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Protection against lethal murine coccidioidomycosis by a soluble vaccine from spherules

C R Zimmermann1, S M Johnson, G W Martens

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. crzimmermann@ucdavis.edu

Infection and Immunity
|May 9, 1998
PubMed

Insights

A new Coccidioides immitis vaccine, derived from a whole-spherule preparation, shows promise. The 27K vaccine fraction, when combined with adjuvant, protected mice against lethal fungal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Immunology
  • Vaccine Development

Background:

  • Coccidioides immitis causes coccidioidomycosis, a significant fungal infection.
  • Existing whole-spherule vaccines offer protection but require further refinement.
  • Fractionation of vaccines can identify key protective antigens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize a protective fraction from a whole-spherule Coccidioides immitis vaccine.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of this fraction as a standalone vaccine candidate.

Main Methods:

  • Formaldehyde-killed, whole-spherule Coccidioides immitis vaccine was fractionated.
  • A soluble, multicomponent, subcellular fraction, termed the 27K vaccine, was isolated.
  • Mice were challenged intranasally and intravenously with C. immitis, with and without adjuvant.

Main Results:

  • The 27K vaccine was successfully isolated as a soluble fraction.
  • The 27K vaccine, when administered with adjuvant, conferred protection against lethal C. immitis challenge.
  • Protection was observed following both intranasal and intravenous challenge routes.

Conclusions:

  • The 27K vaccine represents a promising, fractionated component of the whole-spherule vaccine.
  • Adjuvant is crucial for achieving protective immunity with the 27K vaccine.
  • This fractionated vaccine warrants further investigation for its potential in treating coccidioidomycosis.

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