Immunization of a wild koala population with a recombinant Chlamydia pecorum Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (PMP) based vaccine: New insights into immune response, protection and clearance

Marion Desclozeaux; Amy Robbins; Martina Jelocnik; Shahneaz Khan; Jon Hanger; Volker Gerdts; Andrew Potter; Adam Polkinghorne; Peter Timms

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0178786

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Immunization of a wild koala population with a recombinant Chlamydia pecorum Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (PMP) based vaccine: New insights into immune response, protection and clearance

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Immunization of a wild koala population with a recombinant Chlamydia pecorum Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (PMP) based vaccine: New insights into immune response, protection and clearance

Marion Desclozeaux, Amy Robbins, Martina Jelocnik, Shahneaz Khan, Jon Hanger, Volker Gerdts, Andrew Potter, Adam Polkinghorne and Peter Timms

PLoS One, Vol.12(6), e0178786

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178786

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Abstract

Chlamydia

koala population

We assessed the effects of two different single-dose anti-Chlamydia pecorum (C. pecorum) vaccines (containing either Major Outer Membrane Protein (3MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (Pmp) as antigens) on the immune response of a group of wild koalas. Both vaccines elicited a systemic humoral response as seen by the production of anti-chlamydial IgG antibodies in more than 90% of vaccinated koalas. A mucosal immune response was also observed, with an increase in Chlamydia-specific mucosal IgG and/or IgA antibodies in some koalas post-vaccination. Both vaccines elicited a cell-mediated immune response as measured by the production of the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17 post-vaccination. To determine the level of protection provided by the vaccines under natural conditions we assessed C. pecorum infection loads and chlamydial disease status of all vaccinated koalas pre- and post-vaccination, compared to a non-vaccinated cohort from the same habitat. The MOMP vaccinated koalas that were infected on the day of vaccination showed significant clearance of their infection at 6 months post-vaccination. In contrast, the number of new infections in the PMP vaccine was similar to the control group, with some koalas progressing to disease. Genotyping of the ompA gene from the C. pecorum strains infecting the vaccinated animals, identified genetic variants of ompA-F genotype and a new genotype ompA-O. We found that those animals that were the least well protected became infected with strains of C. pecorum not covered by the vaccine. In conclusion, a single dose vaccine formulated with either recombinant PmpG or MOMP can elicit both cell-mediated and humoral (systemic and mucosal) immune responses, with the MOMP vaccine showing clearance of infection in all infected koalas. Although the capability of our vaccines to stimulate an adaptive response and be protective needs to be fully evaluated, this work illustrates the necessity to combine epitopes most relevant to a large panel of variable strains with an efficient adjuvant.

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Title: Immunization of a wild koala population with a recombinant Chlamydia pecorum Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (PMP) based vaccine: New insights into immune response, protection and clearance
Authors: Marion Desclozeaux (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Amy Robbins (Author) - Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty Ltd
Martina Jelocnik (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Shahneaz Khan (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Jon Hanger (Author) - Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty Ltd
Volker Gerdts (Author) - University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Andrew Potter (Author) - University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Adam Polkinghorne (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Peter Timms (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: PLoS One, Vol.12(6), e0178786; 23
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178786
ISSN: 1932-6203
Copyright note: Copyright © 2017 Desclozeaux et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Education and Tertiary Access; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450344602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Immunology

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