Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Comparison of the efficacies of Rhodococcus equi recombinant vaccine in mice

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Gokcenur Sanioglu Golen 1
Osman Erganiş 2
Asli Balevi 2

1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aksaray University, Aksaray, Türkiye

2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Türkiye

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2024.2028438.4266
Abstract
Rhodococcus equi is an important bacterial pathogen and causes severe chronic granulomatous pneumonia in foals below 6 months of age. It has also become an opportunistic and emerging pathogen in immunocompromised humans. Vaccination is the most cost-effective strategy for controlling and preventing this infection. Although several potential virulence genes and candidate immunogens have been identified over the years, no effective vaccine is currently available to prevent R. equi disease in horses. Recently, bacterial vector vaccines have been shown to be promising for R. equi. In this study, the virulence-associated protein A (VapA) gene of R. equi was cloned into Protein Expression System small ubiquitin-related modifier (pET-SUMO) expression vectors and transferred into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Also, adjuvant significantly affects the efficacy of recombinant vaccines. Therefore, native VapA and recombinant VapA were formulated with Immunostimuling Microparticle System (IMS 3012) or PetGel A (recommended for horses) and subcutaneously administered to mice. The immunization effect of four different vaccines was determined by assaying antibody titers and survival rates. The antibody response was slightly higher in the PetGel A formulations than IMS 3012. Survival rates were lower in the PetGel A formulations than IMS 3012. Given these results, recombinant VapA adjuvanted with PetGel A represents a promising formulation for developing new-generation R. equi vaccines.

Keywords

IMS 3012
PetGel A
Recombinant VapA
Rhodococcus equi
Vaccine

Subjects

  1. Takai S, Takeda K, Nakano Y, et al. Emergence of rifampin-resistant Rhodococcus equi in an infected foal. J Clin Microbiol 1997; 35(7): 1904-1908.
  2. Giguère S, Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, et al. Diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of infections caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals. J Vet Intern Med 2011; 25(6): 1209-1220.
  3. Arnold-Lehna D, Venner M, Berghaus LJ, et al. Changing policy to treat foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in the later course of disease decreases antimicrobial usage without increasing mortality rate. Equine Vet J 2020; 52(4): 531-537.
  4. Ainsworth DM, Beck KA, Boatwright CE, et al. Lack of residual lung damage in horses in which Rhodococcus equi-induced pneumonia had been diagnosed. Am J Vet Res 1993; 54(12): 2115-2120.
  5. Cohen Rhodococcus equi foal pneumonia. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2014; 30(3): 609-622.
  6. Li N, Wu C, Cao P, et al. Multiple systemic infections caused by Rhodococcus equi: a case report. Access Microbiol 2024; 6(2): 000600.v4. doi: 10.1099/ acmi.0.000600.v4.
  7. Lin WV, Kruse RL, Yang K, et al. Diagnosis and management of pulmonary infection due to Rhodococcus equi. Clin Microbiol Infect 2019; 25(3): 310-315.
  8. Golub B, Falk G, Spink WW. Lung abscesses due to Corynebacterium equi. Report of first human infection. Ann Intern Med 1967; 66(6): 1174-1177.
  9. Vázquez-Boland JA, Meijer WG. The pathogenic actinobacterium Rhodococcus equi: what's in a name? Mol Microbiol 2019; 112(1): 1-15.
  10. Giguère S, Prescott JF. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Rhodococcus equi infections in foals. Vet Microbiol 1997; 56(3-4): 313-334.
  11. Tan C, Prescott JF, Patterson MC, et al. Molecular characterization of a lipid-modified virulence-associated protein of Rhodococcus equi and its potential in protective immunity. Can J Vet Res 1995; 59(1): 51-59.
  12. Phumoonna T, Barton MD, Heuzenroeder MW. Recognition of a B-cell epitope of the VapA protein of Rhodococcus equi in newborn and experimentally infected foals. J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health 2005; 52(6): 291-295.
  13. Hooper-McGrevy KE, Wilkie BN, Prescott JF. Virulence-associated protein-specific serum immunoglobulin G-isotype expression in young foals protected against Rhodococcus equi pneumonia by oral immunization with virulent R. equi. Vaccine 2005; 23(50): 5760-5767.
  14. Singh A, Yadav D, Rai KM, et al. Enhanced expression of rabies virus surface G-protein in Escherichia coli using SUMO fusion. Protein J 2012; 31(1): 68-74.
  15. Cauchard S, Bertrand F, Barrier-Battut I, et al. Assessment of the safety and immunogenicity of Rhodococcus equi-secreted proteins combined with either a liquid nanoparticle (IMS 3012) or a polymeric (PET GEL A) water-based adjuvant in adult horses and foals--identification of promising new candidate antigens. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2014; 157(3-4): 164-174.
  16. Erganis O, Sayin Z, Hadimli HH, et al. The effectiveness of anti- equi hyperimmune plasma against R. equi challenge in thoroughbred Arabian foals of mares vaccinated with R. equi vaccine. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014: 480732. doi:10.1155/2014/480732.
  17. Erganiş O, Hadimli HH, Sayin Z, et al. Efficacy of experimental inactivated and live Rhodococcus equi vaccines for thoroughbred Arabian mares in mice. Turk J Vet Anim Sci 2015; 39(3): 295-301.
  18. Erganiş O, Sakmanoğlu A, Sayin Z, et al. Comparison of seropotency of Rhodococcus equi candidate vaccines with montanide IMS 3012 and montanide PET GEL A adjuvants in thoroughbred Arabian mares. In Proceedings: 4th International VETIstanbul Group Congress. Almaty, Kazakhstan 2017: O-17.
  19. Vanniasinkam T, Barton MD, Heuzenroeder MW. Immune response to vaccines based upon the VapA protein of the horse pathogen, Rhodococcus equi, in a murine model. Int J Med Microbiol 2005; 294(7): 437-445.
  20. Giguère S, Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, et al. Rhodococcus equi: clinical manifestations, virulence, and immunity. J Vet Intern Med 2011; 25(6): 1221-1230.
  21. Giles C, Vanniasinkam T, Ndi S, et al. Rhodococcus equi (Prescottella equi) vaccines; the future of vaccine development. Equine Vet J 2015; 47(5): 510-518.
  22. Jain S, Bloom BR, Hondalus MK. Deletion of vapA encoding virulence associated protein A attenuates the intracellular actinomycete Rhodococcus equi. Mol Microbiol 2003; 50(1): 115-128.
  23. Cauchard J, Taouji S, Sevin C, et al. Immunogenicity of synthetic Rhodococcus equi virulence-associated protein peptides in neonate foals. Int J Med Microbiol 2006; 296(6): 389-396.
  24. Fernandez AS, Prescott JF, Nicholson VM. Protective effect against Rhodococcus equi infection in mice of IgG purified from horses vaccinated with virulence associated protein (VapA)-enriched antigens. Vet Microbiol 1997; 56(3-4): 187-192.
  25. Prescott JF, Patterson MC, Nicholson VM, et al. Assessment of the immunogenic potential of Rhodococcus equi virulence associated protein (VapA) in mice. Vet Microbiol 1997; 56(3-4): 213-225.
  26. Oliveira AF, Ferraz LC, Brocchi M, et al. Oral administration of a live attenuated Salmonella vaccine strain expressing the VapA protein induces protection against infection by Rhodococcus equi. Microbes Infect 2007; 9(3): 382-390.
  27. Kohler AK, Stone DM, Hines MT, et al. Rhodococcus equi secreted antigens are immunogenic and stimulate a type 1 recall response in the lungs of horses immune to equi infection. Infect Immun 2003; 71(11): 6329-6337.
  28. Cauchard J, Sevin C, Ballet JJ, et al. Foal IgG and opsonising anti-Rhodococcus equi antibodies after immunization of pregnant mares with a protective VapA candidate vaccine. Vet Microbiol 2004; 104(1-2): 73-81.
  29. Pashine A, Valiante NM, Ulmer JB. Targeting the innate immune response with improved vaccine adjuvants. Nat Med 2005; 11(4 Suppl): S63-S68.
Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 16, Issue 5
May 2025
Pages 253-259

  • Receive Date 31 May 2024
  • Revise Date 23 July 2024
  • Accept Date 14 August 2024

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us