Luciana Rossi1*, Vittorio Dell’Orto1, Simona Vagni1, Vittorio Sala2, Serena Reggi3, Antonella Baldi4. Protective effect of oral administration of transgenic tobacco seeds against verocytotoxic Escherichia coli strain in piglets 1
Università di Milano. Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety. Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. 2 Università di Milano. Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health. Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. 3 Plantechno S.r.l. Via Staffolo, 60; 26040 Vicomoscano, Cremona, Italy. 4 Università di Milano. Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety. Via Trentacoste 2, 20134 Milan, Italy. *Corresponding author Luciana Rossi e.mail:
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Abstract (150 words) The use of transgenic plants as delivery system for antigenic proteins is attractive for its simplicity and increases likelihood for local immune response at sites of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of oral administration of tobacco seeds, expressing the FedA, the major protein of the F18 adhesive fimbriae, and B subunit of verocitoxin, against verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) strain in piglets. Forty-three early weaned piglets, were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups: 3 test groups and a control. Treatment groups orally received a bolus, with different dose of tobacco seeds on 0, 1, 2, 14 days post primary administration. After challenge, with 1*1010 CFU of O138 Escherichia coli strain, piglets showed clinical scores significantly higher in the control group compared to orally immunized groups (P
