Control of Tissue Reactions in Monkeys Vaccinated with Viable Coccidioides immitis by Prevaccination with Killed Coccidioides immitis

Abstract

Control of tissue reactions in monkeys vaccinated with viable Coccidioides immitis by prevaccination with killed Coccidioides immitis. J. Bacteriol. 90:783-788. 1965.-Control of undesirable tissue reactions resulting from the subcutaneous injection of 150 viable arthrospores of Coccidioides immitis (strain D-76) was obtained by four injections of formalin-killed arthrospores 14, 12, 8, and 4 weeks (total dose, 36 mg) before injection of the viable arthrospores. Only 6 and 12% of these vaccinated animals exhibited ulceration and lymphadenopathy, respectively, as compared with 100 and 83% of the animals receiving only the viable vaccine. Agar-gel immunodiffusion precipitin titers of approximately 1:64 were evident 3 months after vaccination in animals receiving both vaccines, as compared with 1:128 in those injected with the viable vaccine alone. The above data indicated that somatic reactions to injection of a viable vaccine could be eliminated by preinjection of a killed vaccine. However, 6 months after vaccination, respiratory challenge (7,500 strain Cash arthrospores) indicated that this treatment also impaired the protective effect of the viable vaccine. All animals receiving both vaccines developed mild pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, whereas only 50% of the animals receiving only the viable vaccine were infected. In addition, the group receiving both vaccines demonstrated a more rapid and higher postchallenge precipitin titer. All vaccinated animals (those receiving the killed, the viable, or a combination of the two vaccines) survived for 4 months after challenge, as compared with 88% mortality (50% within 14 days) in the nonvaccinated controls.

Experimental Irradiated Arthrospore Vaccine Against Coccidioidomycosis in Mice

“…Similar investigations have been made by Levine,Miller,and Smith (13) in the cynomologus monkey (Macaca iris), by Converse et al (4,5), Lowe et al (15), and Sinski et al (22) in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), and by Castleberry et al (1) in the dog.…”

“…In previous intraperitoneal studies with live and formaldehyde-inactivated vaccines (3), the protective effects have been confirmed in subcutaneously immunized monkeys (4, 5) and dogs (1,2) challenged by the respiratory route. Moreover, the histologic changes in the immunized and control animals were similar regardless of the route of immunization and challenge (3,5 4. Characteristic one-plus or two-plus abdominal lesion seen in vaccinated challenged mice, adjacent to organ capsules without parenchymal or capsular infiltration.…”

“…formaldehyde-inactivated vaccines was maintained with both routes of immunization and challenge (1,2,3,5).…”

“…Although surviving animals appear outwardly healthy, they retain the organism in the tissues in a viable state for long periods of time. Pappagianis et al (18,19) and Converse et al (3)(4)(5) have shown in both monkeys (M. iris and M. mulatta) and mice, and Castleberry et al (2) in dogs, that experimental viable C. immitis vaccines are far superior to nonviable vaccines in their protective effect against infection.…”

The mysterious desert dwellers:Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, causative fungal agents of coccidioidomycosis

“…Early vaccine tests were first assessed in guinea pigs, but without success [82]. After these frustrating starts, effective vaccines were developed for use in mice, monkeys, and dogs [84][85][86]. These early vaccine candidates relied on inactive whole cell and fungal components, both from the parasitic (spherule) phase and well as the environmental phase (conidia/mycelia) [87].…”