An attenuated Salmonella vaccine secreting Lawsonia intracellularis immunogenic antigens confers dual protection against porcine proliferative enteropathy and salmonellosis in a murine model

Abstract

Porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) caused by Lawsonia intracellularis (LI) is a global cause for substantial economic losses in the swine industry. Here, we constructed live attenuated Salmonella typhimurium (ST) mutant strains expressing and secreting 4 selected immunogenic LI antigens, namely, optA, optB, Lawsonia flgellin (LflC), and Lawsonia hemolysin (Lhly); the resultant recombinant strains were designated Sal-optA, Sal-optB, Sal-LflC, or Sal-Lhly, respectively. Using the BALB/c mouse model, we demonstrate that mice vaccinated once orally, either with a mixture of all 4 recombinant strains or with an individual recombinant strain, show signifiant (p < 0.05) production of LI-specifi systemic immunoglobulin (Ig) G and mucosal IgA responses compared to the Salmonella alone group. Upon restimulation of vaccinated splenocytes with the LI-specifi antigens, signifiant (p < 0.05) and comparable production of interferon-? responses are found in all vaccinated groups, except the Sal-Lhly group, which shows non-signifiant levels. Challenge studies were performed in C57BL/6 vaccinated mice. On challenge with the LI (106.9 50% tissue culture infectious dose) 14 days post-vaccination, 20% (1/5) of mice in all vaccinated groups, except Sal-Lhly group, show the presence of the LI-specifi genomic DNA (gDNA) in stool samples. In contrast, 40% (2/5) and 60% (3/5) of mice vaccinated with the Sal-Lhly strain and the attenuated Salmonella alone, respectively, were found positive for the LI-specifi gDNA. Furthermore, 0% mortality was observed in mice vaccinated against the ST challenge compared to the 30% mortality observed in the unvaccinated control group. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the Salmonella-based LI-vaccines induce LI-specifi humoral and cell-mediated immunities, and encompass the potential to offr dual protection against PPE and salmonellosis.