Mucosal Vaccines for Brucellosis



 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The highly infectious Gram-negative Brucella remains a global health threat and is responsible for the disease, brucellosis. In humans, B. melitensis is believed to be responsible for most infections, and it is naturally transmitted via ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products or aerosols of infected animal products resulting in infection of naso-oropharyngeal tissues. Although infection primarily occurs following a mucosal exposure, it can cause a systemic disease manifested by its flu-like symptoms. Despite aggressive antibiotic treatment, it can still result in a recurring sequelae evident as undulant fever and arthritis. Brucellae survival within the host is linked to its ability to evade intracellular recognition, thu, allowing them to sequester in various tissues. Vaccines that can recapitulate aspects of Brucella infection should prove effective in protecting against infection. Hence, we hypothesize that a vaccine that mimics aspects of natural mucosal B. melitensis infections and capable of stimulating cell-mediated immunity via the production of TNF-a and IFN-g will be protective against mucosal and systemic Brucella challenges. To enable this approach, we have recently developed a vaccine prototype that can confers complete protection in most cases with no detectable brucellae in spleens or lungs. Given the potency of this vaccine, we propose to test our hypothesis using two animal models to determine the efficacy of this vaccine against wild-type B. melitensis challenges. Studies in Specific Aim 1 will establish a mucosal (oral, nasal, or oral + nasal) immunization strategy for conferring protection to B. melitensis and to heterologous Brucella species. Studies in Specific Aim 2 will establish similar mucosal immunization strategy in goats, a natural host for B. melitensis, for conferring protection against B. melitensis-induced abortion. Studies in Specific Aim 3 will evaluate the biosafety of this vaccine to warrant future clinical testing. Thus, these studies will show that our oral/nasal vaccine can protect against Brucella challenges in two different experimental animal models.