Project description:Laboratory mice comprise an inexpensive and expeditious model organism for preclinical vaccine testing; however, vaccine immunogenicity often fails to adequately translate to humans. Recent reports indicate that reconstituting physiologic microbial experience to specific pathogen free (SPF) mice induces durable immunological changes that better recapitulate the human immune system. We examined the impact of microbial experience on responses to vaccination after cohousing laboratory mice with pet store mice. We demonstrate that human transcriptional responses to influenza vaccination are better recapitulated in cohoused mice. Induction of humoral responses by vaccination was dampened in cohoused mice and resulted in poor control upon challenge. Additionally, the establishment of protective heterosubtypic T cell immunity was compromised in cohoused mice. In summary, SPF mice exaggerated both humoral and T cell protection induced by influenza vaccines compared to cohoused mice, suggesting that reconstituting microbial experience in laboratory mice through cohousing may better inform preclinical vaccine testing.
Project description:Preterm birth is currently the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Genetic, immunological and infectious causes are suspected. Preterm infants have a higher risk of severe bacterial neonatal infections, most of which are caused by Escherichia coli an in particular E. coli K1strains. Women with history of preterm delivery have a high risk of recurrence and therefore constitute a target population for the development of vaccine against E. coli neonatal infections. Here, we characterized the immunological, microbiological and protective properties of a live attenuated vaccine candidate in adult female mice and their pups against after a challenge by K1 and non-K1 strains of E. coli. Our results show that the E. coli K1 E11 aroA vaccine induces strong immunity, driven by polyclonal bactericidal antibodies. In our model of meningitis, pups born to mothers immunized before mating were well protected against various K1 and non-K1 strains of E. coli. Given the very high mortality rate and the neurological sequalae associated with neonatal E. coli K1 meningitis, our results constitute preclinical proof of concept for the development of a live attenuated vaccine against severe E. coli infections in women at risk of preterm delivery.
Project description:This study aimed to identify Tumor Associated Antigens (TAA)s by Immunoaffinity purification of MHC peptides and LCMS analysis, verifying their immunogenicity and testing their tumor control potential in a highly aggressive preclinical model of triple-negative breast cancer in mice. Among the MHC peptides thus identified, an Endogenous Retroviral (ERV) peptide was also found, and this peptide, as well as several other peptides from TAAs, were shown to possess tumor control potential in a cancer vaccine setting in mice, by restricting tumor growth compared to controls.
Project description:RNA was isolated from the tumors of untreated mice, mice treated with MUC1 vaccine alone, indomethacin alone, or MUC1 vaccine + indomethacin. We used microarrays to identify changes in gene expression between these treatment groups.