Immune response to dna vaccine expressing transferrin binding protein a gene of Pasteurella multocida

VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY

Immune response to dna vaccine expressing transferrin binding protein a gene of Pasteurella multocida

Satparkash Singh^I; Vijendra Pal Singh^I; Pawanjit Singh Cheema^I; Maninder SandeyII, ^*; Rajeev Ranjan^I; Santosh Kumar Gupta^I; Bhaskar Sharma^III

^IDivision of Bacteriology & Mycology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122, India

^IIScotch Ritchey Research Center, Auburn University, Auburn-36849, Alabama, USA

^IIIDivision of Animal Biochemistry, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122, India

ABSTRACT

Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS), an acute and fatal disease of cattle and buffalo is primarily caused by serotype B:2 or E:2 of Pasteurella multocida. The transferrin binding protein A (TbpA) has been found to act as immunogen and potent vaccine candidate in various Gram negative bacteria including P. multocida. The present study was carried out to evaluate the potential of this antigen as a DNA vaccine against HS in mice model. The tbpA gene of P. multocida serotype B:2 was cloned in a mammalian expression vector alone and along with murine IL2 gene as immunological adjuvant to produce monocistronic and bicistronic DNA vaccine constructs, respectively. The immune response to DNA vaccines was evaluated based on serum antibody titres and lymphocyte proliferation assay. A significant increase in humoral and cell mediated immune responses was observed in mice vaccinated with DNA vaccines as compared to non immunized group. Additionally, the bicistronic DNA vaccine provided superior immune response and protection level following challenge as compared to monocistronic construct. The study revealed that DNA vaccine presents a promising approach for the prevention of HS.

Key words: DNA vaccine, Haemorrhagic septicaemia, IL2, Pasteurella multocida, Transferrin binding protein

INTRODUCTION

Pasteurella multocida, a Gram negative coccobacillary organism is responsible for a number of diseases in livestock and poultry such as Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) in cattle and buffalo, atrophic rhinitis in pigs, pneumonia in sheep and fowl cholera in poultry. Among these, HS is an important disease prevalent in South East Asian countries where it remains of a considerable economic importance (31). Various vaccine preparations like alum precipitated, oil adjuvant vaccine (OAV) and genetically modified mutant vaccine being used against HS in India and other parts of world have certain demerits like short term immunity, difficulty in administration or reversion to virulent form (3, 10, 31, 38).

Structural components of P. multocida such as capsule and outer membrane proteins have been identified as potent immunogens for the development of safe and effective vaccines (21, 25). Similarly, outer membrane proteins involved in acquisition of iron from the host i.e., iron regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPs) have also been targeted as vaccine candidates (7). IROMPs are infact, transferrin binding proteins usually expressed by bacteria inside host body in response to iron depleted conditions and their in vitro expression is enhanced by the addition of iron chelators like 2, 2'-dipyridyl in the culture media (30). Amongst these proteins, TbpA, a transferrin receptor in bovine strains of P. multocida considered to act as a channel for transport of iron across the outer membrane has been designated as one of the prime immunogens of the organism (19). Veken et al. (32) has reported the association of transferrin binding proteins with HS causing strains of P. multocida in bovine whereas the strains of non HS serotypes failed to express this protein. Consequently, it was suggested to be one of the factors responsible for the virulence of HS causing strains of P. multocida.

Currently, DNA vaccines are a subject of investigation in the field of vaccine research primarily due to their ability to induce de novo production of antigens in the similar manner as that of live vaccines. These vaccines effectively induce strong and long lasting immune responses by generating both humoral and cell mediated immunity along with the stimulation of immunological memory (4, 15). Different cytokines including interferon (2), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (23) and interleukins (35) have been used as adjuvants to improve the immune response against primary immunogens. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is reported to act as an immunomodulator in DNA vaccines that activates multiple compartments of immune system including helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, B cells, macrophages and NK cells (5). The present investigation was carried out to assess the efficacy of tbpA gene alone and in combination with IL-2 gene as DNA vaccines against P. multocida serotype B:2 in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Primers

Different primers used in the study were designed taking into account their reported sequences (accession numbers: AJ558182, X01772). The sequences of various oligonucleotides with restriction sites (underlined) for respective enzymes were as:

Amplification of the tbpA gene

Genomic DNA from P. multocida serotype B:2 (strain P52) was used as template for the amplification of tbpA gene. The PCR mixture consisting of 50 ng of template, 25 pmol of each of the forward and reverse primers (Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc, IA, USA), 200 µM of each of the dNTPs, 1x PCR buffer, 1.5 mM MgCl₂ and 1U of Taq DNA polymerase (MBI fermentas, USA) was made into 25 µl volume with nuclease free water (Bangalore Genei, India). PCR program was performed with the initial denaturation at 94°C for 5 min followed by 30 cycles of denaturation at 94°C for 30 sec, annealing at 60°C for 45 sec, extension at 72°C for 2 min and a final extension at 72°C for 10 min.

Amplification of IL2 gene from murine splenocytes

The total RNA from splenocytes cultured in presence of concanavalin A (ConA) (10 µg/ml) (Bangalore Genei, India) was isolated using RNA isolation kit (Qiagen, CA) as per the manufacturer's recommendations. The cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription (RT) using first strand cDNA synthesis kit (MBI fermentas, USA) and the IL2 gene was PCR amplified using this cDNA as template.

Construction of recombinant plasmids and their confirmation

For cloning of the target genes, pIRES mammalian expression vector (Clontech, BD Biosciences) having two multiple cloning sites (MCS) under two different promoters was employed. The MCS-A is transcribed under the cytomegalovirus promoter where as MCS-B is under the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) promoter of encephalomyocarditis virus (Fig. 1). The amplicons and pIRES vector were digested with respective restriction enzymes (MBI Fermentas, USA) and the digested products were gel eluted using Mini Elute Gel extraction kit (Qiagen, CA). The tbpA gene was cloned between XhoI and MluI restriction enzyme sites in MCS-A of pIRES vector to produce plasmid construct pIRES-tbpA whereas the IL2 gene was cloned between SalI and NotI sites in MCS-B of recombinant pIRES-tbpA to generate pIRES-tbpA-IL2 (Fig. 1). Both the recombinant plasmids were separately transformed into E. coli DH5α (Promega, Madison) competent cells. The resulting clones were grown in Luria Bertani broth (Himedia, India) containing 100 µg/ml ampicillin overnight and plasmid DNA was isolated using Miniprep kit (Qiagen, CA). Finally, the plasmids were confirmed for the presence of desired insert by restriction enzyme analysis.

Expression analysis of recombinant plasmids

For the in vitro expression analysis of tbpA gene, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were transfected with DNA vaccine construct pIRES-tbpA or pIRES vector alone. The purified DNA (1.5 µg/well) was used for transfection of MDCK cells seeded in 6 well plates using Polyfect reagent (Qiagen, CA) as per the manufacturer's protocol. The cells were subjected to indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) 72 hr post transfection using monospecific polyclonal antisera (1:25 dilution) raised against recombinant pIRES-tbpA in swiss albino mice and anti-mouse IgG FITC conjugate (1:200 dilution). Finally, the cells were overlaid with 50% glycerol and examined under fluorescent microscope (Nikon microphot, Japan).

Immunization of mice

The plasmid DNA was isolated in bulk to be used for immunization using endotoxin free plasmid purification kit (Qiagen, CA). Healthy swiss albino female mice, weighing around 18-20 gm obtained from the Laboratory Animal Resource Section, IVRI, Izatnagar were maintained under standard conditions of nutrition and management. Mice randomly distributed into various groups of eighteen each were immunized intramuscularly with a dose of 100 µg of plasmid DNA vaccine constructs and boosted on 14^th day. The groups were categorized as Group I, II, III, IV and V receiving pIRES-tbpA, pIRES-tbpA-IL2, oil adjuvant vaccine (OAV), pIRES vector and PBS, respectively, as primary as well as booster dose. Another group (VI) was administered primary vaccination with pIRES-tbpA-IL2 and boosted with OAV. The serum samples were collected from the immunized mice at 0, 14, 28 and 35 days post vaccination. Subsequently, three sera in each group were pooled to form six pooled serum samples per group.

Evaluation of immune response

Mice sera collected at different intervals were subjected to enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sonicated antigen (5 µg/ml) prepared by growing the bacterial cells in brain heart infusion broth medium (Difco, France) supplemented with 50 µM 2, 2'-dipyridyl (Himedia, India). Rabbit anti-mouse IgG-Horse radish peroxidase (HRPO)/IgG1-HRPO/IgG2a-HRPO (1:5000 dilution) was used as conjugate. Standardization of optimum concentration of reactants was carried out using checker board method (12) and the reactions were carried out in duplicate. The absorbance was measured at 492 nm using ELISA reader (Multiscan EX, Labsystems).

The cell-mediated immunity was assessed on 35^th day of first immunization by lymphocyte proliferation assay. A single cell suspension of splenocytes at a concentration of 10⁶ cells/ml from 6 mice sacrificed in each group prepared in RPMI-1640 medium (Sigma-Aldrich) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum was employed in the assay. Each well in duplicate received 50 µl of 5 µg/ml whole cell antigen or 50 µl of RPMI 1640 medium (negative control). The stimulation index (SI) was calculated as ratio of optical density (OD) of stimulated well and OD of negative control well.

Challenge study and statistical analysis

Twelve mice in each group were challenged with a lethal dose (10 LD₅₀) calculated by Reed and Muench (24) of virulent P. multocida B:2 (strain P52) culture by intraperitoneal route after 35 days of first immunization. The heart blood from each of the dead mice was collected and examined for the presence of P. multocida B:2 organisms.

Statistical analysis for IgG titre and SI was performed by ANOVA (analysis of variance) (Duncan's Post hoc test) whereas IgG subclass titres were analysed by T-test (29). The data of different immunological assays were expressed as mean ± standard error (S.E.).

RESULTS

PCR amplification and characterization of recombinant plasmids

PCR amplification of P. multocida tbpA gene resulted in the product of size ~2334 bp and subsequently the recombinant pIRES-tbpA plasmid digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and MluI revealed an insert release of identical size (Fig. 2a). PCR targeting IL2 gene using mice cDNA as template amplified a product of ~500 bp and restriction endonuclease analysis of recombinant pIRES-tbpA-IL2 construct with restriction enzymes SalI and NotI resulted in the release of ~500 bp insert, hence confirming the clone (Fig. 2b).

In vitro expression analysis

The diffuse cytoplasmic green fluorescence was observed in MDCK cells transfected with recombinant pIRES-tbpA indicating the in vitro expression of tbpA protein (Fig. 3).

Immune responses

The ELISA titres observed in sera of mice immunized with various DNA vaccine constructs are depicted in Fig. 4. The maximum antibody titre among the groups injected with DNA vaccines only (Groups I and II) was observed in the group administered with pIRES-tbpA-IL2 (Group II). Further, primary immunization with pIRES-tbpA-IL2 followed by boosting with oil adjuvant vaccine (Group VI) produced antibody titres comparable to OAV group (Group III). The serum profiles of IgG subclasses (IgG1 and IgG2a) of various groups at different intervals revealed that OAV (Group III) elicited a prominent IgG1 response whereas immunization with DNA vaccines resulted in a balanced IgG1/IgG2a response (Fig. 5a and 5b).

As regards lymphocyte proliferation assay, a significant difference was observed in the stimulation index of vaccinated groups as compared to control groups indicating the enhanced cellular immune response against the recombinant plasmids (Fig. 6).

Challenge study

Protection studies revealed that pIRES-tbpA provided partial protection (50%) in mice against lethal challenge with virulent P. multocida culture (Table 1). However, incorporation of IL2 gene in vaccine (pIRES-tbpA-IL2) enhanced the protection levels significantly (66.6%) in comparison to monocistronic vaccine. Additionally, primary immunization with pIRES-tbpA-IL2 followed by a booster dose of OAV afforded almost equal protection to OAV group (75% and 83.3%, respectively). All the animals in non-immunized and vector vaccinated control groups died within 48 hr of challenge infection and causative organism was isolated from all the dead mice.

DISCUSSION

Iron regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPs) particularly TbpA has been suggested as a vaccine candidate by researchers in various bacterial species viz. Pasteurella haemolytica, Neisseria meningitides, Haemophilus influenzae (1, 17, 22). The rationale for targeting these antigens is that they are essential for overcoming the iron restriction imposed by the host iron binding protein transferrin and are accessible at the cell surface. Outer membrane antigens of P. multocida serotype B grown under iron limited conditions have been used as immunogens and shown to elicit homologous protection (13). West et al. (34) reported TbpA to afford protection against Neisseria meningitides challenge when administered as the sole immunogen and suggested that it could provide protection against a wider range of meningococcal strains.

Cytokine adjuvants have been used in the control of infectious diseases especially for the development of recombinant genetic vaccines and DNA vaccines (26). Infact, plasmids encoding cytokine antigens were suggested to be more efficient than the cytokine protein antigens themselves possibly due to consistent generation of more cytokines to enhance the immunity (37). In the recent past, modified IL2 alone in the form of DNA vaccine has been found to give 90 % protection against virulent lethal P. multocida challenge (39).

The present study was designed to test immunogenic potential of tbpA gene encoding transferrin binding protein A of P. multocida serotype B:2 as DNA vaccine. In order to enhance its immune response, a cytokine adjuvant IL2 gene from mice was incorporated in DNA vaccine. The cultured splenocytes were activated with Con A, a potent T cell mitogen in order to enhance the expression of cytokine genes (20).

The tbpA and murine IL2 genes were cloned in pIRES mammalian expression vector in such a way that the former was transcribed under cytomegalovirus promoter whereas the latter was under IRES (internal ribosome entry site) promoter from encephalomyocarditis virus. The pIRES-tbpA construct was tested for in vitro expression of protein by fluorescence testing in MDCK cells. The emission of green fluorescence from cells transfected with genetically engineered plasmid viz. pIRES-tbpA revealed that the TbpA protein expressed under the eukaryotic promoter retained its immunogenic nature. The use of IFAT for testing the expression of proteins encoded by recombinant plasmids has been reported previously also (16).

The immunization of mice with the pIRES-tbpA induced significantly higher antibody and cellular immune response as compared to PBS control. The DNA vaccine containing IL2 gene in addition to bacterial gene further enhanced the humoral and CMI responses reflecting the active role of IL2 in augmentation of immune response including the proliferation of activated lymphocytes. In the recent past, Gonza´ lez-Smith et al. (9) have also observed enhanced immune responses to Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) when coexpressed with IL2. The mice immunized with the bicistronic plasmid pSecTag-SOD-IL2 showed increased resistance to challenge with Brucella abortus than those immunized with monocistronic pSecTag-SOD plasmid. The role of IL2 as immunomodulator when administered along with primary immunogen in vaccine preparations has been suggested by other workers also (5, 38).

Further, it was observed that primary vaccination with pIRES-tbpA-IL2 construct followed by boosting with OAV (Group VI) resulted in significant increase in humoral as well as CMI response. It could be explained by the fact that DNA vaccine priming leads to generation of strong antibody response along with the memory immune response and these memory cells elicit secondary immune response when booster dose comprising of target antigen is administered (14). The concept of enhancement of immune response upon boosting with the whole cell antigen after DNA priming has also been observed in Mycobacterium, where sequential immunization with DNA vaccine and bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was found more effective than BCG immunization alone in protecting against M. tuberculosis infection (28).

In order to get a clear perspective of immune response against various vaccine constructs, the serum titres of IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes were also measured by ELISA. DNA vaccines produced a balanced IgG1/IgG2a response where as OAV generated predominantly IgG1 type of immune response. IgG2a level is mainly dependent on IFN-Γ indicating a bias towards Th1 type of immune response, whereas IgG1 level correlate with the humoral immunity (Th2 type) (6). Hence, it suggested that OAV produced primarily humoral type of immune response whereas, immunity against DNA vaccine constructs was cellular and humoral types both. Mixed type of immune response has been reported by various workers in mice receiving DNA vaccine constructs (4, 18).

Similar to the enhancement of immune response, the incorporation of IL2 along with tbpA in vaccine construct increased the protection levels also, which was in concordance with earlier reports (11, 39). Also, primary vaccination with pIRES-tbpA-IL2 followed by a booster dose of OAV produced almost equal protection as that of OAV, further emphasizing the importance of DNA priming and whole cell antigen boost strategies for increasing the protection levels (8). The lesser protection afforded by DNA vaccines alone implies the inability of single immunogen to protect against Pasteurella infections as the organism is antigenically intricate and molecular details of its pathogenicity are still not well established. Another reason for this could be lesser in vivo transfection efficiency with these vaccines. Various workers have observed the enhanced efficacy of DNA vaccines by increasing the dose or employing other methods of immunization like gene gun or electroporation (27, 33).

Further studies are required to identify and evaluate the other possible immunogens of P. multocida that could be administered along with tbpA gene in DNA vaccine preparations against the disease to enhance the efficacy of this vaccine.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar and ICAR sponsored 'All India Network Program on Haemorrhagic Septicaemia' for providing facilities to conduct this study.

Submitted: April 24, 2010; Approved: January 13, 2011.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  06 June 2011
• Date of issue
  June 2011

History

• Accepted
  13 Jan 2011
• Received
  24 Apr 2010