Improving immune response of animals against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and Clostridium perfringens toxins with chicken egg yolk antibodies

Oral administration of specific antibodies is one of the possible alternatives how to approach the gastrointestinal infections in humans and animals. Similarly as vaccination, it shows several benefits in comparison to the conventional antibiotic therapy: It does not lead to the development of the resistance of microbes to antimicrobial drugs and may also be used preventively; It can act both against bacterial and viral infections; It does not affect the normal gut microbiota; There are no drug residua in the treated animals. Compared with vaccination, the oral administration of specific antibodies is often a simpler and cheaper option. In their production there are no requirements related to the recombinant technology and no public resistance in relation to the genetically modified organisms. The production of egg proteins is technologically and cost-effective, and easily scalable, while it is non-invasive and therefore acceptable to the general public. Also, the application itself is, as a rule, simpler and cheaper. In addition, it does not induce a non-specific immune response that may interfere with the use of vaccines. In the scope of the project, we aim to develop the technology for the production and use of IgY for the control and prevention of two of the economically extremely important gastrointestinal diseases. Namely: paratuberculosis - incurable diseases of ruminants, and necrotic enteritis - one of the most common diseases of fattening poultry. Hens will be immunized with a pre-prepared inactivated antigen from the paratuberculosis agent and also with the inactivated toxins PFO and NetB. From the egg yolks, IgY will be isolated and their quantity and specificity verified. They will be encapsulated and administered per os to the experimental animals, which will be exposed to the agents causing paratuberculosis and necrotic enteritis to assess the effectiveness of the acquired protection. Thus, as the first, we would develop a technology for the use of IgY antibodies to protect animals from Map. An effective method for the prevention or control of paratuberculosis would be a significant breakthrough in the fight against one of the most economically important ruminant diseases worldwide. The production of such an effector also represents a great economic opportunity. Also, the preparation and effective use of IgY antibodies against PFO and NetB toxins will be a completely new and original contribution to the science, as this has not yet been done according to the available data in the literature. In addition, for the disease prevention, the development of this non-invasive method, which practically has not been used yet currently for the disease control in the EU, is an extremely important contribution to the development of the field of profession. Namely, it can be expected in the near future that the importance of using alternatives to antibiotic therapy will greatly increase due to the increased resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial drugs. Thus, the experiences that will be gained during the proposed project will also be important in the development and implementation of this technology for the control of other diseases.

The production and use of antibodies derived from chicken eggs has been gaining in importance in the recent years. Despite the fact that procedures for the prevention or treatment of various bacterial and viral gastrointestinal diseases of domestic animals have already been developed, there has not yet been a successful attempt to use IgY antibodies to protect animals from Map. An effective method for the prevention or control of paratuberculosis would be a significant breakthrough in the fight against one of the most economically important ruminant diseases worldwide. The production of such an effector would also represent a great economic opportunity. Also, the preparation and effective use of IgY antibodies against PFO and NetB toxins of the bacterium Clostridium perfringens will be a completely new and original contribution to the science, as this has not yet been achieved according to available data in the literature. With the use of the inactivation antibodies, it will be possible to study more successfully the mechanism of toxin activity and determine their site of action in the host. In addition, for the disease prevention, the development of this non-invasive method, which currently has practically not been used yet for the disease control in the EU, is an extremely important contribution to the development of the field of profession. Namely, it can be expected in the near future that the importance of using alternatives to antibiotic therapy will greatly increase due to the increased resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial drugs. Thus, the experiences that will be gained during the proposed project will also be important in the development and implementation of this technology for the control of other diseases.

The production and use of antibodies derived from chicken eggs has been gaining in importance in the recent years. Despite the fact that procedures for the prevention or treatment of various bacterial and viral gastrointestinal diseases of domestic animals have already been developed, there has not yet been a successful attempt to use IgY antibodies to protect animals from Map. An effective method for the prevention or control of paratuberculosis would be a significant breakthrough in the fight against one of the most economically important ruminant diseases worldwide. The production of such an effector would also represent a great economic opportunity. Also, the preparation and effective use of IgY antibodies against PFO and NetB toxins of the bacterium Clostridium perfringens will be a completely new and original contribution to the science, as this has not yet been achieved according to available data in the literature. With the use of the inactivation antibodies, it will be possible to study more successfully the mechanism of toxin activity and determine their site of action in the host. In addition, for the disease prevention, the development of this non-invasive method, which currently has practically not been used yet for the disease control in the EU, is an extremely important contribution to the development of the field of profession. Namely, it can be expected in the near future that the importance of using alternatives to antibiotic therapy will greatly increase due to the increased resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial drugs. Thus, the experiences that will be gained during the proposed project will also be important in the development and implementation of this technology for the control of other diseases.