pr-39 and Escherichia-coli-Infections

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) is an immunoenhancer, which is composed of unmethylated cytosine and guanine. Host Defense Peptides (HDPs) are small molecule polypeptides with various immunological activities that have been shown to induce a stronger innate immune response in piglets with synthetic CpG-ODN. Therefore, combination of CpG-ODN and HDPs was expected to be a novel immunoadjuvant with high efficiency, low toxicity and great potential. However, cost of synthetic HDPs or CpG-ODN is too high to be advantageous for animal farming. In this study, in order to improve the immune function of vaccine and reduce cost, a series of recombinant plasmids (containing HDPs gene (PR-39/pBD-1) and different numbers of CpG motifs) were constructed. In vitro, porcine lymphocytes were stimulated by recombinant plasmids to verify the immunostimulatory function of recombinant plasmids. In vivo, recombinant plasmids were used to immunize piglets with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) vaccine to analyze effects of recombinant plasmids on the mucosal immune responses. In addition, dosage screening and capability of maternal antibody responses were also investigated. Our results showed that recombinant plasmids had strong adjuvant effects especially the plasmid pVAX49-PR-39 and pVAX49-pBD-1. Moreover, there was no diarrhea in piglets using pVAX49-PR-39 or pVAX49-pBD-1 as adjuvants. These findings suggested that recombinant plasmids (containing PR-39/pBD-1 and CpG) as adjuvants of vaccines could enhance immune stimulation better than HDPs or CpG alone. It has a good protective effect on maintaining health of newborn piglets. Among them, both plasmids pVAX49-PR-39 and pVAX49-pBD-1 could be used as effective vaccine adjuvants for piglets.

Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Agriculture; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Bacterial Vaccines; CpG Islands; DNA, Recombinant; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Immunity, Humoral; Immunity, Innate; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Immunization; Intestines; Plasmids; Pregnancy; Swine

The zoonotic enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 can disrupt intestinal epithelial barrier function and in turn leading to serious intestinal and systemic disease. PR39 could effectively inhibit the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, but there is little knowledge of its effects on intestinal barrier function and the microbiota in E. coli-challenged mice. In this study, an intestinal disease caused by EHEC O157:H7 was established, to analyze the effect of PR39 on EHEC O157:H7 induced intestinal epithelial barrier injury and disorder. Interestingly, PR39 attenuated EHEC O157:H7-induced systemic symptoms and significantly decreased mortality and the degree of E. coli shedding in faeces. Furthermore, the infiltration index of macrophages and neutrophils in intestine of the PR39 treatment group were obviously attenuated, along with the level of apoptosis. PR39 treatment group had distinctly improved tight junction associated proteins' expression after EHEC O157:H7 caused injury. Additionally, the sequencing analysis of cecum microbiota showed that PR39 altered the abnormal increase in Bacteroides caused by EHEC O157:H7 and promoted the growth of probiotics such as Lactobacillus. In conclusion, cathelicidin-derived PR39 could effectively improve EHEC O157:H7-induced epithelial barrier injury, and dysfunction of immune and microbiota homeostasis in the intestinal tract, indicating that PR39 could be an excellent potential drug for zoonotic EHEC O157:H7-related intestinal disease.

Topics: Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Bacteroides; Cathelicidins; Cecum; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Escherichia coli Infections; Escherichia coli O157; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Feces; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Liver; Macrophages; Mice; Microbiota; Neutrophil Infiltration; Neutrophils; Permeability