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. 2016 Feb 10:6:10.
doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00010. eCollection 2016.

Vaccination of Elk (Cervus canadensis) with Brucella abortus Strain RB51 Overexpressing Superoxide Dismutase and Glycosyltransferase Genes Does Not Induce Adequate Protection against Experimental Brucella abortus Challenge

Pauline Nol  1 , Steven C Olsen  2 , Jack C Rhyan  1 , Nammalwar Sriranganathan  3 , Matthew P McCollum  1 , Steven G Hennager  4 , Alana A Pavuk  5 , Phillip J Sprino  6 , Stephen M Boyle  3 , Randall J Berrier  6 , Mo D Salman  7
Affiliations

Vaccination of Elk (Cervus canadensis) with Brucella abortus Strain RB51 Overexpressing Superoxide Dismutase and Glycosyltransferase Genes Does Not Induce Adequate Protection against Experimental Brucella abortus Challenge

Pauline Nol et al. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. .

Abstract

In recent years, elk (Cervus canadensis) have been implicated as the source of Brucella abortus infection for numerous cattle herds in the Greater Yellowstone Area. In the face of environmental and ecological changes on the landscape, the range of infected elk is expanding. Consequently, the development of effective disease management strategies for wild elk herds is of utmost importance, not only for the prevention of reintroduction of brucellosis to cattle, but also for the overall health of the Greater Yellowstone Area elk populations. In two studies, we evaluated the efficacy of B. abortus strain RB51 over-expressing superoxide dismutase and glycosyltransferase for protecting elk from infection and disease caused by B. abortus after experimental infection with a virulent B. abortus strain. Our data indicate that the recombinant vaccine does not protect elk against brucellosis. Further, work is needed for development of an effective brucellosis vaccine for use in elk.

Keywords: Brucella abortus; O-side chain; RB51; elk; glycosyltransferase; superoxide dismutase; wildlife vaccination.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experiment 1: Percent positive elk in each vaccine group as measured on three standard brucellosis tests at multiple time points: Complement Fixation Assay (CF), Fluorescence Polarization Assay (FPA), and Standard Card Test (CARD). Animals in both vaccination groups developed antibodies that caused positive responses at or after 2 wk post-prime vaccination on all three tests. Positive responses on CF declined after 8 wk post-prime in both vaccine groups. Positive responses to FPA decreased after 4 wk post-prime vaccination in the single dose group and after 6 wk post-prime vaccination in the oral boost group. Positive responses on the CARD test declined after 4 wk post-prime vaccination in both groups. Elk in the single dose and oral boost groups were vaccinated with 2 × 1010 colony forming units sRB51+SODc, WboA intramuscularly (0 wk) and elk in the oral boost group were orally vaccinated with 1 × 1011 colony forming units sRB51+SODc, WboA at wk 6. The control group received phosphate buffered saline intramuscularly.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A,B) Differences in antibody responses (ELISA; mean optical density ± SEM) to sRB51 between vaccination groups at multiple time points in Experiment 1 (A) and Experiment 2 (B). (A) In Experiment 1, mean responses to sRB51 were greater (P < 0.05) in the single dose group and the oral boost group at 4 and 6 wk after initial vaccination as compared to serologic responses of the control group. Elk in the single dose and oral boost groups were vaccinated with 2 × 1010 colony forming units sRB51+SODc, WboA intramuscularly (0 wk) and elk in the oral boost group were orally vaccinated with 1 × 1011 colony forming units sRB51+SODc, WboA at wk 6. The control group received phosphate buffered saline intramuscularly. (B) In Experiment 2, mean responses to the sRB51 were greater (P < 0.05) in the vaccinated group at 4, 8, 12, 14, 17, 21, and 27 wk after initial vaccination as compared to controls. Elk in the vaccinate group were orally vaccinated with 1 × 1011 colony forming units sRB51+SODc, WboA at wk 0. Elk were boosted with the same preparation at wk 40 although this figure does not reflect antibody responses post-booster. The control group received diluent orally. In both figures, bars with differing letters differ significantly from each other (p < 0.05).
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