Protective IgM-mediated immunity against Vibrio anguillarum in Atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class II and cd4

The unique adaptive immune system of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), with genetic loss of the mhc class II and cd4, poses questions about the protective role of specific antibodies in this species. We investigate the IgM response against Vibrio anguillarum, a common pathogen in aquaculture. Juvenil...

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Main Authors: Alexandra Jonsson, Adrián López-Porras, Simen Foyn Nørstebø, Naomi Croft Guslund, Henning Sørum, Shuo-Wang Qiao, Finn-Eirik Johansen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1579541/full
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author Alexandra Jonsson
Adrián López-Porras
Simen Foyn Nørstebø
Naomi Croft Guslund
Henning Sørum
Shuo-Wang Qiao
Finn-Eirik Johansen
author_facet Alexandra Jonsson
Adrián López-Porras
Simen Foyn Nørstebø
Naomi Croft Guslund
Henning Sørum
Shuo-Wang Qiao
Finn-Eirik Johansen
author_sort Alexandra Jonsson
collection DOAJ
description The unique adaptive immune system of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), with genetic loss of the mhc class II and cd4, poses questions about the protective role of specific antibodies in this species. We investigate the IgM response against Vibrio anguillarum, a common pathogen in aquaculture. Juvenile Atlantic cod were bath-immunized with formalin-fixed V. anguillarum serotype O2a. Vaccinated cod were fully protected against lethal vibriosis when challenged by immersion with serotype O2a and partially protected against challenge with serotype O2b. Serum IgM from immunized cod reacted specifically with V. anguillarum O2a in ELISA, with some crossreactivity towards the O2b serotype. Bath-immunized cod were also protected against intracelomic challenge with V. anguillarum O2a, supporting the induction of systemic immunity by bath vaccination. Passive transfer experiments were conducted to evaluate the protective efficacy of IgM. Naive cod that received total serum or purified IgM from immunized donors were protected against lethal vibriosis; whereas, naive cod that received naive serum were not protected. Western blotting revealed that these protective antibodies recognized a proteinase K-sensitive antigen rather than lipopolysaccharides. These insights enhance our understanding of cod immunity and provide guidance for developing future vaccination strategies in aquaculture.
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spelling doaj-art-0ed3f07e3aaa465fa4efeaaa5cc6d4162025-08-20T03:14:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15795411579541Protective IgM-mediated immunity against Vibrio anguillarum in Atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class II and cd4Alexandra Jonsson0Adrián López-Porras1Simen Foyn Nørstebø2Naomi Croft Guslund3Henning Sørum4Shuo-Wang Qiao5Finn-Eirik Johansen6Section for Physiology and Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwaySection for Physiology and Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwaySection for Physiology and Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwayInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwaySection for Physiology and Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayThe unique adaptive immune system of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), with genetic loss of the mhc class II and cd4, poses questions about the protective role of specific antibodies in this species. We investigate the IgM response against Vibrio anguillarum, a common pathogen in aquaculture. Juvenile Atlantic cod were bath-immunized with formalin-fixed V. anguillarum serotype O2a. Vaccinated cod were fully protected against lethal vibriosis when challenged by immersion with serotype O2a and partially protected against challenge with serotype O2b. Serum IgM from immunized cod reacted specifically with V. anguillarum O2a in ELISA, with some crossreactivity towards the O2b serotype. Bath-immunized cod were also protected against intracelomic challenge with V. anguillarum O2a, supporting the induction of systemic immunity by bath vaccination. Passive transfer experiments were conducted to evaluate the protective efficacy of IgM. Naive cod that received total serum or purified IgM from immunized donors were protected against lethal vibriosis; whereas, naive cod that received naive serum were not protected. Western blotting revealed that these protective antibodies recognized a proteinase K-sensitive antigen rather than lipopolysaccharides. These insights enhance our understanding of cod immunity and provide guidance for developing future vaccination strategies in aquaculture.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1579541/fullAtlantic codVibrio anguillarumIgM antibodiesantibody responseadaptive immunityaquaculture
spellingShingle Alexandra Jonsson
Adrián López-Porras
Simen Foyn Nørstebø
Naomi Croft Guslund
Henning Sørum
Shuo-Wang Qiao
Finn-Eirik Johansen
Protective IgM-mediated immunity against Vibrio anguillarum in Atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class II and cd4
Frontiers in Immunology
Atlantic cod
Vibrio anguillarum
IgM antibodies
antibody response
adaptive immunity
aquaculture
title Protective IgM-mediated immunity against Vibrio anguillarum in Atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class II and cd4
title_full Protective IgM-mediated immunity against Vibrio anguillarum in Atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class II and cd4
title_fullStr Protective IgM-mediated immunity against Vibrio anguillarum in Atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class II and cd4
title_full_unstemmed Protective IgM-mediated immunity against Vibrio anguillarum in Atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class II and cd4
title_short Protective IgM-mediated immunity against Vibrio anguillarum in Atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class II and cd4
title_sort protective igm mediated immunity against vibrio anguillarum in atlantic cod with evolutionary losses of mhc class ii and cd4
topic Atlantic cod
Vibrio anguillarum
IgM antibodies
antibody response
adaptive immunity
aquaculture
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1579541/full
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