HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSES OF BLACK-FOOTED PENGUINS (SPHENISCUS DEMERSUS) AFTER DNA-MEDIATED IMMUNIZATION WITH A BETA-GALACTOSIDASE REPORTER GENE

• Published in: Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 17 - 24
• Main Authors: Sherrill, Johanna, Schock, Tracey, Lawrence Dunn, J, Aubin, David J. St, Burnley, Vicki V, Poet, Steven E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 01-03-2001
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Zoo; Antibodies; Antibody Formation; beta-Galactosidase - genetics; beta-Galactosidase - immunology; Bird Diseases - prevention & control; Birds; Birds - immunology; black-footed penguin; DNA; DNA vaccination; DNA vaccines; Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; Female; Genes, Reporter; humoral immunity; Immunization; Immunization - veterinary; Immunization, Secondary; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Inoculation; Male; Penguins; plasmid; Plasmids; Random Allocation; Spheniscus demersus; Vaccination; Vaccines, DNA - administration & dosage; Vaccines, DNA - immunology; β-galactosidase
• ISSN: 1042-7260; 1937-2825
• DOI: 10.1638/1042-7260(2001)032[0017:HIROBF]2.0.CO;2

Humoral immune responses of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) to DNA-mediated immunization with a β-galactosidase reporter gene expression plasmid were evaluated. Six male and 6 female adult penguins received either test plasmid, pCMV-β, containing the β-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-β-galactosidase antibodies by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with anti-chicken immunoglobulin G as secondary antibody. Antibodies to β-galactosidase were detected in the sera of pCMV-β–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 β-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.