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Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, August 2006, p. 930-935, Vol. 13, No. 8
1071-412X/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CVI.00151-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

DNA Vaccine Using Mycobacterium bovis Ag85B Antigen Induces Partial Protection against Experimental Infection in BALB/c Mice

Francisco M. Teixeira,1 Henrique C. Teixeira,1 Ana Paula Ferreira,1 Michele F. Rodrigues,1 Vasco Azevedo,2 Gilson C. Macedo,2 and Sergio C. Oliveira2*

Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil,1 Laboratory of Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Institute for Investigation in Immunology-Millennium Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil2

Received 23 April 2006/ Returned for modification 9 June 2006/ Accepted 14 June 2006

Bovine tuberculosis is a major cause of economic loss in countries where it is endemic, and in some countries, it may be a significant zoonotic disease problem. Therefore, new strategies for vaccine development are required, and among them, genetic immunization has potential value. The main goal of this study was to test the Mycobacterium bovis Ag85B gene as a DNA vaccine following challenge with an M. bovis virulent strain (ATCC 19274). Groups of BALB/c mice (n = 10) were immunized four times intramuscularly with the pCI-Ag85B construct or the pCI vector alone as the control. High titers of total immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1, and IgG2a anti-Ag85B were measured in pCI-Ag85B immunized mice when compared to the pCI control group. Regarding cellular immunity, significant levels of gamma interferon (IFN-{gamma}) (1,100 ± 157 pg/ml) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (650 ± 42 pg/ml) but not interleukin-4 were detected in splenocyte culture supernatants of pCI-Ag85B-vaccinated mice following stimulation with recombinant Ag85B. Further, the main source of IFN-{gamma} is CD8+ T cells, as demonstrated by intracellular cytokine staining. As far as protection, a significant reduction in bacterial load in spleens (P < 0.05) was detected in pCI-Ag85B-immunized mice compared to the pCI vector control group. The results obtained here suggest that use of the Ag85B DNA vaccine is a promising strategy to control M. bovis infection due to its ability to induce a Th1 type of immune response. However, protective efficacy needs to be improved, since partial protection was achieved in spleens but not in lungs of vaccinated mice.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Laboratory of Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Institute for Investigation in Immunology-Millennium Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Phone: 55 31 34992666. Fax: 55 31 34992666. E-mail: scozeus{at}icb.ufmg.br.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, August 2006, p. 930-935, Vol. 13, No. 8
1071-412X/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/CVI.00151-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Yao, W., Liu, S., Qu, X., Xiao, S., Liu, Y., Liu, J. (2009). Enhanced immune response and protection efficacy of a DNA vaccine constructed by linkage of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag85B-encoding gene with the BVP22-encoding gene. J Med Microbiol 58: 462-468 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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