Immunization with Brucella VirB Proteins Reduces Organ Colonization in Mice through a Th1-Type Immune Response and Elicits a Similar Immune Response in Dogs

What is it about?

Brucella bacteria infect humans and animals. Vaccines are available for cattle, sheep and goats. The available vaccines are made of attenutaed bacteria and cannot be used in humans. In addition, there are no vaccines for other animal species, like dogs. We studied whether immunization with Brucella proteins called VirB can protect mice from experimental infection with this pathogen. The study showed that mice immunized with the VirB proteins have reduced organ colonization (i.e., less bacteria in target organs like liver or spleen). We also found that the type of immune response elicited by this immunization, which correlated with disease protection in mice, could be also elicited in immunized dogs.

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Why is it important?

The study showed the potential to use VirB proteins for the development of vaccines against Brucellosis that do not rely on live attenuated bacteria. This would increase safety and could pave the way for the development of human vaccines. In addition, this study also suggests that vaccination with these proteins may be useful in dogs, a species for which no Brucellosis vaccine is availabe.

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