1. Immunisation with the glycolytic enzyme enolase inhibits dissemination of Treponema pallidum in C57BL/6 mice.
- Author
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Jun, Tang, Zhimin, Liu, Xi, Deng, Hua, Wu, Huilong, Shen, Jiaofeng, Peng, Kang, Zheng, and Xie, Qinghua
- Subjects
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TREPONEMA pallidum , *LABORATORY mice , *ENOLASE , *IMMUNIZATION , *RECOMBINANT proteins - Abstract
Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum), an obligate extracellular bacterium, is the causative agent of sexually transmitted bacterial diseases. In this study, the glycolytic enzyme enolase (Tp Eno) of T. pallidum were injected intramuscularly into C57BL/6 mice, resulting in higher levels of specific anti -Tp Eno antibodies and Tp Eno-specific splenocyte proliferation than those in the mice immunized with recombinant protein Tp Eno. Cytokine (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) analysis of splenocytes showed that the Tp Eno could slightly trigger the Th1-biased immune response. Furthermore, immunization of mice with Tp Eno elicited a significant production of IFN-γ by CD4+ T-cells in the spleen. Subsequently, mice were inoculated intradermally (between the scapulae), intraperitoneally, intrarectally and via the corpora cavernosa with 2.5 × 106 organisms per site (1 × 107 total organisms). The bacterial organ burden detected in the blood, spleen, liver, testes or brain of immunized mice suggested that Tp Eno enhances protective immunity to inhibit T. pallidum colonization in distal tissues. Therefore, Tp Eno vaccination enhances Tp Eno-specific immunogenicity and provides protection against T. pallidum dissemination. • The C57BL/6 mice was attempted to evaluate immunogenicity and protection of Tp Eno against T. pallidum infection. • Tp Eno represents a promising new vaccine candidate that can stop the spread of T. pallidum. • Spirochetes are present in local sites of inoculation and disseminate to other tissues after 30 days post-inoculation in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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