Flagellin from Marinobacter algicola and Vibrio vulnificus activates the innate immune response of gilthead seabream

Immunostimulant properties of full-length and truncated Marinobacter algicola flagellins, and their effects against viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) in trout

Adjuvants that would help optimize fish vaccines against bacterial and viral pathogens are highly demanded by the aquaculture sector. Flagellin has been proposed as an immunostimulant and an adjuvant for more than a decade. However, the adjuvant ability of flagellins with hypervariable region deleted is still unclear in fish. In this study, we evaluated the immune-stimulating capacity of two recombinant flagellins, the wild-type flagellin F from Marinobacter algicola and a version with the hypervariable region deleted (FredV2), to induce the transcription of a wide range of immune genes using two rainbow trout cell lines: a monocyte/macrophage-cell line (RTS-11) and an epithelial cell line from intestine (RTgutGC). Additionally, we studied the capacity of both flagellins to limit the replication of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) on the RTgutGC cell line. Our results demonstrated that both recombinant flagellins can significantly increase the transcription of IL-1β1, IL-6, and IL-8 in both cell lines. However, other cytokines such as IFNγ1, and TNFα or antimicrobial peptides such as hepcidin were induced by both flagellins in RTgutGC but not in RTS-11 cells. Furthermore, both flagellins were capable of reducing the replication of VHSV in RTgutGC cells. Although the immunostimulatory and the antiviral capacities exerted by F were slightly more potent than those obtained with FredV2, the effects were retained after losing the hypervariable region. Our results provide new information on the immunostimulating and antiviral capacities of flagellins that point to their potential as suitable adjuvants for the future optimization of vaccines in aquaculture.

Full recombinant flagellin B from Vibrio anguillarum (rFLA) and its recombinant D1 domain (rND1) promote a pro-inflammatory state and improve vaccination against P. salmonis in Atlantic salmon (S. salar)

Flagellin is the major component of the flagellum, and a ligand for Toll-like receptor 5. As reported, recombinant flagellin (rFLA) from Vibrio anguillarum and its D1 domain (rND1) are able to promote in vitro an upregulation of pro-inflammatory genes in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) macrophages. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo stimulatory/adjuvant effect for rFLA and rND1 during P. salmonis vaccination in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). We demonstrated that rFLA and rND1 are molecules able to generate an acute upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, IL-12β), allowing the expression of genes associated with T-cell activation (IL-2, CD4, CD8β), and differentiation (IFNγ, IL-4/13, T-bet, Eomes, GATA3), in a differential manner, tissue/time dependent way. Altogether, our results suggest that rFLA and rND1 are valid candidates to be used as an immuno-stimulant or adjuvants with existing vaccines in farmed salmon.

Vibrio vulnificus RtxA Is a Major Factor Driving Inflammatory T Helper Type 17 Cell Responses in vitro and in vivo

T helper type 17 (Th17) cells are a subset of pro-inflammatory T helper cells that mediate host defense and pathological inflammation. We have previously reported that host dendritic cells (DCs) infected with Vibrio vulnificus induce Th17 responses through the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. V. vulnificus produces RTX toxin (RtxA), an important virulence factor that determines successful pathophysiology. In this study, we investigated the involvement of RtxA from V. vulnificus in Th17 cell induction through the activation and maturation of DCs. The increased expression of the DC surface marker CD40 caused by V. vulnificus wild-type infection was reduced by rtxA gene mutation in V. vulnificus. The mRNA and protein levels of Th17 polarization-related cytokines also decreased in V. vulnificus rtxA mutant-infected DCs. In addition, the co-culture of Th cells and DCs infected with rtxA mutant V. vulnificus resulted in reduction in DC-mediated Th17 responses. Th17 cell responses in the small intestinal lamina propria decreased in mice inoculated with V. vulnificus rtxA mutant as compared to those inoculated with the wild-type strain. These decreases in DC maturation, Th17-polarizing cytokine secretion, and Th17 responses attributed to rtxA mutation were restored following infection with the rtxA revertant strain. Furthermore, the mutation in the hlyU gene encoding the activator of rtxA1 gene reproduced the results observed with rtxA mutation. Taken together, V. vulnificus, by means of RtxA, induces inflammatory Th17 responses, which may be associated with adaptive responses of the host against V. vulnificus infection.

Molecular characterization and expression analyses of toll like receptor-5 induced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus antigens in Pacific red snapper

Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) is a member of TLRs family responsible for the bacterial flagellin recognition in vertebrates. Herein, the TLR5M gene structure of Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru) was characterized. The full-length cDNA of LpTLR5M comprises an open reading frame (ORF) of 2715 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 904 amino acids including 9 LRRs (residues 119-562) and one LRR-CT domain (residues 593-646) at the extracellular region, and a TIR domain (residues 710-904) in the cytoplasmic region. The amino acid sequence in L. peru TLR5 showed high identity (66-69%) with TLR5 from Paralichthys olivaceus and Scophthalmus maximus. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis demonstrated the constitutive expression of LpTLR5M mRNA in all the examined tissues, with higher levels in intestine, liver, and head-kidney. Furthermore, expression of LpTLR5M and five cytokine genes was also investigated 24 h and one week post-stimulation in fish intraperitoneally injected with ToxA, live V. parahaemolyticus (Vp) or V. parahaemolyticus Lysate antigens. TLR5M was significantly induced in fish infected with Vp. The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL8 and IL-12 were significantly up-regulated in head-kidney in fish stimulated with Vp, while in intestine upregulation was observed following ToxA or Lysate injection. In contrast, IL-17 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in the intestine from fish infected with live Vp at 24 h post-injection. The results indicate that Lysate and Vp antigens can induce an immune response via TLR5M and that cytokines have an important role in the defense mechanisms against V. parahaemolyticus.

A synthetic peptide derived from the D1 domain of flagellin induced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in fish macrophages

Flagellin is the main protein component of flagellum in Gram negative and positive bacteria, and it is also the ligand that activates the Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) in fish and mammals. In higher vertebrates, flagellin induces the activation of the membrane-bound TLR5 (TLR5M), which promotes the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and other immunological functions. We have previously reported that recombinant flagellin from Vibrio anguillarum and its ND1 domain are able to upregulate the expression of genes encoding major the proinflammatory mediators in gilthead seabream and rainbow trout macrophages. Considering the key role of D1 domain of flagellin for binding to TLR5M and its immunostimulatory activity, we designed and chemically synthesized a peptide derived of this region. The effects of the synthetic peptide were evaluated in vitro using head kidney macrophages from gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L., Perciformes, Sparidae) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W., Salmoniformes, Salmonidae). In both species the expression of genes encoding the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the chemokine IL-8, was induced upon stimulation of macrophages with the D1 domain synthetic peptide. IL-1β and IL-8 were the most upregulated genes and to a lesser extent TNF-α. Interestingly, however, the induction activity of the synthetic peptide was higher in gilthead seabream than in rainbow trout macrophages. The results were confirmed at the protein levels for IL-8. Collectively, these results suggest that synthetic peptide derived from flagelling could be a promising approach for the immunostimulation and vaccination of farmed fish.