| dc.description.abstract | Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma mycoides
subsp. mycoides biotype Small Colony type (MmmSC), is a highly contagious respiratory disease
that causes significant losses of cattle in more than 26 countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
Development of reliable diagnostic tools is key to helping monitor disease 'prevalence and
incidence. This study screened selected recombinant MmmSC antigens for their potential in
antibody based diagnostics and their ability to activate memory T cells. Gene fragments from the
surface located MmmSC molecules were expressed in Escherichia coli expression systems and
the recombinant protein fragments purified for further usage: They were tested against ten sera
from. infected and uninfected cattle to evaluate their potential for improved CBPP diagnostic.
They were also tested for their ability to stimulate memory T lymphocytes from experimentally
MmmSC infected cattle. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from ten. cattle were.
stimulated with recombinant MmmSC antigens for 72 hours and Il-Ny secreticn was measured
using Bovigam kit {AgriQuality, Australia). The different responses elicited by the antigens were
compared using student t-test. The results showed that none of the recombinant fragments
induced IFNy higher than the cut- off value of (2:0.7). However, heat inactivated MmmSC lysate
induced IFNy secretion (P <0.05) but the recombinant fragments did not induce significant.
amounts of IFNy secretion (P > 0.05) when preinfection and post infection time points were .
compared. Also, none of the recombinant protein fragments was recognized by post infection.
sera. The results showed that antibody based diagnostics based on these particular recombinant
protein fragments is not feasible. The study concluded that the recombinant protein fragments
tested did not have strong T cell epitopes or T cells failed to migrate to circulation. Absence of
antibodies suggested lack of B cell epitopes in the structure of these recombinant fragments. | en_US |
