Evaluation of immune response to recombinant potential protective antigens of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae delivered as cocktail DNA and/or recombinant protein vaccines in mice.

Intramuscular immunization of mice with DNA cocktail vaccines, comprising potential protective antigens P36, P46, NrdF, and P97or P97R1 of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, induced strong Th1-polarized immune responses against each antigen, with only P46 eliciting a serum IgG response. Subcutaneous immunization with protein cocktail vaccines, surprisingly, induced both Th1-polarized immune response as well as antibody response whereas mice immunized with DNA cocktail vaccines followed by boosting with protein cocktail vaccines generated strong Th1-polarized and humoral immune responses. P97 was not recognized by serum antibodies from commercial bacterin-immunized mice indicating potential lack of expression of this important antigen in inactivated whole-cell vaccines.

Targeted expression of redesigned and codon optimised synthetic gene leads to recrystallisation inhibition and reduced electrolyte leakage in spring wheat at sub-zero temperatures.

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) adsorb to ice crystals and inhibit their growth, leading to non-colligative freezing point depression. Crops like spring wheat, that are highly susceptible to frost damage, can potentially be made frost tolerant by expressing AFPs in the cytoplasm and apoplast where ice recrystallisation leads to cellular damage. The protein sequence for HPLC-6 alpha-helical antifreeze protein from winter flounder was rationally redesigned after removing the prosequences in the native protein.

Comparative immunogenicity of M. hyopneumoniae NrdF encoded in different expression systems delivered orally via attenuated S. typhimurium aroA in mice.

The Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae ribonucleotide reductase R2 subunit (NrdF) gene fragment was cloned into eukaryotic and prokaryotic expression vectors and its immunogenicity evaluated in mice immunized orally with attenuated Salmonella typhimurium aroA CS332 harboring either of the recombinant expression plasmids. We found that NrdF is highly conserved among M. hyopneumoniae strains.