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Waller SB, Galvão CC, Rodrigues RR, Aguirres CDL, Quatrin PHDN, Alves MLF, Ferreira MRA, Conceição FR. Clostridium perfringens antigens and challenges for development of vaccines against necrotic enteritis in poultry. Anaerobe 2024; 89:102902. [PMID: 39187174 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chickens with Necrotic Enteritis (NE), caused by Clostridium perfringens, exhibit acute and chronic symptoms that are difficult to diagnose, leading to significant economic losses. Vaccination is the best method for controlling and preventing NE. However, only two vaccines based on the CPA and NetB toxins have been commercialized, offering partial protection, highlighting the urgent need for more effective vaccines. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to identify promising antigens for NE vaccine formulation and discuss factors affecting their effectiveness. METHODS A systematic review using five scientific databases identified 30 eligible studies through the Rayyan tool, which were included for quality review. RESULTS We identified 25 promising antigens, including CPA, NetB, FBA, ZMP, CnaA, FimA, and FimB, categorized by their role in disease pathogenesis. This review discusses the biochemical, physiological, and genetic traits of recombinant antigens used in vaccine prototypes, their expression systems, and immunization potential in chickens challenged with virulent C. perfringens strains. Market supply challenges, immunogenic potential, vaccine platforms, adjuvants, and factors related to vaccination schedules-such as administration routes, dosing intervals, and age at immunization-are also addressed. Additionally, the study notes that vaccine formulations tested under mild challenges may not offer adequate field-level protection due to issues replicating aggressive conditions, strain virulence loss, and varied methodologies. CONCLUSIONS An ideal NE vaccine should incorporate multiple antigens, molecular adjuvants, and delivery systems via in ovo and oral routes. The review underscores the challenges in developing and validating NE vaccines and the urgent need for a standardized protocol to replicate aggressive challenges accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Bressan Waller
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Cleideanny Cancela Galvão
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rodrigues Rodrigues
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Cleiderson de Lima Aguirres
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL), Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Fabricio Rochedo Conceição
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL), Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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Kulkarni RR, Gaghan C, Mohammed J, Sharif S, Taha-Abdelaziz K. Cellular Immune Responses in Lymphoid Tissues of Broiler Chickens Experimentally Infected with Necrotic Enteritis-Producing Clostridium perfringens Strains. Avian Dis 2023; 67:186-196. [PMID: 37556298 DOI: 10.1637/aviandiseases-d-23-00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Host cellular responses against Clostridium perfringens (CP), the causative agent of necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens, are poorly understood. In the present study, we first tested the NE-producing ability of seven netB+ CP strains (CP5, CP18, CP26, CP64, CP67, CP68, and NCNE-1), using an experimental infection model of broiler chickens. Evaluation of intestinal gross lesions showed that all the strains, except CP5, were able to produce NE, while CP26 and CP64 strains produced relatively more severe lesions when compared with other groups. Next, cellular responses in the cecal tonsil (CT), bursa of Fabricius, and spleen were evaluated in chickens infected with strains representing variation in the level of virulence, namely, avirulent CP5, virulent CP18, and a relatively more virulent CP26 strain. Immunophenotyping analysis showed that CT or splenic macrophage frequencies were significantly higher in CP18- and CP26-infected chickens compared with uninfected controls, while the frequencies of γδ T-cells and B-cells in the CT of CP26-infected chickens were significantly higher than those in the uninfected, CP5- or CP18-infected groups. The T-cell analysis showed that chickens infected with CP18 and CP26 had a significantly higher number of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells expressing CD44 and CD28 activation molecules, while CP26-infected chickens also had significantly increased CT frequency of these activated CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells when compared with uninfected or CP5-infected groups. Collectively, our findings suggested that cellular responses, including activation of T-cells, are selectively induced against virulent CP strains and that the NE-producing characteristics of this pathogen may influence the outcome of immunity to NE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raveendra R Kulkarni
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27607,
| | - Carissa Gaghan
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27607
| | - Javid Mohammed
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27607
- Department of Immunology Duke University School of Medicine Durham NC 27710
| | - Shayan Sharif
- Department of Pathobiolo Ontario Veterinar Colle e Universit of Guelph Guelph Ontario Canada N1G 2W1
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3
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Kulkarni RR, Gaghan C, Gorrell K, Fletcher OJ. Mucosal and systemic lymphoid immune responses against Clostridium perfringens strains with variable virulence in the production of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. Avian Pathol 2023; 52:108-118. [PMID: 36453684 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2022.2154195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by Clostridium perfringens, is an economically important disease of chickens. Although NE pathogenesis is moderately well studied, the host immune responses against C. perfringens are poorly understood. The present study used an experimental NE model to characterize lymphoid immune responses in the caecal tonsils (CT), bursa of Fabricius, Harderian gland (HG) and spleen tissues of broiler chickens infected with four netB+ C. perfringens strains (CP1, CP5, CP18, and CP26), of which CP18 and CP26 strains also carried the tpeL gene. The gross and histopathological lesions in chickens revealed CP5 to be avirulent, while CP1, CP18, and CP26 strains were virulent with CP26 being "very virulent". Gene expression analysis showed that, while the virulent strains induced a significantly upregulated expression of pro-inflammatory IL-1β gene in CT, the CP26-infected birds had significantly higher CT transcription of IFNγ and IL-6 pro-inflammatory genes compared to CP5-infected or uninfected chickens. Furthermore, CP26 infection also led to significantly increased bursal and HG expression of the anti-inflammatory/regulatory genes, IL-10 or TGFβ, compared to control, CP5 and CP1 groups. Additionally, the splenic pro- and anti-inflammatory transcriptional changes were observed only in the CP26-infected chickens. An antibody-mediated response, as characterized by increased IL-4 and/or IL-13 transcription and elevated IgM levels in birds infected with virulent strains, particularly in the CP26-infected group compared to uninfected controls, was also evident. Collectively, our findings suggest that lymphoid immune responses during NE in chickens are spatially regulated such that the inflammatory responses against C. perfringens depend on the virulence of the strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raveendra R Kulkarni
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Carissa Gaghan
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Kaitlin Gorrell
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Oscar J Fletcher
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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4
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Heidarpanah S, Thibodeau A, Parreira VR, Quessy S, Segura M, Meniaï I, Gottschalk M, Gaudreau A, Juette T, Gaucher ML. Immunization of broiler chickens with five newly identified surface-exposed proteins unique to Clostridium perfringens causing necrotic enteritis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5254. [PMID: 37002317 PMCID: PMC10063949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32541-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the ban or reduction on the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in commercial broiler chickens in many countries, avian necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens has re-emerged as one of the biggest threats for the poultry industry worldwide. While the toolbox for controlling NE in the absence of antibiotics consists of a limited number of alternatives for which the overall effectiveness has yet proven to be suboptimal, an effective vaccine would represent the best control strategy for this often-deadly disease. Using a comparative and subtractive reverse vaccinology approach, we previously identified 14 putative antigenic proteins unique to NE-causing strains of C. perfringens. In the current work, the in silico findings were confirmed by PCR and sequencing, and five vaccine candidate proteins were produced and purified subsequently. Among them, two candidates were hypothetical proteins, two candidates were prepilin proteins which are predicted to form the subunits of a pilus structure, and one candidate was a non-heme iron protein. Western blotting and ELISA results showed that immunization of broiler chickens with five of these proteins raised antibodies which can specifically recognize both the recombinant and native forms of the protein in pathogenic C. perfringens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Heidarpanah
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Alexandre Thibodeau
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche Sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Valeria R Parreira
- Food Science Department, Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety (CRIFS), University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Sylvain Quessy
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Mariela Segura
- Groupe de Recherche Sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Ilhem Meniaï
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Marcelo Gottschalk
- Groupe de Recherche Sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Annie Gaudreau
- Groupe de Recherche Sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Tristan Juette
- Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Marie-Lou Gaucher
- Chaire de Recherche en Salubrité des Viandes (CRSV), Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
- Groupe de Recherche Sur les Maladies Infectieuses en Production Animale (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
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Fathima S, Hakeem WGA, Shanmugasundaram R, Selvaraj RK. Necrotic Enteritis in Broiler Chickens: A Review on the Pathogen, Pathogenesis, and Prevention. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10101958. [PMID: 36296234 PMCID: PMC9610872 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens type A and C are the primary etiological agents associated with necrotic enteritis (NE) in poultry. The predisposing factors implicated in the incidence of NE changes the physical properties of the gut, immunological status of birds, and disrupt the gut microbial homeostasis, causing an over-proliferation of C. perfringens. The principal virulence factors contributing to the pathogenesis of NE are the α-toxin, β-toxin, and NetB toxin. The immune response to NE in poultry is mediated by the Th1 pathway or cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. C. perfringens type A and C are also pathogenic in humans, and hence are of public health significance. C. perfringens intoxications are the third most common bacterial foodborne disease after Salmonella and Campylobacter. The restrictions on the use of antibiotics led to an increased incidence of NE in poultry. Hence, it is essential to develop alternative strategies to keep the prevalence of NE under check. The control strategies rely principally on the positive modulation of host immune response, nutritional manipulation, and pathogen reduction. Current knowledge on the etiology, pathogenesis, predisposing factors, immune response, effect on the gut microbial homeostasis, and preventative strategies of NE in this post-antibiotic era is addressed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahna Fathima
- Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Revathi Shanmugasundaram
- Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, US National Poultry Research Center, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Ramesh K. Selvaraj
- Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Correspondence:
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Valipouri A, Rahimi S, Karkhane A, Torshizi MAK, Mobarez AM, Grimes J. Immunization of broiler chickens with recombinant alpha-toxin protein for protection against necrotic enteritis#. J APPL POULTRY RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2022.100299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Yuan B, Sun Z, Lu M, Lillehoj H, Lee Y, Liu L, Yan X, Yang DA, Li C. Immunization with Pooled Antigens for Clostridium perfringens Conferred Partial Protection against Experimental Necrotic Enteritis in Broiler Chickens. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10060979. [PMID: 35746587 PMCID: PMC9229587 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a multifactorial and important enteric infectious disease etiologically caused by pathogenic C. perfringens infection, accounting for the estimated loss of around USD 6 billion in the global poultry industry. The increasing incidence of NE was found to be associated with the voluntary reduction or withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters from animal feed during recent years. Therefore, the development of effective vaccines specific to NE assumes a priority for the poultry industry. This study aimed to identify the potential C. perfringens proteins as vaccine targets for NE. Three recombinant C. perfringens proteins targeting five antigens were prepared: two chimeric proteins (alpha-toxin and NetB, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) and a zinc metalloprotease (Zm)), and one single collagen adhesion protein (Cna). Their protection efficacies were evaluated with a potent challenge model of Eimeria maxima/C. perfringens dual infections using a netB+tpeL+ C. perfringens strain. Young chicks were immunized twice subcutaneously with adjuvanted C. perfringens proteins on Days 4 and 15. At six days after the second immunization, the chickens immunized with Cna, FBA, and Zm antigens, and alpha-toxin had much higher serum antibody titers than unvaccinated controls prior to the challenge. Following the challenge, the pooled antigen-immunized group demonstrated no mortality and the least lesion scores against virulent challenge. The results indicate that the immunization with multicomponent antigens, including C. perfringens housekeeping protein Cna, may confer partial protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohong Yuan
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (B.Y.); (Z.S.); (M.L.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (L.L.)
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhifeng Sun
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (B.Y.); (Z.S.); (M.L.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Mingmin Lu
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (B.Y.); (Z.S.); (M.L.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Hyun Lillehoj
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (B.Y.); (Z.S.); (M.L.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Youngsub Lee
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (B.Y.); (Z.S.); (M.L.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Liheng Liu
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (B.Y.); (Z.S.); (M.L.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Xianghe Yan
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD 20705, USA;
| | - Danchen Aaron Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Charles Li
- Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (B.Y.); (Z.S.); (M.L.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (L.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Kulkarni RR, Gaghan C, Mohammed J. Avian Macrophage Responses to Virulent and Avirulent Clostridium perfringens. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11010100. [PMID: 35056048 PMCID: PMC8778324 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study evaluated the avian macrophage responses against Clostridium perfringens that varied in their ability to cause necrotic enteritis in chickens. Strains CP5 (avirulent-netB+), CP1 (virulent-netB+), and CP26 (highly virulent-netB+tpeL+) were used to evaluate their effect on macrophages (MQ-NCSU cells) and primary splenic and cecal tonsil mononuclear cells. The bacilli (whole cells) or their secretory products from all three strains induced a significant increase in the macrophage transcription of Toll-like receptor (TLR)21, TLR2, interleukin (IL)-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and CD80 genes as well as their nitric oxide (NO) production and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II surface expression compared to an unstimulated control. The CP1 and CP26-induced expression of interferon (IFN)γ, IL-6, CD40 genes, MHC-II upregulation, and NO production was significantly higher than that of CP5 and control groups. Furthermore, splenocytes and cecal tonsillocytes stimulated with bacilli or secretory products from all the strains showed a significant increase in the frequency of macrophages, their surface expression of MHC-II and NO production, while CP26-induced responses were significantly higher for the rest of the groups. In summary, macrophage interaction with C. perfringens can lead to cellular activation and, the ability of this pathogen to induce macrophage responses may depend on its level of virulence.
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Meniaï I, Thibodeau A, Quessy S, Parreira VR, Fravalo P, Beauchamp G, Gaucher ML. Putative antigenic proteins identified by comparative and subtractive reverse vaccinology in necrotic enteritis-causing Clostridium perfringens isolated from broiler chickens. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:890. [PMID: 34903179 PMCID: PMC8666345 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08216-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Avian necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens is a disease with a major economic impact, generating losses estimated to 6 billion of dollars annually for the poultry industry worldwide. The incidence of the disease is particularly on the rise in broiler chicken flocks eliminating the preventive use of antibiotics. To date, no alternative allows for the efficient prevention of NE and a control of the disease using a vaccinal strategy would be mostly prized. For this purpose, comparative and subtractive reverse vaccinology identifying putative immunogenic bacterial surface proteins is one of the most promising approaches. RESULTS A comparative genomic study was performed on 16 C. perfringens strains isolated from healthy broiler chickens and from broilers affected with necrotic enteritis. Results showed that the analyzed genomes were composed of 155,700 distinct proteins from which 13% were identified as extracellular, 65% as cytoplasmic and 22% as part of the bacterial membrane. The evaluation of the immunogenicity of these proteins was determined using the prediction software VaxiJen®. CONCLUSIONS For the most part, proteins with the highest scores were associated with an extracellular localisation. For all the proteins analyzed, the combination of both the immunogenicity score and the localisation prediction led to the selection of 12 candidate proteins that were mostly annotated as hypothetical proteins. We describe 6 potential candidates of higher interest due to their antigenic potential, their extracellular localisation, and their possible role in virulence of C. perfringens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilhem Meniaï
- Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Alexandre Thibodeau
- Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada.,Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Sylvain Quessy
- Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Valeria R Parreira
- Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Philippe Fravalo
- Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada.,Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Guy Beauchamp
- Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Marie-Lou Gaucher
- Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada. .,Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada.
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Daneshmand A, Kermanshahi H, Mohammed J, Sekhavati MH, Javadmanesh A, Ahmadian M, Alizadeh M, Razmyar J, Kulkarni RR. Intestinal changes and immune responses during Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. Poult Sci 2021; 101:101652. [PMID: 35038649 PMCID: PMC8762468 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease of broiler chickens. The present study evaluated the effect of C. perfringens on the intestinal histomorphometry, enteric microbial colonization, and host immune responses using 3 experimental NE reproduction methods. The experimental groups consisted of 1) unchallenged Control diet (corn-soybean meal), 2) Control diet + Eimera inoculation at d 11 followed by C. perfringens challenge at d 15 (ECp), 3) Wheat-based diet + C. perfringens challenge (WCp), and 4) Wheat-based diet + Eimeria inoculation followed by C. perfringens challenge (WECp). The results showed that chickens receiving ECp and WECp had reduced (P < 0.05) bird performance coupled with enteric gross lesions and epithelial damage at d 17 and 24 of age compared to unchallenged control birds. These ECp and WECp administered birds also had increased (P < 0.05) ileal colonization by clostridia and E. coli at d 17 and 24, while the resident Lactobacillus counts were reduced (P < 0.05) at d 24 of age. Furthermore, at d 24, jejunal transcription of IL-6, IL-10, annexin-A1 and IL-2 genes was upregulated (P < 0.05) in the ECp group, whereas the transcription of TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF)-3 gene was increased (P < 0.05) in WECp treated birds when compared to unchallenged control group. Additionally, stimulation of chicken splenocytes and cecal tonsilocytes with virulent C. perfringens bacilli or their secretory proteins resulted in a higher (P < 0.05) frequency of T cells and their upregulation of MHC-II molecule, as determined by flow cytometry. These findings suggest that C. perfringens, while inducing epithelial damage and changes in microbiota, can also trigger host immune responses. Furthermore, NE reproduction methods using coccidia with or without the wheat-based dietary predisposition seem to facilitate an optimal NE reproduction in broiler chickens and thus, may provide better avenues for future C. perfringens research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Daneshmand
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hassan Kermanshahi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Javid Mohammed
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Mohammad Hadi Sekhavati
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Javadmanesh
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Monireh Ahmadian
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Marzieh Alizadeh
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Jamshid Razmyar
- Department of Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 1419963111, University of Tehran, Iran
| | - Raveendra R Kulkarni
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
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11
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Hoseini ZS, Hajizade A, Razmyar J, Ahmadian G, Arpanaei A. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles-based formulations of a chimeric proteinous vaccine candidate against necrotic enteritis disease. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2021; 128:112316. [PMID: 34474867 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To develop a nanoparticle-based vaccine against necrotic enteritis, a chimeric antigen (rNA) consisting of the main antigens of Clostridium perfringens, NetB, and Alpha toxin, was prepared. Then, the rNA molecules were loaded onto the functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) using physical adsorption or covalent conjugation methods. The characterization of synthesized nanoparticles was performed by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry techniques. The results revealed that the spherical nanoparticles with an average diameter of 90 ± 12 nm and suitable surface chemistries are prepared. MSNPs-based formulations did not show any significant toxicity on the chicken embryo fibroblast cells. The results of the challenge experiments using subcutaneous or oral administration of the as-prepared formulations in the animal model showed that the as-prepared nanosystems, similar to those formulated with a commercial adjuvant (Montanide), present stronger humoral immune responses as compared to that of the free proteins. It was also indicated that the best protection is obtained in groups vaccinated with MSNPs-based nanovaccine, especially those who orally received covalently conjugated nanovaccine candidates. These results recommend that the MSNPs-based formulated chimeric proteinous vaccine candidates can be considered as an effective immunizing system for the oral vaccination of poultry against gastrointestinal infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zakieh Sadat Hoseini
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Hajizade
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamshid Razmyar
- Department of Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Ahmadian
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ayyoob Arpanaei
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran.
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12
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Architecturally complex O-glycopeptidases are customized for mucin recognition and hydrolysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2019220118. [PMID: 33658366 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019220118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A challenge faced by peptidases is the recognition of highly diverse substrates. A feature of some peptidase families is the capacity to specifically use post-translationally added glycans present on their protein substrates as a recognition determinant. This is ultimately critical to enabling peptide bond hydrolysis. This class of enzyme is also frequently large and architecturally sophisticated. However, the molecular details underpinning glycan recognition by these O-glycopeptidases, the importance of these interactions, and the functional roles of their ancillary domains remain unclear. Here, using the Clostridium perfringens ZmpA, ZmpB, and ZmpC M60 peptidases as model proteins, we provide structural and functional insight into how these intricate proteins recognize glycans as part of catalytic and noncatalytic substrate recognition. Structural, kinetic, and mutagenic analyses support the key role of glycan recognition within the M60 domain catalytic site, though they point to ZmpA as an apparently inactive enzyme. Wider examination of the Zmp domain content reveals noncatalytic carbohydrate binding as a feature of these proteins. The complete three-dimensional structure of ZmpB provides rare insight into the overall molecular organization of a highly multimodular enzyme and reveals how the interplay of individual domain function may influence biological activity. O-glycopeptidases frequently occur in host-adapted microbes that inhabit or attack mucus layers. Therefore, we anticipate that these results will be fundamental to informing more detailed models of how the glycoproteins that are abundant in mucus are destroyed as part of pathogenic processes or liberated as energy sources during normal commensal lifestyles.
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13
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Sarmah H, Hazarika R, Tamuly S, Deka P, Manoharan S, Sharma RK. Evaluation of different antigenic preparations against necrotic enteritis in broiler birds using a novel Clostridium perfringens type G strain. Anaerobe 2021; 70:102377. [PMID: 33957249 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2021.102377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Keeping in view, the constraints faced by the Indian broiler industry with lack of a suitable vaccine against Necrotic Enteritis (NE), a study has been proposed to explore the prevalence and detail characterization of C. perfringens type G in NE suspected broiler chicken in the process of suitable vaccine development. METHODS Intestinal scrapings/faecal contents of NE suspected broiler chickens were screened to establish the prevalence of C.perfringens type G in broiler birds. A most pathogenic, highly resistant type G isolate of C. perfringens, bearing both tpeL and gapC gene was selected for preparation of three different vaccine formulations, and to evaluate their immunogenic potential in broiler birds. RESULTS Screening of clinical samples of NE suspected broiler birds revealed C. perfringens type G, bearing gapC gene in 51.22% samples, of which 47.62% revealed tpeL gene. Seven of the tpeLpos type G isolates were comparatively more pathogenic for mice, of which, one exhibited multidrug resistance towards ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, tetracycline and levofloxacin. The sonicated supernatant (SS) prepared from the selected tpeL and gapC positive isolate could maintain a significantly higher protective IgG response than toxoid and bacterin preparation from the 21st to 28thday of age in immunized birds. CONCLUSION The additional TpeL toxin in C. perfringens type G has been proved to be an additional key biological factor in the pathogenesis of NE in broiler chickens. Considering the release of more immunogenic proteins, the SS proved to be a better immunogenic preparation against NE with a multiple immunization dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiramoni Sarmah
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, AAU., Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Ritam Hazarika
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, AAU., Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Shantonu Tamuly
- Department of Animal Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science, AAU., Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Pankaj Deka
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, AAU., Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Seeralan Manoharan
- Vaccine Research Centre-Bacterial Vaccines, Centre for Animal Health Studies, TANUVAS, Chennai, India
| | - Rajeev K Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, AAU., Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India.
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14
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Katalani C, Ahmadian G, Nematzadeh G, Amani J, Ehsani P, Razmyar J, Kiani G. Immunization with oral and parenteral subunit chimeric vaccine candidate confers protection against Necrotic Enteritis in chickens. Vaccine 2020; 38:7284-7291. [PMID: 33012608 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.09.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Following the ban on the use of in-feed antimicrobials, necrotic enteritis (NE) NE is the most important clostridial disease. Vaccination has been considered as a possible approach to prevent NE. Our previous study showed that a chimeric protein product consisting of antigenic epitopes of NetB, Alpha-toxin and Zinc metallopeptidase (Zmp) triggered immune response against C. perfringens. In the current study we optimized the chimeric gene and constructed a fusion protein containing NetB, Alpha-toxin and Metallopeptidase (NAM) for expressing in tobacco plant to use as an edible vaccine for immunizing the chicken against NE. Simultaneously, we expressed and purified a His-tagged recombinant version of the NAM (rNAM) expressed in E. coli BL21 for subcutaneous immunization of chickens. Immunized birds produced strong humoral immune responses against both edible plant-based and parenteral purified rNAM. The responses were determined by the mean titer of antibody in blood samples to be around 9000 and 32,000, for edible and injected rNAM, respectively. Birds immunized subcutaneously showed the most striking responses. However the edible vaccine provided a more long lasting IgY response 14 days after the third vaccination compared to the injected birds. Chickens immunized with either lyophilized leaves expressing rNAM or purified rNAM, subsequently were subjected to the challenge with a virulent C. perfringens strain using an NE disease model. Our results showed that birds immunized both parenterally and orally with recombinant chimeric vaccine were significantly protected against the severity of lesion in the intestinal tract, but the protection provided with the injectable form of the antigen was greater than that of the oral form. Further analysis is needed to check whether these strategies can be used as the potential platform for developing an efficient vaccine against NE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camellia Katalani
- Sari Agriculture Science and Natural Resource University (SANRU), Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan (GABIT), Sari, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Ahmadian
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Pajoohesh BLVD, Tehran-Karaj HWY, km 15, Tehran 1497716316, Iran.
| | - Ghorbanali Nematzadeh
- Sari Agriculture Science and Natural Resource University (SANRU), Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan (GABIT), Sari, Iran.
| | - Jafar Amani
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parastoo Ehsani
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Iran
| | - Jamshid Razmyar
- Department of Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghaffar Kiani
- Sari Agriculture Science and Natural Resource University (SANRU), Sari, Iran
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15
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Akerele G, Ramadan N, Renu S, Renukaradhya GJ, Shanmugasundaram R, Selvaraj RK. In vitro characterization and immunogenicity of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with native and inactivated extracellular proteins from a field strain of Clostridium perfringens associated with necrotic enteritis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2020; 224:110059. [PMID: 32408182 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2020.110059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There are currently no licensed vaccines against Clostridium perfringens which causes necrotic enteritis in poultry. Chitosan nanoparticles were formulated with native (CN) or toxoids (CT) of extracellular proteins (ECP) of C. perfringens, both surface-tagged with Salmonella flagellar proteins. In a pH stability assay, CN and CT nanoparticles released 6% and 0% of their protein at 8.0 pH. In a protein release assay, CN and CT nanoparticles released 16% and 10% of their protein respectively at 7.4 pH after 24 h. CN and CT nanoparticles incubated at 100 μg/mL PBS with Chicken RBCs released 1% and 0% hemoglobin respectively. Ninety broilers were randomly assigned to treatments; sham-vaccinated (Control), CN-vaccinated (CN), and CT-vaccinated (CT). Each bird was orally gavaged with 50 μg vaccine in 0.5 mL PBS or 0.5 mL PBS only on d 0, 3, 7 and 14 of age. At 21 d of age, the CN group had higher anti-ECP IgA than control (P < 0.05). At 21 d of age, the CN and CT group had higher anti-ECP IgA than control (P < 0.05). At 17 d of age, the CN group had higher anti-flagellar IgG than control (P < 0.05). At 10 d of age, the CN group had higher anti-flagellar IgA than control (P < 0.05). Splenic T cells from chickens in the CN and CT group ex-vivo stimulated with 0.05 mg/mL ECP, had higher proliferation control (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 respectively). Splenic T cells from chickens in the CN and CT groups ex-vivo stimulated with 0.1 mg/mL ECP had proliferation than control (P < 0.05). Pooled serum from 17 d of age CN and CT-vaccinated birds partially neutralized toxins in 50 μg of ECP (P < 0.05). Pooled serum from 28 d of age CN-vaccinated birds also partially neutralized toxins in 50 μg of ECP. The result from this study indicates the potential for chitosan loaded with Clostridium perfringens extracellular proteins to be applied to necrotic enteritis challenge studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Akerele
- Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Nour Ramadan
- Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Sankar Renu
- Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, 44691, OH, United States
| | - Gourapura J Renukaradhya
- Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, 44691, OH, United States
| | | | - Ramesh K Selvaraj
- Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
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16
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In silico design and in vitro analysis of a recombinant trivalent fusion protein candidate vaccine targeting virulence factor of Clostridium perfringens. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 146:1015-1023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.09.227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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17
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Wade B, Keyburn AL, Haring V, Ford M, Rood JI, Moore RJ. Two putative zinc metalloproteases contribute to the virulence of Clostridium perfringens strains that cause avian necrotic enteritis. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020; 32:259-267. [PMID: 31924132 DOI: 10.1177/1040638719898689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Two putative zinc metalloproteases encoded by Clostridium perfringens have been implicated in the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis, an economically significant poultry disease that is caused by this anaerobic bacterium. These proteases have ~64% amino acid identity and are encoded by the zmpA and zmpB genes. We screened 83 C. perfringens isolates by PCR for the presence of these genes. The first gene, zmpB, is chromosomally located and was present in all screened strains of C. perfringens, regardless of their origin and virulence. The second gene, zmpA, is plasmid-borne and was only found in isolates derived from chickens with necrotic enteritis. We describe the generation of insertionally inactivated mutants of both zmpA and zmpB in a virulent C. perfringens isolate. For each mutant, a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in virulence was observed in a chicken necrotic enteritis disease model. Examples of each mutant strain were characterized by whole genome sequencing, which showed that there were a few off-site mutations with the potential to affect the virulence of these strains. To confirm the importance of these genes, independently derived zmpA and zmpB mutants were constructed in different virulent C. perfringens isolates and shown to have reduced virulence in the experimental disease induction model. A zmpA-zmpB double mutant also was generated and shown to have significantly reduced virulence, to the same extent as the respective single mutants. Our results provide evidence that both putative zinc metalloproteases play an important role in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Wade
- CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Haring, Ford, Moore).,Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Rood, Moore).,Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia (Keyburn, Rood, Moore); School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia (Moore)
| | - Anthony L Keyburn
- CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Haring, Ford, Moore).,Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Rood, Moore).,Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia (Keyburn, Rood, Moore); School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia (Moore)
| | - Volker Haring
- CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Haring, Ford, Moore).,Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Rood, Moore).,Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia (Keyburn, Rood, Moore); School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia (Moore)
| | - Mark Ford
- CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Haring, Ford, Moore).,Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Rood, Moore).,Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia (Keyburn, Rood, Moore); School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia (Moore)
| | - Julian I Rood
- CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Haring, Ford, Moore).,Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Rood, Moore).,Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia (Keyburn, Rood, Moore); School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia (Moore)
| | - Robert J Moore
- CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Haring, Ford, Moore).,Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia (Wade, Keyburn, Rood, Moore).,Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia (Keyburn, Rood, Moore); School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia (Moore)
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19
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Wilde S, Jiang Y, Tafoya AM, Horsman J, Yousif M, Vazquez LA, Roland KL. Salmonella-vectored vaccine delivering three Clostridium perfringens antigens protects poultry against necrotic enteritis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0197721. [PMID: 30753181 PMCID: PMC6372158 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis is an economically important poultry disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens. There are currently no necrotic enteritis vaccines commercially available for use in broiler birds, the most important target population. Salmonella-vectored vaccines represent a convenient and effective option for controlling this disease. We used a single attenuated Salmonella vaccine strain, engineered to lyse within the host, to deliver up to three C. perfringens antigens. Two of the antigens were toxoids, based on C. perfringens α-toxin and NetB toxin. The third antigen was fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (Fba), a metabolic enzyme with an unknown role in virulence. Oral immunization with a single Salmonella vaccine strain producing either Fba, α-toxoid and NetB toxoid, or all three antigens, was immunogenic, inducing serum, cellular and mucosal responses against Salmonella and the vectored C. perfringens antigens. All three vaccine strains were partially protective against virulent C. perfringens challenge. The strains delivering Fba only or all three antigens provided the best protection. We also demonstrate that both toxins and Fba are present on the C. perfringens cell surface. The presence of Fba on the cell surface suggests that Fba may function as an adhesin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyra Wilde
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Yanlong Jiang
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Amanda M. Tafoya
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jamie Horsman
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Miranda Yousif
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Luis Armando Vazquez
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Kenneth L. Roland
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Li C, Yan X, Lillehoj HS. Complete genome sequences of Clostridium perfringens Del1 strain isolated from chickens affected by necrotic enteritis. Gut Pathog 2017; 9:69. [PMID: 29201151 PMCID: PMC5699181 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-017-0217-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clostridium perfringens is ubiquitous in nature. It is a normal inhabitant in the intestinal tract of animals and humans. As the primary etiological agent of gas gangrene, necrosis and bacteremia, C. perfringens causes food poisoning, necrotic enteritis (NE), and even death. Epidemiology research has indicated that the increasing incidence of NE in poultry is associated with the withdrawal of in-feed antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production in response to government regulations. The recent omics studies have indicated that bacterial virulence is typically linked to highly efficient conjugative transfer of toxins, or plasmids carrying antibiotic-resistance traits. Currently, there is limited information on understanding of host-pathogen interaction in NE caused by virulent strains of C. perfringens. Elucidating such pathogenesis has practical impacts on fighting infectious diseases through adopting strategies of prophylactic or therapeutic interventions. In this report, we sequenced and analyzed the genome of C. perfringens Del1 strain using the hybrid of PacBio and Illumina sequencing technologies. RESULTS Sequence analysis indicated that Del1 strain comprised a single circular chromosome with a complete 3,559,163 bp and 4 plasmids: pDel1_1 (82,596 bp), pDel1_2 (69,827 bp), pDel1_3 (49,582 bp), and pDel1_4 (49,728 bp). The genome had 3361 predicted coding DNA sequences, harbored numerous genes for pathogenesis and virulence factors, including 6 for antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance, and 3 phage-encoded genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Del1 strain had similar genome and plasmid sequences to the CP4 strain. CONCLUSION Complete chromosomal and plasmid sequences of Del1 strain are presented in this report. Since Del1 was isolated from a field disease outbreak, this strain is a good source to identify virulent genes that cause many damaging effects of Clostridial infections in chicken gut. Genome sequencing of the chicken pathogenic isolates from commercial farms provides valuable insights into the molecular pathogenesis of C. perfringens as a gastrointestinal pathogen in food animals. The detailed information on gene sequencing of this important field strain will benefit the development of novel vaccines specific for C. perfringens-induced NE in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Li
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, MD 20705 USA
| | - Xianghe Yan
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, MD 20705 USA
| | - Hyun S. Lillehoj
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service-US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, MD 20705 USA
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Parreira VR, Russell K, Athanasiadou S, Prescott JF. Comparative transcriptome analysis by RNAseq of necrotic enteritis Clostridium perfringens during in vivo colonization and in vitro conditions. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:186. [PMID: 27520106 PMCID: PMC4983038 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by netB-positive type A Clostridium perfringens is an important bacterial disease of poultry. Through its complex regulatory system, C. perfringens orchestrates the expression of a collection of toxins and extracellular enzymes that are crucial for the development of the disease; environmental conditions play an important role in their regulation. In this study, and for the first time, global transcriptomic analysis was performed on ligated intestinal loops in chickens colonized with a netB-positive C. perfringens strain, as well as the same strain propagated in vitro under various nutritional and environmental conditions. RESULTS Analysis of the respective pathogen transcriptomes revealed up to 673 genes that were significantly expressed in vivo. Gene expression profiles in vivo were most similar to those of C. perfringens grown in nutritionally-deprived conditions. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results suggest a bacterial transcriptome responses to the early stages of adaptation, and colonization of, the chicken intestine. Our work also reveals how netB-positive C. perfringens reacts to different environmental conditions including those in the chicken intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kay Russell
- Disease Systems, Animal and Veterinary Sciences SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Midlothian, EH25 9RG Scotland
| | - Spiridoula Athanasiadou
- Disease Systems, Animal and Veterinary Sciences SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Midlothian, EH25 9RG Scotland
| | - John F. Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
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Proteomic analysis and identification of cell surface-associated proteins of Clostridium chauvoei. Anaerobe 2016; 39:77-83. [PMID: 26971466 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Blackleg is a highly fatal disease of cattle and sheep, caused by Clostridium chauvoei, a Gram positive, anaerobic, spore forming bacteria. Cell surface-associated proteins play a major role in inducing the protective immunity. However, the identity of a majority of cell surface-associated proteins of C. chauvoei is not known. In the present investigation, we have used SDS-PAGE, 2D-gel electrophoresis and Western blotting followed by mass spectrometry to identify cell surface-associated proteins of C. chauvoei. Among the identified proteins, which have shown to offer protective antigencity in other bacteria, Enolase, Chaperonin, Ribosomal protein L10, Glycosyl Hydrolase and Flavoprotein were characterized by sequencing and their overexpression in Escherichia coli. In conclusion, cell surface-associated proteins were identified using proteomic approach and the genes for the immunoreactive proteins were expressed, which may prove to be potential diagnostic or vaccine candidates.
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Mot D, Timbermont L, Haesebrouck F, Ducatelle R, Van Immerseel F. Progress and problems in vaccination against necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. Avian Pathol 2015; 43:290-300. [PMID: 24980518 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2014.939942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis in broilers is caused by Clostridium perfringens type A strains that produce the NetB toxin. Necrotic enteritis is one of the gastrointestinal diseases in poultry that has gained worldwide importance during the last decade due to efforts to improve broiler performance. Prevention strategies include avoiding predisposing factors, such as coccidiosis, and in-feed supplementation with a variety of feed additives. However, vaccination with modified toxin or other secreted immunogenic proteins seems a logical preventive tool for protection against a toxin-producing bacterium. Formalin-inactivated crude supernatant has been used initially for vaccination. Several studies have been carried out recently to identify the most important immunogenic and protective proteins that can be used for vaccination. These include the NetB toxin, as well as a number of other proteins. There is evidence that immunization with single proteins is not protective against severe challenge and that combinations of different antigens are needed. Most published studies have used multiple dosage vaccination regimens that are not relevant for practical use in the broiler industry. Single vaccination regimens for 1-day-old chicks appear to be non-protective. This review describes the history of vaccination strategies against necrotic enteritis in broilers and gives an update on future vaccination strategies that are applicable in the field. These may include breeder hen vaccination, in ovo vaccination and live attenuated vectors to be used in feed or in drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien Mot
- a Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Ghent University , Merelbeke , Belgium
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Mot D, Timbermont L, Delezie E, Haesebrouck F, Ducatelle R, Van Immerseel F. Day-of-hatch vaccination is not protective against necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. Avian Pathol 2013; 42:179-84. [PMID: 23581446 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2013.778955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis, caused by netB toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens type A, is an important disease in broiler chickens worldwide. Earlier attempts to prevent necrotic enteritis by vaccination have not sufficiently taken into account the practical limitations of broiler vaccination. In most published studies on vaccination against necrotic enteritis, multiple doses at different ages are administered, which is not practical for broilers. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of subcutaneous single vaccination at day 1 or day 3 and double vaccination at day 3 and day 12, using crude supernatant containing active toxin or formaldehyde-inactivated supernatant (toxoid) of a netB-positive C. perfringens strain in a subclinical necrotic enteritis model. Double vaccination with crude supernatant resulted in a significant decrease in the number of chickens with necrotic enteritis lesions. The efficacy of vaccination using toxoid was lower compared with crude supernatant. Single vaccination with crude supernatant at day 3 resulted in significant protection, while vaccination of 1-day-old chickens with crude supernatant or toxoid, as envisaged for practical field application, did not induce protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien Mot
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Keyburn AL, Portela RW, Sproat K, Ford ME, Bannam TL, Yan X, Rood JI, Moore RJ. Vaccination with recombinant NetB toxin partially protects broiler chickens from necrotic enteritis. Vet Res 2013; 44:54. [PMID: 23865568 PMCID: PMC3720557 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-44-54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
NetB toxin from Clostridium perfringens is a major virulence factor in necrotic enteritis in poultry. In this study the efficacy of NetB as a vaccine antigen to protect chickens from necrotic enteritis was examined. Broiler chickens were immunized subcutaneously with purified recombinant NetB (rNetB), formalin treated bacterin and cell free toxoid with or without rNetB supplementation. Intestinal lesion scores and NetB antibody levels were measured to determine protection after mild oral gavage, moderate in-feed and heavy in-feed challenges with virulent C. perfringens isolates. Birds immunized with rNetB were significantly protected against necrotic enteritis when challenged with a mild oral dose of virulent bacteria, but were not protected when a more robust challenge was used. Bacterin and cell free toxoid without rNetB supplementation did not protect birds from moderate and severe in-feed challenge. Only birds immunized with bacterin and cell free toxoid supplemented with rNetB showed significant protection against moderate and severe in-feed challenge, with the later giving the greatest protection. Higher NetB antibody titres were observed in birds immunized with rNetB compared to those vaccinated with bacterin or toxoid, suggesting that the in vitro levels of NetB produced by virulent C. perfringens isolates are too low to induce the development of a strong immune response. These results suggest that vaccination with NetB alone may not be sufficient to protect birds from necrotic enteritis in the field, but that in combination with other cellular or cell-free antigens it can significantly protect chickens from disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L Keyburn
- CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong 3220, Australia.
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Zhai Z, Cheng L, Tang F, Lu Y, Shao J, Liu G, Bao Y, Chen M, Shang K, Fan H, Yao H, Lu C, Zhang W. Immunoproteomic identification of 11 novel immunoreactive proteins ofRiemerella anatipestiferserotype 2. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 65:84-95. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2012.00947.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2011] [Revised: 02/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/18/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Lee K, Lillehoj HS, Li G, Park MS, Jang SI, Jeong W, Jeoung HY, An DJ, Lillehoj EP. Identification and cloning of two immunogenic Clostridium perfringens proteins, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO) of C. perfringens. Res Vet Sci 2011; 91:e80-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2010] [Revised: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Lee K, Lillehoj H, Jeong W, Jeoung H, An D. Avian necrotic enteritis: Experimental models, host immunity, pathogenesis, risk factors, and vaccine development. Poult Sci 2011; 90:1381-90. [DOI: 10.3382/ps.2010-01319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Saleh N, Fathalla SI, Nabil R, Mosaad AA. Clinicopathological and immunological studies on toxoids vaccine as a successful alternative in controlling clostridial infection in broilers. Anaerobe 2011; 17:426-30. [PMID: 21664285 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Revised: 04/20/2011] [Accepted: 04/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three vaccination regimes of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type A, C and combined A&C toxoids based on their clinical signs and immunological effects. The vaccines were administered two times at two weeks interval (7 & 21 days old), then the birds were challenged (35 days old) with virulent strains of C. perfringens type A, C and combined A&C. Blood samples were taken one week after the first and second vaccination as well as after challenge. The evaluated parameters in this study included: clinical signs, gross intestinal lesions, complete blood count (CBC), serum protein, liver profiles, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for detecting serum antibody titers. The results revealed that immunization of broilers with C. perfringens type A, C and combined A&C toxoids resulted in a significant decrease in numbers of chickens with intestinal lesions particularly with the A&C toxoids vaccine. Results of the CBC values were significantly increased in all treated groups and challenged groups. Total leukocytic count decreased in challenged non vaccinated group while increased in challenged vaccinated birds. Results of biochemical assays implicated that there were a significant increase in serum protein and liver profiles. ELISA results explored a significant increase in antibody titers after immunization of broilers with C. perfringens type A, C and combined A&C toxoids particularly after the second dose of vaccination. We concluded that immunization of broilers with toxoid vaccines particularly the combined type A & C is safe, well-tolerated and can protect broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis particularly after the second booster dose of the vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Saleh
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Vet. Med., Menufiya University, El-Sadat Branch, Egypt
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Development and application of a method for counterselectable in-frame deletion in Clostridium perfringens. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 77:1375-82. [PMID: 21183644 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01572-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pathogenic clostridial species produce toxins and enzymes. To facilitate genome-wide identification of virulence factors and biotechnological application of their useful products, we have developed a markerless in-frame deletion method for Clostridium perfringens which allows efficient counterselection and multiple-gene disruption. The system comprises a galKT gene disruptant and a suicide galK plasmid into which two fragments of a target gene for in-frame deletion are cloned. The system was shown to be accurate and simple by using it to disrupt the alpha-toxin gene of the organism. It was also used to construct of two different virulence-attenuated strains, ΗΝ1303 and HN1314: the former is a disruptant of the virRS operon, which regulates the expression of virulence factors, and the latter is a disruptant of the six genes encoding the α, θ, and κ toxins; a clostripain-like protease; a 190-kDa secretory protein; and a putative cell wall lytic endopeptidase. Comparison of the two disruptants in terms of growth ability and the background levels of secreted proteins showed that HN1314 is more useful than ΗΝ1303 as a host for the large-scale production of recombinant proteins.
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Keyburn AL, Bannam TL, Moore RJ, Rood JI. NetB, a pore-forming toxin from necrotic enteritis strains of Clostridium perfringens. Toxins (Basel) 2010; 2:1913-27. [PMID: 22069665 PMCID: PMC3153261 DOI: 10.3390/toxins2071913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2010] [Revised: 07/09/2010] [Accepted: 07/22/2010] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Clostridium perfringens necrotic enteritis B-like toxin (NetB) is a recently discovered member of the β-barrel pore-forming toxin family and is produced by a subset of avian C. perfringens type A strains. NetB is cytotoxic for avian cells and is associated with avian necrotic enteritis. This review examines the current state of knowledge of NetB: its role in pathogenesis, its distribution and expression in C. perfringens and its vaccine potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L. Keyburn
- CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia; Anthony. (A.K.)
| | - Trudi L. Bannam
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia; (T.L.B.); (R.J.M.)
| | - Robert J. Moore
- CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia; Anthony. (A.K.)
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia; (T.L.B.); (R.J.M.)
| | - Julian I. Rood
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia; (T.L.B.); (R.J.M.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; ; Tel.: +61-3-9902-9157; Fax: +61-3-9902-9222
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Lanckriet A, Timbermont L, Eeckhaut V, Haesebrouck F, Ducatelle R, Van Immerseel F. Variable protection after vaccination of broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis using supernatants of different Clostridium perfringens strains. Vaccine 2010; 28:5920-3. [PMID: 20600504 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2010] [Revised: 05/26/2010] [Accepted: 06/10/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis is an economically important disease of chickens caused by Clostridium perfringens. Immunity to necrotic enteritis is not fully characterized yet, but previous reports indicate that immunoprotective potential is present in the secreted component of C. perfringens. This study aimed to compare the vaccine potential of the supernatants of eight chicken strains of C. perfringens differing in origin, level of alpha toxin production and presence of netB gene. The supernatant of only one strain provided full protection, while one other strain provided partial protection against a severe infection challenge. Our results indicate that the protective characteristics of the supernatants are not solely based on the presence of NetB or alpha toxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lanckriet
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Research Group Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Identification of novel pathogenicity loci in Clostridium perfringens strains that cause avian necrotic enteritis. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10795. [PMID: 20532244 PMCID: PMC2879425 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Accepted: 04/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Type A Clostridium perfringens causes poultry necrotic enteritis (NE), an enteric disease of considerable economic importance, yet can also exist as a member of the normal intestinal microbiota. A recently discovered pore-forming toxin, NetB, is associated with pathogenesis in most, but not all, NE isolates. This finding suggested that NE-causing strains may possess other virulence gene(s) not present in commensal type A isolates. We used high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies to generate draft genome sequences of seven unrelated C. perfringens poultry NE isolates and one isolate from a healthy bird, and identified additional novel NE-associated genes by comparison with nine publicly available reference genomes. Thirty-one open reading frames (ORFs) were unique to all NE strains and formed the basis for three highly conserved NE-associated loci that we designated NELoc-1 (42 kb), NELoc-2 (11.2 kb) and NELoc-3 (5.6 kb). The largest locus, NELoc-1, consisted of netB and 36 additional genes, including those predicted to encode two leukocidins, an internalin-like protein and a ricin-domain protein. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Southern blotting revealed that the NE strains each carried 2 to 5 large plasmids, and that NELoc-1 and -3 were localized on distinct plasmids of sizes approximately 85 and approximately 70 kb, respectively. Sequencing of the regions flanking these loci revealed similarity to previously characterized conjugative plasmids of C. perfringens. These results provide significant insight into the pathogenetic basis of poultry NE and are the first to demonstrate that netB resides in a large, plasmid-encoded locus. Our findings strongly suggest that poultry NE is caused by several novel virulence factors, whose genes are clustered on discrete pathogenicity loci, some of which are plasmid-borne.
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A live oral recombinant Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium vaccine expressing Clostridium perfringens antigens confers protection against necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2009; 17:205-14. [PMID: 20007363 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00406-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens is caused by Clostridium perfringens, and there is currently no effective vaccine for NE. We previously showed that in broiler chickens protection against NE can be achieved through intramuscular immunization with alpha toxin (AT) and hypothetical protein (HP), and we subsequently identified B-cell epitopes in HP. In the present study, we identified B-cell epitopes in AT recognized by chickens immune to NE. The gene fragments encoding immunodominant epitopes of AT as well as those of HP were codon optimized for Salmonella and cloned into pYA3493, and the resultant plasmid constructs were introduced into an attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium chi9352 vaccine vehicle. The expression of these Clostridium perfringens proteins, alpha toxoid (ATd) and truncated HP (HPt), was confirmed by immunoblotting. The protection of broiler chickens against experimentally induced NE was assessed at both the moderate and the severe levels of challenge. Birds immunized orally with Salmonella expressing ATd were significantly protected against moderate NE, and there was a nonsignificant trend for protection against severe challenge, whereas HPt-immunized birds were significantly protected against both severities of challenge. Immunized birds developed serum IgY and mucosal IgA and IgY antibody responses against Clostridium and Salmonella antigens. In conclusion, this study identified, for the first time, the B-cell epitopes in AT from an NE isolate recognized by chickens and showed the partial protective ability of codon-optimized ATd and HPt against NE in broiler chickens when they were delivered orally by using a Salmonella vaccine vehicle.
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Alam SI, Bansod S, Kumar RB, Sengupta N, Singh L. Differential proteomic analysis of Clostridium perfringens ATCC13124; identification of dominant, surface and structure associated proteins. BMC Microbiol 2009; 9:162. [PMID: 19664283 PMCID: PMC2731776 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-9-162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2009] [Accepted: 08/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium perfringens is a medically important clostridial pathogen causing diseases in man and animals. To invade, multiply and colonize tissues of the host, a pathogen must be able to evade host immune system, and obtain nutrients essential for growth. The factors involved in these complex processes are largely unknown and of crucial importance to understanding microbial pathogenesis. Many of the virulence determinants and putative vaccine candidates for bacterial pathogens are known to be surface localized. Results Using 2-DE mass spectrometry strategy, we identified major surface (22) and cell envelope (10) proteins from Clostridium perfringens ATCC13124 and those differentially expressed (11) in cells grown on cooked meat medium (CMM) in comparison with cells grown in reference state (tryptose-yeast extract-glucose medium). Riboflavin biosynthesis protein, ornithine carbamoyltransferase, cystathionine beta-lyase, and threonine dehydratase were the predominant proteins that exhibited 2.19 to 8.5 fold increase in the expression level in cells growing on CMM. Conclusion Ornithine carbamoyltransferase and cystathionine beta-lyase were over-expressed in cells grown on cooked meat medium and also identified in the surface protein fraction and the former was immunogenic; making them potential vaccine candidates. Based upon bioinformatic analysis; choloylglycine hydrolase family protein, cell wall-associated serine proteinase, and rhomboid family protein were predicted as surface protein markers for specific detection of C. perfringens from the environment and food. Most of the proteins over-expressed in CMM were shown to have putative function in metabolism, of which seven were involved in amino acid transport and metabolism or lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Imteyaz Alam
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior-474002, India.
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Necrotic enteritis in chickens: A paradigm of enteric infection by Clostridium perfringens type A. Anaerobe 2009; 15:55-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2009.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2008] [Revised: 11/24/2008] [Accepted: 01/16/2009] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Diagnosis of schistosomiasis using recombinant fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from a Formosan strain of Schistosoma japonicum. J Helminthol 2008; 83:211-8. [PMID: 19079948 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x08147411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma japonicum obtained from Taiwan is a zoophilic strain that only infects domestic and small animals. Recombinant fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBPA) derived from this strain was used as an antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of human schistosomiasis. The full-length DNA sequence of FBPA was found to be 1092 bp, encoding a protein of 363 amino acid residues, with a molecular mass of 39.6 kDa. A total of 120 participants were recruited from China and Taiwan to evaluate the diagnostic value of this recombinant protein. In these participants, 34 were found to be infected with S. japonicum, 16 with Ascaris lumbricoides, 15 with hookworm, 13 with Paragonimus westermani and 13 with Clonorchis sinensis, whereas 29 had no ova on faecal examination. Western blot analysis showed that the recombinant FBPA reacts strongly with schistosome ova-positive sera. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA with FBPA were found to be 85.3% and 93.0%, respectively. These results indicate that FBPA derived from the Formosan strain of S. japonicum can be used for the diagnosis of human schistosomiasis.
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Van Immerseel F, Rood JI, Moore RJ, Titball RW. Rethinking our understanding of the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in chickens. Trends Microbiol 2008; 17:32-6. [PMID: 18977143 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2008.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2008] [Revised: 09/05/2008] [Accepted: 09/17/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
For decades, low doses of antibiotics have been used widely in animal production to promote growth. However, there is a trend to reduce this use of antibiotics in feedstuffs, and legislation is now in place in Europe to prohibit their use in this way. As a consequence, economically important diseases, such as necrotic enteritis (NE) of chickens, that are caused by Clostridium perfringens have become more prevalent. Recent research is creating a paradigm shift in our understanding of the pathogenesis of NE and is now providing information that will be necessary to monitor and control the incidence of NE in poultry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Van Immerseel
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Research Group Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Multilocus sequence typing analysis of Clostridium perfringens isolates from necrotic enteritis outbreaks in broiler chicken populations. J Clin Microbiol 2008; 46:3957-64. [PMID: 18945840 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01548-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an important pathogen of animals and humans and is the causative agent of necrotic enteritis (NE) in poultry. This study focuses on the typing of intestinal C. perfringens isolates (n = 61) from outbreaks of NE collected from several areas of Southern Ontario, using a recently developed multilocus sequence typing (MLST) technique. For comparison, C. perfringens isolates from healthy birds were also obtained and typed. An additional locus, the pfoS locus, was included in our analysis, in an attempt to increase the discriminatory ability of the method previously published. Birds were collected from two major poultry processors in Canada, and isolates from processor 2 formed a distinct MLST cluster. Isolates from healthy birds also collected from the outbreak flocks clustered together with isolates from the birds with NE. Although isolates from eight outbreaks clustered together, MLST types were also occasionally different between outbreaks. Strong linkage disequilibrium was observed between loci, suggesting a clonal C. perfringens population structure. Detection assays for toxin genes cpb2 (beta-2 toxin), tpeL, and the newly described netB (NetB toxin) were also performed. netB was almost always found in outbreak isolates, whereas cpb2 was found exclusively in healthy bird isolates. The toxin gene tpeL, which has not been previously identified in C. perfringens type A strains, was also found, but only in the presence of netB. Resistance to bacitracin was found in 34% of isolates from antimicrobial agent-free birds and in 100% of isolates from conventionally raised birds.
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Kulkarni R, Parreira V, Sharif S, Prescott J. Oral immunization of broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis with an attenuated Salmonella vaccine vector expressing Clostridium perfringens antigens. Vaccine 2008; 26:4194-203. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.05.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2008] [Revised: 05/23/2008] [Accepted: 05/23/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Chalmers G, Bruce HL, Toole DL, Barnum DA, Boerlin P. Necrotic Enteritis Potential in a Model System Using Clostridium perfringens Isolated from Field Outbreaks. Avian Dis 2007; 51:834-9. [DOI: 10.1637/7959-022807-regr.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Kulkarni RR, Parreira VR, Sharif S, Prescott JF. Immunization of broiler chickens against Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2007; 14:1070-7. [PMID: 17634510 PMCID: PMC2043299 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00162-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens is caused by Clostridium perfringens. Currently, no vaccine against NE is available and immunity to NE is not well characterized. Our previous studies showed that immunity to NE followed oral infection by virulent rather than avirulent C. perfringens strains and identified immunogenic secreted proteins apparently uniquely produced by virulent C. perfringens isolates. These proteins were alpha-toxin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), fructose 1,6-biphosphate aldolase, and a hypothetical protein (HP). The current study investigated the role of each of these proteins in conferring protection to broiler chickens against oral infection challenges of different severities with virulent C. perfringens. The genes encoding these proteins were cloned and purified as histidine-tagged recombinant proteins from Escherichia coli and were used to immunize broiler chickens intramuscularly. Serum and intestinal antibody responses were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All proteins significantly protected broiler chickens against a relatively mild challenge. In addition, immunization with alpha-toxin, HP, and PFOR also offered significant protection against a more severe challenge. When the birds were primed with alpha-toxoid and boosted with active toxin, birds immunized with alpha-toxin were provided with the greatest protection against a severe challenge. The serum and intestinal washings from protected birds had high antigen-specific antibody titers. Thus, we conclude that there are certain secreted proteins, in addition to alpha-toxin, that are involved in immunity to NE in broiler chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- R R Kulkarni
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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