Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Volume 7 Issue 6
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- Pages.423-428
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- 1997
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- 1017-7825(pISSN)
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- 1738-8872(eISSN)
Preparation of a Vibrio vulnificus Vaccine with Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy
- Lee, Na-Gyong (Research and Development Center, Cheiljedang Inc.) ;
- Jung, Sang-Bo (Research and Development Center, Cheiljedang Inc.) ;
- Ahn, Bo-Young (Research and Development Center, Cheiljedang Inc.) ;
- Kim, Young-Gi (Research and Development Center, Cheiljedang Inc.) ;
- Kim, Je-Hak (Research and Development Center, Cheiljedang Inc.) ;
- Lee, Youn-Ha (Research and Development Center, Cheiljedang Inc.) ;
- Park, Wan-Je (Research and Development Center, Cheiljedang Inc.) ;
- Kim, Hyun-Su (Research and Development Center, Cheiljedang Inc.)
- Published : 1997.12.01
Abstract
Vibrio vulnificus is a halophilic gram-negative human pathogen, which affects people with underlying liver diseases or a suppressed immune system, often leading to primary septicemia with a mortality rate of higher than 60%. In an effort to develop an oral vaccine against V. vulnificus infection, we prepared a whole cell killed vaccine of V. vulnificus on a large scale and compared the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the vaccine administered in three formulation forms in rabbits. Since V. vulnificus O-antigen serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 account for more than 95% of clinical isolates, we prepared cell lysates from these six serotype strains and mixed in equal amounts for a vaccine. The vaccine was administered to rabbits intramuscularly (i.m.), orally as granules or as enteric-coated granules. In rabbits, all three formulation forms elicited a high level of serum IgG antibody reactive not only to the six strains but also to other O-antigen serotypes 6, 8 and 9, indicating cross-reactivities among the strains. Immunotherapeutic efficacy of the antisera was also evaluated by a passive immunization assay, which revealed that the orally immunized antisera as well as the i.m. immunized antisera was protective against a subsequent lethal challenge of V. vulnificus. These data demonstrate that oral immunization with a V. vulnificus whole cell lysate vaccine induced a systemic immune response and suggest the feasibility of development of this vaccine preparation as an oral vaccine.
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