A vaccine based on biodegradable microspheres induces protective immunity against scuticociliatosis without producing side effects in turbot

The histiophagous scuticociliate parasite Philasterides dicentrarchi is an emergent pathogen in aquaculture and causes significant economic losses on turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) farms. In this study, the surface antigens (Ag) of the parasite were encapsulated and covalently linked to a polymeric m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fish & shellfish immunology 2012-07, Vol.33 (1), p.21-27
Main Authors: León-Rodríguez, L., Luzardo-Álvarez, A., Blanco-Méndez, J., Lamas, J., Leiro, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjuvants
Animals
Antibodies, Protozoan - blood
Antibody Formation - immunology
Ciliophora Infections - immunology
Ciliophora Infections - mortality
Ciliophora Infections - veterinary
Female
Fish Diseases - immunology
Flatfishes - immunology
Flatfishes - parasitology
Marine
Mass Spectrometry
Membrane antigens
Mice
Microparticles
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Microspheres
Oligohymenophorea - immunology
Philasterides dicentrarchi
Scophthalmus maximus
Scuticociliates
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
Survival Analysis
Turbot
Vaccines - immunology
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Summary:The histiophagous scuticociliate parasite Philasterides dicentrarchi is an emergent pathogen in aquaculture and causes significant economic losses on turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) farms. In this study, the surface antigens (Ag) of the parasite were encapsulated and covalently linked to a polymeric microparticle formulation composed of two biodegradable polymers (chitosan and Gantrez). The antigenicity of the formulation and the protection provided were compared in mice and turbot. This formulation induced a higher antibody (Ab) response in mice at doses of 5mg of microspheres (MS) conjugated with approximately 230μg of Ag (MS-Agc). However, Ab levels were significantly lower than in mice vaccinated with the same concentration of Ag in complete Freund’s adjuvant (FCA). In turbot, the MS-Agc formulation induced a higher level of Abs than that induced by the same vaccine emulsified in FCA. The challenge experiments performed with P. dicentrarchi and vaccinated turbot also showed a clear correlation between Ab levels and survival levels. Growth was significantly affected in fish vaccinated with FCA, but not in fish vaccinated with MS. The high adjuvant capacity of MS, together with its biodegradability and low toxicity to fish, makes this new vaccine an economical, effective and safe alternative to oil-based adjuvants for the immunoprophylaxis of scuticociliatosis in turbot. ► A microparticle vaccine containing antigens of P. dicentrarchi was constructed. ► Formulated microparticles enhanced the specific humoral immune responses in turbot. ► Polymeric microparticles show a high adjuvant capacity in turbot. ► Fish immunized with vaccine containing microparticles showed increased survival time. ► Vaccination with microparticles cannot affect the growth of fishes.
ISSN:1050-4648
1095-9947
DOI:10.1016/j.fsi.2012.03.028