We investigated the effects of two Brucella proteins expressed in a pMAL expression system, RocF and EF-Ts, as subunit vaccines on immune modulation and protective efficacy using a mouse model. Mice vaccinated with MBP-RocF and MBP-EF-Ts displayed increased production of TNF, IFN-, MCP-1, IL-10 and IL-6, and TNF and MCP-1, respectively. Furthermore, mice vaccinated with MBP-EF-Ts showed decreased induction of IFN- and Th2-related cytokines, IL-10 and IL-6. Higher proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were observed in the blood of mice vaccinated with MBP-RocF than in the PBS-vaccinated group, although the increases were not significant. Furthermore, significantly reduced Brucella proliferation in the spleens of the MBP-RocF and MBP-EF-Ts groups were observed, but inflammation of these organs was not attenuated. Overall, these results indicate that RocF and EF-Ts could be potential subunit vaccine candidates against animal brucellosis.

Abstract
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
  Bacterial strain and growth conditions
  Expression and induction of recombinant B. abortusproteins
  Flow cytometry
  Statistical analysis
 RESULTS
  Purification of recombinant RocF and EF-Ts
  Cytokine production
  Peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets
  Protection against B. abortus challenge
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES

• Alisha Wehdnesday Bernardo Reyes(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Lauren Togonon Arayan(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Huynh Tan Hop(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Tran Xuan Ngoc Huy(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Vu Hai Son(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Suk Kim(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University) Corresponding Author