Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulations
Koalas are an endangered species under threat of extinction from several factors, including infections agents. Chlamydia pecorum infection results in morbidity and mortality from ocular and urogenital diseases while Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) infection has been linked to increased rates of cancer and c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Vaccine: X |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590136223000700 |
| _version_ | 1797752940797100032 |
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| author | Bonnie L Quigley Peter Timms Sharon Nyari Philippa McKay Jon Hanger Samuel Phillips |
| author_facet | Bonnie L Quigley Peter Timms Sharon Nyari Philippa McKay Jon Hanger Samuel Phillips |
| author_sort | Bonnie L Quigley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Koalas are an endangered species under threat of extinction from several factors, including infections agents. Chlamydia pecorum infection results in morbidity and mortality from ocular and urogenital diseases while Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) infection has been linked to increased rates of cancer and chlamydiosis. Both C. pecorum and KoRV are endemic in many wild Australian koala populations, with limited treatment options available. Fortunately, vaccines for these pathogens are under development and have generated effective immune responses in multiple trials. The current study aimed to improve vaccine formulations by testing a novel peptide version of the Chlamydia vaccine and a combination Chlamydia – KoRV vaccine. Utilising a monitored wild population in Southeast Queensland, this trial followed koalas given either a ‘Chlamydia only’ vaccine (utilising four peptides from the chlamydial Major Outer Membrane Protein, MOMP), a combination ‘Chlamydia and KoRV’ vaccine (comprised of the chlamydial peptides plus a KoRV recombinant envelope protein (rEnv)) or no treatment. Clinical observations, C. pecorum and KoRV gene expression, serum IgG, and mucosal immune gene expression were assessed over a 17-month period. Overall, both vaccine formulations resulted in a decrease in chlamydiosis mortality, with decreases in C. pecorum, CD4, CD8β and IL-17A gene expression observed. In addition, the combination vaccine group also showed an increase in anti-KoRV IgG production that corresponded to a decrease in detected KoRV-B expression. While these results are favourable, the chlamydial peptide vaccine did not appear to outperform the established recombinant chlamydial vaccine and suggests that a combination vaccine formulated with recombinant MOMP plus KoRV rEnv could capitalize on the demonstrated benefits of both for the betterment of koalas into the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:11:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-79785ed5c8104f99a84da5f16e5d6bd5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-1362 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:11:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccine: X |
| spelling | doaj.art-79785ed5c8104f99a84da5f16e5d6bd52023-08-06T04:38:15ZengElsevierVaccine: X2590-13622023-08-0114100329Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulationsBonnie L Quigley0Peter Timms1Sharon Nyari2Philippa McKay3Jon Hanger4Samuel Phillips5The Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD, AustraliaThe Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD, AustraliaThe Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD, AustraliaEndeavour Veterinary Ecology, 1695 Pumicestone Rd, Toorbul, QLD, AustraliaEndeavour Veterinary Ecology, 1695 Pumicestone Rd, Toorbul, QLD, AustraliaThe Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia; Corresponding author at: 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia.Koalas are an endangered species under threat of extinction from several factors, including infections agents. Chlamydia pecorum infection results in morbidity and mortality from ocular and urogenital diseases while Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) infection has been linked to increased rates of cancer and chlamydiosis. Both C. pecorum and KoRV are endemic in many wild Australian koala populations, with limited treatment options available. Fortunately, vaccines for these pathogens are under development and have generated effective immune responses in multiple trials. The current study aimed to improve vaccine formulations by testing a novel peptide version of the Chlamydia vaccine and a combination Chlamydia – KoRV vaccine. Utilising a monitored wild population in Southeast Queensland, this trial followed koalas given either a ‘Chlamydia only’ vaccine (utilising four peptides from the chlamydial Major Outer Membrane Protein, MOMP), a combination ‘Chlamydia and KoRV’ vaccine (comprised of the chlamydial peptides plus a KoRV recombinant envelope protein (rEnv)) or no treatment. Clinical observations, C. pecorum and KoRV gene expression, serum IgG, and mucosal immune gene expression were assessed over a 17-month period. Overall, both vaccine formulations resulted in a decrease in chlamydiosis mortality, with decreases in C. pecorum, CD4, CD8β and IL-17A gene expression observed. In addition, the combination vaccine group also showed an increase in anti-KoRV IgG production that corresponded to a decrease in detected KoRV-B expression. While these results are favourable, the chlamydial peptide vaccine did not appear to outperform the established recombinant chlamydial vaccine and suggests that a combination vaccine formulated with recombinant MOMP plus KoRV rEnv could capitalize on the demonstrated benefits of both for the betterment of koalas into the future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590136223000700 |
| spellingShingle | Bonnie L Quigley Peter Timms Sharon Nyari Philippa McKay Jon Hanger Samuel Phillips Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulations Vaccine: X |
| title | Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulations |
| title_full | Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulations |
| title_fullStr | Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulations |
| title_short | Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulations |
| title_sort | reduction of chlamydia pecorum and koala retrovirus subtype b expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide recombinant protein formulations |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590136223000700 |
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