Vitamin D Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin D, including details on sources, melanin, benefits, deficiency, supplements, calcium absorption.

Protection of turkeys against Chlamydophila psittaci challenge by DNA and rMOMP vaccination and evaluation of the immunomodulating effect of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3).

Verminnen K, Loock MV, Cox E, Goddeeris BM, Vanrompay D

Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent B-9000, Belgium. kristel.verminnen@UGent.be

Plasmid DNA expressing the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of an avian Chlamydophila psittaci serovar D strain and recombinant MOMP (rMOMP) with or without the immunomodulating adjuvant 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) have been tested for their ability to elicit an immune response and induce protection in turkeys against challenge with the same serovar. Three vaccination strategies were compared: priming and boosting with either pcDNA1::MOMP or rMOMP and priming with pcDNA1::MOMP followed by rMOMP boosting. Turkeys primed with pcDNA1::MOMP showed significant protection against Cp. psittaci challenge, turkeys primed with rMOMP did not. The steroid hormone 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) augmented serum and mucosal antibody titres. However, higher antibody titres were not related to better protection and even had a negative effect on especially bacterial excretion.

Published 18 July 2005 in Vaccine, 23(36): 4509-16.
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