Efficacy of DNA Vaccines in Protecting Rainbow Trout against VHS and IHN under Intensive Farming Conditions

Protective efficacy and immune responses of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) immunized with an inactivated vaccine against the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus genotype IVa

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) poses a significant threat to the aquaculture industry, prompting the need for effective preventive measures. Here, we developed an inactivated VHSV and revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying the host's protective response against VHSV. The vaccine was created by treating VHSV with 0.05 % formalin at 16 °C for 48 h, which was determined to be the most effective inactivation method. Compared with nonvaccinated fish, vaccinated fish exhibited a remarkable increase in survival rate (99 %) and elevated levels of serum neutralizing antibodies, indicating strong immunization. To investigate the gene changes induced by vaccination, RNA sequencing was performed on spleen samples from control and vaccinated fish 14 days after vaccination. The analysis revealed 893 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with notable up-regulation of immune-related genes such as annexin A1a, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor homolog, V-set domain-containing T-cell activation inhibitor 1-like, and heat shock protein 90 alpha class A member 1 tandem duplicate 2, indicating a vigorous innate immune response. Furthermore, KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted significant enrichment of DEGs in processes related to antigen processing and presentation, necroptosis, and viral carcinogenesis. GO enrichment analysis further revealed enrichment of DEGs related to the regulation of type I interferon (IFN) production, type I IFN production, and negative regulation of viral processes. Moreover, protein-protein interaction network analysis identified central hub genes, including IRF3 and HSP90AA1.2, suggesting their crucial roles in coordinating the immune response elicited by the vaccine. These findings not only confirm the effectiveness of our vaccine formulation but also offer valuable insights into the underlying immunological mechanisms, which can be valuable for future vaccine development and disease management in the aquaculture industry.

Transcriptome Profiling of Oncorhynchus mykiss Infected with Low or Highly Pathogenic Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV)

The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is the most important produced species in freshwater within the European Union, usually reared in intensive farming systems. This species is highly susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), a severe systemic disease widespread globally throughout the world. Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is the etiological agent and, recently, three classes of VHSV virulence (high, moderate, and low) have been proposed based on the mortality rates, which are strictly dependent on the viral strain. The molecular mechanisms that regulate VHSV virulence and the stimulated gene responses in the host during infection are not completely unveiled. While some preliminary transcriptomic studies have been reported in other fish species, to date there are no publications on rainbow trout. Herein, we report the first time-course RNA sequencing analysis on rainbow trout juveniles experimentally infected with high and low VHSV pathogenic Italian strains. Transcriptome analysis was performed on head kidney samples collected at different time points (1, 2, and 5 days post infection). A large set of notable genes were found to be differentially expressed (DEGs) in all the challenged groups (e.s. trim63a, acod1, cox-2, skia, hipk1, cx35.4, ins, mtnr1a, tlr3, tlr7, mda5, lgp2). Moreover, the number of DEGs progressively increased especially during time with a greater amount found in the group infected with the high VHSV virulent strain. The gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis highlighted that functions related to inflammation were modulated in rainbow trout during the first days of VHSV infection, regardless of the pathogenicity of the strain. While some functions showed slight differences in enrichments between the two infected groups, others appeared more exclusively modulated in the group challenged with the highly pathogenic strain.

Recombinant surface display vaccine enhances the immersion immune effect against grass carp reovirus in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is subject to a hemorrhagic disease caused by grass carp reovirus (GCRV), which can lead to mass mortality in grass carp culture, causing significant economic loss. Vaccination is the most promising strategy for the prevention of infectious diseases. Immersion vaccination is considered the most effective disease prevention method for juvenile fish because it can be implemented on many fish at once and administered without causing stress. However, immune responses by immersion vaccination are markedly less robust due to the skin barrier and insufficient antigen uptake. The display of heterologous proteins on the cell surface has been explored as a delivery system for viral antigens in veterinary and human vaccine studies. To improve the efficacy of the immersion vaccine, the major capsid protein (VP7) of GCRV was co-displayed with Aeromonas hydrophila outer membrane protein a (OmpA) and major adhesion protein (Mah) on the outer membrane surface of nonpathogenic Escherichia coli BL21 using the anchoring motif of ice-nucleation protein (Inp). The immune responses and protection efficiency against GCRV infection via both the injection and immersion routes were evaluated. The results indicated that the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes (ACP, AKP, SOD and T-AOC), as well as the expression of immune-related genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, MHCI and IgM) and specific VP7 antibody levels, were strongly increased in the grass carp from 7 to 21 days post-injection inoculation in a dose dependent manner. The cumulative mortality rates of injection-vaccinated groups were much lower than those of the control group after the GCRV challenge, and the relative percent survival (RPS) was greater than 80 %. Vitally, the surface co-display of vp7-Mah protein conferred marked protection to grass carp against GCRV infection after immersion administration (RPS >50 %); this was consistent with the production of high level of specific serum antibodies, non-specific immune responses, and the expression of immune-related genes. Moreover, the invasion analysis further showed that surface co-display of the vp7-Mah protein indeed significantly improved the invasion of E. coli BL21 (DE3) in vitro. Altogether, this study demonstrated that surface display GCRV core antigen vaccine system accompanied by invasion component from aquatic pathogenic microorganism is an effective prophylactic against GCRV viral diseases via the immersion administration approach.

High-Level Expression of Recombinant VHSV Glycoprotein Using Transformed C. vulgaris and Verification of Vaccine Efficacy

The demand for aquaculture is increasing, but production is declining due to high feed costs and disease outbreaks. Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is a viral disease that seriously affects seawater and freshwater fish in aquaculture, including the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), a major aquaculture fish in Korea. However, very few vaccines are currently available for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV). The nutrient-rich microalga Chlorella vulgaris has been used as a feed additive in aquaculture and as a host for the industrial production of recombinant VHSV glycoprotein as an oral vaccine. In this study, VHSV glycoprotein was cloned with a salt-inducible promoter, and high levels of expression up to 41.1 mg/g wet C. vulgaris, representing 27.4% of total extracted soluble protein, were achieved by growing the transformed C. vulgaris for 5 days in the presence of 250 mM NaCl. The production of a neutralizing antibody was detected in the serum of fish given feed containing 9% VHSV glycoprotein-expressing C. vulgaris. Furthermore, relative survival rates of 100% and 81.9% were achieved following challenges of these fish with VHSV at 10⁶ and 10⁷ pfu/fish, respectively, indicating that C. vulgaris could be used as a platform for the production of recombinant proteins for use as oral vaccines in the control of viral diseases in aquaculture.