Key message A plant-based multiepitopic protein (LTBentero) containing epitopes from ETEC, S. typhimurium, and V. parahaemolyticus was produced in plants cells and triggered systemic and intestinal humoral responses in immunized mice. Abstract Around 200 million people suffer gastroenteritis daily and more than 2 million people die annually in developing countries due to such pathologies. Vaccination is an alternative to control this global health issue, however new low-cost vaccines are needed to ensure proper vaccine coverage. In this context, plants are attractive hosts for the synthesis and delivery of subunit vaccines. Therefore, in this study a plant-made multiepitopic protein named LTBentero containing epitopes from antigens of enterotoxigenic E. coli, S. typhimurium, and V. parahaemolyticus was produced and found immunogenic in mice. The LTBentero protein was expressed in tobacco plants at up to 5.29 µg g −1 fresh leaf tissue and was deemed immunogenic when administered to BALB/c mice either orally or subcutaneously. The plant-made LTBentero antigen induced specific IgG (systemic) and IgA (mucosal) responses against LTB, ST, and LptD epitopes. In conclusion, multiepitopic LTBentero was functionally produced in plant cells, being capable to trigger systemic and intestinal humoral responses and thus it constitutes a promising oral immunogen candidate in the fight against enteric diseases.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. campbellii, V. owensii and V. harveyi are causative agents of Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) in shrimp. AHPND is recently one of the most important diseases worldwide because of the high mortality and huge economic losses in shrimp farms. Antibiotic resistance has caused concern into finding other options to fight against pathogenic bacterial diseases. Currently, the use of lytic phages has reemerged as a promising strategy to combat bacterial pathogens. Likewise, modern molecular tools have been applied to modify phages by genetic engineering to express specific antigens and antibodies. This study reviewed recent research reports in the development of phages to control Vibrio spp. infections in shrimp and discusses different specific strategies, placing them in perspective to combat AHPND.

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