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Microbiology spectrum2021; 9(1); e0063821; doi: 10.1128/Spectrum.00638-21

Serum Antibody Activity against Poly-N-Acetyl Glucosamine (PNAG), but Not PNAG Vaccination Status, Is Associated with Protecting Newborn Foals against Intrabronchial Infection with Rhodococcus equi.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is a prevalent cause of pneumonia in foals worldwide. Our laboratory has demonstrated that vaccination against the surface polysaccharide β-1→6-poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) protects foals against intrabronchial infection with R. equi when challenged at age 28 days. However, it is important that the efficacy of this vaccine be evaluated in foals when they are infected at an earlier age, because foals are naturally exposed to virulent R. equi in their environment from birth and because susceptibility is inversely related to age in foals. Using a randomized, blind experimental design, we evaluated whether maternal vaccination against PNAG protected foals against intrabronchial infection with R. equi 6 days after birth. Vaccination of mares per se did not significantly reduce the incidence of pneumonia in foals; however, activities of antibody against PNAG or for deposition of complement component 1q onto PNAG was significantly (P < 0.05) higher among foals that did not develop pneumonia than among foals that developed pneumonia. Results differed between years, with evidence of protection during 2018 but not 2020. In the absence of a licensed vaccine, further evaluation of the PNAG vaccine is warranted, including efforts to optimize the formulation and dose of this vaccine. IMPORTANCE Pneumonia caused by R. equi is an important cause of disease and death in foals worldwide for which a licensed vaccine is lacking. Foals are exposed to R. equi in their environment from birth, and they appear to be infected soon after parturition at an age when innate and adaptive immune responses are diminished. Results of this study indicate that higher activity of antibodies recognizing PNAG was associated with protection against R. equi pneumonia, indicating the need for further optimization of maternal vaccination against PNAG to protect foals against R. equi pneumonia.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-28 PubMed ID: 34319137PubMed Central: PMC8552712DOI: 10.1128/Spectrum.00638-21Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 research article details a study investigating the vaccine for the surface polysaccharide β-1→6-poly–acetylglucosamine (PNAG) and its relation to protection against Rhodococcus equi infection in newborn foals. The study found no significant reduction in pneumonia incidence in foals due to mare vaccination, but discovered a marked surge in antibody activity against PNAG in foals that did not develop pneumonia.

Purpose of the Study

  • This research was conducted to assess the efficiency of the PNAG vaccine in protecting foals against Rhodococcus equi infection, a common cause of pneumonia in foals.
  • The testing conditions mimicked the natural conditions where foals are exposed to Rhodococcus equi from birth. Given that susceptibility is inversely related to age in foals, the need to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine in newborns was crucial.

Methodology

  • The research used a randomized, blind experimental design to discern the effect of maternal PNAG vaccination on newborn foals.
  • Mares were vaccinated, and the foals were subsequently infected with Rhodococcus equi 6 days after birth.

Major Findings

  • The study found that maternal vaccination did not significantly reduce the incidence of pneumonia in foals.
  • The researchers noted higher activities of antibody against PNAG or complement component 1q deposition onto PNAG among foals that did not develop pneumonia compared to those that did.
  • The researchers observed disparities in results between different years, with evidence of protection noticeable in 2018 but not in 2020.

Implications

  • The results point towards the potential importance of antibody activity against PNAG in preventing Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals.
  • Despite the lack of signs that mare vaccination significantly reduces pneumonia in foals, these findings justify further studies into optimizing the PNAG vaccine to furnish better protection.
  • The research suggests the potential need for optimizing maternal vaccination against PNAG to protect newborn foals against Rhodococcus equi pneumonia since foals are naturally exposed to Rhodococcus equi from birth.

Cite This Article

APA
Cohen ND, Kahn SK, Cywes-Bentley C, Ramirez-Cortez S, Schuckert AE, Vinacur M, Bordin AI, Pier GB. (2021). Serum Antibody Activity against Poly-N-Acetyl Glucosamine (PNAG), but Not PNAG Vaccination Status, Is Associated with Protecting Newborn Foals against Intrabronchial Infection with Rhodococcus equi. Microbiol Spectr, 9(1), e0063821. https://doi.org/10.1128/Spectrum.00638-21

Publication

Microbiology spectrum
ISSN: 2165-0497
NlmUniqueID: 101634614
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: e0063821

Researcher Affiliations

Cohen, Noah D
  • Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Kahn, Susanne K
  • Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Cywes-Bentley, Colette
  • Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical Schoolgrid.471403.5, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Ramirez-Cortez, Sophia
  • Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Schuckert, Amanda E
  • Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Vinacur, Mariana
  • Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical Schoolgrid.471403.5, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Bordin, Angela I
  • Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Pier, Gerald B
  • Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical Schoolgrid.471403.5, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / administration & dosage
  • Acetylglucosamine / immunology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / blood
  • Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / prevention & control
  • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / blood
  • Animals, Newborn / immunology
  • Animals, Newborn / microbiology
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacterial Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / immunology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Pneumonia / blood
  • Pneumonia / microbiology
  • Pneumonia / prevention & control
  • Pneumonia / veterinary
  • Rhodococcus equi / genetics
  • Rhodococcus equi / physiology
  • Vaccination

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