Eimeria tenella Elongation Factor-1a (EF-1a) co-administered with chicken IL-7 (chIL-7) DNA vaccine emulsified in Montanide Gel 01 adjuvant enhanced immune response to E. acervulina infection

Authors: Panebra, Alfredo; BEN AROUS, JULIETTE - Seppic, Inc; Lillehoj, Hyun

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologist
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The rising demand for poultry food products is challenged by many factors including governmental restrictions on the use of antibiotic growth promoters, high density production conditions, waste management and the emergence of drug-resistant infectious pathogens; particularly those causing intestinal diseases. The use of Eimeria whole oocyst vaccines have been used in reducing in-feed medication in coccidiosis. There is also much efforts to develop recombinant Eimeria vaccines that can engender cross-species protection. Based on our previous study that showed that Montanide Gel 01, a polymeric adjuvant designed to improve safety, efficacy of aqueous DNA vaccines can trigger cellular immunity, the current study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of EF-1a and IL-7 DNA vaccines emulsified in Montanide Gel 01 adjuvant against E. acervulina infection in broiler chickens. Our results showed that chickens immunized with EF-1a and IL-7 DNA vaccine showed improvements in body weight gain, reduced oocyst shedding, lower lesion scores. These results demonstrate beneficial effects of using EF-1a/IL-7 DNA vaccine in Montanide Gel 01 to enhance T-cell-mediated effector function in broiler chickens.