Open AccessCharacterisation of the immune response to the UK human anthrax vaccine
Author(s) -
Baillie Leslie,
Hebdon Richard,
FlickSmith Helen,
Williamson Diane
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1016/s0928-8244(03)00085-3
Subject(s) - immunogen , bacillus anthracis , immunogenicity , anthrax vaccines , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , isotype , antigen , antibody , virology , immunoglobulin g , immunology , bacteria , immunization , monoclonal antibody , dna vaccination , genetics
The UK human anthrax vaccine consists of the alum‐precipitated culture supernatant of Bacillus anthracis Sterne. In addition to protective antigen (PA), the key immunogen, the vaccine also contains a number of other bacteria‐ and media‐derived proteins. These proteins may contribute to the transient side effects experienced by some individuals and could influence the development of the PA‐specific immune response. Bacterial cell‐wall components have been shown to be potent immunomodulators. B. anthracis expresses two S‐layer proteins, EA1 and Sap, which have been demonstrated to be immunogenic in animal studies. These are also immunogenic in man so that convalescent and post‐immunisation sera contain specific antibodies to Ea1, and to a lesser extent, to Sap. To determine if these proteins are capable of modifying the protective immune response to PA, A/J mice were immunised with equivalent amounts of recombinant PA and S‐layer proteins in the presence of alhydrogel. IgG isotype profiles were determined and the animals were subsequently challenged with spores of B. anthracis STI. The results suggest that there was no significant shift in IgG isotype profile and that the presence of the S‐layer proteins did not adversely affect the protective immune response induced by PA.