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L B Corbeil

Publications and source records attributed to L B Corbeil.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Bovine vaginal antibody responses to immunoaffinity-purified surface antigen of Tritrichomonas foetus.

Bovine trichomoniasis is a prevalent sexually transmitted disease of cattle caused by the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus. Currently, diagnosis is most often made by culture. In order to provide a faster immunodiagnostic approach, a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was investigated. A protective surface antigen (TF1.17 antigen) of T. foetus was immunoaffinity purified and used in an ELISA to detect antibodies in vaginal mucus from heifers inoculated with T. foetus. In preliminary studies, antibodies of the immunoglobulin A (IgA) isotype were detected in mucus from all experimentally infected heifers which were tested at 6 weeks postinoculation, whereas IgG1 and IgG2 were not. In addition, IgA responses detected in postinoculation samples were all greater than those detected in preinoculation samples, unlike those detected by a whole-cell antigen ELISA. For these two reasons, IgA antibodies appeared to be useful diagnostically. Further investigation of IgA antibodies used vaginal mucus collected weekly from heifers inoculated intravaginally with 10(2), 10(4), or 10(6) T. foetus organisms. Heifers with positive cultures for T. foetus had similar IgA responses to TF1.17 antigen over the 10 weeks of infection regardless of the initial inoculum dose. This indicates that if the dose is sufficient to establish infection, the magnitude and duration of the immune response are no longer dependent on dose. All of the infected animals receiving all dosages responded with high absorbance values in the IgA anti-TF1.17 antigen ELISA by 6 weeks postinoculation, and all absorbance values remained high at 10 weeks. To determine the duration of the IgA response, four other heifers inoculated with 7 x 10(6) T. foetus organisms were studied through 24 weeks postinoculation. IgA antibody responses to TF1.17 antigen were still high at 24 weeks, even though some heifers cleared the infection several weeks earlier. These results indicate that experimentally infected heifers produced detectable long-lasting IgA responses to TF1.17 antigen in vaginal mucus, which may be useful in a herd test for the diagnosis of bovine trichomoniasis.

Animals

Ovine Haemophilus somnus: experimental intracisternal infection and antigenic comparison with bovine Haemophilus somnus.

Experimental infection was produced by two of four isolates of ovine Haemophilus somnus given by intracisternal inoculation into two to three-month-old lambs. Isolate 2041 (originally obtained from a septicemic lamb in Alberta) caused lethal infection in eight of nine lambs, isolate 67p from the prepuce of a normal lamb produced less acute disease in four of nine lambs, and the other two isolates (93p and 1190) caused no detectable disease. Significant lesions were limited to the brain and spinal cord. Purulent meningitis was characteristic but vasculitis or septicemia were not detected, perhaps due to the route of inoculation. Since a difference in virulence was noted among strains, we analyzed surface proteins thought to be virulence factors of bovine H. somnus. Protein profiles of bovine and ovine H. somnus done by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed similar patterns for virulent bovine isolates and ovine septicemic isolates. Preputial isolates showed a lower molecular mass major outer membrane protein than septicemic isolates. Antigenic analysis revealed that outer membrane proteins p270, p78, p76, p40, and p39 were detected in both ovine and bovine isolates except for 1190, which was probably not a true H. somnus isolate. Thus the preputial and septicemic isolates of ovine H. somnus were similar to bovine H. somnus in pathogenicity and in surface antigens.

Animals

Conservation of a protective surface antigen of Tritrichomonas foetus.

Bovine trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the flagellated protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus. A protective surface antigen was previously identified and immunoaffinity purified from T. foetus isolate D1 with cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) TF1.15 and TF1.17 (BonDurant, R. H., R. R. Corbeil, and L. B. Corbeil, Infect. Immun. 61:1385-1394, 1993). This antigen elicited antibody responses in the serum and cervicovaginal mucus of heifers. Thus, it may be useful as an immunodiagnostic reagent as well as a subunit vaccine. Conservation of the antigen in all strains would be crucial for either application. We investigated the conservation of this antigen among 36 isolates of T. foetus from Argentina, Costa Rica, and the United States using MAbs TF1.15 and TF1.17 in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MAb TF1.17 reacted with 32 of the 36 isolates, whereas MAb TF1.15 reacted with all of the isolates tested. One of the isolates which did not react with MAb TF1.17 (i.e., D1#3) was investigated further by Western blotting (immunoblotting) to determine the reason for the lack of reactivity with one of the two cross-reactive MAbs. The antigenic band that was reactive with MAb TF1.15 had a molecular mass slightly lower than that of the corresponding band from isolate D1, which reacted with both MAbs TF1.15 and TF1.17. Thus, at least a major portion of the antigen appeared to be conserved. This was confirmed in a study of heifers infected with isolate D1#3. The vaginal immunoglobulin A antibodies of these infected heifers reacted with the antigen of isolate D1 that was immunoaffinity purified with MAb TF1.17. Therefore, even though the epitope recognized by MAb TF1.17 was missing in the challenge isolate (D1#3), the heifers developed an immune response to the rest of the molecule. These results indicate that the major portion of the previously described protective antigen is conserved in different isolates of T. foetus. This portion contains the epitope that reacts with MAb TF1.15. Most isolates express the whole antigen, which possesses both TFl.15 and TF1.17 epitopes, but the few isolates that are missing the portion containing the TF1.17 epitope may still elicit an immune reponse to the conserved portion. Thus, the protective surface antigen is promising for use in immunodiagnosis or vaccination against bovine trichomoniasis.

Abortion, Veterinary

Two linked genes for outer membrane proteins are absent in four non-disease strains of Haemophilus somnus.

Linked genes encoding two outer membrane proteins (p76 and a family of proteins, p120) of the bovine pathogen, Haemophilus somnus, were investigated. The p120 group was previously shown to have immunoglobulin-binding activity and to react with polyclonal antiserum specific for a 270 kDa antigen (p270) which also had immunoglobulin Fc-binding activity. By Western blotting we showed that the p76 antigen also reacted with this antiserum. The p270, p120, and p76 antigens were undetectable in four serum-sensitive isolates from asymptomatic carriers but were present in the two serum-resistant virulent strains tested. Genes for p120 and p76 were subcloned on non-overlapping pUC plasmids from a cosmid (pHS1) originally cloned from a serum-resistant strain. In Escherichia coli, plasmid pHS138 expressed p76, while the p120 antigens were produced by pHS140. Southern blots of DNA from the above six strains of H. somnus using probes derived from pHS1 subclones showed that a 13.4 kb sequence was missing from the four serum-sensitive strains, but not the two serum-resistant strains. This segment included most of the insert in pHS138 and all of the pHS140 insert. The data indicate that p76 and the p120 proteins are absent from serum-sensitive strains because the coding sequences are missing, raising the possibility of insertion of these genes into the chromosome of both serum-resistant strains, or deletion from the four serum-sensitive strains.

Antigens, Bacterial

Phenotypic phase variation in Haemophilus somnus lipooligosaccharide during bovine pneumonia and after in vitro passage.

A high rate of phenotypic variation in the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) electrophoretic profile of Haemophilus somnus occurred in most isolates obtained at approximately weekly intervals from three calves intrabronchially challenged with a cloned isolate of H. somnus 2336. Daily subculturing for 2 weeks resulted in at least one major alteration in the LOS electrophoretic profiles for strain 2336 and both additional disease isolates examined, but no change occurred in the LOS electrophoretic profiles for any of three commensal isolates examined. None of the LOSs from any of the postchallenge intrabronchial isolates reacted with rabbit antiserum to the challenge strain LOS in immunoblotting, but LOSs from two nasopharyngeal isolates did. Antigenic variation in the extracted LOSs of most of the isolates was supported by the results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Preimmune serum from each of the calves did not react with any of the isolates or the challenge strain, whereas sera obtained 35 days after challenge reacted with the challenge strain and zero to five additional isolates and sera obtained 74 days after challenge reacted with two to six additional isolates. Recognition of LOSs from isolates obtained near the end of the 70-day experiment by day-74 sera was related to clearance of the bacteria from the lungs. Isolates demonstrating major electrophoretic changes showed variations in the composition of the oligosaccharide, but not lipid A, moiety of their LOSs. The oligosaccharide of the LOS of each isolate was composed predominantly of glucose but varied substantially in the contents of galactose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, and 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid. Therefore, the LOS of H. somnus is capable of undergoing compositional and antigenic variations, which may act as an important virulence mechanism for evading host immune defense mechanisms.

Animals

Characterization of immunodominant surface antigens of Haemophilus somnus.

An immunodominant Haemophilus somnus outer membrane protein with an apparent molecular mass of 40 kDa on Western blots (immunoblots) of gradient sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels was characterized because a monospecific antibody against this antigen was protective. This monospecific antibody was used for immunoaffinity purification of the antigen. The immunoaffinity-purified antigen reacted with a polyclonal antibody to the 40-kDa antigen but not with a monoclonal antibody (3G9) which reacted with the 40-kDa antigen in gradient gels. On 8 or 10% gels, the approximately 40-kDa antigen was resolved as two bands, a 40-kDa band which reacted with the protective monospecific polyclonal antibody (p40) and a band of lower molecular mass which reacted with monoclonal antibody 3G9. The latter antigen was designated p39. Both antigens were conserved in all H. somnus isolates tested. The specific antibodies were also used to detect cross-reacting antigens in other gram-negative bacteria. Antibody to p40 reacted with proteins of 55 to 28 kDa, with the greatest intensity shown among proteins from other members of the family Pasteurellaceae. Antibody to p40 was reduced by absorption with live H. somnus or other members of the family Pasteurellaceae, so the antigen appears to be surface exposed. Antibody to p39 only cross-reacted with a broad band (38 to 40 kDa) in Haemophilus agni. Since H. agni is not a bovine pathogen and since convalescent-phase serum from H. somnus-infected animals did recognize p39, the latter may be a good immunodiagnostic antigen, if the lack of cross-reactivity with antigens in other gram-negative bacteria is confirmed with a polyclonal antibody to p39. The cross-reactivity of antiserum to p40 with antigens of members of the family Pasteurellaceae and the ability of this antiserum to protect against H. somnus pneumonia indicate that p40 may be a useful vaccine antigen for H. somnus disease and perhaps even diseases caused by other members of the family Pasteurellaceae.

Animals

Immunoglobulin binding by Tritrichomonas foetus.

A better method for diagnosis of bovine trichomoniasis is needed because culture is slow and somewhat lacking in sensitivity. Immunodiagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus infection usually involves detection of antigen-antibody reactions with an anti-immunoglobulin conjugate. However, nonspecific immunoglobulin (Ig), bound to the surface of T. foetus, would also be detected by an anti-Ig conjugate and thus would interfere with the specificity of the immunoassay. The goals of this study were to define the binding of bovine immunoglobulins to T. foetus. To determine whether nonimmune binding of Ig to T. foetus occurs, we immunized rabbits with organisms that had been grown in medium containing normal bovine serum and vigorously washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline. The rabbit antiserum had similar titers to T. foetus and to normal bovine serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, two bovine serum proteins were immunoprecipitated by the rabbit antiserum in an immunoelectrophoretogram. One of the serum proteins had a distribution characteristic of IgG2. The rabbit antiserum was then shown to react with purified bovine IgG and IgM by ELISA. Reactivity to IgG was greater. To identify the IgG subisotypes bound and to confirm nonimmune binding of Ig, we grew T. foetus in agammaglobulinemic fetal calf serum and reacted it with IgG1, IgG2, and IgM specific for dinitrophenol (DNP) in ELISA. The binding of IgG2 was greatest, that of IgG1 was next, and that of IgM was least. Little competitive inhibition by DNP was detected, indicating that binding of DNP-specific antibodies was predominantly nonimmune rather than antigen-specific Ig binding. We also demonstrated that T. foetus grew well in medium containing agammaglobulinemic fetal calf serum or serum made agammaglobulinemic by ammonium sulfate precipitation of Igs. This may overcome the problem of low specificity in diagnostic assays as a result of antigen with Ig bound by nonimmune mechanisms.

Animals

Cleavage of proteins of reproductive secretions by extracellular proteinases of Tritrichomonas foetus.

Cleavage of host defense proteins from reproductive secretions was investigated as a potential virulence mechanism for Tritrichomonas foetus extracellular proteinases. Three categories of susceptibility to digestion were found among the defense proteins tested. Cleavage of fibrinogen, fibronectin, and albumin occurred rapidly with more than 50% of these digested within 30 min. Lactoferrin, immunoglobulin G1, and immunoglobulin G2 were more than 50% digested after 4 h. Transferrin, immunoglobulin M, and immunoglobulin A were the most resistant to the Tritrichomonas foetus extracellular proteinases, since 50% or more of the parent molecule remained after 24 h. The responsible proteinases were classified as cysteine (thiol) proteinases because cleavage was inhibited by the cysteine proteinase specific inhibitor, trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane and not by the serine proteinase specific inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. In addition, alpha 2-macroglobulin, but not alpha 1-antitrypsin, inhibits the action of the proteinases. The ratio of this naturally occurring inhibitor to the quantity of proteinases released may determine whether the above substrates are cleaved in vivo. Since these substrates are implicated in iron acquisition, cell adherence, and acquired immunity, Tritrichomonas foetus proteinases are likely to play a role in host-parasite interactions.

Albumins

The effect of interferon-gamma intramammary administration on mammary phagocyte function.

The effect of recombinant bovine interferon-gamma on intramammary phagocyte function of mammary gland was studied in 4 Holstein cows (Study 1) and 7 Holstein cows (Study 2). Recombinant bovine interferon-gamma was intramammarily infused on day 6 of the dry period and phagocytes were collected from lacteal secretions and tested in vitro 24 hours later. Results from Study 1 indicate that phagocytosis of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was significantly increased after than before interferon treatment. Similarly, the number of bacteria killed/active phagocyte was enhanced by treatment. Results from Study 2 suggested a trend towards increased production of oxygen dependent bactericidal components and increased killing ability by phagocytes exposed to interferon as compared to control phagocytes. These results from both studies suggest that intramammary infusions of bovine interferon-gamma can stimulate phagocyte function during the early phase of the dry period.

Animals

Characterization of a 78-kilodalton outer membrane protein of Haemophilus somnus.

A 78-kilodalton (kDa) outer membrane protein (OMP) of Haemophilus somnus was one of the two antigens most consistently and most intensely immunoreactive in Western immunoblots of whole cells of H. somnus reacted with convalescent-phase serum obtained from cattle with experimental H. somnus pneumonia. This antigen was isolated by gel filtration chromatography of sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized OMP. Reactions of Western blots with bovine monospecific antiserum prepared against the 78-kDa antigen indicated that this 78-kDa OMP was present in each of 22 isolates of H. somnus obtained from cattle with pneumonia, thromboembolic meningoencephalitis, and abortion as well as from vaginal or preputial carriers. The 78-kDa OMP was also present in each isolate obtained weekly throughout the course of experimental H. somnus pneumonia in a calf. Monospecific antiserum to the 78-kDa OMP also reacted with proteins from closely related bacterial species in the family Pasteurellaceae but not with bacteria of 13 other genera. The 78-kDa OMP of H. somnus is of interest because it is surface accessible, highly conserved, immunogenic, cross-reactive with other members of the family Pasteurellaceae, and reactive with convalescent-phase serum which is passively protective against H. somnus pneumonia.

Animals

Characterization of Tritrichomonas foetus antigens by use of monoclonal antibodies.

The specificity for and function of monoclonal antibodies against Tritrichomonas foetus were characterized. Four monoclonal antibodies generated by immunization of mice with live T. foetus were selected on the basis of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reactions. The approximate molecular masses of the predominant proteins were determined by Western blotting (immunoblotting). Monoclonal antibody TF3.8 recognized a predominant band at approximately 155 kilodaltons, whereas TF3.2 reacted with several bands. Monoclonal antibodies TF1.17 and TF1.15 recognized broad bands between 45 and 75 kilodaltons. The first two antibodies (TF3.8 and TF3.2) did not react with the surface of T. foetus, as determined by live-cell immunofluorescence, agglutination, and immobilization, whereas two other monoclonal antibodies (TF1.17 and TF1.15) did react with surface epitopes, as determined by these criteria. The latter two monoclonal antibodies also mediated complement-dependent killing of T. foetus and prevented of adherence of organisms to bovine vaginal epithelial cells. One antibody, TF1.15, also killed in the absence of complement. Since these functions are in vitro correlates of protection, the antigens recognized by these monoclonal antibodies may induce protective immunity.

Animals

Molecular aspects of some virulence factors of Haemophilus somnus.

Several virulence factors of Haemophilus somnus have been investigated, but to a varying extent. It is known that some isolates are more virulent than others. Factors associated with virulence include attachment to vaginal epithelial cells, turbinate cells or embryos; serum resistance; growth stimulation by normal flora; interference with phagocyte function; Fc receptors; and toxicity for several bovine cell types. Lipooligosaccharide and Fc receptors have been investigated at the molecular level and studies are in progress to relate their molecular structure to virulence.

Animals

Cross-reactivity of monoclonal antibodies to Escherichia coli J5 with heterologous gram-negative bacteria and extracted lipopolysaccharides.

A panel of eight murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against heat-killed Escherichia coli J5 and shown to react with J5 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These antibodies were then assayed by a suspension ELISA for reactivity with up to 20 heterologous smooth or rough isolates of gram-negative bacteria, which were assayed after heat or formalin treatment, or as live cells. Extracted LPS from the same bacteria were tested for reactivity with the MAbs by direct ELISA. The MAbs demonstrated broad cross-reactivity with most heat-treated bacteria. In contrast, cross-reactivity of the MAbs with live or formalin-treated bacteria was limited almost exclusively to E. coli J5, Hemophilus species, or rough mutants of Salmonella minnesota. Reactivity with extracted LPSs and lipid A varied considerably depending on the MAb. Further, when Western blotting was used as the assay only four of eight MAbs reacted with J5 LPS, and none of the MAbs reacted with LPS from smooth S. minnesota or any of its rough mutants. Adsorption of the MAbs with acid hydrolyzed, boiled, or live E. coli J5 prior to ELISA of the MAbs with J5 LPS supported evidence that none of the MAbs were specific for lipid A and that reactivity was greater with boiled than with live cells. Thus, the cross-reactivity of antibodies to E. coli J5 LPS is dependent on the physical state of the bacteria or LPS used for assay, the assay used, and the specificity of the antibody.

Antibodies, Bacterial

Immunoglobulin-binding activity among pathogenic and carrier isolates of Haemophilus somnus.

Nonimmune binding of immunoglobulin to whole bacteria was quantitated for North American isolates of Haemophilus somnus recovered from cattle with pneumonia, reproductive failure (abortion), or thromboembolic meningoencephalitis or from the vagina or prepuce of carrier cattle. Quantitative binding activity covered a wide range, with most pathogenic and carrier isolates demonstrating significant immunoglobulin-Fc binding. Isolates for which Fc binding was not detectable were recovered only from the prepuces of asymptomatic bulls. Expression of Fc-binding activity correlated with the presence of the 41,000-molecular-weight protein (41K protein) and 270K protein. Isolates that lacked Fc-binding activity did not possess 41K or 270K protein. A 33K protein was detected in isolates that lacked Fc-binding activity but not in isolates that bound Fc.

Abortion, Veterinary

Adherence of Tritrichomonas foetus to bovine vaginal epithelial cells.

Adherence of Tritrichomonas foetus to bovine vaginal epithelial cells (VECs) in vitro was investigated with fresh washed bovine VECs and log-phase cultures of T. foetus. Observation under phase-contrast microscopy showed that T. foetus usually adhered first by the posterior flagellum and later by the body. Significantly more keratinized squamous epithelial cells were detected with attached parasites than nonkeratinized round epithelial cells. The optimal pH range for attachment was 6.0 to 7.5, with peak attachment at pH 6.5 for squamous VECs. Surface-reactive bovine antiserum to T. foetus prevented adherence to bovine squamous VECs. Inhibition of adherence occurred at nonagglutinating, nonimmobilizing serum dilutions. Antiserum fractions enriched for immunoglobulin G1 inhibited adherence, but fractions enriched for immunoglobulin G2 did not. The inhibitory antiserum was specific for several medium- to high-molecular-weight membrane antigens as detected in Western blots (immunoblots). The ability of surface-reactive antibodies to prevent adherence and to agglutinate and immobilize T. foetus indicates that they may be protective.

Animals

Antibody response to Haemophilus somnus Fc receptor.

To characterize the bovine immune response to an Haemophilus somnus antigen known to be recognized by convalescent-phase serum, we studied isotypic antibody titers to the 270-kilodalton protein, which we had previously shown to be an immunoglobulin Fc receptor. With a modified immunodot procedure, an immune response was detected after experimental H. somnus abortion, experimental H. somnus pneumonia, or vaccination with commercial H. somnus vaccine, with the greatest titer found within the immunoglobulin G2 isotype. With protein A peroxidase conjugate, which detects primarily bovine immunoglobulin G2, we showed that cattle with H. Somnus disease could be distinguished from clinically normal carriers, culture-negative cattle, or cattle with disease due to Pasteurella haemolytica or P. multocida. Little cross-reactivity between the 270-kilodalton Fc receptor antigen and antigens from other gram-negative bovine pathogens was seen. Thus, this antigen may be a useful diagnostic antigen.

Abortion, Veterinary

Pulmonary persistence of Haemophilus somnus in the presence of specific antibody.

Chronic experimental Haemophilus somnus pneumonia was produced in five 8- to 12-week-old calves to investigate host-parasite relationships in the respiratory tract. Calves were depressed and pyrexic and coughed intermittently for 3 days and then recovered except for sporadic coughing. Bacteria persisted in the lung for 6 to 10 weeks or more. Immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), IgG2, and IgM but no IgA antibodies specific for H. somnus were detected in serum. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples contained detectable IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA antibodies specific for H. somnus throughout most of the experiment. The kinetics of the isotypic antibody response against H. somnus in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids differed, suggesting that both local and systemic antibody responses had occurred. Persistence of pulmonary infection for 10 weeks or more in the presence of antibody may be due to an inappropriate distribution of isotypes, toxicity of H. somnus for bovine macrophages, and perhaps other factors. Three of the calves were challenged with a 10-fold-higher dose of H. somnus at 10 weeks after the original inoculation. Immunity against H. somnus was indicated by the rapid clearance of bacteria from the lungs and the presence of minimal pneumonia at necropsy 3 days after bacterial challenge.

Animals

Isotypic antibody responses in cattle infected with Haemophilus somnus.

Bovine antibody responses to Haemophilus somnus were compared on the basis of clinical and bacteriological findings. Serum IgG1 and IgM antibody titres were significantly increased in clinically normal cattle that were bacteriologically positive for H somnus from the nasal or vaginal mucosae compared with clinically normal, negative cows. IgG2 titres did not differ significantly between these two groups. However, IgG2 antibody was significantly higher in animals with H somnus disease (pneumonia or abortion) than in clinically normal cattle (whether bacteriologically positive or negative), while IgG1 and IgM titres did not differ between diseased and bacteriologically positive, clinically normal cattle. These antibody trends were duplicated in experimental H somnus abortion or pneumonia, with the greatest response occurring within the IgG2 subclass. Cattle vaccinated systemically with killed whole H somnus produced a predominant IgG2 response with minimal IgG1 and IgM responses. These results demonstrate that IgG2 antibody is consistently elevated in H somnus disease, and suggest that this response may be useful in discriminating diseased from asymptomatic cattle.

Animals