The weak immunogenicity of Fusobacterium necrophorum

J Hyg (Lond). 1985 Aug;95(1):59-68. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400062288.

Abstract

Three of four extreme methods of immunization completely failed to protect mice against challenge with the homologous strain of Fusobacterium necrophorum. Unsuccessful vaccines included (1) broth culture killed by mild heat and emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant, and (2) a homogenate of heavily infected mouse brains, inactivated by mild heat and given in two doses. Also unsuccessful as a method of immunization was the production of a severe subcutaneous infection with F. necrophorum, followed by curative treatment with metronidazole. Slight but significant protection against subcutaneous challenge resulted, however, from two such infections given in rapid succession. It would appear that the main virulence factors of F. necrophorum are only weakly immunogenic, and the experiments give little encouragement to the prospect of an effective necrobacillosis vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Freund's Adjuvant
  • Fusobacterium Infections / drug therapy
  • Fusobacterium Infections / immunology*
  • Fusobacterium Infections / prevention & control
  • Fusobacterium necrophorum / immunology*
  • Immunization*
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Mycoplasma Infections / immunology
  • Mycoplasma mycoides / immunology

Substances

  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Metronidazole
  • Freund's Adjuvant