title: A novel chimeric protein composed of recombinant Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens as a vaccine candidate evaluated in mice.
abstract: Enzootic Pneumonia (EP) is caused by the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae pathogenic bacteria, and it represents a significant respiratory disease that is responsible for major economic losses within the pig industry throughout the world. The bacterins that are currently commercially available have been proven to offer only partial protection against M. hyopneumoniae, and the development of more efficient vaccines is required. Several recombinant antigens have been evaluated via different immunization strategies and have been found to be highly immunogenic. This work describes the construction and immunological characterization of a multi-antigen chimera composed of four M. hyopneumoniae antigens: P97R1, P46, P95, and P42. Immunogenic regions of each antigen were selected and combined to encode a single polypeptide. The gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the chimeric protein was recognized by specific antibodies against each subunit, as well as by convalescent pig sera. The immunogenic properties of the chimera were then evaluated in a mice model through two recombinant vaccines that were formulated as follows: (1) purified chimeric protein plus adjuvant or (2) recombinant Escherichia coli bacterin. The immune response induced in BALB/c mice immunized with each formulation was characterized in terms of total IgG levels, IgG1, and IgG2a isotypes against each antigen present in the chimera. The results of the study indicated that novel chimeric protein is a potential candidate for the future development of a more effective vaccine against EP.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, CP 354, CEP: 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natasha Rodrigues
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, CP 354, CEP: 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, CP 354, CEP: 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Charles Klazer
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, CP 354, CEP: 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, CP 354, CEP: 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Violetta Dias
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Pacce
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, CP 354, CEP: 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thais Farias
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Collares
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, CP 354, CEP: 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Garcia
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Monte
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, CP 354, CEP: 96010-900, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: odirad@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Odir Antônio
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Dellagostin
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008958:Models, Molecular; D045705:Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D045729:Pneumonia of Swine, Mycoplasmal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013552:Swine; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic
keywords: Chimeric protein; Enzootic pneumonia; Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae; Recombinant antigens