Display of ISKNV orf086 protein on the surface of Aeromonas hydrophila and its immunogenicity in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi)

Co-infection with infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) and Aeromonas hydrophila is becoming ever more widespread in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi) aquaculture industry, so that it’s necessary to develop the combined vaccine against ISKNV and A. hydrophila disease. The surface display of heterologous on bacteria using anchoring motifs from outer membranes proteins has already been explored as an effective delivery system of viral antigens. In present study, the ISKNV orf086 gene, which is verified as a protective antigen, was inserted into ompA gene cassette of A. hydrophila GYK1 strain by homologous recombination. And an ompA-orf086 fusion A. hydrophila mutant strain K28 was constructed. Then the ISKNV orf086 was verified to express on the surface of A. hydrophila K28 by RT-PCR, western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay. Next, Chinese perch were intraperitoneally inoculated with formalin inactivated A. hydrophila k28 emulsified with ISA763 adjuvant with a dose of 9 × 108 CFU per fish. Transcriptional analysis of non-specific and specific immune related genes revealed that the expression levels of IRF-7, IRAK1, Mx, Viperin, Lysozyme and IgM were strongly up-regulated in Chinese perch post-inoculation. In addition, specific antibodies were detected by ELISA, and the results showed that antibody titer against ISKNV or A. hydrophila reached the highest with 1:800 or 1:1200 on 14dpv, respectively. Lymphocyte proliferation were detected by MTT methods, and the results showed that the SI values of AH-K28 vaccinated group to three different stimulators were significantly higher than those of control group. At last, protective efficacy were determined by challenge trials. The cumulative mortality rates of vaccinated groups were significantly lower than the control one (P < 0.05) after ISKNV or A. hydrophila challenge, and the relative percentage survival (RPS) value was 73.3% and 60%, respectively. This system provides a novel approach to the surface display of heterologous antigenic proteins on A. hydrophila and suggests the possibility to use the recombinant K28 strain as a combined vaccine against ISKNV and A. hydrophila infection.