Evaluation of a novel chimeric B cell epitope-based vaccine against mastitis induced by either Streptococcus agalactiae or Staphylococcus aureus in mice

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 Jun;18(6):893-900. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00066-11. Epub 2011 Apr 20.

Abstract

To construct a universal vaccine against mastitis induced by either Streptococcus agalactiae or Staphylococcus aureus, the B cell epitopes of the surface immunogenic protein (Sip) from S. agalactiae and clumping factor A (ClfA) from S. aureus were analyzed and predicted. sip-clfA, a novel chimeric B cell epitope-based gene, was obtained by overlap PCR, and then the recombinant Sip-ClfA (rSip-ClfA) was expressed and purified. rSip-ClfA and inactivated S. agalactiae and S. aureus were formulated into different vaccines with mineral oil as the adjuvant and evaluated in mouse models. The rSip-ClfA vaccination induced immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers higher than those seen in groups immunized with inactivated bacteria. Furthermore, the response to rSip-ClfA immunization was characterized as having a dominant IgG1 subtype, whereas both bacterial immunizations produced similar levels of IgG1 and IgG2a. The antiserum capacities for opsonizing adhesion and phagocytosis were significantly greater in the rSip-ClfA immunization group than in the killed-bacterium immunization groups (P < 0.05). The immunized lactating mice were challenged with either S. agalactiae or S. aureus via the intramammary route. At 24 h postinfection, the numbers of bacteria recovered from the mammary glands in the rSip-ClfA group were >5-fold lower than those in both inactivated-bacterium groups (P < 0.01). Histopathological examination of the mammary glands showed that rSip-ClfA immunization provided better protection of mammary gland tissue integrity against both S. agalactiae and S. aureus challenges. Thus, the recombinant protein rSip-ClfA would be a promising vaccine candidate against mastitis induced by either S. agalactiae or S. aureus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Bacterial Load
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Cattle
  • Coagulase / genetics
  • Coagulase / immunology
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Female
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / microbiology
  • Mastitis / immunology
  • Mastitis / microbiology
  • Mastitis / prevention & control*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mineral Oil / administration & dosage
  • Opsonin Proteins / blood
  • Phagocytosis
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Staphylococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Staphylococcal Vaccines / genetics
  • Staphylococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus aureus / immunology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / genetics
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / immunology*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / isolation & purification
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • ClfA protein, Staphylococcus aureus
  • Coagulase
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Opsonin Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Staphylococcal Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Mineral Oil