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Infection and Immunity, November 2005, p. 7297-7303, Vol. 73, No. 11
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.11.7297-7303.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Selection of Protective Epitopes for Brucella melitensis by DNA Vaccination

Veterinary Molecular Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717-3610,¹ LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2155 Analysis Drive, Bozeman, Montana 59718-6831²

Received 15 April 2005/ Returned for modification 20 May 2005/ Accepted 18 July 2005

The Brucella melitensis 16M genome was examined for proteins in excess of 100 amino acids and for immunogenicity-associated genes. One subset of 32 annotated genes or open reading frames was identified, and each of these were cloned into the eukaryotic vector pcDNA3.1. Purified recombinant plasmids were used to intramuscularly (i.m.) immunize BALB/c mice. After challenge with B. melitensis 16M strain, two protective antigens were found: the periplasmic protein, bp26, and the chaperone protein, trigger factor (TF). Protective efficacy was confirmed with DNA vaccines for these two B. melitensis proteins and, when combined, protection against wild-type challenge was significantly enhanced. Both proteins were found to be immunogenic since elevated serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies without a specific IgG subclass bias were induced subsequent to i.m. DNA immunization. Antigen-restimulation assays revealed that bp26 and TF stimulated gamma interferon and only bp26 induced interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-6 cytokines as measured by cytokine enzyme-linked immunospot assay. These collective results suggest that both bp26 and TF are excellent candidates for use in future vaccination studies against brucellosis.

Editor: J. D. Clements

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