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Grignard E, Cadet R, Saez F, Drevet JR, Vernet P. Identification of sperm antigens as a first step towards the generation of a contraceptive vaccine to decrease fossorial water vole Arvicola terrestris Scherman proliferations. Theriogenology 2007; 68:779-95. [PMID: 17645936 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2006] [Revised: 05/23/2007] [Accepted: 06/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunocontraceptive strategies have proved to be efficient in controlling fertility of various mammalian species. In the present study we have made the first steps towards the identification of Arvicola terrestris sperm antigens that could be used as targets in the development of a contraceptive vaccine to limit the proliferations of this pest rodent. Rabbit-raised polyclonal antisera directed against complete A. terrestris spermatozoa were used to identify and characterize on 2D-gels coupled with a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis A. terrestris sperm proteins. Amongst the proteins pinpointed by this approach some were further investigated based on their tissue- and/or sperm-specific expression, and their relevance to fertility or sperm/egg interaction. In parallel, three proteins that have been already reported in the literature to be appropriate targets for the development of contraceptive vaccines in other mammalian species have also been looked for in A. terrestris. With the selected protein targets, a reverse-PCR approach using degenerate primers was employed to amplify corresponding A. terrestris cDNAs. After conceptual translation and sequence alignment, different proteins were studied to determine zones with sufficient sequence divergence and of antigenic/immunogenic nature that could be used in future assays to immunize animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Grignard
- Laboratoire Epididyme & Maturation des Gamètes, Université Blaise Pascal, UMR CNRS 6547-GEEM, 24 avenue des Landais, 63177, Aubière Cedex, France
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Kurth BE, Digilio L, Snow P, Ann Bush L, Wolkowicz M, Shetty J, Mandal A, Hao Z, Reddi PP, Flickinger CJ, Herr JC. Immunogenicity of a multi-component recombinant human acrosomal protein vaccine in female Macaca fascicularis. J Reprod Immunol 2007; 77:126-41. [PMID: 17643494 PMCID: PMC2481230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2007.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2006] [Revised: 05/29/2007] [Accepted: 06/04/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A vaccine formula comprised of five recombinant human intra-acrosomal sperm proteins was inoculated into female monkeys to test whether specific antibodies to each component immunogen could be elicited in sera and whether antibodies elicited by the vaccine affected in vitro fertilization. Acrosomal proteins, ESP, SLLP-1, SAMP 32, SP-10 and SAMP 14, were expressed with his-tags, purified by nickel affinity chromatography and adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide. Five female cynomolgus monkeys were inoculated intramuscularly three times at monthly intervals. All five monkeys developed both IgG and IgA serum responses to each recombinant immunogen on Western blots. Each serum stained the acrosome of human sperm and bound to the cognate native protein on Western blots of human sperm extracts. By ELISA, all monkeys developed IgG to each immunogen, with the highest average absorbance values to ESP, SAMP 32 and SP-10, followed by lower values for SLLP-1 and SAMP 14. IgA was also generated to each component immunogen with the highest average absorbance values to SLLP-1 and SP-10. For antigens that induced an IgA response, the duration of the IgA response was longer than the IgG response to the same antigens. This study supports the concept that a multivalent contraceptive vaccine may be administered to female primates evoking both peripheral (IgG) and mucosal (IgA) responses to each component immunogen following an intramuscular route of inoculation with a mild adjuvant, aluminum hydroxide, approved for human use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E. Kurth
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - Laura Digilio
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - Phillip Snow
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - Leigh Ann Bush
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - Michael Wolkowicz
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - Jagathpala Shetty
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - Arabinda Mandal
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - Zhonglin Hao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Center of Central Georgia, 707 Pine Street, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia 31207, USA
| | - P. Prabhakara Reddi
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - Charles J. Flickinger
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
| | - John C. Herr
- The Center for Research in Contraception and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0732, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel: 434-924-2007; fax: 434-982-3912, E-mail address:
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Abstract
This study developed a baboon in vitro system that allows transport of sperm from a treatment facility to an off-site location for subsequent evaluation of sperm functional capacity. We further described a sperm functional assay that evaluates baboon sperm binding to homologous zona pellucida, a baboon hemizona assay (HZA). Semen samples were collected from baboons via electroejaculation directly into refrigeration transport buffer. Postshipment semen characteristics were analyzed and each specimen prepared for assessment of sperm-zona pellucida interaction. Optimization of the baboon HZA included determination of the relationship between motile sperm concentration and zona pellucida binding. The effect of the sperm activators, caffeine and dbcAMP, on computerized sperm motion characteristics and HZ binding was also determined. A significant motile sperm concentration dependent increase was observed in sperm-zona pellucida binding. Maximal binding was observed at approximately 1-2 million motile sperm/mL. Treatment with the sperm activators, caffeine and dbcAMP, resulted in a significant increase in sperm progressive motility, straightline velocity (VSL), and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), p <0.05 and a highly significant increase in curvilinear velocity (VCL), p <0.01. Treatment with caffeine and dbcAMP was not an absolute requirement for sperm-zona pellucida binding, inasmuch as binding did occur in the absence of activators. However, treatment with the two activators, caffeine and dbcAMP, resulted in a highly significant increase in HZ binding, p <0.0001. This system allows for the short-term maintenance of baboon sperm in a semiquiescent state until stimulation with the activators, caffeine and dbcAMP. It further provides a novel approach to delineating a contraceptive regimen's or agent's (ie, sperm vaccine) impact on specific cellular events occurring in the male gamete during fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Mahony
- The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, USA.
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