Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is the most common clinical mastitis-associated pathogen in sheep which contributes to reduced
welfare of affected animals and, therefore, compromises the quality and quantity of milk production. To prevent mastitis
and its spread, it is essential to guarantee adequate breeding conditions and animal health, through the adoption of good
farm management practices and the application of suitable biosecurity measures. Vaccination can play a strategic role in
prevention, control, and eradication of diseases. The identification of secreted and cellular antigens of the predominant
sheep-CC130/ST700/t1773 lineage would assist in the design of effective vaccine against mammary infections caused by
S. aureus. In the current study, we carried out a 3D structural prediction analysis with the identification of the best B cell
epitopes of the whole and secreted portion of S. aureus AtlA. Fragments of atlA, containing the main predicted epitopes,
were amplified, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli for recombinant protein production. Two selected clones produced recombinant proteins (rAtl4 and rAtl8) showing strong reactivity with a hyperimmune serum against the native
AtlA and with blood sera collected from sheep with clinical S. aureus mastitis. These may represent potential candidate
protein-based vaccines able to elicit a protective immune response to be evaluated by vaccination and subsequent challenge of the vaccinated sheep.
welfare of affected animals and, therefore, compromises the quality and quantity of milk production. To prevent mastitis
and its spread, it is essential to guarantee adequate breeding conditions and animal health, through the adoption of good
farm management practices and the application of suitable biosecurity measures. Vaccination can play a strategic role in
prevention, control, and eradication of diseases. The identification of secreted and cellular antigens of the predominant
sheep-CC130/ST700/t1773 lineage would assist in the design of effective vaccine against mammary infections caused by
S. aureus. In the current study, we carried out a 3D structural prediction analysis with the identification of the best B cell
epitopes of the whole and secreted portion of S. aureus AtlA. Fragments of atlA, containing the main predicted epitopes,
were amplified, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli for recombinant protein production. Two selected clones produced recombinant proteins (rAtl4 and rAtl8) showing strong reactivity with a hyperimmune serum against the native
AtlA and with blood sera collected from sheep with clinical S. aureus mastitis. These may represent potential candidate
protein-based vaccines able to elicit a protective immune response to be evaluated by vaccination and subsequent challenge of the vaccinated sheep.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1665-1674 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Veterinary Research Communications |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 19 Apr 2023 |
| Externally published | Yes |