Identification of vhhP2, a novel genetic marker of Vibrio harveyi, and its application in the quick detection of V. harveyi from animal specimens and environmental samples

Aims: To investigate the species-specific prevalence of vhhP2 among Vibrio harveyi isolates and the applicability of vhhP2 in the specific detection of V. harveyi from crude samples of animal and environmental origins. Methods and Results: A gene (vhhP2) encoding an outer membrane protein of unknown function was identified from a pathogenic V. harveyi isolate. vhhP2 is present in 24 V. harveyi strains isolated from different geographical locations but is absent in 24 strains representing 17 different non-V. harveyi species, including V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus. A simple polymerase chain reaction method for the identification of V. harveyi was developed based on the conserved sequence of vhhP2. This method was demonstrated to be applicable to the quick detection of V. harveyi from crude animal specimens and environmental samples. The specificity of this method was tested by applying it to the examination of two strains of V. campbellii, which is most closely related to V. harveyi. One of the V. campbellii strains was falsely identified as V. harveyi. Conclusions: vhhP2 is ubiquitously present in the V. harveyi species and is absent in most of the non-V. harveyi species; this feature enables vhhP2 to serve as a genetic marker for the rapid identification of V. harveyi. However, this method can not distinguish some V. campbellii strains from V. harveyi. Significance and Impact of the Study: the significance of our study is the identification of a novel gene of V. harveyi and the development of a simple method for the relatively accurate detection of V. harveyi from animal specimens and environmental samples.

Immunoprotective analysis of VhhP2, a Vibrio harveyi vaccine candidate

VhhP2 is an Outer membrane protein identified in a pathogenic Vibrio harveyi strain, T4, isolated from diseased fish. When used as a Subunit Vaccine, purified recombinant VhhP2 affords high level of protection upon Japanese flounder against V harveyi challenge. Vaccination with VhhP2 induced the expression of a number of immune-related genes, especially those encoding immunoglobulin M (IgM) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II alpha. A VhhP2 surface display system, in the form of the fish commensal strain FIR harboring the vhhP2-expressing plasmid pJVP, was constructed. PF3/pJVP is able to produce and present recombinant VhhP2 on cell surface. Vaccination of fish with live PF3/pJVP via intraperitoneal injection elicited Strong immunoprotection. Vaccination of fish orally with live PF3/pJVP embedded in alginate microspheres also induced effective immunoprotection. In addition, a VhhP2-based surface display system was created, in which VhhP2 serves as a carrier for the Surface delivery of a heterologous Edwardsiella tarda immunogen, Et18, that is fused in-frame to VhhP2. DH5 alpha/pJVP18, which expresses and surface-displays the VhhP2-Et18 chimera, proved to be an effective vaccine that call protect fish against infections by V. harveyi and E. tarda to the extents comparable to those produced by vaccination with purified recombinant VhhP2 and Et18, respectively. These data suggest that VhhP2 may be applied as a vaccine and a vaccine carrier against infections by V. harveyi and other pathogens such as F. tarda. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

哈氏弧菌种特异性分子标记的发现及其在哈氏弧菌快速诊断和免疫防治中的应用

哈氏弧菌是危害水产养殖业发展的重要病原菌之一，因而其免疫防治研究具有重要意义。论文发现了一个新的、编码未知功能蛋白的基因vhhP2，该基因只存在于哈氏弧菌中，具有很高的种特异性。根据此特点，建立了一种vhhP2 -PCR检测方法，并证明该方法可以快速准确地从动物血液、组织以及环境样品中检测哈氏弧菌。同时，对VhhP2进行了免疫原性检测，发现VhhP2作为亚单位疫苗具有良好的免疫保护效应。为了克服常规亚单位疫苗的缺点以及进一步提高VhhP2的免疫效应，利用表面展示技术将VhhP2蛋白定位到鱼类共生菌细胞表面，制成活体疫苗。免疫结果表明，这种表面展示型VhhP2能够大幅提高牙鲆对哈氏弧菌的抵抗能力。论文还利用VhhP2蛋白的分泌功能，将VhhP2与一株迟缓爱德华氏菌的免疫保护性抗原蛋白重组融合，制成交叉保护疫苗，并证明其对哈氏弧菌和迟缓爱德华氏菌均有一定的免疫作用。