BACTERIAL GHOST VACCINES AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOUL FOR FISH DISEASES

Pangambam Ingoba Meitei*, Vijay Sunder Deva G, David Waikhom, Judiana Nongkynrih
Department of Aquatic Animal Health Management
Central Institute of Fisheries Education,
Mumbai, India.
 

Prevention and control of fish diseases is a high priority in aquaculture industry which relies on a combination of good management practices, use of the few approved and commercially available drugs and vaccines. Most of the bacterial vaccines commonly used in aquaculture till now have been inactivated vaccines which are prepared from broth culture of a specific strain subjected to subsequent inactivation process. Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty, non-living bacterial cell envelope devoid of cytoplasmic contents having intact outer surface, maintaining cellular morphology and native surface antigenic structures. They have been prepared by making a trans-membrane pore in cell wall due to the activity of the expression of the E lysis gene or the critical concentration of some chemical compounds and enzymes. Mostly Gram negative bacteria have been used for preparation of such vaccines through gene E-mediated lysis, however, by using chemically induced lysis, BGs vaccines are now started to be prepared from Gram positive bacteria as well. The cost effectiveness, simple and easy method of preparation of BGs vaccines will provide an alternative way to combat the problems facing in preparation of other prevailing fish vaccines. BGs vaccines are able to induce strong protective immunity, act as an excellent carriers of foreign proteins and have adjuvant properties itself. They are not genetically modified organisms (GMOs), can be stored at ambient temperature if lyophilized. Moreover, BGs vaccines elicit both systemic and mucosal immune responses thereby showing strong protection, less stressful to vaccinate fish of any size.  Such vaccines can overcome the limitations of existing fish vaccines and form a new approach or method developed to improve the vaccination in fish.