Open AccessMolecular Characterization and Function of Brucella Immunodominant Proteins
Author(s) -
Menachem Banai,
Gary A. Splitter
Publication year - 1993
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.32747/1993.7568100.bard
Subject(s) - biology , antigenicity , brucella , microbiology and biotechnology , subcloning , cd8 , gene , epitope , recombinant dna , antigen , virology , genetics , brucellosis
The BARD project was a continuation of a previous BARD funded research project. It was aimed at characterization of the 12kDa immunodominant protein and subsequently the cloning and expression of the gene in E. coli. Additional immunodominant proteins were sought among genomic B. abortus expression library clones using T-lymphocyte proliferation assay as a screening method. The 12kDa protein was identified as the L7/L12 ribosomal protein demonstrating in the first time the role a structural protein may play in the development of the host's immunity against the organism. The gene was cloned from B. abortus (USA) and B. melitensis (Israel) showing identity of the oligonucleotide sequence between the two species. Further subcloning allowed expression of the protein in E. coli. While the native protein was shown to have DTH antigenicity its recombinant analog lacked this activity. In contrast the two proteins elicited lymphocyte proliferation in experimental murine brucellosis. CD4+ cells of the Th1 subset predominantly responded to this protein demonstrating the development of protective immunity (g-IFN, and IL-2) in the host. Similar results were obtained with bovine Brucella primed lymphocytes. UvrA, GroE1 and GroEs were additional Brucella immunodominant proteins that demonstrated MHC class II antigenicity. The role cytotoxic cells are playing in the clearance of brucella cells was shown using knock out mice defective either in their CD4+ or CD8+ cells. CD4+ defective mice were able to clear brucella as fast as did normal mice. In contrast mice which were defective in their CD8+ cells could not clear the organisms effectively proving the importance of this subtype cell line in development of protective immunity. The understanding of the host's immune response and the expansion of the panel of Brucella immunodominant proteins opened new avenues in vaccine design. It is now feasible to selectively use immunodominant proteins either as subunit vaccine to fortify immunity of older animals or as diagnostic reagents for the serological survaillance.