Ability of Brucella abortus rough vaccine strains to elicit DC and innate immunity in lung using a murine respiratory model

Brucella abortus strains RB51 and RB51SOD are live attenuated vaccine strains which protect mice against virulent B. abortus strain 2308 intraperitoneal challenge. By comparison, limited information is available on how Brucella vaccines stimulate pulmonary immunity against respiratory infection, another route of exposure in humans. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the ability of intranasally delivered vaccine strains RB51 and RB51SOD to induce innate immunity. Based on parameters assessed, rough strain RB51 induces a better innate immune response in lung versus strain RB51SOD. Additional studies to further delineate strain RB51's ability to stimulate DC and adaptive immunity are warranted.