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in the immunized group compared to the control group, indicating a significant augmentation of systemic immune response. The internal organs of chickens immunized with JOL919 had a significantly lower challenge-strain recovery, indicating effective protection and clearance of the challenge strain. Post-challenge, the number of apoptotic cells in the immunized group was significantly lower than in the control group. Additionally, AV/PI (Annexin V/propidium iodide) staining was performed to differentiate between apoptotic cells and necrotic cells, which corroborated TUNEL-assay (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) results. The proportions of AV+/PI- and AV+/PI+ cells, which represent the proportions of early apoptotic and late apoptotic/early necrotic cells present, respectively, were significantly lower in the immunized group. Our findings suggest that the apoptotic splenocytes in immunized chickens significantly decreased in number, which occurred concomitantly with a significant rise in systemic immune response and bacterial clearance. This suggests that inhibition of apoptosis may be a marker of protection efficacy in immunized chickens.

Comparison of a live attenuated Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine candidate secreting Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit with a commercial vaccine for efficacy of protection against internal egg contamination by Salmonella in hens.

This study compared a new live attenuated Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine candidate secreting Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (SE-LTB) with a commercial Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine for efficacy of protection against SE infection in laying hens. Chickens were divided into 3 groups of 20 each. Group A chickens were inoculated orally with phosphate-buffered saline and served as controls, group B chickens were inoculated orally with the vaccine candidate, and group C chickens were inoculated intramuscularly with a commercial vaccine, the primary inoculation in groups B and C being at 10 wk of age and the booster at 16 wk. Groups B and C showed significantly higher titers of plasma immunoglobulin G, intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A, and egg yolk immunoglobulin Y antibodies compared with the control group, and both vaccinated groups showed a significantly elevated cellular immune response. After virulent challenge, group B had significantly lower production of thin-shelled and/or malformed eggs and a significantly lower rate of SE contamination of eggs compared with the control group. Furthermore, the challenge strain was detected significantly less in all of the examined organs of group B compared with the control group. Group C had lower gross lesion scores only in the spleen and had lower bacterial counts only in the spleen, ceca, and ovary. These findings indicate that vaccination with the SE-LTB vaccine candidate can efficiently reduce internal egg and internal organ contamination by Salmonella and has advantages over the commercial vaccine.

La présente étude visait à comparer un nouveau vaccin candidat vivant atténué de Salmonella Enteritidis secrétant la sous-unité B de l'entérotoxine thermolabile d'Escherichia coli (SE-LTB) avec un vaccin commercial contre Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) pour leur efficacité de protection contre une infection par SE chez des poules pondeuses. Les poulets ont été séparés en trois groupes de 20 animaux chacun. Les poulets du groupe A furent inoculés oralement avec de la saline tamponnée et ont servi de témoins, les poulets du groupe B furent inoculés oralement avec le vaccin candidat, et les poules du groupe C furent inoculés par voie intramusculaire avec le vaccin commercial, une première immunisation dans les groupes B et C étant faite à l'âge de 10 semaines et un rappel à 16 semaines. Comparativement aux oiseaux du groupe témoin, ceux des groupes B et C avaient des titres significativement plus élevés d'immunoglobulines G plasmatiques, d'immunoglobulines A sécrétoires intestinales et d'immunoglobulines Y du jaune d'oeuf, et les animaux des deux groupes immunisés présentaient également une réponse immunitaire cellulaire supérieure. Suite à un challenge avec une souche virulente, les oiseaux du groupe B avaient une production significativement plus faible d'oeufs à coquille mince ou d'oeufs malformés, et un taux significativement plus faible d'oeufs contaminés par SE comparativement au groupe témoin. De plus, la souche servant au challenge était détectée de manière significativement moindre dans tous les organes examinés des animaux du groupe B comparativement au groupe témoin. Les animaux du groupe C avaient des pointages de lésions macroscopiques inférieurs uniquement pour la rate et avaient des dénombrements bactériens plus bas seulement dans la rate, les caeca, et les ovaires. Ces données indiquent que la vaccination avec le vaccin candidat SE-LTB peut réduire de manière efficace la contamination des organes internes et de l'intérieur des oeufs par Salmonella et possède certains avantages par rapport au vaccin commercial.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

Cross-protection against Salmonella Typhimurium infection conferred by a live attenuated Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine.

In this study, a genetically engineered live attenuated Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine was evaluated for its ability to protect against Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) infection in chickens. The birds were orally primed with the vaccine on the 1st day of life and given an oral booster at 5 wk of age. Control birds were orally inoculated with phosphate-buffered saline. Both groups of birds were orally challenged with a virulent ST strain at 9 wk of age. Compared with the control chickens, the vaccinated chickens had significantly higher levels of systemic IgG and mucosal IgA against specific ST antigens and a significantly greater lymphoproliferative response to ST antigens. The excretion of ST into the feces was significantly lower in the vaccinated group than in the control group on days 9 and 13 d after challenge. In addition, the vaccinated group had significantly fewer pronounced gross lesions in the liver and spleen and lower bacterial counts in the internal organs than the control group after challenge. These data indicate that genetically engineered live attenuated SE may induce humoral and cellular immune responses against ST antigens and may confer protection against virulent ST challenge.

Dans la présente étude on évalua la capacité d'un vaccin vivant atténué génétiquement modifié de Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) à protéger contre une infection par Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) chez le poulet. Les poulets furent inoculés oralement avec le vaccin à leur premier jour de vie et reçurent un rappel à 5 semaines d'âge. Les oiseaux témoins reçurent par voie orale de la saline tamponnée. Les deux groupes furent challengés par voie orale avec une souche virulente de ST à 9 sem d'âge. Comparativement aux oiseaux témoins, les poulets vaccinés avaient des taux significativement plus élevés d'IgG systémiques et d'IgA locaux contre des antigènes spécifiques de ST et une réponse lympho-proliférative significativement plus importante aux antigènes de ST. L'excrétion de ST dans les fèces était significativement moindre dans le groupe vacciné comparativement au groupe témoin aux jours 9 et 13 après le challenge. De plus, après le challenge le groupe vacciné avait significativement moins de lésions macroscopiques marquées dans le foie et la rate et des dénombrements bactériens moindres dans les organes internes que le groupe témoin. Ces résultats indiquent que le vaccin SE vivant génétiquement modifié peut induire une réponse immunitaire humorale et cellulaire contre des antigènes de ST et peut conférer une protection contre un challenge avec une souche de ST virulente.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

Comparative evaluation of safety and efficacy of a live Salmonella gallinarum vaccine candidate secreting an adjuvant protein with SG9R in chickens.

We previously reported JOL916, a live attenuated Salmonella gallinarum (SG), as a vaccine candidate for protection from fowl typhoid (FT). In the present study, we evaluated JOL1355, an SG that secretes heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit protein, for safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy against FT. In a single intramuscular inoculation, live attenuated SG (JOL916) and commercial live attenuated SG9R immunized groups showed gross lesions and bacterial persistence up to 21 days post-immunization. However, the JOL1355 immunized group showed gross lesions and bacterial persistence up to only 3 and 7 days post-immunization, respectively. In addition, several birds in the JOL916 and SG9R immunized group shown clinical signs after immunization, while JOL1355 immunized birds did not show any adverse effects. In a subsequent study, birds were primed and boosted at 4 and 8 weeks of age, respectively, and compared with control birds inoculated with sterile phosphate-buffered saline. The immunized groups B (JOL916), C (SG9R), and D (JOL1355) exhibited significantly higher humoral and cellular immune responses compared to those in the unimmunized control group A. In addition, the birds of each group were challenged with virulent SG at 11 weeks of age, and significantly increased survival rates were observed in all immunized groups compared with the control group. These results indicated that JOL1355 was able to efficiently induce an acquired immune response to protect birds after challenge, and may be safer than JOL916 and the commercial vaccine SG9R in chickens.

Construction of a recombinant-attenuated Salmonella Enteritidis strain secreting Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit protein and its immunogenicity and protection efficacy against salmonellosis in chickens.

A live attenuated Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) strain secreting Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) protein was constructed as a new vaccine candidate. The comparative effect of this vaccine candidate was evaluated with a previously reported SE vaccine, JOL919. An asd+, p15A ori plasmid containing eltB-encoding LTB was introduced into a ΔlonΔcpxRΔasd SE strain, and designated as JOL1364. In a single immunization experiment, group A chickens were orally inoculated with phosphate-buffered saline as a control, group B chickens were orally immunized with JOL919, and group C chickens were orally immunized with JOL1364. The immunized groups B and C showed significantly higher systemic, mucosal and cellular immune responses as compared to those of the control group. In addition, the immunized group C showed significantly higher mucosal and cellular immune responses as compared to those of the immunized group B at the 1st week post-immunization. In the examination of protection efficacy, the immunized groups B and C showed lower gross lesion scores in the liver and spleen, and lower bacterial counts of SE challenge strain in the liver, spleen, and caeca as compared to those of the control group. The number of SE-positive birds was significantly lower in the immunized group C as compared to that of the control group at the 14th day post-challenge. In addition, the number of birds carrying the challenge strain in the caeca was significantly lower in the immunized group C than those in the immunized group B and control group at the 7th and 14th day post-challenge. These results indicate that immunization with the JOL1364 vaccine candidate can induce higher mucosal and cellular immune responses than those of the JOL919 for efficient protection against salmonellosis.

Enhanced protective immune responses against Salmonella Enteritidis infection by Salmonella secreting an Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit protein.

Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) protein is a potent mucosal adjuvant. In this study, the effect of an attenuated Salmonella secreting LTB protein as an adjuvant strain (JOL1228) for a live Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine candidate (JOL919) was evaluated. In a single immunization experiment, chickens immunized with a mixture of JOL919 (5 parts) and JOL1228 (1 part) showed enhanced mucosal and cellular immune responses and efficient protection against salmonellosis as compared to those unimmunized control chickens. In further analysis, chickens were primed at one day of age and were boosted at the fifth week of age to prolong immune responses and to maximize the protection efficacy against salmonellosis. The immunized groups B (prime and booster with JOL919), C (prime with JOL919-JOL1228 mixture and booster with JOL919), and D (prime and booster with JOL919-JOL1228 mixture) showed significantly higher humoral and cellular immune responses as compared to those in the unimmunized control group A. In addition, immunized groups C and D showed fewer gross lesions in the liver and spleen and a lower number of SE-positive organs, with the lowest bacterial counts in the SE challenge strain as compared to the control group. These results indicate that SE vaccination with the LTB strain can have an adjuvant effect on the vaccine candidate by enhancing immune responses, and that a prime-boost strategy with the addition of the adjuvant strain can efficiently protect birds against salmonellosis.

Adjuvant effect of Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin B subunit against internal egg contamination in domestic fowl immunised with a live Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis vaccine.

This study evaluated the effect of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) secreting Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) protein as an adjuvant for a live SE vaccine (JOL919) against virulent SE challenge in hens. The eltB gene encoding LTB was inserted into the Asd+ ß-lactamase signal plasmid pJHL65. This plasmid was transformed into ΔlonΔcpxRΔasd SE to generate the LTB strain JOL1228. One-hundred female domestic fowl were divided into five groups and hens in immunised groups were primed and subsequently boosted with either JOL919 or a JOL919-JOL1228 mixture. Humoral and cellular immune responses were significantly higher in the immunised groups than the control group. On challenge with virulent SE, egg protection was 89.3% in immunised hens in group B (primed and boosted twice with JOL919 only), 89.3% in group C (primed with JOL919-JOL1228 mixture and boosted twice with JOL919), 100% in group D (primed and first booster with JOL919-JOL1228 mixture, then subsequently boosted with JOL919), 90.5% in group E (primed and boosted twice with JOL919-JOL1228 mixture) and 60.7% in group A (control group of non-immunised hens inoculated with phosphate buffered saline). The challenge strain was detected significantly less in all organs examined from hens in group D than those of the control group. These results indicate that vaccination with JOL1228, especially when added to priming and first booster immunisations, may reduce egg contamination with SE.

Oral immunization with an attenuated Salmonella Gallinarum mutant as a fowl typhoid vaccine with a live adjuvant strain secreting the B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin.

BACKGROUND: The Salmonella Gallinarum (SG) lon/cpxR deletion mutant JOL916 was developed as a live vaccine candidate for fowl typhoid (FT), and a SG mutant secreting an Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB), designated JOL1229, was recently constructed as an adjuvant strain for oral vaccination against FT. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and protective properties of the SG mutant JOL916 and the LTB adjuvant strain JOL1229 in order to establish a prime and boost immunization strategy for each strain. In addition, we compared the increase in body weight, the immunogenicity, the egg production rates, and the bacteriological egg contamination of these strains with those of SG 9R, a widely used commercial vaccine. RESULTS: Plasma IgG, intestinal secretory IgA (sIgA), and cell-mediated responses were significantly induced after a boost inoculation with a mixture of JOL916 and JOL1229, and significant reductions in the mortality of chickens challenged with a wild-type SG strain were observed in the immunized groups. There were no significant differences in increases in body weight, cell-mediated immune responses, or systemic IgG responses between our vaccine mixture and the SG 9R vaccine groups. However, there was a significant elevation in intestinal sIgA in chickens immunized with our mixture at 3 weeks post-prime-immunization and at 3 weeks post-boost-immunization, while sIgA levels in SG 9R-immunized chickens were not significantly elevated compared to the control. In addition, the SG strain was not detected in the eggs of chickens immunized with our mixture. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that immunization with the LTB-adjuvant strain JOL1229 can significantly increase the immune response, and provide efficient protection against FT with no side effects on body weight, egg production, or egg contamination.

An active extract of Ulmus pumila inhibits adipogenesis through regulation of cell cycle progression in 3T3-L1 cells.

Obesity and its associated metabolic disorders has become a major obstacle in improving the average life span. In this regard therapeutic approach using natural compounds are currently receiving much attention. Herbal compounds rich in triterpenes are well known to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. Here, we have found that Ulmus pumila (UP) contained at least four different triterpenoids and inhibited adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. The cell viability was dose dependently decreased by UP showing the increase of cell accumulation in G1 phase while reducing in S and G2/M phase of cell cycle. UP treatment also significantly decreased the GPDH activity and intracellular lipid accumulation. In addition, UP inhibited the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors and lipogenic genes such as PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP1c and FAS while showing no effects on C/EBP-ß and C/EBP-δ. Importantly enough, treatment of cells with UP suppressed the TNF-α induced activation of NF-κB signaling. Collectively, our results indicate that UP extract effectively attenuated adipogenesis by controlling cell cycle progression and down regulating adipogenic gene expression.

Characterization of a novel inactivated Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis vaccine candidate generated using a modified cI857/λ PR/gene E expression system.

A new strategy to develop an effective vaccine is essential to control food-borne Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis infections. Bacterial ghosts (BGs), which are nonliving, Gram-negative bacterial cell envelopes, are generated by expulsion of the cytoplasmic contents from bacterial cells through controlled expression using the modified cI857/λ P(R)/gene E expression system. In the present study, the pJHL99 lysis plasmid carrying the mutated lambda pR37-cI857 repressor and PhiX174 lysis gene E was constructed and transformed in S. Enteritidis to produce a BG. Temperature induction of the lysis gene cassette at 42°C revealed quantitative killing of S. Enteritidis. The S. Enteritidis ghost was characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy to visualize the transmembrane tunnel structure and loss of cytoplasmic materials, respectively. The efficacy of the BG as a vaccine candidate was evaluated in a chicken model using 60 10-day-old chickens, which were divided into four groups (n = 15), A, B, C, and D. Group A was designated as the nonimmunized control group, whereas the birds in groups B, C, and D were immunized via the intramuscular, subcutaneous, and oral routes, respectively. The chickens from all immunized groups showed significant increases in plasma IgG and intestinal secretory IgA levels. The lymphocyte proliferation response and CD3(+) CD4(+) and CD3(+) CD8(+) T cell subpopulations were also significantly increased in all immunized groups. The data indicate that both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are robustly stimulated. Based on an examination of the protection efficacy measured by observations of gross lesions in the organs and bacterial recovery, the candidate vaccine can provide efficient protection against virulent challenge.

A genetically engineered derivative of Salmonella Enteritidis as a novel live vaccine candidate for salmonellosis in chickens.

To construct a novel live Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine candidate, SE was genetically engineered using the allelic exchange method to delete two virulence genes, lon and cpxR. The lon gene deletion is essential to impair Salmonella replication and avoid overwhelming systemic disease in the host. The cpxR gene deletion is needed to enhance the ability of bacteria to adhere and invade the host cell. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the derivatives JOL917 (Δlon), JOL918 (ΔcpxR), and JOL919 (Δlon/ΔcpxR) had increased surface fimbrial filamentous structures. Significant elevations of extracellular polysaccharide and FimA expression were observed for the derivatives compared to the parental wild type JOL860, while biochemical properties of the derivatives were not altered. In the safety examination by inoculation of the derivatives in chickens, gross lesion scores of the liver, spleen, kidney, small intestine and caecal tonsils were moderate in the JOL917 and JOL918 groups, and significantly lower in the JOL919 group than those of the JOL860. Bacterial counts from the spleen and caeca of the JOL917 and JOL918 groups were moderate, and significantly reduced in the JOL919 group compared to the JOL860 group. In addition, only the JOL919 group showed significantly lower bacterial counts in the faecal samples than those of the JOL860 group. Significant elevations of IgG and secretory IgA levels observed in the derivative groups, while the JOL919 and JOL860 groups showed a potent lymphocyte proliferation response as compared to those of the control group. In the protection efficacy examination, JOL919 immunized group showed significantly lower depression, lower gross lesion in the liver and spleen, and lower number of the SE positive internal organs than those of the control group against a virulent wild type SE challenge.

Immunogenicity of a Salmonella Enteritidis mutant as vaccine candidate and its protective efficacy against salmonellosis in chickens.

A novel Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine candidate strain, JOL919 was constructed by deleting the lon and cpxR genes from a wild-type SE using an allelic exchange method. The study was carried out to evaluate the strain as a vaccine candidate against salmonellosis. The strain showed the enhanced macrophage invasion, early bacterial clearance and higher immune responses as compared to the other mutants, JOL917 (Δlon) and JOL918 (ΔcpxR), and the wild type. In further analysis, the chickens immunized with JOL919 showed a significant increase in plasma IgG and intestinal secretory IgA levels, which was an indication of robust humoral and mucosal immune responses induced by the candidate. The lymphocyte proliferation response and CD45(+)CD3(+) T cells, associated with an activation of T helper and cytotoxic cells, were also significantly increased in the immunized group, which indicated that the candidate also induced cellular immune responses. The immune cell influx into caecal tissues analyzed by immunohistochemistry showed that CD8(+) T cells were predominated in the immunized group, suggesting that the candidate can clear the invaded pathogen in the intestines by a more direct way involving cytotoxic activity. By the examination of the protection efficacy measured by observations of gross lesions in the organs and bacterial recovery, the candidate can provide an efficient protection upon virulent challenge.