Protective effects of the Francisella tularensis ΔpdpC mutant against its virulent parental strain SCHU P9 in Cynomolgus macaques.

ABSTRACT: Tularemia is a severe infectious zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis. Although F. tularensis is considered to be a potential biological weapon due to its high infectivity and mortality rate, no vaccine has been currently licensed. Recently, we reported that F. tularensis SCHU P9 derived ΔpdpC strain lacking the pathogenicity determinant protein C gene conferred stable and good protection in a mouse lethal model. In this study, the protective effect of ΔpdpC was evaluated using a monkey lethal model. Two cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) intratracheally challenged with the virulent strain SCHU P9 were euthanized on 7 and 11 days post-challenge after the development of severe clinical signs. The bacterial replication in alveolar macrophages and type II epithelial cells

SUBMITTER: Tian D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6591246 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature