Cross-protection between distantly related spotted fever group rickettsiae.

Abstract

Two excellent C3H/HeN mouse models of spotted fever rickettsioses caused by the distantly related organisms, Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia australis, were utilized to evaluate the possibility of the stimulation of broad cross-protective immunity. Sublethal infection stimulated complete immunity, that is absence of disease, after challenge with a dose of the heterologous Rickettsia that uniformly killed naïve mice. In contrast, heterologous immune sera did not protect mice against a lethal dose (two LD50) of rickettsiae in the mouse toxicity neutralization assay, the standard method for evaluation of rickettsial vaccine potency. These observations suggest that development of a broadly protective vaccine against spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae is feasible, and the results indicate that mouse toxicity neutralization is an inappropriate method for evaluation of candidate vaccines.

• Authors: Hui-min Feng, David H Walker
• Journal: Vaccine (Vaccine) Vol. 21 Issue 25-26 Pg. 3901-5 (Sep 08 2003) ISSN: 0264-410X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12922124 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Diatrizoate Meglumine

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Bacterial (analysis, biosynthesis)
• Antibody Specificity
• Cross Reactions
• Diatrizoate Meglumine
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C3H
• Neutralization Tests
• Rickettsia conorii (immunology)
• Rickettsia rickettsii (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (prevention & control)