Potential vaccine antigens and generation of aptamers by cell-SELEX for Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

• Grant number: 16/03746-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Teresa Marques Novo Mansur
• Grantee: Vinícius Marquioni Monteiro
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a Gram-positive bacterium that infects various animal hosts such as pigs, mice, poultry, etc. The main hosts of E. rhusiopathiae are pigs, in which it causes a disease known as swine erysipelas. Veterinary vaccines against swine erysipelas, which are manufactured from E. rhusiopathiae whole cells, are commercially available, but only prevent acute erysipelas, confer immunization for no more than a few months and can worsen the signals of chronic erysipelas. Moreover, the usual methods for detection of E. rhusiopathiae are time-consuming and require a complex laboratory infrastructure. In this Master's Project, we propose to recombinantly express E. rhusiopathiae extracellular proteins which were previously identified by the applicant as potential antigens using an immunoproteomic approach and evaluate their protective effect in mice. Those proteins that present a protective effect will be proposed in a new vaccine against E. rhusiopathiae. We also propose the generation of DNA aptamers against E. rhusiopathiae by cell-SELEX, in which the aptamer targets are unknown cell surface compounds. In the future, those aptamers could be incorporated in new detection systems for E. rhusiopathiae and be used in functional studies with the pathogen. The anticipated results will increase the knowledge about his proteins under investigation and lead to the development of new technologies, which could be patented and commercially exploited, for both E. rhusiopathiae and other microorganisms. (AU)