title: Immunogenicity of a Trivalent Recombinant Vaccine Against Clostridium perfringens Alpha, Beta, and Epsilon Toxins in Farm Ruminants.
abstract: Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic bacterium that produces several toxins. Of these, the alpha, beta, and epsilon toxins are responsible for causing the most severe C. perfringens-related diseases in farm animals. The best way to control these diseases is through vaccination. However, commercially available vaccines are based on inactivated toxins and have many production drawbacks, which can be overcome through the use of recombinant antigens. In this study, we produced recombinant alpha, beta, and epsilon toxins in Escherichia coli to formulate a trivalent vaccine. Its effectiveness was evaluated through a potency test in rabbits, in which the vaccine generated 9.6, 24.4, and 25.0 IU/mL of neutralizing antibodies against the respective toxins. Following this, cattle, sheep, and goats received the same formulation, generating, respectively, 5.19 ± 0.48, 4.34 ± 0.43, and 4.70 ± 0.58 IU/mL against alpha toxin, 13.71 ± 1.17 IU/mL (for all three species) against beta toxin, and 12.74 ± 1.70, 7.66 ± 1.69, and 8.91 ± 2.14 IU/mL against epsilon toxin. These levels were above the minimum recommended by international protocols. As such, our vaccine was effective in generating protective antibodies and, thus, may represent an interesting alternative for the prevention of C. perfringens-related intoxications in farm animals.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 96160-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Marçal Schmidt Garcia
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Pará, Castanhal, Pará, CEP 68740-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Masiero
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 96160-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Pouey
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 96160-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 96010-610, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ângela Nunes
authors.initials: ÂN
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP 30123-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Aramuni
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP 30123-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Prhiscylla Sadanã
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP 30123-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Carlos Faria
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lobato
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 96160-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabricio Rochedo
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Conceição
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006041:Goats; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; C040649:alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens