ARS | Publication request: Identification of upregulated genes in a modified live vaccine strain of Edwardsiella ictaluri compared to a virulent parent strain and characterization of novel DNA vaccine candidates

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: November 15, 2009
Publication Date: March 24, 2010
Citation: Pridgeon, Y.W., Klesius, P.H. 2010. Identification of upregulated genes in a modified live vaccine strain of Edwardsiella ictaluri compared to a virulent parent strain and characterization of novel DNA vaccine candidates. In: Proceedings of BIT Life Sciences' 2nd World Vaccine Congress - 2010. March 24-26, 2010, Beijing, China. p. 308.

Technical Abstract: Using PCR-select subtractive cDNA hybridization technique, 41 expressed sequence tags (EST's) were isolated from a modified live vaccine strain (AQUAVAC-ESC formerly RD-33) vs a virulent parent strain (EILO) of Edwardsiella ictaluri. Transcriptional levels of the 41 ESTs in the vaccine strain and the virulent strain were then evaluated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The qPCR results revealed that 33 ESTs were consistently upregulated at lease 3 fold in the modified live vaccine strain compared to the virulent parent strain. Of the 33 upregulated ESTs 11 were upregulated greater than 5 fold. The 41 ESTs were found to be homologues of genes involved in protective immunity (22%), adhesion (7%), cell growth and survival (20%), signaling (7%), metabolism (5%), and transcriptional regulation (5%). However, putative functions of 20% of the genes identified are currently unknown. DNA vaccines for some of the upregulated genes are characterized and discussed.