Antigenic characterization of Moraxella bovis, Moraxella bovoculi and Moraxella ovis strains with potential use in vaccines

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology Vol. 210; pp. 56 - 63
• Main Authors: Kowalski, Ananda Paula, Maboni, Grazieli, Gressler, Letícia Trevisan, Espíndola, Julia Pires, Balzan, Cláudia, Tasca, Caiane, Guizzo, João Antônio, Conceição, Fabricio Rochedo, Frandoloso, Rafael, de Vargas, Agueda Castagna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-10-2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Animal vaccines; Animals; Antigens; Antigens, Bacterial - immunology; Antisera; Bacteria; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - microbiology; Cattle Diseases - prevention & control; Clinical isolates; Cross Reactions; Cross-reactivity; Flow cytometry; Historical account; IBK; Immunogenicity; Immunoglobulin G; Keratoconjunctivitis; Keratoconjunctivitis, Infectious - microbiology; Keratoconjunctivitis, Infectious - prevention & control; M. bovis; M. bovoculi; M. ovis; Moraxella; Moraxella (Moraxella) bovis - immunology; Moraxella - immunology; Moraxella bovis; Moraxella bovoculi; Moraxella ovis; Moraxellaceae Infections - microbiology; Moraxellaceae Infections - prevention & control; Moraxellaceae Infections - veterinary; Outbreaks; Pathogenesis; Rabbits; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - microbiology; Sheep Diseases - prevention & control; Strains (organisms); Studies; Vaccines; Western blotting; Flow cytometry; M. bovis; M. bovoculi; IBK; M. ovis; Cross-reactivity
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.08.016

•The analysis is based on the cross-reactivity between Moraxella bovis, M. bovoculi and M. ovis strains.•Use of flow cytometry technique in antigen recognition assays between Moraxella spp. isolates is proposed.•Analysis suggests field isolates of M. bovoculi and M. ovis with potential vaccine against IBK.
Moraxella bovis is historically known as the primary agent of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). However, Moraxella bovoculi and Moraxella ovis are also reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of IBK, therefore, these three species should be included in the development of a new vaccine with a broad-spectrum protection against the disease natural challenge. In this study we investigated the antigenic properties of clinical isolates and reference strains of M. bovis, M. bovoculi and M. ovis using a novel in vitro approach for vaccine evaluation based on two techniques, flow cytometry and western blotting (WB). Here, we demonstrated that rabbit antisera produced against reference M. bovis strain and commercial bacterin showed low number of IgG with capacity to recognize a panel of heterologous strains composed by M. bovoculi and M. ovis. On the other hand, the antisera generated against two clinical isolates of M. ovis (Mov2 and Mov3) presented high cross-reactivity levels against all M. ovis and M. bovis strains evaluated. Similarly, the antisera against Mbv3 (clinical isolate of M. bovoculi) had high levels of IgG associated on the surface of all M. bovoculi strains and most of the M. ovis strains analyzed. The WB analysis demonstrated that Moraxella spp. has multiple immunogenic antigens and most of them are shared between the three species. Based on the cross-reactivity analysis and considering the relative number of IgGs associated on the bacterial surface, we suggest that a multivalent vaccine including Mbv3, Mov2 and Mov3 strains may provide a strong and broad protection against all strains involved in IBK outbreaks.