Antigenic Structure of Coxiella burnetii: A Comparison of Lipopolysaccharide andProtein Antigens as Vaccines against Q Fever

摘要

Immunization with inactivated phase I Coxiella burnetii whole cells protectsanimals and humans against experimental and natural Q fever. The characterization of C. burnetii membrane antigens that play a role in the development of immunity revealed phase I lipopolysaccharide (LPSI) and a large number of proteins as possible vaccine candidates. A new vaccine prepared from the residue of chloroform-methanol-extracted phase I cells (CMRI) is efficacious in animals. However, immunization with carrier-linked, recombinant DNA-produced or synthetic peptide subunit vaccines derived from protective epitopes of C. burnetii is highly desirable. Alternatives to the protein-based strategies include the use of the C. burnetii non-toxic LPSI to provide efficacious immunomodulation and productive epitopes. The studies described here may facilitate the identification of protective protein or LPSI epitopes as target(s) for Q fever vaccine development. (JS)