Enhancement of pulmonary clearance of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis following immunization with outer membrane protein CD in a mouse model

Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis is an important human respiratory tract pathogen, Outer membrane protein (OMP) CD is highly conserved among strain s and has characteristics that indicate it may be an effective vaccine anti gen. This study investigated the effect of immunization with OMP CD on pulm onary clearance following intratracheal challenge of mice with M, catarrhal is. Two routes of immunization were studied: mucosal immunization (intra-Pe yer's patch followed by intratracheal boost) and intramuscular immunization with OMP CD, Both resulted in enhanced pulmonary clearance of M. catarrhal is compared with sham-immunized controls. Immunization with OMP CD induced specific antibodies in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and induced a specific lymphocyte proliferative response in T cells from mesenteric lymp h nodes from mice mucosally immunized with OMP CD, On the basis of these re sults, OMP CD should undergo continued testing to determine whether it will induce a protective immune response in humans.