Disparate Host Immunity to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Antigens in Calves Inoculated with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, M. avium subsp. avium, M. kansasii, and M. bovis

Authors

Judith R. Stabel, USDA-ARS, National Animal Disease CenterFollow
W.R. Waters, USDA-ARS, National Animal Disease Center
John Bannantine, USDA-ARS, National Animal Disease CenterFollow
M.V. Palmer, USDA-ARS, National Animal Disease Center

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology Volume 20 Number 6 p. 848–857

doi:10.1128/CVI.00051-13

Comments

U.S. government works are not subject to copyright.

Abstract

The cross-reactivity of mycobacterial antigens in immune-based diagnostic assays has been a major concern and a criticism of the current tests that are used for the detection of paratuberculosis. In the present study, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratu- berculosis recombinant proteins were evaluated for antigenic specificity compared to a whole-cell sonicate preparation (MPS). Measures of cell-mediated immunity to M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigens were compared in calves inoculated with live M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, M. avium subsp. avium (M. avium), Mycobacterium kansasii, or Mycobacterium bovis. Gamma interferon (IFN-􏰋) responses to MPS were observed in all calves that were exposed to mycobacteria compared to control calves at 4 months postinfection. Pooled recombinant M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis proteins also elicited nonspecific IFN-􏰋 responses in inoculated calves, with the exception of calves infected with M. bovis. M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis proteins failed to elicit antigen-specific responses for the majority of immune measures; however, the expression of CD25 and CD26 was upregulated on CD4, CD8, gamma/delta (􏰋􏰌) T, and B cells for the calves that were inoculated with either M. avium subsp. para- tuberculosis or M. avium after antigen stimulation of the cells. Stimulation with MPS also resulted in the increased expression of CD26 on CD45RO􏰁 CD25􏰁 T cells from calves inoculated with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis and M. avium. Although re- combinant proteins failed to elicit specific responses for the calves inoculated with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, the differ- ences in immune responses to M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigens were dependent upon mycobacterial exposure. The results demonstrated a close alignment in immune responses between calves inoculated with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis and those inoculated with M. avium that were somewhat disparate from the responses in calves infected with M. bovis, suggesting that the biology of mycobacterial infection plays an important role in diagnosis.