A recombinant metalloprotease antigen of Vibrio vulnificus elicits protective antibodies in a murine model

Aims: To investigate whether Vibrio vulnificus metalloprotease (VvpE) can induce the production of specific anti‐VvpE antibody to confer effective protection against Vibrio vulnificus infection and to evaluate the possibility of VvpE as a potential vaccine candidate against disease caused by V. vulnificus. Methods and Results: The gene encoding the 65‐kDa VvpE of V. vulnificus was amplified by PCR and cloned into the expression vector pET21(b). The recombinant VvpE of V. vulnificus was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). This His₆‐tagged VvpE was purified and injected intramuscularly into mice to evaluate its ability to stimulate immune response. Specific antibody levels were measured by ELISA. The 75% protective efficacy of recombinant VvpE was evaluated by active immunization and intraperitoneal challenge with V. vulnificus in mice. Conclusions: The recombinant His₆‐tagged VvpE of V. vulnificus is capable of inducing high antibody response in mice to confer effective protection against lethal challenge with V. vulnificus. VvpE might be a potential vaccine candidate to against V. vulnificus infection. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study uses His₆‐tagged VvpE to act as vaccine that successfully induces effective and specific anti‐VvpE antibody and offers an option for the potential vaccine candidate against V. vulnificus infection.