Specific and cross-reactive immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in mice immunized with proteoliposomes from Mycobacterium bovis BCG

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Nadine Alvarez, Daymí Serpa, Ramlah Kadir, Yanely Tirado, Reinier Borrero, Sonsire Fernández, Rubén Cabrera, Yolanda Valdes, Caridad Zayas, Reinaldo Acevedo, Luis Izquierdo, María Elena Sarmiento, Mohd-Nor Norazmi, José Luis Pérez, Armando Acosta
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017
• Subjects: BCG; Immunogenicity; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Proteoliposomes; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic; Calmette
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.12.013; https://doaj.org/article/41309d101a5f4060b69184405bbc839b

Objective: To characterize the immunogenicity and the induction of cross-reactive responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) of a proteoliposome (PL) from Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) with and without alum hydroxide (AL) as adjuvant (PLBCG-AL and PLBCG, respectively) in BALB/c mice. Methods: BALB/c mice were inoculated with phosphate buffer solution, BCG, PLBCG and PLBCG-AL. The humoral immunogenicity was determined by ELISA [immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1 and IgG2a] and the cellular immunogenicity was evaluated in vivo by delayed type hypersensitivity. The humoral cross-reactive response against M. tuberculosis was determined by Western blot. Results: Sera from animals immunized with PLBCG-AL and PLBCG showed significant increase in specific total IgG and IgG1 antibodies and the presence of cross-reactive antibodies against M. tuberculosis antigens, which were more intense with the use of alum as adjuvant. Mice immunized with PLBCG and PLBCG-AL also showed a specific cellular response in vivo. Conclusions: The cellular and humoral immunogenicity of PLBCG and the capacity to induce cross-reactive responses against M. tuberculosis is in agreement with the protective capacity previously demonstrated by this vaccine candidate and supports the continuation of its evaluation in further stages.