Th1 immune response is essential in the protection against mycobacterial intracellular pathogens. Lipoproteins trigger both humoral and cellular immune responses and may be candidate protective antigens. We studied in BALB/c mice the immunogenicity and the protection offered by the recombinant 27-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoprotein and the corresponding DNA vaccine. Immunization with the 27-kDa antigen resulted in high titers of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2a with a typical Th1 profile and a strong delayed hypersensitivity response. A strong proliferation response was observed in splenocytes, and significant nitric oxide production and gamma interferon secretion but not interleukin 10 secretion were measured. Based on these criteria, the 27-kDa antigen induced a typical Th1-type immune response thought to be necessary for protection. Surprisingly, in 27-kDa-vaccinated mice (protein or DNA vaccines) challenged by M. tuberculosis H37Rv or BCG strains, there was a significant increase in the numbers of CFU in the spleen compared to that for control groups. Furthermore, the protection provided by BCG or other mycobacterial antigens was completely abolished once the 27-kDa antigen was added to the vaccine preparations. This study indicates that the 27-kDa antigen has an adverse effect on the protection afforded by recognized vaccines. We are currently studying how the 27-kDa antigen modulates the mouse immune response.

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (MPT) is the etiological agent of paratuberculosis. The disease is prevalent throughout the world, and exacts a heavy financial toll. At present, the only means of controlling this disease are culling or vaccination. The existing vaccines are not very efficient and produce a long-lasting local reaction at the point of injection and induce anti-bodies/delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction that cannot be differentiated from those of naturally infected animals. New potent acellular vaccines that allow discrimination between infected and vaccinated animals are necessary to improve the control of this disease. We have isolated, overexpressed and purified the 85B antigen of MPT, and characterized the immune response induced by this antigen in mice. Our results showed that the recombinant MPT 85B (rMPT 85B) antigen induced a high production of interferon (IFN)gamma, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and nitric oxide (NO). Spleen cells from mice immunized with rMPT 85B in Ribi adjuvant produced a higher level of IL-10 and NO than spleen cells of mice immunized with rMPT 85B only. In contrast, the addition of Ribi to the immunization protocol resulted in a lower amount of IFNgamma released by spleen cells. The levels of spleen cells proliferation in mice vaccinated with the rMPT 85B protein alone or with rMPT 85B with Ribi adjuvant were, respectively, four times or five times greater than in the control mice. The Ribi adjuvant induced significantly higher anti-85B antibody production of all classes tested and increased the IgG1/IgG2a ratio. DTH responses in mice footpads were observed only in mice immunized with rMPT 85B emulsified in Ribi. rMPT 85B induced both a Th1 and Th2 type of immune response with the later slightly more pronounced when the vaccination protocol comprised Ribi as an adjuvant. The rMPT 85B antigen elicited a strong immune response and can be considered as a potential candidate for a future acellular vaccine.

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