Immunogenicity of a Trivalent Recombinant Vaccine Against Clostridium perfringens Alpha, Beta, and Epsilon Toxins in Farm Ruminants

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 23:6:22816. doi: 10.1038/srep22816.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / immunology
  • Cattle Diseases / prevention & control
  • Clostridium Infections / immunology*
  • Clostridium Infections / prevention & control
  • Clostridium Infections / veterinary*
  • Clostridium perfringens / genetics*
  • Clostridium perfringens / immunology
  • Clostridium perfringens / metabolism
  • Female
  • Goat Diseases / immunology
  • Goat Diseases / prevention & control
  • Goats
  • Rabbits
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology*
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / immunology
  • Sheep Diseases / prevention & control
  • Type C Phospholipases / genetics
  • Type C Phospholipases / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Type C Phospholipases
  • alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens