Evaluation of the Immune Response of a Candidate Phage-Based Vaccine against Rhipicephalus microplus (Cattle Tick).

Alejandro González-Mora,Jorge Benavides,Kenny Misael Calvillo-Rodríguez,Marco Rito-Palomares,Ana Carolina Martínez-Torres,Jesús Hernández-Pérez

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13122018

Alejandro González-Mora, Jorge Benavides + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13122018

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Abstract

Cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) represents a severe problem causing substantial economic losses, estimated in billions of dollars annually. Currently, chemical acaricides represent the most widely used control method. However, several problems such as resistance have been described. Phage-based vaccines represent a fast and low-cost tool for antigen delivery. In this regard, the objective of the present work was to develop a candidate phage-based vaccine displaying a cattle tick antigen (Bm86-derived Sbm7462 antigen) on the surface of bacteriophage M13. Phage ELISA and dot blotting analysis confirmed the display of the antigen. Vaccine immunogenicity was evaluated using a bovine monocyte-derived dendritic cell-based ex vivo assay and a murine in vivo assay. The ex vivo model showed the maturation of dendritic cells after being pulsed with the phage-based vaccine. The humoral response was confirmed in the in vivo assay. These results demonstrated the capacity of the phage-based vaccine to induce both humoral and cellular immune-specific responses. Importantly, this is the first report describing a control method for cattle ticks using a candidate phage-based vaccine. Further studies to evaluate the immunogenicity in a bovine model are needed. The current approach represents a promising alternative to control cattle tick infestations.

Highlights

The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, is a blood-feeding ectoparasite that infests cattle in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide [1,2]
These results indicate that temperature plays an essential role in the expression of proteins and peptides on the surface of the bacteriophage M13
The control group did not show signs of proliferation through the evaluation of Ki-67 protein. These results indicate that the phage-based vaccine induces the generation of monocytederived dendritic cell (MODC) capable of efficiently priming antigen-specific mononuclear cells in the ex vivo assay

Summary

Introduction

The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, is a blood-feeding ectoparasite that infests cattle in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide [1,2]. Cattle tick has represented a serious problem in Mexico and worldwide, and it has been considered a primary veterinary challenge [3]. The cattle tick has an essential economic impact in the cattle industry estimated at billions of dollars annually [4,5]. Several strategies intend to control the infestation of this parasite. The most used strategy involves the use of chemical acaricides with partially successful results [6]. The intensive use of such chemicals increases concerns regarding the presence of pesticide residues in cattle products (meat and milk) and the environment [6,7,8]. It has been reported that the cost of the acaricide-based method is high due to labor and

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