Vaccines

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20 pages, 2621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Unbiased Immunization Strategy Results in the Identification of Enolase as a Potential Marker for Nanobody-Based Detection of Trypanosoma evansi

by Zeng Li, Joar Esteban Pinto Torres, Julie Goossens, Didier Vertommen, Guy Caljon, Yann G.-J. Sterckx and Stefan Magez

Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030415 - 24 Jul 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3634

Abstract

Trypanosoma evansi is a widely spread parasite that causes the debilitating disease “surra” in several types of ungulates. This severely challenges livestock rearing and heavily weighs on the socio-economic development in the affected areas, which include countries on five continents. Active case finding [...] Read more.

Trypanosoma evansi is a widely spread parasite that causes the debilitating disease “surra” in several types of ungulates. This severely challenges livestock rearing and heavily weighs on the socio-economic development in the affected areas, which include countries on five continents. Active case finding requires a sensitive and specific diagnostic test. In this paper, we describe the application of an unbiased immunization strategy to identify potential biomarkers for Nanobody (Nb)-based detection of T. evansi infections. Alpaca immunization with soluble lysates from different T. evansi strains followed by panning against T. evansi secretome resulted in the selection of a single Nb (Nb11). By combining Nb11-mediated immuno-capturing with mass spectrometry, the T. evansi target antigen was identified as the glycolytic enzyme enolase. Four additional anti-enolase binders were subsequently generated by immunizing another alpaca with the recombinant target enzyme. Together with Nb11, these binders were evaluated for their potential use in a heterologous sandwich detection format. Three Nb pairs were identified as candidates for the further development of an antigen-based assay for Nb-mediated diagnosis of T. evansi infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotechnology of Non-disease Prevention Vaccines)

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Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 1870 KiB

Open AccessReview

Can Immunization of Hens Provide Oral-Based Therapeutics against COVID-19?

by José M. Pérez de la Lastra, Victoria Baca-González, Patricia Asensio-Calavia, Sergio González-Acosta and Antonio Morales-delaNuez

Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030486 - 28 Aug 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5893

Abstract

In the current worldwide pandemic situation caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the newest coronavirus disease (COVID-19), therapeutics and prophylactics are urgently needed for a large population. Some of the prophylaxis strategies are based on the development of [...] Read more.

In the current worldwide pandemic situation caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the newest coronavirus disease (COVID-19), therapeutics and prophylactics are urgently needed for a large population. Some of the prophylaxis strategies are based on the development of antibodies targeting viral proteins. IgY antibodies are a type of immunoglobulin present in birds, amphibians, and reptiles. They are usually obtained from egg yolk of hyper-immunized hens and represent a relatively inexpensive source of antibodies. Specific IgY can be produced by immunizing chickens with the target antigen and then purifying from the egg yolk. Chicken IgY has been widely explored as a clinical anti-infective material for prophylaxis, preventive medicine, and therapy of infectious diseases. Administered non-systemically, IgY antibodies are safe and effective drugs. Moreover, passive immunization with avian antibodies could become an effective alternative therapy, as these can be obtained relatively simply, cost-efficiently, and produced on a large scale. Here, we highlight the potential use of polyclonal avian IgY antibodies as an oral prophylactic treatment for respiratory viral diseases, such as COVID-19, for which no vaccine is yet available. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotechnology of Non-disease Prevention Vaccines)

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21 pages, 631 KiB

Open AccessReview

Are Vaccines the Solution for Methane Emissions from Ruminants? A Systematic Review

by Victoria Baca-González, Patricia Asensio-Calavia, Sergio González-Acosta, Jose Manuel Pérez de la Lastra and Antonio Morales de la Nuez

Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030460 - 20 Aug 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 9974

Abstract

Ruminants produce considerable amounts of methane during their digestive process, which makes the livestock industry as one of the largest sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. To tackle this situation, several solutions have been proposed, including vaccination of ruminants against microorganisms responsible for methane [...] Read more.

Ruminants produce considerable amounts of methane during their digestive process, which makes the livestock industry as one of the largest sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. To tackle this situation, several solutions have been proposed, including vaccination of ruminants against microorganisms responsible for methane synthesis in the rumen. In this review, we summarize the research done on this topic and describe the state of the art of this strategy. The different steps implied in this approach are described: experimental design, animal model (species, age), antigen (whole cells, cell parts, recombinant proteins, peptides), adjuvant (Freund’s, Montanide, saponin, among others), vaccination schedule (booster intervals and numbers) and measurements of treatment success (immunoglobulin titers and/or effects on methanogens and methane production). Highlighting both the advances made and knowledge gaps in the use of vaccines to inhibit ruminant methanogen activity, this research review opens the door to future studies. This will enable improvements in the methodology and systemic approaches so as to ensure the success of this proposal for the sustainable mitigation of methane emission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotechnology of Non-disease Prevention Vaccines)

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