Protective effect of oral administration of transgenic tobacco seeds against verocytotoxic Escherichia coli strain in piglets

Abstract

The use of transgenic plants as delivery system for antigenic proteins is attractive for its simplicity and increases likelihood for local immune response at sites of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of oral administration of tobacco seeds, expressing the FedA, the major protein of the F18 adhesive fimbriae, and B subunit of verocytotoxin, against verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) strain in piglets. Forty-three early weaned piglets, were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups: 3 test groups and a control. Treatment groups orally received a bolus, with different dose of tobacco seeds on 0, 1, 2, 14 days post primary administration. After challenge, with 1*10(10) CFU of O138 Escherichia coli strain, piglets showed clinical scores significantly higher in the control group compared to orally immunized groups (P < 0.05) and the latter showed a faster recovery than in CG. In conclusion, oral administration of recombinant tobacco seeds expressing antigenic proteins against VTEC strains can induce a protective effect against challenger strain in piglets.

Review: Nutritional ecology of heavy metals

“…The ban on antibiotic growth promoters (EU Reg. 1831 in livestock led to the study of alternative compounds 2014a), however it increased the use of some minerals as growth stimulants and to prevent enteric diseases in pigs.…”

In Vitro Digestion of Chestnut and Quebracho Tannin Extracts: Antimicrobial Effect, Antioxidant Capacity and Cytomodulatory Activity in Swine Intestinal IPEC-J2 Cells

“…In pig livestock, Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) is the most important pathotype causing both neonatal and post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), which are responsible for significant economic losses worldwide and are the most common reason for the prescription of antimicrobials in intensive systems [11,12]. The proliferation of ETEC strains in the gut and their pathogenicity can be influenced by the expression of fimbrial adhesins, which bind to specific receptor sites on small intestinal enterocytes enabling the bacteria to colonize the small intestine [13,14]. ETEC strains equipped with F4 and F18 adhesive fimbriae show a high virulence and are the most common serotypes isolated in animals affected by PWD [15].…”

“…ETEC strains equipped with F4 and F18 adhesive fimbriae show a high virulence and are the most common serotypes isolated in animals affected by PWD [15]. As an alternative to antibiotics, new compounds are urgently needed to control enteric diseases and PWD in pig livestock [14]. Tannins are suitable due to their valuable extra-nutritional properties.…”

Evaluation of concentration of heavy metals in animal rearing system

“…Shi et al (2019) reported higher average concentration of Zn and Cu in swine manure compared to cattle and sheep manure in China (1313.00, 514.70 mg/kg, respectively). Through the manure, a large number of metallic ions can be absorbed into the soil, thus interfering with the quality of cultivation or increasing soil pollution (Lopez-Alonso et al 2012;Jakubus et al 2013;Rossi et al 2013;Rossi, Dell'Orto et al 2014a;Gul et al 2015;Liu et al 2018).…”