Immune response and functional role of antibodies raised in heifers against a Staphylococcus aureus CP5 lysate and recombinant antigens vaccine formulated with Iscom Matrix adjuvant

Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently isolated pathogen from bovine intramammary infections worldwide. Commercially available vaccines for mastitis control are composed either of S. aureus lysates or inactivated whole-cells formulated with traditional adjuvants. We recently showed the ability of a S. aureus CP5 lysate vaccine adjuvanted with Iscom Matrix to generate a longer lasting specific antibody response in blood and milk, with improved opsonic capacity, compared with a S. aureus CP5 whole-cell formulation. The aim of the present study was to obtain an experimental immunogen composed of lysed cells of a CP5 S. aureus strain supplemented with recombinant clumping factor A, fibronectin binding protein A and β-toxin formulated with Iscom Matrix, characterize the immune response generated when immunizing pregnant heifers and assess the functional role of antibodies raised against this immunogen in experimental models. Both a lysate vaccine and a lysate + recombinant antigens vaccine elicited antibodies that promoted neutrophil phagocytosis and inhibited internalization into mammary epithelial cells, in vitro. Incorporation of defined antigenic molecules to the lysate formulation elicited a strong specific humoral immune response against both lysate and recombinant antigens and was associated with higher expression of regulatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, antibodies were efficient for blocking S. aureus binding to bovine fibrinogen and fibronectin, and neutralizing β-toxin effect in vitro, placing these antigens as candidates to be included in a formulation directed to prevent staphylococcal bovine mastitis.