Oral and anal vaccination confers full protection against enteric redmouth disease (ERM) in rainbow trout

An Introduction to Relevant Immunology Principles with Respect to Oral Vaccines in Aquaculture

Vaccines continue to play an enormous role in the progression of aquaculture industries worldwide. Though preventable diseases cause massive economic losses, injection-based vaccine delivery is cost-prohibitive or otherwise impractical for many producers. Most oral vaccines, which are much cheaper to administer, do not provide adequate protection relative to traditional injection or even immersion formulas. Research has focused on determining why there appears to be a lack of protection afforded by oral vaccines. Here, we review the basic immunological principles associated with oral vaccination before discussing the recent progress and current status of oral vaccine research. This knowledge is critical for the development and advancement of efficacious oral vaccines for the aquaculture industry.

Evaluation of feed utilization, immune response and disease resistance in striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage 1878) fed with a novel Aeromonas hydrophila biofilm vaccine

Striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus was immunized with Biofilm (BF) and Free cell (FC) of Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine at 1010 CFU g-1 for 20 days and monitored for growth parameters, immune responses and disease resistance up to 60 day post vaccination (dpv). Pangasius catfish in the BF vaccinated group had considerably higher growth and feed utilization than the FC vaccinated and unvaccinated groups (p < 0.05). Biofilm vaccinated group showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the mean weight gain (46.91 ± 0.59) than the FC (35.94 ± 0.21) and unvaccinated group (34.92 ± 0.35). The vaccinated fishes were challenged with A. hydrophila at 107 CFU/ml. Significant higher relative percentage survival (RPS) was recorded with BF (84.21 ± 1.49%) compared to that with FC (33.33 ± 1.21%). Polyclonal antibody-based ELISA was used to quantify the antibody titre. BF vaccinated group showed significantly higher antibody titer compared to other treatments (p < 0.05). Moreover, higher haematological parameters recorded in the present study were differentially stimulated by the oral administration of A. hydrophila biofilm vaccine. The mean total protein, albumin, and globulin levels of the BF vaccine groups were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the mean total protein, albumin, and globulin contents of the unvaccinated group. Furthermore, biochemical stress parameters (SGPT, SGOT) in the vaccinated groups showed an incremental trend in the early days of the experimental period. However, the values were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the biofilm group on 20 dpv onwards indicating improved health condition. Vaccinated BF fishes showed gut associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) within the laminar propria of mid gut. But in FC group fishes showed less aggregation of lymphoid cells. The unvaccinated control fish had no lymphoid cell aggregation in their intestines. The findings of the current research suggested that biofilm vaccine has the capability to be one of the potential oral vaccines in striped catfish against A. hydrophila infection.

Gut mucosal immune responses and protective efficacy of oral yeast Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) vaccine in Carassius auratus gibelio

Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) causes herpesviral hematopoietic necrosis (HVHN) disease outbreaks in farmed Cyprinid fish, which leads to serious economic losses worldwide. Although oral vaccination is considered the most suitable strategy for preventing infectious diseases in farmed fish, so far there is no commercial oral vaccine available for controlling HVNN in gibel carp (C. auratus gibelio). In the present study, we developed for the first time an oral vaccine against CyHV-2 by using yeast cell surface display technology and then investigated the effect of this vaccine in gibel carp. Furthermore, the protective efficacy was evaluated by comparing the immune response of a single vaccination with that of a booster vaccination (booster-vaccinated once 2 weeks after the initial vaccination). Critically, the activities of immune-related enzymes and genes expression in vaccine group, especially in the booster vaccine group, were higher than those in the control group. Moreover, strong innate and adaptive immune responses could be elicited in both mucosal and systemic tissues after receipt of the oral yeast vaccine. To further understand the protective efficacy of this vaccine in gibel carp, we successfully developed the challenge model with CyHV-2. Our results showed the relative percent survival was 66.7% in the booster vaccine group, indicating this oral yeast vaccine is a promising vaccine for controlling CyHV-2 disease in gibel carp aquaculture.

A review on the recent advances and application of vaccines against fish pathogens in aquaculture

Globally, aquaculture has faced serious economic problems due to bacterial, viral, and various other infectious diseases of different origins. Even though such diseases are being detected and simultaneously treated with several therapeutic and prophylactic methods, the broad-spectrum activity of vaccines plays a vital role as a preventive measure in aquaculture. However, treatments like use of antibiotics and probiotics seem to be less effective when new mutant strains develop and disease causing pathogens become resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Therefore, vaccines developed by using recent advanced molecular techniques can be considered as an effective way of treating disease causing pathogens in aquatic organisms. The present review emphasizes on the current advances in technology and future outlook with reference to different types of vaccines used in the aquaculture industries. Beginning with traditional killed/inactivated and live attenuated vaccines, this work culminates in the review of modern new generation ones including recombinant, synthetic peptides, mucosal and DNA, subunit, nanoparticle-based and plant-based edible vaccines, reverse vaccinology, and monovalent and polyvalent vaccines.

Long-term efficacy of nasal vaccination against enteric red mouth (ERM) disease and infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Previous research demonstrated that bacterial and viral vaccines delivered via the nasal route in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at 7 and 28 days post-vaccination are highly protective (>95% protection). Long-term protection following nasal vaccination in teleosts has not been evaluated. The goal of this study was to assess efficacy and immune responses at 6 months (mo) post-vaccination (mpv), and long-lasting immune responses at 12 mpv of two different vaccines: an inactivated enteric red mouth disease (ERM) Yersinia ruckeri bacterin and a live attenuated infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) vaccine. Juvenile rainbow trout were vaccinated for Y. ruckeri via intraperitoneal (I.P.) and intranasal (I.N.) routes, and for IHNV by intramuscular (I.M.) and I.N. routes, then challenged at 6 mpv. Immune responses were determined at 6 and 12 mpv. ERM vaccine I.P. delivery elicited significantly higher serum IgM-specific titers that remained elevated compared to mock-vaccinated fish at 6 mpv. By 12 mpv, antibody titers to Y. ruckeri were not significantly different across all treatments. Following Y. ruckeri challenge at 6 mpv, a significant difference in cumulative percent mortality (CPM) was found for I.P.-vaccinated fish but not I.N.-vaccinated fish. I.M. and I.N. vaccination with live attenuated IHNV did not result in significant specific serum IgM titers at 6 or 12 mpv. Yet, I.N.-vaccinated fish showed the lowest CPM 6 mpv indicating long-term protection that does not correlate with systemic IgM responses. Repertoire analyses confirmed unique expansions of VH-JH rearrangements in the spleen of rainbow trout 12 mpv that varied with the type of vaccine and route of vaccination. Combined, these data demonstrate that I.N. vaccination with a live attenuated viral vaccine confers long lasting protection, but I.N. ERM vaccination does not and booster before 6 mpv is recommended.

Protection of Teleost Fish against Infectious Diseases through Oral Administration of Vaccines: Update 2021

Immersion and intraperitoneal injection are the two most common methods used for the vaccination of fish. Because both methods require that fish are handled and thereby stressed, oral administration of vaccines as feed supplements is desirable. In addition, in terms of revaccination (boosting) of adult fish held in net pens, oral administration of vaccines is probably the only feasible method to obtain proper protection against diseases over long periods of time. Oral vaccination is considered a suitable method for mass immunization of large and stress-sensitive fish populations. Moreover, oral vaccines may preferably induce mucosal immunity, which is especially important to fish. Experimental oral vaccine formulations include both non-encapsulated and encapsulated antigens, viruses and bacteria. To develop an effective oral vaccine, the desired antigens must be protected against the harsh environments in the stomach and gut so they can remain intact when they reach the lower gut/intestine where they normally are absorbed and transported to immune cells. The most commonly used encapsulation method is the use of alginate microspheres that can effectively deliver vaccines to the intestine without degradation. Other encapsulation methods include chitosan encapsulation, poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid and liposome encapsulation. Only a few commercial oral vaccines are available on the market, including those against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), Spring viremia carp virus (SVCV), infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) and Piscirickettsia salmonis. This review highlights recent developments of oral vaccination in teleost fish.

Mucosal immunoglobulins of teleost fish: A decade of advances

Immunoglobulins (Igs) are complex glycoproteins that play critical functions in innate and adaptive immunity of all jawed vertebrates. Given the unique characteristics of mucosal barriers, secretory Igs (sIgs) have specialized to maintain homeostasis and keep pathogens at bay at mucosal tissues from fish to mammals. In teleost fish, the three main IgH isotypes, IgM, IgD and IgT/Z can be found in different proportions at the mucosal secretions of the skin, gills, gut, nasal, buccal, and pharyngeal mucosae. Similar to the role of mammalian IgA, IgT plays a predominant role in fish mucosal immunity. Recent studies in IgT have illuminated the primordial role of sIgs in both microbiota homeostasis and pathogen control at mucosal sites. Ten years ago, IgT was discovered to be an immunoglobulin class specialized in mucosal immunity. Aiming at this 10-year anniversary, the goal of this review is to summarize the current status of the field of fish Igs since that discovery, while identifying knowledge gaps and future avenues that will move the field forward in both basic and applied science areas.

Oral Immunization of Larvae and Juvenile of Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) against Vibrio anguillarum Does Not Influence Systemic Immunity

Vibrio anguillarum, a marine bacterial pathogen that causes vibriosis, is a recurrent pathogen of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus). Lumpfish is utilized as a cleaner fish in the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture in the North Atlantic region because of its ability to visualize and prey on the ectoparasite sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) on the skin of Atlantic salmon, and its performance in cold environments. Lumpfish immunity is critical for optimal performance and sea lice removal. Oral vaccine delivery at a young age is the desired method for fish immunization because is easy to use, reduces fish stress during immunization, and can be applied on a large scale while the fish are at a young age. However, the efficacy of orally delivered inactivated vaccines is controversial. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a V. anguillarum bacterin orally delivered to cultured lumpfish and contrasted it to an intraperitoneal (i.p.) boost delivery. We bio-encapsulated V. anguillarum bacterin in Artemia salina live-feed and orally immunized lumpfish larvae. Vaccine intake and immune response were evaluated by microscopy and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis, respectively. qPCR analyses showed that the oral immunization of lumpfish larvae resulted in a subtle stimulation of canonical immune transcripts such as il8b, il10, igha, ighmc, ighb, ccl19, ccl20, cd8a, cd74, ifng, and lgp2. Nine months after oral immunization, one group was orally boosted, and a second group was both orally and i.p. boosted. Two months after boost immunization, lumpfish were challenged with V. anguillarum (7.8 × 10⁵ CFU dose⁻¹). Orally boosted fish showed a relative percentage of survival (RPS) of 2%. In contrast, the oral and i.p. boosted group showed a RPS of 75.5% (p < 0.0001). V. anguillarum bacterin that had been orally delivered was not effective in lumpfish, which is in contrast to the i.p. delivered bacterin that protected the lumpfish against vibriosis. This suggests that orally administered V. anguillarum bacterin did not reach the deep lymphoid tissues, either in the larvae or juvenile fish, therefore oral immunization was not effective. Oral vaccines that are capable of crossing the epithelium and reach deep lymphoid tissues are required to confer an effective protection to lumpfish against V. anguillarum

Systemic and Mucosal B and T Cell Responses Upon Mucosal Vaccination of Teleost Fish

The development of mucosal vaccines against pathogens is currently a highly explored area of research in both humans and animals. This is due to the fact that mucosal vaccines have the potential to best elicit protective responses at these mucosal surfaces, which represent the frontline of host defense, thus blocking the pathogen at its initial replication sites. However, in order to provide an efficient long-lasting protection, these mucosal vaccines have to be capable of eliciting an adequate systemic immune response in addition to local responses. In aquaculture, the need for mucosal vaccines has further practical implications, as these vaccines would avoid the individual manipulation of fish out of the water, being beneficial from both an economic and animal welfare point of view. However, how B and T cells are organized in teleost fish within these mucosal sites and how they respond to mucosally delivered antigens varies greatly when compared to mammals. For this reason, it is important to establish which mucosally delivered antigens have the capacity to induce strong and long-lasting B and T cell responses. Hence, in this review, we have summarized what is currently known regarding the adaptive immune mechanisms that are induced both locally and systemically in fish after mucosal immunization through different routes of administration including oral and nasal vaccination, anal intubation and immersion vaccination. Finally, based on the data presented, we discuss how mucosal vaccination strategies could be improved to reach significant protection levels in these species.

Ensuring Sustainable Development of Aquaculture by Enhancing the Natural Immunity of Fish

One of the main tasks in the coming years will be the development and introduction of vaccines for the development of immunity against intracellular bacterial and viral pathogens. DNA vaccines will play an important role in such cases. With the emergence of intensive industrial fish farms, there were also problems associated with infectious diseases of cultivated objects. These diseases cause significant harm to fisheries and the aquaculture sector of the global economy as a whole. The article shows the way of the development of the environmentally safe and sustainable marine and freshwater aquaculture with using Pisces vaccination, and reveals the role of Pisces aquaculture as an integral part of the world economy, in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressure on aquatic ecosystems and of distribution of new dangerous Pisces infections. Perspective types of Pisces vaccines are presented and discussed. The effectiveness of different types of elaborated vaccines is discussed.

Synbiotic feed supplementation significantly improves lipid utilization and shows discrete effects on disease resistance in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Enteric redmouth disease caused by the bacterial pathogen Yersinia ruckeri is the main reason for antimicrobial prescription, and a cause of substantial economic losses and decreased animal welfare in aquaculture. Given the importance of the intestinal microbiota in digestion and disease, our aim was to investigate whether synbiotic feed supplementation strategies could improve feed performance and disease resistance. Four experimental synbiotic feeds formulated with pre- and probiotics were tested against a commercially available probiotic control feed. Each experimental feed was evaluated for feed performance, effects on gross as well as intestinal morphometrics, and finally their effect on resistance against a waterborne experimental infection with Yersinia ruckeri serotype O1, biotype 2. While co-supplementing Pediococcus acidilactici with citrus flavonoids or bacterial paraprobiotics significantly improved utilization of feed lipid content relative to the control group, a decrease in lipid utilization was observed for feeds that combined P. acidilactici with yeast paraprobiotics. No significant improvements on disease resistance were observed. Still, synbiotic formulations including P. acidilactici led to reduced risks relative to that of the control group, while an increased relative risk was observed for a Bacillus-based formulation. In conclusion, two of the synbiotic supplements significantly improved lipid utilization and contributed to minor increases in disease resistance.

Immunoglobulins, Mucosal Immunity and Vaccination in Teleost Fish

Due to direct contact with aquatic environment, mucosal surfaces of teleost fish are continuously exposed to a vast number of pathogens and also inhabited by high densities of commensal microbiota. The B cells and immunoglobulins within the teleost mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALTs) play key roles in local mucosal adaptive immune responses. So far, three Ig isotypes (i.e., IgM, IgD, and IgT/Z) have been identified from the genomic sequences of different teleost fish species. Moreover, teleost Igs have been reported to elicit mammalian-like mucosal immune response in six MALTs: gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), skin-associated lymphoid tissue (SALT), gill-associated lymphoid tissue (GIALT), nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT), and the recently discovered buccal and pharyngeal MALTs. Critically, analogous to mammalian IgA, teleost IgT represents the most ancient Ab class specialized in mucosal immunity and plays indispensable roles in the clearance of mucosal pathogens and the maintenance of microbiota homeostasis. Given these, this review summarizes the current findings on teleost Igs, MALTs, and their immune responses to pathogenic infection, vaccination and commensal microbiota, with the purpose of facilitating future evaluation and rational design of fish vaccines.

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of Yersinia ruckeri lipopolysaccharide (LPS), encapsulated by alginate-chitosan micro/nanoparticles in rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss)

Considering the many advantages of oral vaccines in aquaculture, several studies have been conducted in this area recently. In this study, immunization and protective power of the oral vaccine of Yersinia ruckeri encapsulated with Alginate-Chitosan micro/nanoparticles were evaluated in rainbow trout. For this purpose, 720 juvenile rainbow trout (9 ± 1.8 g) were divided into 8 groups in three replications (30 fish each) as follows: Groups A, B and C, were immunized with Yersinia ruckeri lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS+Formalin Killed Cells (FKC) and FKC alone, groups D, E, and F were immunized with encapsulated LPS, LPS+FKC and FKC, respectively. The G and H groups considered as encapsulated and non-encapsulated control, respectively. Micro/nanoencapsulation with alginate-chitosan was performed by internal emulsification method and vaccination were conductrd in the first and third weeks via oral route. Sampling was performed on days 0, 30, and 60 of experiment. Anti Y. ruckeri antibody titer in serum, intestine and skin mucus were measured via ELISA method. Non-specific immune response including: serum lysozyme, complement, bactericidal and respiratory burst activity, serum protein and globulin level, as well as white blood cell count were compared among the groups. The expression of IgT gene in the intestine and TCR gene in the anterior kidney were also investigated. At the end of the study, the fish were challenged with Y. ruckeri through immerssion and intraperitoneal routs and the relative survival rate was evaluated. Result showed that the antibody level in serum, skin and intestine was significantly higher in group E and F than control groups (P < 0.05), meanwhile serum, skin and intestine antibody level in all vaccinated groups were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in day 30 and 60 compare to zero day. Non-specific immunity factors including: serum lysozyme, complement, and respiratory burst activity as well as WBC, protein and Globulin level were significantly higher in E and F groups not only in day 30 but also in day 60 of experiment (P < 0.05). Cumulative mortality following injection and bath challenge were significantly (P = 0.004) lower (35%-45%) in groups E and F compare to control group (80%). The IgT and TCR gene expression in groups D, E and F were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than control group. Highest upregulation of IgT and TCR gene expression in vaccinated groups were seen at day 30 and 60 respectively which were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than day zero. Generally, it can be concluded that nano/micronanoencapsulation of Y. ruckeri FKC+LPS with chitosan-alginate, not only increases protective efficacy of oral vaccine, but improves specific and non-specific immune responses in rainbow trout.

Rainbow trout mount a robust specific immune response upon anal administration of thymus-independent antigens

Despite the strong demand for orally-delivered fish vaccines and the deficient response of those currently available in the market, little is known about how teleost B cells differentiate to antibody secreting cells (ASCs) in response to antigens delivered to the intestinal mucosa. To fill this gap, in the current study, we have studied the dynamics of B cell differentiation in spleen and kidney of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) anally immunized with antigens catalogued in mammals as thymus dependent (TD) or thymus-independent (TI). Our results show that, in the absence of additional adjuvants, rainbow trout preferentially responded to a model TI antigen such as TNP-LPS (2,4,6-trinitrophenyl hapten conjugated to lipopolysaccharide). The anal administration of TNP-LPS elicited TNP-specific serum antibodies, and a significant increase in the number of total and TNP-specific ASCs in both spleen and kidney, being the kidney the site where most ASCs are found at later time points. In the spleen, a proliferative response of both IgM⁺ B and T cells was also clearly visible, while the proliferative response was weaker in the kidney. Finally, TNP-LPS also provoked a transcriptional regulation of some immune genes in the spleen and the intestine, including a decreased transcription of foxp3a and foxp3b in intestine that suggests a breach in tolerogenic responses in response to TI stimulation. These results contribute to a better understanding of how intestinal immunity is regulated in teleost and will aid in the future design of effective oral strategies for aquaculture.

Response of triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to commercial vaccines

While triploid Atlantic salmon represent a practical and affordable solution to the issues associated with sexual maturation in the salmonid aquaculture industry, empirical evidence suggests triploids are more susceptible to disease and vaccine side-effects than diploids. With vaccination now part of routine husbandry, it is essential their response be studied to confirm their suitability for commercial production. This study tested the response of triploid and diploid Atlantic salmon to vaccination with commercially available vaccines. Triploid and diploid Atlantic salmon siblings were injected with one of three commercial vaccines (or sham-vaccinated) and monitored for performance throughout a commercial production cycle. Sampling at smolt and harvest was undertaken along with individual weight and length assessments through the cycle. Antibody response to Aeromonas salmonicida vaccination was similar in both ploidy, with a positive response in vaccine-injected fish. For both adhesions and melanin, analysis found that higher scores were more likely to occur as the anticipated severity of the vaccine increased. In addition, for adhesion scores at smolt and melanin scores at smolt and harvest, triploids were statistically more likely to exhibit high scores than diploids. Triploids maintained a significantly higher body weight during freshwater and until 11 months post-seawater transfer, with diploids weighing significantly more at harvest. Growth, represented by thermal growth coefficient (TGC), decreased in both ploidy as the severity of adhesions increased, and regression patterns did not differ significantly between ploidy. Vertebral deformity prevalence was consistently higher in triploids (smolt 12.3 ± 4.5%; harvest 34.9 ± 5.9%) than diploids (smolt 0.8 ± 0.5%; harvest 15.9 ± 1.9%), with no significant difference between vaccine groups in each ploidy. This study demonstrates that triploids respond as well to vaccination as diploids and provides further supporting evidence of triploid robustness for commercial aquaculture.

Mucosal Vaccine Development for Veterinary and Aquatic Diseases

Because most pathogens and food antigens enter the host via the mucosal surfaces, effective mucosal immunity is critical for maintaining homeostasis through immune regulation, tolerance, and induction of effective immune responses when needed. Thus the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues represent an important target for vaccination. Indeed, more than 20 years of research have clearly demonstrated the benefits of mucosal vaccination versus systemic vaccination. Such benefits include local induction of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) as well as activation and maturation of mucosal dendritic cells, homing of effector cells to the mucosal surfaces, expression of specific host defense peptides, and other innate effector molecules. In addition, mucosal vaccination offers the opportunity to induce colostral and lactogenic immunity during pregnancy and the possibility of avoiding neutralization of early life vaccines by maternal antibodies, both of which are critical for protecting the most susceptible from infectious diseases. Moreover, mucosal administration offers the advantage of inducing both effective systemic immunity and mucosal immunity, enhancing vaccine efficacy and providing improved protection. A number of animal vaccines are already administered via the mucosal surfaces, with many more to come over the next few years. It is gratifying to see that veterinary vaccine development has yet again taken a leadership role in exploring innovative approaches and technologies to mucosal vaccination. For the veterinary field, considerations for mucosal vaccine development and use necessarily include costs (often pennies per dose), mass delivery that preferably avoids animal restraint, and economic and trade considerations. In this chapter, we provide an overview of some of the existing vaccine technologies and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

An evaluation of microalgae as a recombinant protein oral delivery platform for fish using green fluorescent protein (GFP)

Recombinant proteins produced by biological systems such as bacteria, yeasts, mammalian and insect cell cultures are widely used for clinical or industrial purposes. Most therapeutic protein drugs require purification, cold chain, and injection, which make them prohibitively expensive and hinders their widespread use. Here, we describe a new economical oral vaccination platform using algae and evaluated its potential for the delivery of recombinant drugs using GFP expressed in the chloroplast of algal cells. The transplastomic algae expressing recombinant GFPs were freeze-dried for long-term storage at ambient temperature and for easy handling in feeding. GFPs bioencapsulated by lyophilized Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were found intact without degradation for several months at ambient temperature. The expression level of GFP in the lyophilized algae was estimated at 0.47 μg/mg dry weight. The GFPs bioencapsulated and orally delivered to Danio rerio were immunostained and observed in the intestinal tissues using a confocal microscope. Furthermore, the uptaken GFPs in the intestine were detected in the blood using ELISA and the detected level was 5.4 ng of GFP/μl of serum. These results demonstrate that microalgae can be a viable protein production and oral delivery system to vaccinate fish. The results give greater justification to continue exploring the concept of microalgal-based oral vaccines. The potential of the technology would greatly benefit aquaculture farmers by providing them with affordable, environmentally sustainable, and user-friendly vaccines.

Pichia pastoris yeast as a vehicle for oral vaccination of larval and adult teleosts

Oral vaccination is of major interest because it can be used for mass vaccination of fish of various size and age. Given that their administration is relatively easy and stress-free, oral vaccines have both economic and animal welfare benefits. Yet, mostly due to their limited efficacy, only very few oral vaccines are available to aquaculture industry. Here we present a method for oral vaccine delivery based on the yeast Pichia pastoris. We could express a model antigen, green fluorescent protein (GFP), in this yeast and subsequently show delivery of the GFP protein to the intestine of juvenile flounder or adult carp and trout. We tested this approach in several commercially-relevant fish species, from juvenile to adult stage. To test the oral delivery of antigen to larval fish, the GFP-expressing Pichia pastoris was first fed to planktonic crustacean Daphnia or rotifers that served as 'bioencapsulation vehicles' and afterwards, fed to flounder larvae. Again, we could show delivery of intact GFP protein to the intestine. In rainbow trout, the orally-administered GFP-expressing yeast elicited a rapid local innate immune response in the intestine and a subsequent systemic response in the spleen. Our results show that Pichia pastoris is a good vehicle for oral antigen delivery and that it can be used in non-encapsulated form for older fish or in bioencapsulated form for larval fish. We discuss the immunomodulatory properties of the yeast itself, and its potential to enhance local immune responses and act as an adjuvant.

Adjuvant efficacy of G2 (buffalo spleen extraction) against Yersinia septicemia in rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss)

Adjuvant effect of G2 (extraction of buffalo spleen) was assessed in intraperitoneally immunized rainbow trout (100-150 g) with killed- Y. ruckeri bacterin biotype I [0.1 mL (1 × 10⁷ cells/fish) of vaccine diluted with the adjuvant in a ratio of 1:1 (V/V)] at 12.4 ± 1.3 °C for 10 weeks. Leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, anti-Y. ruckeri antibody titer and relative percent survival (RPS) in fish vaccinated with vaccine containing the adjuvant were significantly higher than the immunized fish with Y. ruckeri antigen alone throughout the experiment (P < 0.05), but neutrophils count and lysozyme activity were mostly significantly higher in the latter group (P < 0.05). No difference was seen in the complement activity between vaccinated fish containing the adjuvant and vaccine alone (P > 0.05). The results of this work for the first time demonstrated that inclusion of G2 as an adjuvant in Y. urckeri vaccine can improve the efficacy of the vaccine against Yersinia septicemia in rainbow trout.

Development and Characterization of a Novel Live Attenuated Vaccine Against Enteric Septicemia of Catfish

Edwardsiella ictaluri is a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen causing enteric septicemia of channel catfish (ESC). Type six secretion system (T6SS) is a sophisticated nanomachine that delivers effector proteins into eukaryotic host cells as well as other bacteria. In the current work, we in-frame deleted the E. ictalurievpB gene located in the T6SS operon by allelic exchange. The safety and efficacy of EiΔevpB as well as Aquavac-ESC, a commercial vaccine manufactured by Intervet/Merck Animal Health, were evaluated in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fingerlings and fry by immersion exposure. Our results showed that the EiΔevpB strain was avirulent and fully protective in catfish fingerlings. The EiΔevpB strain was also safe in catfish fry, and immersion vaccination with EiΔevpB at doses 10⁶ and 10⁷ CFU/ml in water resulted in 34.24 and 80.34% survival after wild-type immersion challenge compared to sham-vaccinated fry (1.79% survival). Catfish fry vaccinated with EiΔevpB at doses 10⁶, 10⁷, and 10⁸ CFU/ml in water exhibited dose-dependent protection. When compared with Aquavac-ESC, EiΔevpB provided significantly higher protection in catfish fingerlings and fry (p < 0.05). Results indicate that the EiΔevpB strain is safe and can be used to protect catfish fingerlings and fry against E. ictaluri.

Effect of immunization of rohu Labeo rohita with inactivated germinated zoospores in providing protection against Aphanomyces invadans

Infection with Aphanomyces invadans is one of the most destructive diseases of freshwater fishes. Indian major carps, the dominant cultured species in the Indian sub-continent are highly susceptible to this disease. Till date, there is no effective treatment for control of this disease and immunization can be one of the strategies to reduce disease-related losses. In the present study, inactivated germinated zoospores of A. invadans were evaluated as antigen in conjunction with and without adjuvant Montanide™ ISA 763 A VG, for assessing their efficacy in rendering protection against A. invadans infection. For the experiment, rohu Labeo rohita, (n = 160, 74 ± 12 g) were divided into 4 groups (C, A, G and GA) with 40 fish in each group. The fish in groups i.e., C, A, G and GA were injected intraperitoneally with PBS, adjuvant emulsified with PBS, inactivated germinated zoospores, and inactivated germinated zoospores emulsified with adjuvant, respectively. After 21 days of immunization, the fish were given a booster dose as above. After 7 days of the booster dose, the fish were challenged with zoospores of A. invadans to determine the relative percent survival (RPS). The results revealed that all the fish in C, A and G group succumbed to infection (0% RPS), although there was delayed mortality in fish from A and G groups in comparison to the C group. However, the fish in GA group showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) protection (66.7% RPS). In addition, following booster immunization (before challenge), the antibody level in the GA group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control group. In western blotting, sera from G and GA groups showed reactivity with peptides of about 54 KDa. Following challenge (on 14th day), the antibody level as well as total antiprotease activity in fish of all the groups was significantly decreased in comparison to pre-challenge, except fish in GA group not exhibiting any gross lesions. In addition, sera of surviving fish of GA group showed significant inhibition of germination of zoospores and germlings growth in comparison to other groups (P < 0.05). Further, histopathological examination of the muscle tissue revealed that, in fish of GA group without any gross lesions, there were well developed granulomas and extensive mononuclear cell infiltration restricted to the site of injection, whereas in other groups, there was extensive myonecrosis with proliferating hyphae. These preliminary findings indicate that inactivated germinated zoospores of A. invadans in combination with adjuvant could stimulate good immune response and confer remarkable protection in rohu.

The Infection Process of Yersinia ruckeri: Reviewing the Pieces of the Jigsaw Puzzle

Finding the keys to understanding the infectious process of Yersinia ruckeri was not a priority for many years due to the prompt development of an effective biotype 1 vaccine which was used mainly in Europe and USA. However, the gradual emergence of outbreaks in vaccinated fish, which have been reported since 2003, has awakened interest in the mechanism of virulence in this pathogen. Thus, during the last two decades, a large number of studies have considerably enriched our knowledge of many aspects of the pathogen and its interaction with the host. By means of both conventional and a variety of novel strategies, such as cell GFP tagging, bioluminescence imaging and optical projection tomography, it has been possible to determine three putative Y. ruckeri infection routes, the main point of entry for the bacterium being the gill lamellae. Moreover, a wide range of potential virulence factors have been highlighted by specific gene mutagenesis strategies or genome-wide transposon/plasmid insertion-based screening approaches, such us in vivo expression technology (IVET) and signature tagged mutagenesis (STM). Finally, recent proteomic and whole genomic analyses have allowed many of the genes and systems that are potentially implicated in the organism's pathogenicity and its adaptation to the host environmental conditions to be elucidated. Altogether, these studies contribute to a better understanding of the infectious process of Y. ruckeri in fish, which is crucial for the development of more effective strategies for preventing or treating enteric redmouth disease (ERM).

Maintenance of Fish Health in Aquaculture: Review of Epidemiological Approaches for Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease of Fish

Aquaculture is rapidly growing part of agriculture worldwide. It makes up around 44 percent of total fish production globally. This increased growth of production is achieved despite facing many challenges in the aquaculture environment. Among production limiting challenges, the infectious disease takes the lion share by causing multibillion-dollar loss annually. To reduce the impact of the fish disease, it is necessary to address health constraints based on scientifically proven and recommended ways. This review aims at pointing out some of the best approaches to prevention and control of infectious disease in aquaculture. Among the effective prevention and control strategies, vaccination is one of the key practices. Types of vaccines for use in fish include killed vaccines, attenuated vaccines, DNA vaccines, recombinant technology vaccines, and synthetic peptide vaccines. Administration techniques of vaccines in fish include oral, injection, or immersion methods. Antibiotics are also in use in aquaculture despite their side effects in the development of drug resistance by microorganisms. Biological and chemical disease control strategies such as using probiotics, prebiotics, and medicinal plants are widely in use. Biosecurity measures in aquaculture can keep the safety of a facility from certain disease-causing agents that are absent in particular system. Farm-level biosecurity measures include strict quarantine measures, egg disinfection, traffic control, water treatments, clean feed, and disposal of mortalities. In conclusion, rather than trying to treat every disease case, it advisable to follow a preventive approach before the event of any disease outbreaks.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Comprehensive Insights into the Early Immune Response of Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea) Induced by Trivalent Bacterial Vaccine

Vaccination is an effective and safe strategy for combating bacterial diseases in fish, but the mechanisms underlying the early immune response after vaccination remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we used RNA-seq technology to perform transcriptome analysis of spleens from large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) induced by inactivated trivalent bacterial vaccine (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophila). A total of 2,789 or 1,511 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained at 24 or 72 h after vaccination, including 1,132 or 842 remarkably up-regulated genes and 1,657 or 669 remarkably down-regulated genes, respectively. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichments revealed that numerous DEGs belong to immune-relevant genes, involved in many immune-relevant pathways. Most of the strongly up-regulated DEGs are innate defense molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides, complement components, lectins, and transferrins. Trivalent bacterial vaccine affected the expressions of many components associated with bacterial ligand-depending Toll-like receptor signaling pathways and inflammasome formation, indicating that multiple innate immune processes were activated at the early period of vaccination in large yellow croaker. Moreover, the expression levels of genes involved in antigen processing were also up-regulated by bacterial vaccine. However, the expression levels of several T cell receptors and related CD molecules and signal transducers were down-regulated, suggesting that the T cell receptor signaling pathway was rapidly suppressed after vaccination. These results provide the comprehensive insights into the early immune response of large yellow croaker to vaccination and valuable information for developing a highly immunogenic vaccine against bacterial infection in teleosts.

B cells and their role in the teleost gut

Mucosal surfaces are the main route of entry for pathogens in all living organisms. In the case of teleost fish, mucosal surfaces cover the vast majority of the animal. As these surfaces are in constant contact with the environment, fish are perpetually exposed to a vast number of pathogens. Despite the potential prevalence and variety of pathogens, mucosal surfaces are primarily populated by commensal non-pathogenic bacteria. Indeed, a fine balance between these two populations of microorganisms is crucial for animal survival. This equilibrium, controlled by the mucosal immune system, maintains homeostasis at mucosal tissues. Teleost fish possess a diffuse mucosa-associated immune system in the intestine, with B cells being one of the main responders. Immunoglobulins produced by these lymphocytes are a critical line of defense against pathogens and also prevent the entrance of commensal bacteria into the epithelium. In this review we will summarize recent literature regarding the role of B-lymphocytes and immunoglobulins in gut immunity in teleost fish, with specific focus on immunoglobulin isotypes and the microorganisms, pathogenic and non-pathogenic that interact with the immune system.

Antigen sampling in the fish intestine

Antigen uptake in the gastrointestinal tract may induce tolerance, lead to an immune response and also to infection. In mammals, most pathogens gain access to the host though the gastrointestinal tract, and in fish as well, this route seems to be of significant importance. The epithelial surface faces a considerable challenge, functioning both as a barrier towards the external milieu but simultaneously being the site of absorption of nutrients and fluids. The mechanisms allowing antigen uptake over the epithelial barrier play a central role for maintaining the intestinal homeostasis and regulate appropriate immune responses. Such uptake has been widely studied in mammals, but also in fish, a number of experiments have been reported, seeking to reveal cells and mechanisms involved in antigen sampling. In this paper, we review these studies in addition to addressing our current knowledge of the intestinal barrier in fish and its anatomical construction.

Oral vaccination of fish: Lessons from humans and veterinary species

The limited number of oral vaccines currently approved for use in humans and veterinary species clearly illustrates that development of efficacious and safe oral vaccines has been a challenge not only for fish immunologists. The insufficient efficacy of oral vaccines is partly due to antigen breakdown in the harsh gastric environment, but also to the high tolerogenic gut environment and to inadequate vaccine design. In this review we discuss current approaches used to develop oral vaccines for mass vaccination of farmed fish species. Furthermore, using various examples from the human and veterinary vaccine development, we propose additional approaches to fish vaccine design also considering recent advances in fish mucosal immunology and novel molecular tools. Finally, we discuss the pros and cons of using the zebrafish as a pre-screening animal model to potentially speed up vaccine design and testing for aquaculture fish species.

Piscine orthoreovirus can infect and shed through the intestine in experimentally challenged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) is a ubiquitous virus in Norwegian salmon farms associated with the disease heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI). Experimental challenge has shown that the virus replicates in circulating red blood cells of Atlantic salmon prior to infecting heart myocytes. The infection route from water to blood is however still unknown. The related mammalian orthoreovirus primarily infects the lungs and gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is proposed to spread mainly through the faecal–oral route. To investigate the role of the salmonid GI tract in PRV-infection, oral and anal administration of virus was compared to intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. When administered anally, PRV was transferred to blood 4 days post challenge (dpc) and levels peaked at 42 dpc, similar to i.p. injected fish. PRV was detected in heart and faeces with corresponding kinetics, and inflammatory heart lesions consistent with HSMI were observed from 49 dpc. The orally intubated group showed slower virus kinetics in both blood and heart, and no signs of HSMI. Compared to the oral and i.p. administration routes, leakage of virus inoculate by anal intubation was minor and challenge was restricted to the mid- and distal intestine. These findings show that anal intubation is an efficacious method for PRV delivery to the GI tract and demonstrates that PRV can establish infection through the intestine with the potential for transmission via faeces.

Analysis of Yersinia ruckeri strains isolated from trout farms in northwest Germany

Enteric redmouth disease (ERM), caused by Yersinia ruckeri, is among the most important infectious diseases in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss aquaculture in Europe. Our aim was to analyse the persistence of Y. ruckeri strains in trout farms in northwest Germany and their dissemination between farms based on a detailed molecular and phenotypical characterisation scheme. The data on identification and characterisation of Y. ruckeri strains and examining the distribution of these strains in the field could serve as a basis for preventive disease monitoring plans. During the observation period from June 2011 until June 2012, we collected 48 Y. ruckeri isolates from 12 different rainbow trout hatcheries. In total, 44 (91.7%) of the isolates were non-motile; in particular, all isolates recovered during the sampling period in winter and early spring were non-motile. In several trout farms, characteristic farm-specific Y. ruckeri isolates from particular typing groups were isolated throughout the year, while in other farms, which had a trading relationship between each other, ERM outbreaks were caused by Y. ruckeri from the same typing group. Our data indicate that in some farms, the causative Y. ruckeri strains persisted in the respective trout farm. The presence of Y. ruckeri from the same typing group in farms with a trading relationship indicates a dissemination of the infection between the farms.

An Overview of Challenges Limiting the Design of Protective Mucosal Vaccines for Finfish

Research in mucosal vaccination in finfish has gained prominence in the last decade in pursuit of mucosal vaccines that would lengthen the duration of protective immunity in vaccinated fish. However, injectable vaccines have continued to dominate in the vaccination of finfish because they are perceived to be more protective than mucosal vaccines. Therefore, it has become important to identify the factors that limit developing protective mucosal vaccines in finfish as an overture to identifying key areas that require optimization in mucosal vaccine design. Some of the factors that limit the success for designing protective mucosal vaccines for finfish identified in this review include the lack optimized protective antigen doses for mucosal vaccines, absence of immunostimulants able to enhance the performance of non-replicative mucosal vaccines, reduction of systemic antibodies due to prolonged exposure to oral vaccination and the lack of predefined correlates of protective immunity for use in the optimization of newly developed mucosal vaccines. This review also points out the need to develop prime-boost vaccination regimes able to induce long-term protective immunity in vaccinated fish. By overcoming some of the obstacles identified herein, it is anticipated that future mucosal vaccines shall be designed to induce long-term protective immunity in finfish.

Oral Vaccination of Fish - Antigen Preparations, Uptake, and Immune Induction

The oral route offers the most attractive approach of immunization of fish for a number of reasons: the ease of administration of antigens, it is less stressful than parenteral delivery and in principle, it is applicable to small and large sized fish; it also provides a procedure for oral boosting during grow-out periods in cages or ponds. There are, however, not many commercial vaccines available at the moment due to lack of efficacy and challenges associated with production of large quantities of antigens. These are required to stimulate an effective immune response locally and systemically, and need to be protected against degradation before they reach the sites where immune induction occurs. The hostile stomach environment is believed to be particularly important with regard to degradation of antigens in certain species. There is also a poor understanding about the requirements for proper immune induction following oral administration on one side, and the potential for induction of tolerance on the other. To what extent primary immunization via the oral route will elicit both local and systemic responses is not understood in detail. Furthermore, to what extent parenteral delivery will protect mucosal/gut surfaces and vice-versa is also not fully understood. We review the work that has been done on the subject and discuss it in light of recent advances that include mass production of antigens, including the use of plant systems. Different encapsulation techniques that have been developed in the quest to protect antigens against digestive degradation, as well as to target them for appropriate immune induction are also highlighted.

Yersinia ruckeri, the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease in fish

Enteric redmouth disease (ERM) is a serious septicemic bacterial disease of salmonid fish species. It is caused by Yersinia ruckeri, a Gram-negative rod-shaped enterobacterium. It has a wide host range, broad geographical distribution, and causes significant economic losses in the fish aquaculture industry. The disease gets its name from the subcutaneous hemorrhages, it can cause at the corners of the mouth and in gums and tongue. Other clinical signs include exophthalmia, darkening of the skin, splenomegaly and inflammation of the lower intestine with accumulation of thick yellow fluid. The bacterium enters the fish via the secondary gill lamellae and from there it spreads to the blood and internal organs. Y. ruckeri can be detected by conventional biochemical, serological and molecular methods. Its genome is 3.7 Mb with 3406–3530 coding sequences. Several important virulence factors of Y. ruckeri have been discovered, including haemolyin YhlA and metalloprotease Yrp1. Both non-specific and specific immune responses of fish during the course of Y. ruckeri infection have been well characterized. Several methods of vaccination have been developed for controlling both biotype 1 and biotype 2 Y. ruckeri strains in fish. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding enteric redmouth disease and Y. ruckeri: diagnosis, genome, virulence factors, interaction with the host immune responses, and the development of vaccines against this pathogen.

IPNV Antigen Uptake and Distribution in Atlantic Salmon Following Oral Administration

One impediment to the successful oral vaccination in fish is the hostile stomach environment that antigens must cross. Furthermore, uptake of antigens from the gut to systemic distribution is required for induction of systemic immunity, the dynamics of which are poorly understood. In the present study, groups of Atlantic salmon parr were intubated with live or inactivated infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), either orally or anally. At 1, 24 and 72 h post infection (p.i.), the fish were sacrificed. Serum was used for assessing IPNV by ELISA, while formalin-fixed head-kidney, spleen, liver and intestine tissues were used for the demonstration of antigens by immunohistochemistry. Both live and inactivated IPNV antigens were observed in enterocytes of the intestines and in immune cells of the head-kidneys and spleens of all groups. In the liver, no antigens were observed in any of the groups. Significantly higher serum antigen OD values (p < 0.04) were observed in orally- compared to anally-intubated fish. By contrast, no difference (p = 0.05) was observed in tissue antigens between these groups by immunohistochemistry. No significant difference (p = 0.05) in serum antigens was observed between groups intubated with live and inactivated IPNV, while in tissues, significantly more antigens (p < 0.03) were observe in the latter compared to the former. These findings demonstrate that both live and inactivated IPNV are taken up by enterocytes in the intestines of Atlantic salmon, likely by receptor-mediated mechanisms. Higher IPNV uptake by the oral compared to anal route suggests that both the anterior and posterior intestines are important for the uptake of the virus and that IPNV is resistant to gastric degradation of the Atlantic salmon stomach.