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Infection and immunity1985; 47(3); 623-628; doi: 10.1128/iai.47.3.623-628.1985

Mucosal nasopharyngeal immune responses of horses to protein antigens of Streptococcus equi.

Abstract: Mucosal nasopharyngeal immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG responses to proteins of Streptococcus equi were studied in horses after the experimental production of strangles. S. equi-specific IgA and IgG titers in nasopharyngeal mucus were much higher in samples from animals 1 to 2 weeks after challenge than in samples from control animals. Although IgA was the major immunoglobulin in nasal mucus, there was more antibody activity associated with IgG as measured by radioimmunoassay. Great differences between the specificities of antibodies in nasal mucus and in serum were detected. IgA and IgG of mucus origin recognized only two major proteins with molecular weights of about 41,000 and 46,000 in acid extracts of S. equi and gave no detectable reaction with culture supernatant proteins. Only one protein of about 62,000 molecular weight was recognized in acid extracts of an equine strain of S. zooepidemicus. In contrast, immunoglobulins in serum recognized a great variety of proteins in culture supernatants and acid extracts of S. equi and S. zooepidemicus which did not include those proteins recognized by immunoglobulins in mucus. These findings provide good evidence for the independence of the local and systemic immune responses of the horse to S. equi. Horses rechallenged shortly after recovery from the first infection were resistant to challenge with an inoculum of S. equi 10 times greater than that to which they were originally susceptible. This resistance appeared to be independent of the levels of bactericidal antibody in serum. We therefore suggest that immunity to S. equi infection is mediated by locally produced nasopharyngeal antibodies.
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Publication Date: 1985-03-01 PubMed ID: 3972443PubMed Central: PMC261338DOI: 10.1128/iai.47.3.623-628.1985Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates how horses’ immune systems respond at the nasopharyngeal level to proteins of the bacteria Streptococcus equi, which causes a disease known as strangles. The research reveals that following exposure to the bacterium, horses produce significant amounts of specific immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) in their nasal mucus, suggesting localized immunity. The study also shows differences between local and systemic immune responses and proposes infection immunity is mediated by nasopharyngeal antibodies.

Studying Nasopharyngeal Immune Response

  • The health of horses was challenged by intentionally introducing them to the bacteria, Streptococcus equi, a cause of a common equine illness known as strangles.
  • After exposure to the bacteria, nasopharynx immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG responses were studied.
  • IgA and IgG titers were considerably higher in the nasopharyngeal mucus samples taken from the infected horses 1-2 weeks post-exposure compared to the samples taken from the control group.
  • Despite IgA making up the most significant proportion of nasal mucus, IgG was found to have stronger antibody activity, as shown through the use of a radioimmunoassay.

Differences Between Local and Systemic Immune Responses

  • Notably, it was found that the antibodies in nasal mucus and in serum significantly differed in the specificities they exhibited.
  • The IgA and IgG in the mucus only recognized two main proteins of the S. equi bacteria, with molecular weights of about 41,000 and 46,000, and did not respond noticeably to culture supernatant proteins.
  • In contrast, serum immunoglobulins recognized a vast array of proteins in the culture supernatants and acid extracts of S. equi as well as S. zooepidemicus, another equine bacterial strain, excluding the specific proteins that the mucus immunoglobulins recognized.

Immunity Mechanism Suggestion

  • This significant difference in the proteins identified by nasal and serum antibodies suggests separate local and systemic immune responses in horses exposed to S. equi.
  • The horses, when rechallenged with S. equi shortly following recovery from the first infection, exhibited resistance to bacterial doses ten times larger than the doses they were initially vulnerable to.
  • This resistance was found to be independent of bactericidal antibody levels found in the serum, leading researchers to suggest that immunity to S. equi infections might be mediated predominantly by nasopharyngeal antibodies.

Cite This Article

APA
Galan JE, Timoney JF. (1985). Mucosal nasopharyngeal immune responses of horses to protein antigens of Streptococcus equi. Infect Immun, 47(3), 623-628. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.47.3.623-628.1985

Publication

Infection and immunity
ISSN: 0019-9567
NlmUniqueID: 0246127
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 3
Pages: 623-628

Researcher Affiliations

Galan, J E
    Timoney, J F

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
      • Horse Diseases / immunology
      • Horses / immunology
      • Immunoglobulin A / immunology
      • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
      • Molecular Weight
      • Nasal Mucosa / immunology
      • Nasopharynx / immunology
      • Streptococcal Infections / immunology
      • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
      • Streptococcus / immunology

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