Abstract

Phospholipase d triggers a high antibody response against acinetobacterbaumanii infection in murine model

Author(s): Elaheh Zadeh Hosseingholi, Iraj Rasooli, Seyed Latif Mousavi Gargari

Acinetobacterbaumannii, a major threatfor hospitalized patients, intensive care units (ICUs) residents, military forces, is a public health problem due to increasing rate of antibiotic resistance. Vaccination of these risk groups may lessen occurrence and spread of infections. In the present study efficiency of phospholipase D (PLD), one of previously identiûed virulence factors of A. baumannii, was evaluated as a vaccine component. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to verify the presence of PLD virulence gene in clinical isolates. The pld was amplified, cloned and the recombinant protein i.e. rPLD, was expressed. BALB/C mice were immunized with the recombinant PLD followed by intraperitoneal challenge with lethal doses of 108 to 1011 CFU of A. baumannii. Experimental findings showed significantly higher average survival rate of 95% in immunized mice than the control group. Rabbits were immunized with the rPLD and the sera were used to determine its efficiency in protecting unimmunized mice from bacterial challenge.Average survival rate of 80%was achieved in challenged groups with the same lethal doses used in active immunization challenges compared with the control groups receiving naive rabbit serum. rPLD was potentially effective in triggering a high antibody response and protectingmice against A. baumannii.