Immunoprotective effect of recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum expressing largemouth bass virus MCP on largemouth bass

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) is an infectious pathogen that causes high mortality rates in largemouth bass, and outbreaks of this virus can significantly harm the aquaculture industry. Currently, no vaccine has been developed that can effectively prevent the transmission of LMBV. In this study, we constructed a recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) strain capable of expressing the MCP gene of LMBV and displaying this protein on its surface; then, we evaluated the immunoprotective effect of this recombinant bacterium on largemouth bass. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry confirmed that MCP was successfully expressed and anchored on the surfaces of NC8 cells. Immunization of largemouth bass with NC8-pSIP409-pgsA′-MCP via the oral feeding route induced CD4, CD8, IL-1β, and IL-6 gene expression. In addition, NC8-pSIP409-pgsA′-MCP at different CFUs increased the survival of largemouth bass after LMBV infection; in particular, NC8-pSIP409-pgsA′-MCP (109 CFU) resulted in approximately 30 % survival. NC8-pSIP409-pgsA′-MCP immunization alleviated the pathological changes in the liver and spleen, exerting a more advantageous protective effect. These data suggest that the recombinant L. plantarum strain NC8-pSIP409-pgsA′-MCP can increase the resistance of largemouth bass to LMBV infection and that this strain is a promising candidate oral vaccine for the prevention of LMBV infection. •LMBV MCP was successfully expressed and anchored on the surface of L. plantarum.•NC8-pSIP409-pgsA′-MCP potently increases the T-cell response via oral delivery.•NC8-pSIP409-pgsA′-MCP enhances LMBV resistance in largemouth bass.