RECOMBINANT VACCINE FOR PREVENTION AND/OR TREATMENT OF PLEUROPNEUMONIA INFECTIONS

摘要

The invention provides a vaccine for the prevention and/or the treatment ofinfection by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, which vaccine contains at least an immunogenic part of at least one cytolytic protein of A. pleuropneumonice produced by recombinant DNA, and detoxified derivatives thereof. Three of such cytolytic proteins are identified and a vaccine containing these, or parts or derivatives thereof, ensures protection against all known serotypes of A. pleuropneumoniae. The cytolytic proteins are produced by inserting a nucleotide sequence encoding one or more of the proteins or parts thereof in a host cell, cultivating the host cell and recovering the proteins. Another vaccine contains the genetic information for one or more of the cytolytic proteins, and a passive vaccine contains antibodies against these proteins. The invention further provides monoclonal antibodies and DNA probes for use in diagnostics.