Open AccessImmunization of hamsters against Clostridium difficile infection using the Cwp84 protease as an antigen
Author(s) -
Péchiné Séverine,
Denève Cécile,
Le Monnier Alban,
Hoys Sandra,
Janoir Claire,
Collig Anne
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2011.00832.x
Subject(s) - clostridium difficile , immunization , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , clindamycin , antigen , immune system , antibody , clostridium difficile toxin a , colitis , immunology , virology , vaccination , antibiotics
Clostridium difficile is a pathogen responsible for diarrhoea and colitis, particularly after antibiotic treatment. We evaluated the C. difficile protease Cwp84, found to be associated with the S‐layer proteins, as a vaccine antigen to limit the C. difficile intestinal colonization and therefore the development of the infection in a clindamycin‐treated hamster model. First, we evaluated the immune response and the animal protection against death induced by several immunization routes: rectal, intragastric and subcutaneous. Antibody production was variable according to the immunization routes. In addition, serum Cwp84 antibody titres did not always correlate with animal protection after challenge with a toxigenic C. difficile strain. The best survival rate was observed with the rectal route of immunization. Then, in a second assay, we selected this immunization route to perform a larger immunization assay including a Cwp84 immunized group and a control group. Clostridium difficile intestinal colonization and survival rate, as well as the immune response were examined. Clostridium difficile hamster challenge resulted in a 26% weaker and slower C. difficile intestinal colonization in the immunized group. Furthermore, hamster survival in the Cwp84 immunized group was 33% greater than that of the control group, with a significant statistical difference.