IgM Protease Antigen Vaccine for Piglets Against Maternal Antibody Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaccines for Streptococcus suis in piglets are ineffective due to interference from maternal antibodies, and existing vaccination strategies fail to provide adequate protection during the critical period of 2-3 weeks after weaning, leading to high susceptibility to infections.
Innovation Solution
A vaccine comprising an IgM protease antigen of Streptococcus suis, administered to piglets at an age of up to 28 days, which induces active protection without interference from maternal antibodies, allowing for effective protection against Streptococcus suis infections before weaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bacterins are used to vaccinate piglets, then the vaccine can be administered, but maternal antibodies interfere with active immune response and protection is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the antigenic parameters by using a different antigen (capsular polysaccharide or its derivatives) that is not recognized by maternal antibodies, thereby avoiding interference while still providing protective immunity. This parameter change in antigen selection allows successful vaccination despite the presence of maternal antibodies.
2Reliability
If piglets are vaccinated before weaning to protect against Streptococcus suis, then early protection is possible, but maternal antibodies prevent adequate immune response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protective antigenic component (capsular polysaccharide) from the whole bacterium, creating a purified vaccine that specifically targets the capsule without triggering interference from maternal antibodies against other bacterial components. This extraction allows effective early vaccination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the bacterial vaccine into specific antigenic components, particularly the capsular polysaccharide, rather than using whole-cell bacterins. This segmentation enables selective immunogenicity that avoids maternal antibody interference while maintaining protective efficacy.
3Ease of manufacture
If sow vaccination is used to provide passive immunity to piglets, then vaccination cost and labor are reduced, but maternal antibodies are too low to provide protection during critical period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by vaccinating piglets directly at an early age (before or at weaning) with the capsular polysaccharide vaccine, rather than relying on subsequent passive immunity from sows. This preliminary vaccination ensures protection is established before the critical period when Streptococcus suis infections occur.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The IgM protease antigen vaccine elicits protective immunity in piglets as young as 3 weeks old, providing significant protection against clinical signs and mortality associated with Streptococcus suis infections, even when administered before weaning, and is effective in a single dose, eliminating the need for booster vaccinations.
Implementation Method 1
The IgM protease antigen vaccine elicits protective immunity in piglets
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to a vaccine comprising an IgM protease antigen of Streptococcus suis, for use in a method for protecting piglets having maternally derived anti-Streptococcus suis antibodies against Streptococcus suis, by administering the vaccine to the piglets at an age of at most 28 days, preferably before the piglets are weaned.