Protective efficacy of the oral vaccine Tc24:Co1 produced in Schizochytrium sp. against Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a mouse model

Trypanosoma cruzi parasite – causal Chagas disease agent - affects about 7 million people; no vaccine is available, and current medications have not been entirely effective. Multidisciplinary efforts are necessary for developing clinical vaccine prototypes. Thus, this research study aims to assess the expressed and whole-cell administration protection of the oral vaccine prototype Tc24:Co1 using Schizochytrium sp. microalga. High recombinant protein expression yields (675 μg/L) of algal culture were obtained. Additionally, Schizochytrium sp.-Tc24:Co1 resulted stable at 4 °C for up to six months and at 25 °C for three months. After receiving four oral doses of the vaccine, the mice showed a significant humoral immune response and a parasitemia reduction associated with a lack of heart inflammatory damage compared with the unvaccinated controls. The Schizochytrium sp.-Tc24:Co1 vaccine demonstrates to be promising as a prototype for further development showing protective effects against a T. cruzi challenge in a mouse model. [Display omitted] •An oral vaccine prototype Tc24:Co1 was produced in the Schizochytrium sp. microalga.•Schizochytrium sp.-Tc24:Co1 was stable at 4 and 25 °C for six months and three months.•Immunized mice were protected upon T. cruzi challenge.•Schizochytrium sp.-Tc24:Co1 vaccine is a promising candidate against Chagas disease.