Ultraviolet C inactivation of Coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigen
Abstract Q fever, a worldwide-occurring zoonotic disease, can cause economic losses for public and veterinary health systems. Vaccines are not yet available worldwide and currently under development. In this regard, it is important to produce a whole cell antigen, with preserved structural and antig...
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03246-z |
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| author | Katja Mertens-Scholz Amira A. Moawad Elisabeth M. Liebler-Tenorio Andrea Helming Jennifer Andrack Peter Miethe Heinrich Neubauer Mathias W. Pletz Ina-Gabriele Richter |
| author_facet | Katja Mertens-Scholz Amira A. Moawad Elisabeth M. Liebler-Tenorio Andrea Helming Jennifer Andrack Peter Miethe Heinrich Neubauer Mathias W. Pletz Ina-Gabriele Richter |
| author_sort | Katja Mertens-Scholz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Q fever, a worldwide-occurring zoonotic disease, can cause economic losses for public and veterinary health systems. Vaccines are not yet available worldwide and currently under development. In this regard, it is important to produce a whole cell antigen, with preserved structural and antigenic properties and free of chemical modifications. Thus, inactivation of Coxiella burnetii with ultraviolet light C (UVC) was evaluated. C. burnetii Nine Mile phase I (NMI) and phase II (NMII) were exposed to decreasing intensities in a time-dependent manner and viability was tested by rescue cultivation in axenic medium or cell culture. Effects on the cell structure were visualized by transmission electron microscopy and antigenicity of UVC-treated NMI was studied by immunization of rabbits. NMI and NMII were inactivated at UVC intensities of 250 µW/cm2 for 5 min or 100 µW/cm2 for 20 min. Reactivation by DNA repair was considered to be unlikely. No morphological changes were observed directly after UVC inactivation by transmission electron microscopy, but severe swelling and membrane degradation of bacteria with increasing severity occurred after 24 and 48 h. Immunization of rabbits resulted in a pronounced antibody response. UVC inactivation of C. burnetii resulted in a structural preserved, safe whole cell antigen and might be useful as antigen for diagnostic purposes or as vaccine candidate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:42:20Z |
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| id | doaj.art-29ad27e3b0a14396ab329e3a285b20ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:42:20Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-29ad27e3b0a14396ab329e3a285b20ac2024-04-07T11:10:20ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802024-04-0124111310.1186/s12866-024-03246-zUltraviolet C inactivation of Coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigenKatja Mertens-Scholz0Amira A. Moawad1Elisabeth M. Liebler-Tenorio2Andrea Helming3Jennifer Andrack4Peter Miethe5Heinrich Neubauer6Mathias W. Pletz7Ina-Gabriele Richter8Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and ZoonosesFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and ZoonosesFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular PathogenesisDepartment of In Vitro Diagnostics Development, Research Centre of Medical Technology and BiotechnologyFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and ZoonosesResearch Centre of Medical Technology and BiotechnologyFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and ZoonosesInstitute for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control and Center for Sepsis Care and Control (CSCC), Jena University HospitalResearch Centre of Medical Technology and BiotechnologyAbstract Q fever, a worldwide-occurring zoonotic disease, can cause economic losses for public and veterinary health systems. Vaccines are not yet available worldwide and currently under development. In this regard, it is important to produce a whole cell antigen, with preserved structural and antigenic properties and free of chemical modifications. Thus, inactivation of Coxiella burnetii with ultraviolet light C (UVC) was evaluated. C. burnetii Nine Mile phase I (NMI) and phase II (NMII) were exposed to decreasing intensities in a time-dependent manner and viability was tested by rescue cultivation in axenic medium or cell culture. Effects on the cell structure were visualized by transmission electron microscopy and antigenicity of UVC-treated NMI was studied by immunization of rabbits. NMI and NMII were inactivated at UVC intensities of 250 µW/cm2 for 5 min or 100 µW/cm2 for 20 min. Reactivation by DNA repair was considered to be unlikely. No morphological changes were observed directly after UVC inactivation by transmission electron microscopy, but severe swelling and membrane degradation of bacteria with increasing severity occurred after 24 and 48 h. Immunization of rabbits resulted in a pronounced antibody response. UVC inactivation of C. burnetii resulted in a structural preserved, safe whole cell antigen and might be useful as antigen for diagnostic purposes or as vaccine candidate.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03246-zUVC irradiationCoxiella burnetiiTransmission electron microscopyELISASurvival rateImmunization |
| spellingShingle | Katja Mertens-Scholz Amira A. Moawad Elisabeth M. Liebler-Tenorio Andrea Helming Jennifer Andrack Peter Miethe Heinrich Neubauer Mathias W. Pletz Ina-Gabriele Richter Ultraviolet C inactivation of Coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigen BMC Microbiology UVC irradiation Coxiella burnetii Transmission electron microscopy ELISA Survival rate Immunization |
| title | Ultraviolet C inactivation of Coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigen |
| title_full | Ultraviolet C inactivation of Coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigen |
| title_fullStr | Ultraviolet C inactivation of Coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigen |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultraviolet C inactivation of Coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigen |
| title_short | Ultraviolet C inactivation of Coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigen |
| title_sort | ultraviolet c inactivation of coxiella burnetii for production of a structurally preserved whole cell vaccine antigen |
| topic | UVC irradiation Coxiella burnetii Transmission electron microscopy ELISA Survival rate Immunization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03246-z |
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