Combination Vaccine Antigen Segmentation for Reliable Sow-to-Piglet Immunity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaccines for protecting pigs against Streptococcus suis, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium are ineffective due to vaccine failures, carrier pigs, and interference between antigens, leading to unpredictable efficacy and adverse effects, especially in sow vaccination.
Innovation Solution
A combination vaccine comprising Streptococcus suis IgM protease antigen, Escherichia coli fimbrial antigens F4, F5, and F6, and Clostridium perfringens type C toxoid, administered to female pigs to provide passive immunity to piglets through colostrum, overcoming antigen interference and enhancing protection against multiple pathogens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If whole-cell bacterins are used for vaccination, then broad pathogen coverage is achieved, but vaccine reliability deteriorates due to frequent vaccine failures and unpredictable efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the whole-cell bacterin into specific functional components: IgM protease antigen for Streptococcus suis, fimbrial antigens (F4, F5, F6) for Escherichia coli, and toxoids for Clostridium. This segmentation allows each antigen to be optimized for its specific protective function while eliminating ineffective or interfering components, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing pathogen coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the immunogenic parameters by selecting specific antigens with proven protective efficacy rather than using whole-cell preparations. The IgM protease antigen, fimbrial antigens, and toxoids represent a parameter change from crude whole-cell vaccines to purified, functionally-defined immunogens, resolving the contradiction between broad coverage and reliable efficacy
2Productivity
If multiple antigens are combined in one vaccine, then vaccination efficiency is improved, but antigen interference occurs leading to reduced immunogenicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential protective antigens from each pathogen: IgM protease from Streptococcus suis, fimbrial antigens from Escherichia coli, and toxoids from Clostridium. By taking out only the immunologically active and protective components, the vaccine achieves multi-pathogen coverage without the interference problems that arise from including non-essential or incompatible antigens
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an adjuvant as an intermediary substance to facilitate the combination of multiple different antigens. The adjuvant mediates the immune response to each antigen type, ensuring that their immunogenicities are maintained or enhanced despite being administered together in a single vaccine formulation
3Ease of manufacture
If sow vaccination is used instead of piglet vaccination, then cost and labor are reduced, but maternal immunity transfer is insufficient to protect piglets during critical period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by vaccinating sows before parturition with a optimized antigen combination that specifically targets antigens capable of transferring passive immunity to piglets. This preliminary vaccination ensures that when piglets are born, they receive adequate maternal antibodies through colostrum, providing protection during the critical early period before active piglet vaccination can be implemented
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to a vaccine comprising (a) an immunologically effective amount of a Streptococcus suis IgM protease antigen, (b) an immunologically effective amount of an Escherichia coli fibmrial antigen, and (c) an immunologically effective amount of a Clostridium toxoid, and also pertains to use of the vaccine in a method for protecting pigs against a pathogenic infection with Streptococcus suis, Escherichia coli and Clostridium.