Immunization of Mice Against Coccidioidomycosis

Abstract

Immunization of mice against coccidioidomycosis. J. Bacteriol. 84:46-52. 1962-The observed lower virulence of Coccidioides immitis arthrospores of the M-11 strain compared with the Cash strain was ascribed to the lower ability of the M-11 spores to invade the lungs and brain. Endospores of strain M-11, grown in synthetic medium, were equally as virulent by the intraperitoneal route as arthrospores of strain Cash. Immunization of mice with viable strain M-11 arthrospores protected approximately 50 % of the animals against challenge with strain Cash arthrospores. This was evidenced by lower mortality over a 5-month period and lack of gross pathological lesions in killed animals. Although fewer lesions resulted after the use of a viable vaccine, higher survival was obtained with formaldehyde-killed arthrospores. Either preparation tended to confine the infection to the peritoneal cavity.

Experimental Irradiated Arthrospore Vaccine Against Coccidioidomycosis in Mice

“…In previous intraperitoneal studies with live and formaldehyde-inactivated vaccines (3), the protective effects have been confirmed in subcutaneously immunized monkeys (4, 5) and dogs (1,2) challenged by the respiratory route. Moreover, the histologic changes in the immunized and control animals were similar regardless of the route of immunization and challenge (3,5 4. Characteristic one-plus or two-plus abdominal lesion seen in vaccinated challenged mice, adjacent to organ capsules without parenchymal or capsular infiltration.…”

“…formaldehyde-inactivated vaccines was maintained with both routes of immunization and challenge (1,2,3,5).…”

“…Comparison of vaccines against C. immitis shows, in general, that the killed vaccines protect againt death (3,6), whereas the live vaccine offers nearly universal protection against infection as well as death (1-5). These preliminary data suggest that the irradiated vaccine offers the same protection as the formaldehyde-inactivated vaccine, and in addition, shows less severe infection.…”

“…Although surviving animals appear outwardly healthy, they retain the organism in the tissues in a viable state for long periods of time. Pappagianis et al (18,19) and Converse et al (3)(4)(5) have shown in both monkeys (M. iris and M. mulatta) and mice, and Castleberry et al (2) in dogs, that experimental viable C. immitis vaccines are far superior to nonviable vaccines in their protective effect against infection.…”

Control of Tissue Reactions in Monkeys Vaccinated with Viable Coccidioides immitis by Prevaccination with Killed Coccidioides immitis

“…As a result of evidence that second respiratory infections with Coccidioides immitis rarely, if ever, occur in nature (Smith, 1957), and that dissemination beyond the regional lymph nodes is extremely rare in naturally or laboratory-acquired primary cutaneous coccidioidomycosis (Wilson, Smith, and Plunkett, 1953;Guy and Jacobs, 1926;Trimble and Doucette, 1956; Wright, Newcomer, and Nelson, 1959;Johnson et al, 1964; Meis, 1961;Winn, 1961Winn, , 1964; Harrell and Honeycutt, 1963; Goodman and Schabarum, 1963), studies on a viable vaccine against coccidioidomycosis were initiated. Previous studies of such a vaccine by Pappagianis et al (1959) and Converse et al (1962a) in mice, and by Pappagianis et al (1960) in cynamolgus monkeys, had indicated the feasibility of this method of protection against the disease.…”