A multi-epitope chimeric protein elicited a strong antibody response and partial protection against Edwardsiella ictaluri in Nile tilapia

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Publication Details

Author list: Machimbirike V.I., Pornputtapong N., Senapin S., Wangkahart E., Srisapoome P., Khunrae P., Rattanarojpong T.

Publisher: Wiley

Publication year: 2022

Journal acronym: JFD

Volume number: 45

Issue number: 1

Start page: 1

End page: 18

Number of pages: 18

ISSN: 0140-7775

eISSN: 1365-2761

URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85114049322&doi=10.1111%2fjfd.13525&partnerID=40&md5=b1ed9b33ec577e64b6dd81fe67cf2ba2

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

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Abstract

Edwardsiella ictaluri infects several fish species and protection of the all the susceptible fish hosts from the pathogen using a monovalent vaccine is impossible because the species is composed of host-based genotypes that are genetic, serological and antigenic heterogenous. Here, immunoinformatic approach was employed to design a cross-immunogenic chimeric EiCh protein containing multi-epitopes. The chimeric EiCh protein is composed of 11 B-cell epitopes and 7 major histocompatibility complex class II epitopes identified from E. ictaluri immunogenic proteins previously reported. The 49.32 kDa recombinant EiCh protein was expressed in vitro in Escherichia coli BL-21 (DE3) after which inclusion bodies were successfully solubilized and refolded. Ab initio protein modelling revealed secondary and tertiary structures. Secondary structure was confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Antigenicity of the chimeric EiCh protein was exhibited by strong reactivity with serum from striped catfish and Nile tilapia experimentally infected with E. ictaluri. Furthermore, immunogenicity of the chimeric EiCh protein was investigated in vivo in Nile tilapia juveniles and it was found that the protein could strongly induce production of specific antibodies conferring agglutination activity and partially protected Nile tilapia juveniles with a relative survival percentage (RPS) of 42%. This study explored immunoinformatics as reverse vaccinology approach in vaccine design for aquaculture to manage E. ictaluri infections. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

chimeric, efficacy, immunoinformatics, multi-epitope