Expression, characterization and immunogenicity of flagellin FlaC from Vibrio alginolyticus strain HY9901

Vibrio alginolyticus is one of ubiquitous pathogens infecting human and marine animals. Flagellins of bacteria play an important role in infecting animals and inducing host immune response. In the present research, flagellin flaC gene of V. alginolyticus strain HY9901 was cloned and expressed. The open reading frame of flaC gene contains 1155 bp and the putative protein consists of 384 amino acid residues. Polyclonal antibodies were raised in mouse against the purified recombinant FlaC protein and the reaction of the antibody was confirmed by western blot analysis using the FlaC protein and crude protein extracts of V. alginolyticus. Red snapper (Lutjanus sanguineus) vaccinated with recombinant FlaC produced specific antibodies, and were highly resistant to infection by virulent V. alginolyticus. This study indicates that the conserved FlaC is an effective vaccine candidate against V. alginolyticus infection.