RESUMEN
Humoral immune responses of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) to DNA-mediated immunization with a beta-galactosidase reporter gene expression plasmid were evaluated. Six male and 6 female adult penguins received either test plasmid, pCMV-beta, containing the beta-galactosidase gene or control plasmid, pCI, lacking a gene for expression. Three birds from each group were used previously in a diluent control group and given one injection of sterile saline. All samples were screened for anti-beta-galactosidase antibodies by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with anti-chicken immunoglobulin G as secondary antibody. Antibodies to beta-galactosidase were detected in the sera of pCMV-beta-inoculated penguins, with a peak response on day 21. Antibody titers of the test plasmid group versus both control groups on days 21, 28, and 42 differed significantly. These results demonstrate that black-footed penguins can be safely transfected with the gene encoding beta-galactosidase and will mount a humoral response against the in vivo-expressed protein. Knowledge from this initial study can be applied to the development of DNA-mediated vaccines against specific infectious diseases of penguins.
Asunto(s)
Formación de Anticuerpos , Enfermedades de las Aves/prevención & control , Aves/inmunología , Genes Reporteros , Vacunas de ADN/administración & dosificación , beta-Galactosidasa/inmunología , Animales , Animales de Zoológico , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/veterinaria , Femenino , Inmunización/veterinaria , Inmunización Secundaria , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , Masculino , Plásmidos , Distribución Aleatoria , Vacunas de ADN/inmunología , beta-Galactosidasa/genéticaRESUMEN
We report that a calicivirus of oceanic origin, San Miguel sea lion virus serotype 5 (SMSV-5), is a human pathogen. This biotype was isolated originally from blisters on the flippers of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and replicates readily in primate and human cell lines. It infects a phylogenetically diverse array of hosts (poikilotherms to primates) and induces type-specific neutralizing antibodies in exposed humans. Group antibody against a pooled antigen of SMSV-5 and two other serotypes was also observed in 18% of 300 blood donors from a population in the northwestern United States. The human calicivirus isolate designated SMSV-5 Homosapien-1 (SMSV-5 Hom-1) was recovered from a laboratory worker with systemic illness, including vesicular lesions on all four extremities. We believe this newly described human disease represents a paradigmatic shift in calicivirus disease recognition.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Caliciviridae/virología , Pie/virología , Mano/virología , Adulto , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/inmunología , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/patología , Infecciones por Caliciviridae/veterinaria , ADN Viral , Pie/patología , Mano/patología , Humanos , Masculino , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , PhocidaeRESUMEN
In April 1992, on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals, Hawaii (USA), researchers observed a hand-reared white tern hatchling (Gygis alba rothschildi) develop vesicular lesions on the webbing between its toes, 6 days after falling out of its nest. Vesicular fluid collected from the foot lesions contained virus-like particles having typical calicivirus morphology. Calicivirus RNA was detected in the vesicular fluid by dot hybridization with a group-specific calicivirus copy DNA probe. Attempts to cultivate the virus in African green monkey kidney cells and porcine kidney cells were unsuccessful. This is the first report of a calicivirus infection associated with vesicular disease in a wild avian species.