Genomic and immunogenic protein diversity of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolated from pigs in Great Britain: implications for vaccine protection

Forde, T. L. , Kollanandi Ratheesh, N., Harvey, W. T., Thomson, J. R., Williamson, S., Biek, R. and Opriessnig, T. (2020) Genomic and immunogenic protein diversity of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolated from pigs in Great Britain: implications for vaccine protection. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 418. (doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00418) (PMID:32231655) (PMCID:PMC7083082)

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Abstract

Erysipelas, caused by the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, is re-emerging in swine and poultry production systems worldwide. While the global genomic diversity of this species has been characterized, how much of this genomic and functional diversity is maintained at smaller scales is unclear. Specifically, while several key immunogenic surface proteins have been identified for E. rhusiopathiae, little is known about their presence among field strains and their divergence from vaccines, which could result in vaccine failure. Here, a comparative genomics approach was taken to determine the diversity of E. rhusiopathiae strains in pigs in Great Britain over nearly three decades, as well as to assess the field strains’ divergence from the vaccine strain most commonly used in British pigs. In addition, the presence/absence and variability of 13 previously described immunogenic surface proteins was determined, including SpaA which is considered a key immunogen. We found a high diversity of E. rhusiopathiae strains in British pigs, similar to the situation described in European poultry but in contrast to swine production systems in Asia. Of the four clades of E. rhusiopathiae found globally, three were represented among British pig isolates, with Clade 2 being the most common. All British pig isolates had one amino acid difference in the immunoprotective domain of the SpaA protein compared to the vaccine strain. However, we were able to confirm using in silico structural protein analyses that this difference is unlikely to compromise vaccine protection. Of 12 other known immunogenic surface proteins of E. rhusiopathiae examined, 11 were found to be present in all British pig isolates and the vaccine strain, but with highly variable degrees of conservation at the amino acid sequence level, ranging from 0.3 to 27% variant positions. Moreover, the phylogenetic incongruence of these proteins suggests that horizontal transfer of genes encoding for antigens is commonplace for this bacterium. We hypothesize that the sequence variants in these proteins could be responsible for differences in the efficacy of the immune response. Our results provide the necessary basis for testing this hypothesis through in vitro and in vivo studies.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This study was supported by the John Robertson Bequest Fund. TO was supported by BBSRC Roslin Institute Strategic Programme Control of Infectious Diseases funding (BBS/E/D/20002173 and BBS/E/D/20002174).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Harvey, Dr William and Biek, Professor Roman and Forde, Dr Taya and Kollanandi Ratheesh, Mr Nichith
Authors: Forde, T. L., Kollanandi Ratheesh, N., Harvey, W. T., Thomson, J. R., Williamson, S., Biek, R., and Opriessnig, T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Frontiers in Microbiology
Publisher:Frontiers Media
ISSN:1664-302X
ISSN (Online):1664-302X
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 Forde, Kollanandi Ratheesh, Harvey, Thomson, Williamson, Biek and Opriessnig
First Published:First published in Frontiers in Microbiology 11: 418
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
171848Molecular epidemiology of Bacillus anthracis: novel data and techniques for local surveillance in TanzaniaRoman BiekEuropean Commission (EC)659223Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine
300423Novel molecular approaches for understanding the epidemiology of endemic anthraxTaya FordeBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/R012075/1Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine
302632Using a comparative One Health approach to investigate the structural basis of antigenic variation among human and avian influenza virusesJill PellMedical Research Council (MRC)MR/R024758/1Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine