Immune response and protective efficacy of mannosylated polyethylenimine (PEI) as an antigen delivery vector, administered with a Streptococcus agalactiae DNA vaccine in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

This study examined the effectiveness of a DNA vaccine for S. agalactiae that was delivered by mannose-based polyethyleneimine (Man-PEI). The results showed that Man-PEI/pcDNA-Sip stimulated a higher serum antibody titer compared to control or other vaccine groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, it induced higher expression of immune-related genes, and increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP). Furthermore, the Man-PEI/pcDNA-Sip group showed an improved relative percent survival (RPS) of 85.71%. These results demonstrate the potential value of Man-PEI as a vaccine delivery vehicle, and suggest that it can be effective in boosting the immune protective rate induced by pcDNA-Sip vaccines.

Construction of two Listeria ivanovii attenuated strains expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens for TB vaccine purposes.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has failed in complete control of tuberculosis (TB), thus, novel tuberculosis vaccines are urgently needed. We have constructed several TB vaccine candidates, which are characterized by the use of Listeria ivanovii (LI) strain as an antigen delivery vector. Two L. ivanovii attenuated recombinant strains L. ivanovii△actAplcB-Rv0129c and L. ivanovii△actAplcB-Rv3875 were successfully screened. Results from genome PCR and sequencing showed that the Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen gene cassette coding for Ag85C or ESAT-6 protein respectively had been integrated into LI genome downstream of mpl gene. Western blot confirmed the secretion of Ag85C or ESAT-6 protein from the recombinant LI strains. These two recombinant strains showed similar growth curves as wide type strain in vitro. In vivo, they transiently propagated in mice spleen and liver, and induced specific CD8(+) IFN-γ secretion. Therefore, in this paper, two novel LI attenuated strains expressing specific TB antigens were successfully constructed. The promising growth characteristics in mice immune system and the capability of induction of IFN-γ secretion make them of potential interest for development of TB vaccines.