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Immunodominant Francisella tularensis antigens identified using proteome microarray. © Crown Copyright 2007 Dstl
Author(s) -
Eyles Jim E.,
Unal Berkay,
Hartley Margaret Gill,
Newstead Sarah L.,
FlickSmith Helen,
Prior Joann L.,
Oyston Petra C. F.,
Randall Arlo,
Mu Yunxiang,
Hirst Siddiqua,
Molina Douglas M.,
Davies D. Huw,
Milne Tim,
Griffin Kate F.,
Baldi Pierre,
Titball Rick W.,
Felgner Philip L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
proteomics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.26
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1615-9861
pISSN - 1615-9853
DOI - 10.1002/pmic.200600985
Subject(s) - francisella tularensis , proteome , antigen , biology , immune system , tularemia , microbiology and biotechnology , immunogenicity , virulence , virology , immunology , gene , genetics
Stimulation of protective immune responses against intracellular pathogens is difficult to achieve using non‐replicating vaccines. BALB/c mice immunized by intramuscular injection with killed Francisella tularensis (live vaccine strain) adjuvanted with preformed immune stimulating complexes admixed with CpG, were protected when systemically challenged with a highly virulent strain of F. tularensis (Schu S4). Serum from immunized mice was used to probe a whole proteome microarray in order to identify immunodominant antigens. Eleven out of the top 12 immunodominant antigens have been previously described as immunoreactive in F. tularensis . However, 31 previously unreported immunoreactive antigens were revealed using this approach. Twenty four (50%) of the ORFs on the immunodominant hit list belonged to the category of surface or membrane associated proteins compared to only 22% of the entire proteome. There were eight hypothetical protein hits and eight hits from proteins associated with different aspects of metabolism. The chip also allowed us to readily determine the IgG subclass bias, towards individual or multiple antigens, in protected and unprotected animals. These data give insight into the protective immune response and have potentially important implications for the rational design of non‐living vaccines for tularemia and other intracellular pathogens.