Immuno–Protective Studies with Recombinant OMPs Against Leptospira Interrogans Serovar Autumanalis and Australis Infection in Swiss Albino Mice

Dr. Reena Jain

Volume : IV, Issue : VIII, August - 2014

Immuno–Protective Studies with Recombinant OMPs Against Leptospira Interrogans Serovar Autumanalis and Australis Infection in Swiss Albino Mice

Dr. Reena Jain

Abstract :

Leptospirosis, a zoonosis caused by Leptospira sp., is recognized as an emergent infectious disease. Due to the lack of adequate and rapid diagnostic tools, vaccines are an attractive intervention strategy. The recombinant proteins rOmpL1, rLipL41 and rLipL32 were tested for their possible use as vaccine candidate against leptospirosis. Immunizations with the recombinant proteins were able to produce a significant immune response in Swiss albino mice individually and in combinations. Antibody titers were determined by ELISA. Best immune response was observed when all the three recombinant proteins were given combined. Immunized animals were challenged with 100 or 1000 organisms of Leptospira interrogans serovar Autumanalis and Australis to check protective efficacy of these recombinant proteins. Blood and kidney samples were checked by culture and PCR for presence of Leptospira in challenged animals at 2, 5, 7, 10, 12 day intervals from zero day of infection. The animals were protected against Leptospira infection with two combinations of recombinant proteins viz. combination of rOMPL1, LipL41 and combination of rOMPL1, LipL41, LipL32. Blood and kidney samples from immunized infected animals became negative by culture and PCR within 5–7 days post infection. The three recombinant proteins taken in the study appears to promising vaccine candidates for development of indigenous vaccine.