Surface display of OmpC of Salmonella serovar Pullorum on Bacillus subtilis spores

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 25;13(1):e0191627. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191627. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Salmonellosis is a major public health problem throughout the world. Thus, there is a huge need for diversified control strategies for Salmonella infections. In this work, we have assessed the potential use of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) spores for the expression of a major protective antigen of Salmonella serovar Pullorum, OmpC. The expression of OmpC on the surface of spores was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Mice immunized with recombinant spores expressing the OmpC antigen presented significant levels of OmpC-specific serum IgG and mucosal SIgA antibodies than in mice immunized with non-recombinant spores (p<0.01). In addition, oral immunization with recombinant spores was able to induce a significant level of protection in mice against lethal challenge with Salmonella serovar Typhimurium. These results suggest that B. subtilis spores have promising potential in the development of mucosal vaccines against Salmonella infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Bacillus subtilis / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • Immunization
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Porins / genetics
  • Porins / immunology*
  • Porins / metabolism
  • Salmonella / immunology
  • Salmonella / metabolism
  • Salmonella typhimurium / immunology
  • Spores, Bacterial / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • OmpC protein
  • Porins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by The National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFD0500800, http://www.most.gov.cn/); Chongqing Academy of Animal Science Fund for Agricultural Development (16407, 16436 and 17417, http://ww.cstc.gov.cn/). Jinlong Yang received the funding. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.