Efficacy evaluation of live Escherichia coli expression Brucella P39 protein combined with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides vaccine against Brucella melitensis 16M, in BALB/c mice

Brucella is gram-negative bacteria responsible for brucellosis in a wide variety of animals and humans. BALB/c mice were immunized with live Escherichia coli expression the p39 gene of Brucella melitensis, a gene coding for the periplasmic binding protein. Mice were injected with either E. coli BL21 (DE3) pEt15b or E. coli BL21 (DE3) pEt15b-p39 alone or adjuvanted with either CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) or non-CpG ODN. E. coli BL21 (DE3) pEt15b-p39 with CpG ODN or with non-CpG ODN mice groups showed a significant IFN-γ production and T-cell proliferation as a reaction to P39 antigen. In addition, antibody responses (IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a), were only found in these two mice groups. A higher level of protection against B. melitensis 16M were observed in mice immunized with E. coli BL21 (DE3) pEt15b-p39 and CpG ODN comparing with those immunized with E. coli BL21 (DE3) pEt15b-p39 alone or with non-CpG ODN. No protection against B. melitensis 16M was observed in mice immunized with E. coli BL21 (DE3) pEt15b alone or with the adjuvant. Rev.1 protection at 4 and 8 weeks post-challenge was more effective than that observed with E. coli BL21 (DE3) pEt15b-p39 and CpG ODN.