DNA prime-protein boost based vaccination with a conserved region of leptospiral immunoglobulin-like A and B proteins enhances protection against leptospirosis

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2015 Dec;110(8):989-95. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760150222. Epub 2015 Dec 11.

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the Leptospira genus. Vaccination with bacterins has severe limitations. Here, we evaluated the N-terminal region of the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like B protein (LigBrep) as a vaccine candidate against leptospirosis using immunisation strategies based on DNA prime-protein boost, DNA vaccine, and subunit vaccine. Upon challenge with a virulent strain ofLeptospira interrogans, the prime-boost and DNA vaccine approaches induced significant protection in hamsters, as well as a specific IgG antibody response and sterilising immunity. Although vaccination with recombinant fragment of LigBrep also produced a strong antibody response, it was not immunoprotective. These results highlight the potential of LigBrep as a candidate antigen for an effective vaccine against leptospirosis and emphasise the use of the DNA prime-protein boost as an important strategy for vaccine development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology*
  • Biopsy
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Cricetinae
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Immunity, Humoral / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin A / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin A / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Leptospira / immunology*
  • Leptospirosis / immunology
  • Leptospirosis / prevention & control*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mesocricetus
  • Survival Analysis
  • Vaccination / methods*
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / microbiology
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • immunoglobulin B