A Proof-of-Concept Study to Develop a Peptide-Based Vaccine against Salmon Lice Infestation in Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar L.)
Proteins present in blood samples from Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) infected with salmon lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ) were analyzed using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Bioinformatic analyses revealed 1820 proteins, of which 58 were assigned to lice. Among these, per...
Published in: | Vaccines |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2024
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050456 https://doaj.org/article/fb827666b0af4b7898b7e55a2b5b3a0a |
Summary: | Proteins present in blood samples from Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) infected with salmon lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ) were analyzed using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Bioinformatic analyses revealed 1820 proteins, of which 58 were assigned to lice. Among these, peroxiredoxin-2, an antioxidant protein, was found relevant with respect to blood feeding of the parasite. The three-dimensional structure analysis of the protein revealed a surface amino acid sequence of interest. A 13-amino-acid peptide was selected as a potential antigen due to its predicted solubility, antigenicity, probable non-allergenic, and non-toxic nature. This peroxiredoxin-2-derived peptide was synthesized, combined with a commercially available adjuvant, and used for vaccination. The test vaccine demonstrated a 60–70% protection rate against early-stage Lepeophtheirus salmonis infection in a challenge trial in Norway. Additionally, the vaccine was tested against salmon lice ( Caligus rogercresseyi ) in Chile, where a remarkable 92% reduction in the number of adult lice was observed. Thus, in combination with the selected adjuvant, the peptide showed antigenic potential, making it a suitable candidate for future vaccine development. The approach described holds promise for the development of peptide vaccines against various ectoparasites feeding on blood or skin secretions of their hosts. |
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