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, J, Schock, T, Lawrence Dunn, J, Aubin, DJS, Burnley, V V, Poet, SE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-03-2001
• Subjects: Spheniscus demersus
• ISSN: 1042-7260
• DOI: 10.1043/1042-7260(2001)032(0017:HIROBF)2.0.CO;2

Humoral immune responses of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) to DNA-mediated immunization with a 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.