Schmidt A, Schaffelhofer S, Müller K, Röllinghoff M, Beuscher H U
Institute for Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, Wasserturmstrasse 3, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Microb Pathog. 1999 Apr;26(4):221-33. doi: 10.1006/mpat.1998.0268.
The plasmid encoded V antigen (Vag) of pathogenic Yersinia spp. is a major virulence factor as well as a protective immunogen. Recently, two main types of Vag, represented by either Yersinia enterocolitica 0:8 or Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, have been identified and it has been suggested, that antibodies generated against one type are unable to protect against Yersinia spp. carrying the other type. By using a recombinant Vag (rVagHis) of the Y. enterocolitica 0:8 type we show here, that actively immunized mice were completely protected against challenge with both, Y. enterocolitica 0:8 and Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype III. In addition, passive protection was possible with polyclonal rabbit anti-rVagHisIgG. However, while a single antibody dose (200 microgramg) was sufficient to protect against challenge with Y. enterocolitica 0:8, repetitive injections at intervals of 2 to 3 days were needed to protect against challenge with Y. pseudotuberculosis III. The apparent difference in protection correlated with a rapid disappearance of anti-rVagHisIgG from the circulation by days 3 to 4. The data therefore indicate, that expression of distinct types of Vag by Yersinia spp. does not necessarily exclude immunoprotection in mice immunized with the other type of Vag. It rather appears, that differences in immunoprotection between Yersinia species relate to the amount of cross-protective antibody. Finally, as revealed by the lack of complement-mediated killing and the lack of immunostaining of Yersiniae with anti-rVagHisantibodies, evidence is provided to indicate that immunoprotection does not occur via opsonisation or complement lysis.
致病性耶尔森氏菌属的质粒编码V抗原（Vag）是一种主要的毒力因子，也是一种保护性免疫原。最近，已鉴定出以小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌0:8或假结核耶尔森氏菌为代表的两种主要类型的Vag，并且有人提出，针对一种类型产生的抗体不能保护免受携带另一种类型的耶尔森氏菌属的侵害。通过使用小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌0:8型的重组Vag（rVagHis），我们在此表明，主动免疫的小鼠完全受到保护，免受小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌0:8和假结核耶尔森氏菌血清型III的攻击。此外，用多克隆兔抗rVagHisIgG可以实现被动保护。然而，虽然单剂量抗体（200微克）足以保护免受小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌0:8的攻击，但需要每隔2至3天重复注射以保护免受假结核耶尔森氏菌III的攻击。保护作用的明显差异与抗rVagHisIgG在第3至4天从循环中迅速消失有关。因此，数据表明，耶尔森氏菌属表达不同类型的Vag不一定排除在用另一种类型的Vag免疫的小鼠中的免疫保护作用。相反，似乎耶尔森氏菌属之间免疫保护的差异与交叉保护抗体的量有关。最后，正如缺乏补体介导的杀伤作用以及用抗rVagHis抗体对耶尔森氏菌缺乏免疫染色所揭示的那样，有证据表明免疫保护不是通过调理作用或补体裂解发生的。
