A bait-delivered immunocontraceptive vaccine for the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) by the year 2002?

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark P. Bradley ◽  
Lyn A. Hinds ◽  
Peter H. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Oral Delivery ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Recombinant Expression ◽  
Vaccine Delivery ◽  
Mucosal Immune Response ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Mucosal Antibody ◽  
Sperm Antigens ◽  
Immunocontraceptive Vaccine

An orally-delivered immunocontraceptive vaccine is being developed for the control of fox populations. A number of genes (PH-20, LDH-C4, ZP3) encoding gamete proteins have been cloned, produced in recombinant expression systems and used in fertility trials to test the efficacy of these antigens. As the immunocontraceptive vaccine will be delivered in a bait, there is a requirement for a greater understanding of the immune responses of the reproductive mucosa in canids, and the assessment of the best vaccine delivery system that will evoke a mucosal antibody response. Several vaccine delivery systems including microencapsulated antigens, and both vaccinia virus and bacterial vectors are being investigated. Oral administration of Salmonella typhimurium recombinants expressing different fox sperm antigens stimulates both systemic IgG responses to the antigen and a mucosal immune response within the female reproductive tract in the fox, indicating that salmonella may have potential with respect to the oral delivery of antigen. The enhancement of mucosal immune responses to orally-delivered vaccines is also being examined, research focussing on the possible use of fox-specific cytokines or the β-subunit of cholera toxin in forming part of the vaccine construct.

Experimental strategies for the development of an immunocontraceptive vaccine for the European red fox, Vulpes vulpes

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
MP Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Mucosal Immune Response ◽  
Antigen Delivery ◽  
Effective Form ◽  
Sperm Antigens ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Experimental Strategies ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Immunocontraceptive Vaccine

The development of an immunocontraceptive vaccine to control fox populations in Australia would confer considerable advantages in controlling the long-term impact of this predator on native and endangered species. Studies are currently under way to identify sperm antigens that might be used in such a vaccine, and some of these studies are described. It is proposed that such a vaccine would be delivered orally in a bait, thereby stimulating a mucosal immune response to the foreign antigen(s). Such a vaccine requires a detailed understanding of reproductive-tract mucosal immunity in foxes, and selection of the most effective form of antigen delivery. Those under consideration include viral or bacterial vectors and microencapsulated antigens.

scholarly journals Immune responses in the human female reproductive tract

Immunology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 160 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia Monin ◽  
Emily M. Whettlock ◽  
Victoria Male
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Human Female

scholarly journals Semen amyloids participate in spermatozoa selection and clearance

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia R Roan ◽  
Nathallie Sandi-Monroy ◽  
Nargis Kohgadai ◽  
Shariq M Usmani ◽  
Katherine G Hamil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Fibrils ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Viral Fusion ◽  
Cellular Targets ◽  
Natural Function ◽  
Rapid Removal ◽  
Sperm Antigens

Unlike other human biological fluids, semen contains multiple types of amyloid fibrils in the absence of disease. These fibrils enhance HIV infection by promoting viral fusion to cellular targets, but their natural function remained unknown. The similarities shared between HIV fusion to host cell and sperm fusion to oocyte led us to examine whether these fibrils promote fertilization. Surprisingly, the fibrils inhibited fertilization by immobilizing sperm. Interestingly, however, this immobilization facilitated uptake and clearance of sperm by macrophages, which are known to infiltrate the female reproductive tract (FRT) following semen exposure. In the presence of semen fibrils, damaged and apoptotic sperm were more rapidly phagocytosed than healthy ones, suggesting that deposition of semen fibrils in the lower FRT facilitates clearance of poor-quality sperm. Our findings suggest that amyloid fibrils in semen may play a role in reproduction by participating in sperm selection and facilitating the rapid removal of sperm antigens.

scholarly journals Quorum sensing plays a key role in controlling beta-glucan exposure in response to environmental pH

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Cottier ◽  
Sarah Sherrington ◽  
Sarah Cockerill ◽  
Valentina del Olmo Toledo ◽  
Stephen Kissane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Immune Recognition ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Beta Glucan

Candida albicans is a commensal yeast of the human gut, which is tolerated by the immune system, but has the potential to become an opportunistic pathogen. One way in which C. albicans achieves this duality is through concealing, or exposing cell wall pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in response to host derived environment cues (pH, hypoxia, lactate). This cell wall remodelling allows C. albicans to evade or hyperactivate the host’s innate immune responses leading to disease. Previously, we identified that adaptation of C. albicans to acidic environments, conditions encountered during colonisation of the female reproductive tract, induce significant cell wall remodelling resulting in the exposure of two key fungal PAMPs (glucan and chitin). Here we report that this pH-dependent cell wall remodelling is time dependent with the initial change in pH driving cell wall unmasking, which is then remasked at later time points. Remasking ofglucan was mediated via the cell density dependent fungal quorum sensing molecule farnesol, while chitin remasking was mediated via a small, heat-stable, non-proteinaceous secreted molecule(s). Transcript profiling identified a core set of 42 genes significantly regulated by pH over time, and identified the transcription factor Efg1 as a regulator of chitin exposure through regulation of CHT2. This dynamic cell wall remodelling influenced innate immune recognition of C. albicans, suggesting that during infection C. albicans can manipulate the host innate immune responses.

scholarly journals Effects of Estradiol and Progesterone on Susceptibility and Early Immune Responses to Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in the Female Reproductive Tract

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 4207-4216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charu Kaushic ◽  
Fan Zhou ◽  
Andrew D. Murdin ◽  
Charles R. Wira
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Interleukin 10 ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Combination Group ◽  
Microbial Infection ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection

ABSTRACT We have used a previously described rodent model to examine the influence of hormonal environment on susceptibility and immune responses to genital Chlamydia infection. Ovariectomized rats were administered estradiol, progesterone, or a combination of both, infected with Chlamydia trachomatis via the intrauterine route, and sacrificed 5 days later. Histopathological examination showed severe inflammation in the uteri and vaginae of progesterone-treated animals, whereas animals receiving estradiol or a combination of both hormones showed no inflammation. Large numbers of chlamydiae were found in vaginal secretions of progesterone-treated and combination-treated animals, while estradiol-treated animals had none. Tissue localization showed that numerous chlamydial inclusions were present in the uterine epithelium of the progesterone group and the cervicovaginal epithelium of the combination group. Examination of the acute immune responses of the infected animals showed that maximum activation was present in the draining lymph node cells from the progesterone-treated group, and these cells were producing large amounts of interleukin-10 and gamma interferon compared to other hormone-treated groups. In contrast, spleen cell proliferation was suppressed in progesterone-treated animals compared to other hormone-treated groups. We conclude that progesterone increases and estradiol decreases susceptibility to intrauterine chlamydial infection in this rat model. Our data demonstrate that hormone environment, at the time of infection, has a profound effect on the outcome of microbial infection in the female reproductive tract.

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