Heterologous protection in pigs induced by a plasmid-cured and crp gene-deleted Salmonella choleraesuis live vaccine

In this study, we exploited a crp (cAMP receptor protein) gene-deleted, virulence plasmid-cured Salmonella choleraesuis mutant with decreased carbon source utilization, designated S.C.-Δcrp/vpl^-, as a live vaccine strain. Normal weight gain with no clinical signs was observed in pigs immunized with high doses of S.C.-Δcrp/vpl^- live vaccine. Vaccination in pregnant sows induced high maternal antibodies, which could prevent piglets from Salmonella infection. Moreover, serial transmission of the vaccine strain in piglets produced no evidence of reversion to virulence. Furthermore, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from immunized piglets also developed Salmonella specific T-cell proliferative response in vitro. Our results indicate that immunogenic antigens in S.C.-Δcrp/vpl^- can induce adequate immunity to protect pigs against challenge with a heterologous virulent strain. Thus, this mutant holds promise for the development of a new live S. choleraesuis vaccine.