Cellular and humoral immunogenicity of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis specific lipopentapeptide antigens

Paratuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a chronic infectious disease affecting domestic and wild ruminants. Antigens currently used for the diagnosis of paratuberculosis are whole-cell derived crude preparations. The identification of MAP-specific antigens for the specific and early diagnosis of this infection is strongly needed. This study assessed the ability of the MAP-specific synthetic lipopeptide antigen Para-LP-01 to invoke specific serum antibody (Ab) and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in sheep experimentally exposed to MAP S strain. Responses were compared to those elicited by the crude whole-cell derived MAP 316v antigen (316v). Para-LP-01 induced a significant serum Ab response in MAP-infected sheep in comparison with unexposed or uninfected sheep, but failed to induce detectable CMI responses including production of IFN-γ, IL-10 and lymphoproliferation, unlike 316v which invoked both CMI and serum Ab responses in MAP-exposed sheep. Para-LP-01 is a suitable antigen for serodiagnosis of MAP-infection in sheep. The differential induction of humoral and CMI responses by lipid based antigens could enhance current understanding of the role played by cell-wall associated lipid antigens in the pathogenesis of MAP-infection.