Immunogenicity in Swine of Orally Administered Recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum Expressing Classical Swine Fever Virus E2 Protein in Conjunction with Thymosin α-1 as an Adjuvant.

Classical swine fever, caused by classical swine fever virus (CSFV), is a highly contagious disease that results in enormous economic losses in pig industries. The E2 protein is one of the main structural proteins of CSFV and is capable of inducing CSFV-neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activities in vivo. Thymosin α-1 (Tα1), an immune-modifier peptide, plays a very important role in the cellular immune response. In this study, genetically engineered Lactobacillus plantarum bacteria expressing CSFV E2 protein alone (L. plantarum/pYG-E2) and in combination with Tα1 (L. plantarum/pYG-E2-Tα1) were developed, and the immunogenicity of each as an oral vaccine to induce protective immunity against CSFV in pigs was evaluated. The results showed that recombinant L. plantarum/pYG-E2 and L. plantarum/pYG-E2-Tα1 were both able to effectively induce protective immune responses in pigs against CSFV infection by eliciting immunoglobulin A (IgA)-based mucosal, immunoglobulin G (IgG)-based humoral, and CTL-based cellular immune responses via oral vaccination. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in the levels of immune responses were observed between L. plantarum/pYG-E2-Tα1 and L. plantarum/pYG-E2, suggesting a better immunogenicity of L. plantarum/pYG-E2-Tα1 as a result of the Tα1 molecular adjuvant that can enhance immune responsiveness and augment specific lymphocyte functions. Our data suggest that the recombinant Lactobacillus microecological agent expressing CSFV E2 protein combined with Tα1 as an adjuvant provides a promising strategy for vaccine development against CSFV.

[Co-expression of CSFV T cell epitope E290 peptide and PPV VP2 protein in Lactobacillus casei and determination of specific antibodies in immunized mice].

Lactobacillus casei strain 393 was selected as an antigen delivery vehicle for the development of oral vaccine to express recombinant classical swine fever virus (CSFV) T cell epitope E290 peptide and porcine parvovirus (PPV) VP2 protein. The recombinant genes encoding CSFV T cell epitope E290 peptide and PPV VP2 protein, respectively, were cloned into the secretion expression vector pPG, and then the pPG-VP2-E290 was electrotransformed into L. casei 393 giving rise to recombinant strain pPG-VP2-E290/L. casei 393. The recombinant L. casei 393 was induced by 2% lactose in MRS and about 70kDa protein was detected with SDS-PAGE in induced recombinant strain and culture supernatants. The result of Western blot indicated that the expressed protein possessed the antigenic specificity same as the native virus protein. The indirect ELISA test also indicated that the interest protein was expressed and secreted from the recombinant strain. Specific anti-PPV VP2 secret immunoglobulin A (sIgA) antibody was detected by indirect ELISA in the feces, anti-PPV VP2 and anti-CSFV E290 peptide immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was detected by indirect ELISA in the serum of immunized mice after intragastric administration. The results indicated that the mice immunized with recombinant strain pPG-VP2-E290/L. casei 393 could produce clear antibody level, which establish important material basement for the development of lactic acid bacteria oral vaccine of recombinant CSFV and PPV.

Recombinant lactobacillus expressing G protein of spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) combined with ORF81 protein of koi herpesvirus (KHV): A promising way to induce protective immunity against SVCV and KHV infection in cyprinid fish via oral vaccination.

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) and koi herpesvirus (KHV) are highly contagious and pathogenic to cyprinid fish, causing enormous economic losses in aquaculture. Although DNA vaccines reported in recent years could induce protective immune responses in carps against these viruses via injection, there are a number of consequences and uncertainties related to DNA vaccination. Therefore, more effective and practical method to induce protective immunity such as oral administration would be highly desirable. In this study, we investigated the utilities of a genetically engineered Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) coexpressing glycoprotein (G) of SVCV and ORF81 protein of KHV as oral vaccine to induce protective immunity in carps via oral vaccination. The surface-displayed recombinant plasmid pYG-G-ORF81 was electroporated into L. plantarum, giving rise to LP/pYG-G-ORF81, where expression and localization of G-ORF81 fusion protein from the LP/pYG-G-ORF81 was identified by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. Bait feed particles containing the LP/pYG-G-ORF81 were used as vaccine to immunize carps via gastrointestinal route. Compared to control groups, the carps orally immunized with the LP/pYG-G-ORF81 were induced significant levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM), and its immunogenicity was confirmed by viral loads reduction detected by PCR assay after virus challenge followed by an effective protection rate 71% in vaccinated carps and 53% in vaccinated koi until at days 65 post challenge, respectively. Our study here demonstrates, for the first time, the ability of recombinant L. plantarum as oral vaccine against SVCV and KHV infection in carps, suggesting a practical multivalent strategy for the control of spring viremia of carp and koi herpesvirus disease.

[The oral immune efficacy of recombinant lactobacillus casei expressing CSFV E290 peptide and it elicited specific CTL response].

UNLABELLED: The gene encoding classical swine fever virus (CSFV) T cell epitope E290 peptide was synthesized by PCR, cloned into the expression vector pPG-VP2 and named pPG-VP2-E290. The recombinant plasmid was electrotransformed into Lactobacillus casei 393 generating pPG-VP2-E290/L. casei 393. Specific anti-CSFV E290 peptide immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was detected by indirect ELISA in the serum of BALB/c mice and rabbits immunized with recombinant strain by oral administration. The CTL of E290 was analyzed with lymphocytes taken from the immunized mice, and the immunized rabbits were attacked with CSFV to validate the protective function of E290 antibody induced. RESULT: The recombinant expression system constructed with L. casei 393 in this study show a good immunization property and could elicit the mice and rabbits to produce high anti-E290 antibody levels. Furthermore, E290 peptide antibody could elicit specific CTL response, and restrain attack of CSFV to rabbits.

[The surface display of porcine parvovirus VP2 protein in Lactobacillus casei].

Lactobacillus casei 393 was selected as a bacterial carrier for the expression of Porcine Parvovirus (PPV) protective antigen VP2 protein. The gene encoding PPV VP2 protein was cloned into the Lactobacillus casei surface expression vector pPG, and then the constructed recombinant vector pPG-VP2 was electrotransformed into Lactobacillus casei 393 generating the recombinant system pPG-VP2/L. casei393 expressing PPV VP2 protein. The recombinant strain was induced by 2% Lactose in MRS and about 74kD protein was detected with SDS-PAGE. The result of Western-blot indicated that the expressed protein possessed the antigenic specificity which could be recognized by mouse anti-PPV serum. The indirect immunofluorescent test showed that the expressed protein was secreted on the cell surface Lactobacillus casei.