Ultraviolet C Inactivation of Coxiella Burnetii for Production of a Structurally Preserved Whole Cell Vaccine Antigen

Overview

Journal BMC Microbiol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2024 Apr 4

PMID 38575865

Authors

Katja Mertens-Scholz

Amira A Moawad

Elisabeth M Liebler-Tenorio

Andrea Helming

Jennifer Andrack

Peter Miethe

Heinrich Neubauer

Mathias W Pletz

Ina-Gabriele Richter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Q fever, a worldwide-occurring zoonotic disease, can cause economic losses for public and veterinary health systems. Vaccines are not yet available worldwide and currently under development. In this regard, it is important to produce a whole cell antigen, with preserved structural and antigenic properties and free of chemical modifications. Thus, inactivation of Coxiella burnetii with ultraviolet light C (UVC) was evaluated. C. burnetii Nine Mile phase I (NMI) and phase II (NMII) were exposed to decreasing intensities in a time-dependent manner and viability was tested by rescue cultivation in axenic medium or cell culture. Effects on the cell structure were visualized by transmission electron microscopy and antigenicity of UVC-treated NMI was studied by immunization of rabbits. NMI and NMII were inactivated at UVC intensities of 250 µW/cm for 5 min or 100 µW/cm for 20 min. Reactivation by DNA repair was considered to be unlikely. No morphological changes were observed directly after UVC inactivation by transmission electron microscopy, but severe swelling and membrane degradation of bacteria with increasing severity occurred after 24 and 48 h. Immunization of rabbits resulted in a pronounced antibody response. UVC inactivation of C. burnetii resulted in a structural preserved, safe whole cell antigen and might be useful as antigen for diagnostic purposes or as vaccine candidate.

References

Amanna I, Raue H, Slifka M . Development of a new hydrogen peroxide–based vaccine platform. Nat Med. 2012; 18(6):974-9. PMC: 3506259. DOI: 10.1038/nm.2763. View

Rudhart S, Gunther F, Dapper L, Stuck B, Hoch S . UV-C Light-Based Surface Disinfection: Analysis of Its Virucidal Efficacy Using a Bacteriophage Model. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(6). PMC: 8950158. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063246. View

Kloula Ben Ghorbal S, Chatti A, Sethom M, Maalej L, Mihoub M, Kefacha S . Changes in membrane fatty acid composition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in response to UV-C radiations. Curr Microbiol. 2013; 67(1):112-7. DOI: 10.1007/s00284-013-0342-5. View

Sandoz K, Popham D, Beare P, Sturdevant D, Hansen B, Nair V . Transcriptional Profiling of Coxiella burnetii Reveals Extensive Cell Wall Remodeling in the Small Cell Variant Developmental Form. PLoS One. 2016; 11(2):e0149957. PMC: 4766238. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149957. View

RANSOM S, HUEBNER R . Studies on the resistance of Coxiella burneti to physical and chemical agents. Am J Hyg. 1951; 53(1):110-9. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a119432. View

Bond K, Franklin L, Sutton B, Firestone S . Q-Vax Q fever vaccine failures, Victoria, Australia 1994-2013. Vaccine. 2017; 35(51):7084-7087. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.10.088. View

Dresler J, Klimentova J, Pajer P, Salovska B, Myslivcova Fucikova A, Chmel M . Quantitative Proteome Profiling of Reveals Major Metabolic and Stress Differences Under Axenic and Cell Culture Cultivation. Front Microbiol. 2019; 10:2022. PMC: 6759588. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02022. View

Bauer B, Knittler M, Prufer T, Wolf A, Matthiesen S, Runge M . Humoral immune response to Q fever vaccination of three sheep flocks naturally pre-infected with Coxiella burnetii. Vaccine. 2021; 39(10):1499-1507. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.01.062. View

Hackstadt T . Estimation of the cytoplasmic pH of Coxiella burnetii and effect of substrate oxidation on proton motive force. J Bacteriol. 1983; 154(2):591-7. PMC: 217505. DOI: 10.1128/jb.154.2.591-597.1983. View

10.

Dai T, Vrahas M, Murray C, Hamblin M . Ultraviolet C irradiation: an alternative antimicrobial approach to localized infections?. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2012; 10(2):185-95. PMC: 3292282. DOI: 10.1586/eri.11.166. View

11.

Eibach R, Bothe F, Runge M, Ganter M . Long-term monitoring of a Coxiella burnetii-infected sheep flock after vaccination and antibiotic treatment under field conditions. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2013; 126(1-2):3-9. View

12.

Kampschreur L, Wever P, Wegdam-Blans M, Delsing C, Bleeker-Rovers C, Sprong T . Defining chronic Q fever: a matter of debate. J Infect. 2012; 65(4):362-3. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2012.08.002. View

13.

KIRBERGER E . [Resistance of Coxiella burneti in vitro]. Z Tropenmed Parasitol. 1951; 3(1):77-86. View

14.

Takasuka N, Fujii H, Takahashi Y, Kasai M, Morikawa S, Itamura S . A subcutaneously injected UV-inactivated SARS coronavirus vaccine elicits systemic humoral immunity in mice. Int Immunol. 2004; 16(10):1423-30. PMC: 7108621. DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxh143. View

15.

Quek P, Hu J . Influence of photoreactivating light intensity and incubation temperature on photoreactivation of Escherichia coli following LP and MP UV disinfection. J Appl Microbiol. 2008; 105(1):124-33. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.03723.x. View

16.

Woldeyohannes S, Perkins N, Baker P, Gilks C, Knibbs L, Reid S . Q fever vaccine efficacy and occupational exposure risk in Queensland, Australia: A retrospective cohort study. Vaccine. 2020; 38(42):6578-6584. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.08.006. View

17.

Hackstadt T, Williams J . Biochemical stratagem for obligate parasitism of eukaryotic cells by Coxiella burnetii. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981; 78(5):3240-4. PMC: 319537. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.78.5.3240. View

18.

De Biase D, Costagliola A, Del Piero F, Di Palo R, Coronati D, Galiero G . Coxiella burnetii in Infertile Dairy Cattle With Chronic Endometritis. Vet Pathol. 2018; 55(4):539-542. DOI: 10.1177/0300985818760376. View

19.

Quek P, Hu J . Indicators for photoreactivation and dark repair studies following ultraviolet disinfection. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2008; 35(6):533-41. DOI: 10.1007/s10295-008-0314-0. View

20.

Babudieri B, MOSCOVICI C . [Research on the behavior of Coxiella burneti in relation to various physical and chemical agents]. Rend Ist Sup Sanit. 1950; 13(9-10):739-48. View