VACCINE FOR PCV2 AND MYCOPLASMA

Cross-Reference to Related Application(s)

This application is being filed on 08 May 2014, as a PCT International Patent application and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 61/821 ,011 filed on 08 May 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Introduction

Diseases associated with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection annually cost the swine industry millions in dollars of losses. Post-weaning multisystem wasting syndrome (PWMS) is associated with PCV2 infection of pigs. PWMS is clinically characterized by one or more of wasting, paleness of the skin, respiratory distress, diarrhea, and jaundice. In PWMS, it has been observed that macroscopic and microscopic lesions appear on multiple tissues and organs in infected pigs, with lymphoid organs being a common site for lesions. Mortality rates for pigs infected with PCV2, especially pigs exhibiting wasting, is high and infected pigs are also prone to developing secondary bacterial infections, like Glasser disease, pulmonary pasteruellosis, colibacilosis, and salmonellosis.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a causative agent of porcine enzootic pneumonia, a respiratory disease that is widespread among swine and commonly found in most swine herds. M, hyopneumoniae attacks the cilia of epithelial cells in the lungs causing death of the epithelial cells which results in lesions in the lungs of an infected pig. M. hyopneumoniae infection causes a significant reduction of the growing weight of pigs and facilitates entry of PRRSV and other respiratory pathogens into the lungs. The economic losses associated with increased mortality and poor growth performance due to PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae infection are therefore of significant concern in the swine industry.

A premixed multivalent vaccine in ready-to-use form comprising PCV2 antigen and M. hyopneumoniae antigen that elicits protective immunity against PCV2 infection and M. hyopneumoniae infection after a single dose administration of the vaccine would be useful in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with diseases caused by these infectious agents.

Summary

A multivalent single dose vaccine is disclosed. Each dose of the vaccine comprises an immunogenic amount of recombinant PCV2 ORF capsid antigen; an immunogenic amount of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigen; a two component adjuvant system; and a physiologically acceptable vehicle. The first component of the adjuvant system comprises a saponin adjuvant and the second component of the adjuvant system comprises an oil-in-water adjuvant or aluminum adjuvant. The M. hyopneumoniae antigen can be inactivated or attenuated M. hyopneumoniae or a lysate or sonicate of an attenuated, inactivated, or virulent M. hyopneumoniae. The vaccine can further include a non-ionic detergent and/or a preservative, such as thimerosal.

In embodiments, a dose of the vaccine comprises about 1ml to about 2 ml. Each dose of the vaccine elicits an immune response in a pig vaccinated with the vaccine that reduces or prevents one or more of:

viremia caused by PCV2,

PCV2 virus colonization of lymphoid tissues,

lymphoid depletion associated with PCV2,

clinical signs associated with PCV2 infection, or

lung lesions caused by M. hyopneumoniae infection

compared to a pig that is not vaccinated with the vaccine or administered a negative control before challenge with a field strain of PCV2 or M. hyopneumoniae. In an embodiment, administration of a single dose of the vaccine to a pig reduces the severity of or prevents conditions associated with PCV2 infection comprising one or more of wasting, paleness of the skin, respiratory distress, diarrhea, and jaundice.

A method of reducing or preventing PCV2 infection and/or M. hyopneumoniae infection in a pig is also disclosed. The method typically comprises administering to the pig a single dose of the vaccine of the disclosure. The vaccine is typically administered to the pig within about 1 to about 2 weeks of birth.

A method of formulating a multivalent single dose vaccine of the disclosure is also disclosed. The method typically comprises solubilizing an immunogenic amount of M. hyopneumoniae antigen in a non-ionic detergent; mixing the solubilized M.

hyopneumoniae antigen with saponin to form a partially adjuvanted mixture;

solubilizing an immunogenic amount of recombinant PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen in a non-ionic detergent; mixing the solubilized capsid antigen with the partially adjuvanted mixture to form a partially adjuvanted vaccine; and mixing the partially adjuvanted vaccine with an oil-in-water adjuvant or aluminum adjuvant to form the multivalent single dose vaccine.

Brief Description of the Figures

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the average ELISA OD values of Group 1 (placebo) and Group 2 (vaccinates) for PCV2 specific antibody post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing geometric mean viral loads (Log) of Group

1 (placebo) and Group 2 (vaccinates) piglets post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the average rectal temperatures of Group 1 (placebo) and Group 2 (vaccinates) piglets post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the immunohistochemistry (IHC) score distribution upon PCV2 staining in lymph node tissue in Group 1 (placebo) and Group 2

(vaccinates) piglets post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing lymphoid depletion in Group 1 (placebo) and Group 2 (vaccinates) piglets post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the average S/P ratio of Group 5 (placebo) and Group 4 (vaccinates) for PCV2 specific antibody post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing geometric mean viral loads (Log) of Group 5 (placebo) and Group 4 (vaccinates) piglets post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the average rectal temperatures of Group 5 (placebo) and Group 4 (vaccinates) piglets post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the immunohistochemistry (IHC) score distribution upon PCV2 staining in lymph node tissue in Group 5 (placebo) and Group 4

(vaccinates) piglets post challenge with PCV2.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing lymphoid depletion in Group 5 (placebo) and Group

4 (vaccinates) piglets post challenge with PCV2. Detailed Description

Vaccine systems for combined protection against PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae have been developed. However, these vaccines generally require a complex vaccination process that includes multiple steps and/or doses which require additional labor and costs. In one commercial system, the PCV2 vaccine and M. hyopneumoniae vaccine are provided in separate bottles and require a mixing step before administration. After mixing, the combined vaccine preparation has limited stability and must be

administered to pigs within a limited time period, generally no more than 4 hours after mixing. The mixing step introduces risk of contamination and requires additional labor compared to a ready-to-use (RTU) vaccine. Vaccines containing both PCV2 antigens and M. hyopneumoniae antigen premixed in a single bottle have also been developed. However, these premixed vaccines generally require a two dose vaccination regime to elicit protective immunity - a priming vaccination within the first several weeks after birth and a booster vaccination around the time of weaning - and therefore do not decrease the number of injections or simplify the vaccination process. Many of the two bottle vaccine systems also require a similar two dose vaccination regime to elicit protective immunity.

A multivalent immunogenic composition comprising PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen and M. hyopneumoniae antigen is disclosed. The immunogenic composition can suitably be formulated as a multivalent vaccine, in particular a ready-to-use (RTU) vaccine. The RTU vaccine of the disclosure is provided in a pre-mixed form in a single bottle to simplify the vaccination process and does not require additional mixing steps typical of conventional two bottle vaccine systems or a priming vaccination and follow- up booster vaccination to elicit protective immunity. A single dose of the RTU vaccine of the disclosure elicits an immune response in vaccinated pigs and is efficacious against M, hyopneumoniae and PCV2 infections. A single dose of the RTU vaccine disclosed herein has been found to reduce or prevent viremia caused by PCV2, reduce or prevent virus colonization of lymphoid tissues, reduce or prevent lymphoid depletion associated with PCV2, reduce or prevent clinical signs associated with PCV2 infection such as wasting, paleness of the skin, respiratory distress, diarrhea, and/or jaundice, and/or reduce or prevent lung lesions caused by M. hyopneumoniae infection. I. Definitions

Whenever appropriate, terms used in the singular also will include the plural and vice versa. The use of "a" herein means "one or more" unless stated otherwise or where the use of "one or more" is clearly inappropriate. The use of "or" means "and/or" unless stated otherwise. The use of "comprise," "comprises," "comprising," "include," "includes," and "including" are interchangeable and not intended to be limiting. The term "such as" also is not intended to be limiting. For example, the term "including" shall mean "including, but not limited to."

The term "immunogenic" as used herein means capable of producing an immune response in a host animal against an antigen or antigens. This immune response forms the basis of protective immunity elicited by an immunogenic composition, such as a vaccine, against a specific infectious organism, such as PCV2 or M. hyopneumoniae.

The term "vaccine" as used herein refers to an immunogenic composition comprising one of more antigens which, when administered to a mammal, such as a pig, induces or stimulates or elicits cellular or humoral immune responses to the one or more antigens of the vaccine. A vaccine may contain an adjuvant to produce a more robust immune response in the host animal to the one or more antigens.

The term "adjuvant" as used herein refers to a substance used in combination with an antigen or combination of antigens to produce a more robust immune response in a mammal, such as a pig, than the antigen or combination of antigens alone.

"Stimulating an immune response", "inducing an immune response" and "eliciting an immune response" are used interchangeably unless stated otherwise and include, but are not limited to, inducing, stimulating, or eliciting a therapeutic or prophylactic effect that is mediated by the immune system of an mammal, such as a pig. More specifically, stimulating an immune response in the context of the invention refers to eliciting cellular or humoral immune responses, thereby inducing downstream effects such as production of antibodies, antibody heavy chain class switching, maturation of APCs, and stimulation of cytolytic T cells, T helper cells and both T and B memory cells to the one or more antigens of the vaccine. "Antigen" as used herein refers to a substance that induces a specific immune response in a host animal, such as a pig. The antigen may comprise a whole microorganism or virus, a subunit of a microorganism or virus, a peptide, polypeptide, glycoprotein, carbohydrate, hapten, and combinations thereof capable of inducing an immune response upon presentation in a host animal in the presence and/or absence or an adjuvant.

The term "multivalent" as used herein refers to an immunogenic composition or vaccine comprising one or more PCV2 antigens and one or more M, hyopneumoniae antigens.

II. Exemplary Embodiments

Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings and tables. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments.

A multivalent immunogenic composition comprising PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen and M. hyopneumoniae antigen is disclosed. The immunogenic composition can suitably be formulated as a multivalent vaccine, in particular a ready-to-use (RTU) vaccine. A single dose of the RTU vaccine of the disclosure comprises a premixed formulation containing an immunogenic amount of PCV2 antigen, an immunogenic amount of M. hyopneumoniae antigen, and a two component adjuvant system.

The PCV2 antigen comprises PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen. The antigen can be produced by way of a recombinant viral vector comprising one or more PCV2 ORF2 nucleotide coding sequences under control of a suitable promoter, wherein PCV2 ORF2 capsid protein is expressed by the recombinant viral vector. Suitable cells are infected with the recombinant viral vector, the infected cells are cultured and the recombinant ORF2 capsid antigen is expressed by the infected cells. Preferably, the cells secrete the recombinant antigen into the supernatant for ease of recovery, although the recombinant antigen can also be recovered from the cells using conventional methods.

The PCV2 ORF2 nucleotide sequence can be amplified from PCV2, preferably a virulent PCV2, using PCR. Primers for amplifying PCV2 ORF2 are disclosed in the examples below. The nucleotide sequence for PCV2 ORF2 is known and primers for amplifying the nucleotide sequence can be identified and constructed using

conventional methods. The amplified PCV2 ORF2 nucleotide sequence can be transferred into a suitable shuttle vector and the portion of the shuttle vector comprising the heterologous PCV2 ORF2 nucleotide sequence can transfected into a suitable viral vector. See for example U.S. 8,008,001 and U.S. 8,119,143.

Preferred viral vectors include baculovirus although it is understood that other viral expression systems are suitable. Baculovirus expression vectors produce high levels of viral antigen in insect cells, including but not limited to Spodoptera cells, Trichoplusia cells, and High Five cells, eliminating the need for complicated and time consuming procedures to concentrate the antigen from infected cells. Examples of suitable Spodoptera cells include but are not limited to Sf-9 cells and Sf-21 cells.

Examples of suitable Trichoplusia cells include but are not limited to T.ni cells.

Baculovirus expression systems are commercially available from many different companies, including the Bac-to-Bac HBM TOPO® baculovirus expression system (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) described in the examples below. Additional examples of suitable expression systems include the BaculoDirect™ and Bac-to-Bac® baculovirus expression systems (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and BacPAK™ baculovirus expression systems (Clontech, Mountain View, CA).

In the baculovirus vector, the PCV2 ORF2 nucleotide sequence is placed under the control of a suitable promoter. For example, a PCV2 ORF2 nucleotide sequence can be placed under the control of the PH promoter or Pio promoter. In an embodiment, a PCV2 ORF2 nucleotide sequence is inserted into an insertion site in the Pi o locus and/or in the PH locus of the baculovirus genome. In this manner, a vector comprising two copies of the PCV2 ORF2 nucleotide sequence can be constructed to enable high amounts of antigen production by the infected cells. Other suitable promoters, either heterologous or heterogeneous, known to one of skill in the art may be used. A detailed description of baculovirus expression vector systems and cell culture conditions and techniques for producing recombinant protein using such an expression system can be found, for example, in Hitchman et al., 2009, Baculovirus Expression Systems for

Recombinant Protein Production in Insect Cells, Rec. Pat. Biotechnol, 3:46-54 a review article describing major developments and patents relating to baculovirus expression systems since the initial use of baculovirus as an expression tool and Guide to

Baculovirus Expression Vector Systems (BEVS) and Insect Cell Culture Techniques published by Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA), accessible at

http://tools.invitrogen.com/content/sfs/manuals/bevtest.p df.

The PCV2 0RF2 capsid antigen can be concentrated and purified from the cell culture using conventional methods. In an embodiment, the PCV2 0RF2 capsid antigen is concentrated and purified from the cell culture by filtration and then centrifugation. In embodiments, the cell culture is centrifuged at 5,000 x g for at least 20 minutes. The supernatant is retained as it contains PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen secreted by the cells. The pellet which contains cells and cell debris is then resuspended in a buffer, such as a phosphate buffer, and subjected to one or more freeze-thaw cycles, preferably 2 to 3 freeze-thaw cycles, to release PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen from the cells. The pellet can optionally be frozen prior to resuspending the pellet in the buffer. Preferably the cells suspended in the buffer are frozen for about 5 minutes to about 24 hours before being allowed to thaw. In an embodiment, the frozen cells are thawed at a temperature of about 37°C. The material can be centrifuged after each freeze-thaw cycle and the supernatant retained. The supernatants can then be pooled with the supernatant from the initial filtration and centrifugation to provide concentrated and purified PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen.

In embodiments, the RTU vaccine comprises at least about 1 ELISA unit of recombinant PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen per dose. One ELISA unit is the minimum protective dose of capsid antigen in the host animal (e.g., a pig), as further described in Example 2. To determine ELISA units, a standard curve for a reference PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen is established by serially diluting the reference antigen and detecting the antigen with a standardized concentration of mononclonal anti-PCV2 antibody. One example of a reference antigen is PCV2-Ag-5181 1. Anti-PCV2 antibodies are commercially available, for example, from RTI (Brookings, SD). Once the ELISA units of the reference antigen are determined, the standard curve can be used for dose determination for all samples tested by ELISA against the reference antigen. In embodiments, the vaccine comprises at least about 1 ELISA unit to about 5 ELISA units, about 1 ELISA unit to about 4 ELISA units, about 1 ELISA unit to about 3 ELISA units, about 1 ELISA unit to about 2 ELISA units of PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen per dose. In another embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 1 ELISA unit PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen per dose. A dose of the vaccine of the disclosure is generally about 0.5 ml to about 2.0 ml. In an embodiment, a dose of the vaccine is about 1.0 ml to about 2.0 ml, about 1.0 ml to about 1.75 ml, about 1.0 ml to about 1.5 ml, or about 1.0 ml to about 1.25 ml. In an embodiment, a dose of the vaccine comprises about 1.0 ml.

The M. hyopneumoniae antigen comprises inactivated (whole cell or disrupted) or a lysate or sonicate of an inactivated, attenuated, or virulent M. hyopneumoniae. In some embodiments, the lysate or sonicate comprises a whole cell lysate or sonciate, or a fraction thereof comprising cell membrane and/or a protein fraction of the lysate or sonicate. In some embodiments, the M. hyopneumoniae antigen comprises disrupted M hyopneumoniae. In other embodiments, the M. hyopneumoniae antigen comprises a sonicate of M. hyopneumoniae. In some embodiments, the RTU vaccine comprises at least about 60 micrograms per dose. In some embodiments, the vaccine comprises about 60 micrograms to about 200 micrograms, about 60 micrograms to about 180 micrograms, about 100 micrograms to about 200 micrograms, about 100 micrograms to about 180 micrograms, about 100 micrograms to about 160 micrograms, about 100 micrograms to about 140 micrograms of M. hyopneumoniae antigen per dose. In an embodiment, the vaccine comprises at least 120 micrograms of M. hyopneumoniae antigen per dose. In yet another embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 120 micrograms of M. hyopneumoniae antigen per dose.

The first component of the adjuvant system comprises a saponin based adjuvant.

Examples of suitable saponins include but are not limited to Quilaja saponins, Ginseng saponins, Panax notoginseng saponins, Platycodon grandiflorum saponins, Astragalus saponins, Achyranthes saponins, and Polygala saponins. Other saponins useful as adjuvants are known and described for example in Sun et al, 2009, Vaccine, 27:1787- 1796 which is incorporated herein by reference. In an embodiment, the saponin comprises Quil A saponin or a derivative thereof including but not limited to QS-7, QS- 17, QS-18, QS-21, or a combination thereof. Saponins can also be described on the basis of the number and position of sugar chains. The saponin used in the adjuvant system described herein can be a type 3-monodesmoside (MD); 3,28-bisdesmoside (BD); 3,6(25)-BD; 3,21-BD; 3,22-BD; 3,26-BD; or 3,6,25-tridesmoside (TD) saponin. In certain embodiments, the saponin comprises a type 3-MD saponin. In some embodiments, the vaccine comprises about 50 to about 200 micrograms saponin per dose. In an embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 75 to about 150 micrograms saponin per dose. In another embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 90 to about 1 10 micrograms saponin per dose. In yet another embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 100 micrograms saponin per dose.

The second component of the adjuvant system comprises an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion adjuvant or aluminum adjuvant. Any suitable oil may be used in the O/W adjuvant, such as a mineral oil or non-mineral oil. The oil phase may contain a mixture of different oils, either mineral or non-mineral. The O/W adjuvants generally comprise from about 25% to about 60% oil phase and about 40% to about 75% water phase.

Examples of suitable O/W emulsion adjuvants include but are not limited to AS03 and AS03 (GSK), MF59 (Novartis), AF03 (Sanofi Pasteur), Montanide (Seppic), Lipovant, AddaVax (InvivoGen), Trigen (Newport Laboratories, Worthington, MN), Adjuvant 65. In embodiments, the vaccine comprises about 5% to about 45% v/v O/W adjuvant. In an embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 10% to about 40% v/v O/W adjuvant.

The aluminum adjuvant comprises an aluminum salt or gel comprising aluminum salt. The aluminum salt can be aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, aluminum potassium sulfate, or a mixture thereof. In embodiments, the aluminum salt comprises Al ₂ (OH) ₃ . Examples of aluminum adjuvants include but are not limited to aluminum hydroxide gel. In embodiments, the vaccine comprises about 5% to about 45% v/v aluminum adjuvant. In an embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 10% to about 40% v/v aluminum adjuvant.

The RTU vaccine can further include one or more suitable preservatives.

Examples of suitable preservatives include but are not limited to thimerosal and antibiotics. Examples of antibiotics include but are not limited to penicillin, streptomycin, and amphotericin B. In an embodiment, the vaccine comprises from about 10 to about 200 unit of penicillin per ml. In another embodiment, the vaccine comprises from about 10 to about 200 microgram streptomycin per ml. In yet another embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 0.1 to about 1.0 microgram amphotericin B per ml. In embodiments, the vaccine comprises about 0.005 % to about 0.01 % by weight of a preservative. In an embodiment, the preservative comprises thimerosal.

The vaccine of the disclosure generally includes a physiologically acceptable vehicle. A "physiologically acceptable" vehicle is any vehicle that is suitable for in vivo administration (e.g., oral, transdermal, or parenteral administration) or in vitro use, i.e., cell culture. Suitable physiologically acceptable vehicles for in vivo administration include water, buffered solutions, and glucose or dextrose solutions, among others. A suitable vehicle for cell culture is commercially available cell culture media. Additional components of the vaccine may suitably include excipients such as stabilizers, preservatives, diluents, emulsifiers or lubricants, in addition to the physiologically acceptable vehicle. In particular, suitable excipients include, but are not limited to, Tween 20, NP-40, DMSO, sucrose, L-histadine, polysorbate 20, and serum.

As appreciated by skilled artisans, the vaccine disclosed herein can be suitably formulated to be compatible with the intended route of administration. Examples of suitable routes of administration include parenteral, e.g., intravenous, intradermal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral (e.g., inhalation), transdermal (topical), transmucosal, and rectal administration. A suitable route of administration to swine is intramuscular. Solutions or suspensions used for parenteral, intradermal, or subcutaneous application can include the following components: a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerin, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. The pH of the composition can be adjusted with acids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. Systemic administration of the composition is also suitably accomplished by transmucosal or transdermal means. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, and fusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can be accomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories.

Exemplary embodiments of a RTU vaccine according to the disclosure are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1

The vaccine of the disclosure is provided in a pre-mixed, ready-to-use form to simplify the vaccination process and does not require additional mixing steps typical of conventional two bottle vaccine systems or a priming vaccination and follow-up booster vaccination to elicit protective immunity. In embodiments, an RTU vaccine of the disclosure is formulated by solubilizing an immunogenic amount of M. hyopneumoniae antigen in a non-ionic detergent. In embodiments, the concentration of the non-ionic detergent is about 0.5% to about 2% v/v. In an embodiment, the concentration of the non-ionic detergent is about 1% v/v. The solubilized M. hyopneumoniae antigen mixed with an amount of saponin to form a partially adjuvanted mixture. In an embodiment, a 1% w/v solution of saponin is added to the solubilized antigen at a concentration of about 50 micrograms to about 150 micrograms saponin per ml. Recombinant PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen is solubilized in a non-ionic detergent. In embodiments, the concentration of the non-ionic detergent is about 0.5% to about 2% v/v. In an embodiment, the concentration of the non-ionic detergent is about 1% v/v. An immunogenic amount of the solubilized capsid antigen is then mixed with the partially adjuvanted mixture of M, hyopneumoniae antigen to form a partially adjuvanted vaccine. The partially adjuvanted vaccine is then diluted with a physiologically acceptable vehicle, such as an aqueous buffer, to the final volume and then mixed with an aluminum adjuvant or O/W adjuvant to form the RTU vaccine. Preferably, the RTU vaccine comprises at least about 120 micrograms of M. hyopneumoniae antigen and at least about 1 ELISA unit PCV2 ORF2 capsid antigen per dose. In embodiments, the vaccine comprises about 1 ELISA to about 5 ELISA unit of capsid antigen and about 60 micrograms to about 200 micrograms of M. hyopneumoniae antigen per dose. In an embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 1 ELISA to about 3 ELISA unit of capsid antigen and about 60 micrograms to about 180 micrograms of M. hyopneumoniae antigen per dose. In embodiments, the vaccine comprises about 50 micrograms to about 150 micrograms saponin per dose. In an embodiment, the vaccine comprises about 90 micrograms to about 120 micrograms saponin per dose.

A single dose of the RTU vaccine of the disclosure elicits an immune response in the vaccinated pig. A dose of the vaccine is generally about 0.5 ml to about 2.0 ml. In an embodiment, a dose of the vaccine is about 1.0 ml to about 2.0 ml, about 1.0 ml to about 1.75 ml, about 1.0 ml to about 1.5 ml, or about 1.0 ml to about 1.25 ml. In an embodiment, a dose of the vaccine comprises about 1.0 ml. In embodiments, the immune response elicited by a single dose of the vaccine administered to a pig reduces or prevents viremia caused by PCV2 compared to a pig that is not vaccinated or is administered a negative control before challenge with a field strain of PCV2 and/or M. hyopneumoniae as described in the examples below. In embodiments, the immune response elicited by a single dose of the vaccine administered to a pig reduces or prevents virus colonization of lymphoid tissues, reduces or prevents lymphoid depletion associated with PCV2 compared to a pig that is not vaccinated or is administered a negative control before challenge with a field strain of PCV2 and/or M. hyopneumoniae as described in the examples below. In embodiments, the immune response elicited by a single dose of the vaccine administered to a pig reduces or prevents clinical signs associated with PCV2 infection such as wasting, paleness of the skin, respiratory distress, diarrhea, and/or jaundice compared to a pig that is not vaccinated or is administered a negative control before challenge with a field strain of PCV2 as described in the examples below. In embodiments, the immune response elicited by a single dose of the vaccine administered to a pig reduces or prevents lung lesions caused by M. hyopneumoniae infection as compared to a pig that is not vaccinated or is administered a negative control before challenge with a field strain of M.

hyopneumoniae as described in the examples below.

The vaccine may be administered orally, parenterally, intramuscularly, intranasally or intravenously to the pig. Oral delivery may encompass, for example, adding the compositions to the feed or drink of the pigs. In an embodiment, the vaccine is administered to the pig intramuscularly. The vaccine is generally administered to the pig within 1 to 2 weeks of birth. When the vaccine of the disclosure is administered within the first few weeks after birth, the pig may obtain immunoprotection against PCV2 by the weaning stage, which is when piglets become most susceptible to PCV2 infection.

Examples

The following examples are illustrative, and other embodiments are within the scope of the present disclosure.

Example 1 Production of PCV2 capsid antigen

The capsid ORF2 gene of PCV2b was expressed in the Bac-to-Bac®

Baculovirus Expression System (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). Generation of recombinant baculovirus was based on a site-specific transposition of an expression cassette into a baculovirus shuttle vector (bacmid) propagated in E. coli. An expression construct containing two copies of the ORF2 genes was generated using the pFastBac-dual donor plasmid (Invitrogen). PCV2b gene expression is controlled by baculovirus-specific promoters PPH and Ppio- DHlOBaaE. coli with a baculovirus shuttle vector (bacmid) and a helper plasmid provided for the generation of a recombinant bacmid following transposition of the pFastBac-dual expression construct. The recombinant bacmid generated rBav-PCV2 after transfection of insect cells and capsid ORF2 protein was produced in cell cultures.

DNA extraction from PCV2b and PCR amplification

DNA was extracted from a PCV2b isolate with a DNA extraction kit (Qiagen). Following the extraction of the viral DNA, PCR amplification was performed to isolate the full-length ORF2 gene of PCV2b. Four different PCR primers were designed to prepare two different inserts for P _P H and Ppio promoters. The ORF2 gene is 702 bp and can be detected by gel electrophoresis. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified ORF2 gene (SEQ ID NO: l) is shown below: 1 ATGACGTATC CAAGGAGGCG TTACCGGAGA AGAAGACACC GCCCCCGCAG CCATCTTGGC

61 CAGATCCTCC GCCGCCGCCC CTGGCTCGTC CACCCCCGCC ACCGTTACCG CTGGAGAAGG 121 AAAAATGGCA TCTTCAACAC CCGCCTATCC CGCACCTTCG GATATACTAT CAAGCGAACC 181 ACAGTCAGAA CGCCCTCCTG GGCGGTGGAC ATGATGAGAT TCAATATTAA TGACTTTCTT 2 1 CCCCCAGGAG GGGGCTCAAA CCCCCGCTCT GTGCCCTTTG AA AC T AC AG AATAAGAAAG 301 GTTAAGGTTG AATTCTGGCC CTGCTCCCCG ATCACCCAGG GTGACAGGGG AGTGGGCTCC

361 AGTGCTGTTA TTCTAGATGA TAACTTTGTA ACAAAGGCCA CAGCCCTCAC CTATGACCCC 421 TATGTAAACT ACTCCTCCCG CCATACCATA ACCCAGCCCT TCTCCTACCA CTCCCGCTAC

481 TTTACCCCCA AACCTGTCCT AGATTCCACT ATTGATTACT TCCAACCAAA CAACAAAAGA 541 AACCAGCTGT GGCTGAGACT ACAAACTGCT GGAAATGTAG ACCACGTAGG CCTCGGCATT 601 GCGTTCGAAA ACAGTATAAA CGACCAGGAA TACAATATCC GTGTAACCAT GTATGTACAA 661 TTCAGAGAAT TTAATCTTAA AGACCCCCCA CTTAACCCTT AA

The PCR product of the ORF2 gene was purified by gel electrophoresis for PCR subcloning. The sequence of the primers is shown in Table 3. Table 3

Subcloning of the ORF2 gene into shuttle vector pCR2.1 TOPO

The PCR product of the ORF2 gene of PCV2b was cloned into pCR2.1 TOPO vector directly (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). E. coli TOP 10 cells were transformed with the vector. Plasmid DNAs of recombinant pCR2.1 TOPO was extracted and purified for DNA sequencing to confirm that the ORF2 gene was in frame.

Cloning of ORF2 into expression vector pFastBac-Dual

Modified ORF2 gene for insertion was prepared from shuttle vector pCR2.1

TOPO by restriction endonuclease digestion. First, pFastBac-dual and pCR2.1TOPO-

ORF2(B/H) were digested with BamHI and Hindlll for cloning the ORF2 into P _PH promoter. Recombinant pFastBac-dual-ORF2(B/H) was picked up for further processing. Second, recombinant pFastBac-Dual-ORF2(B/H) and pCR2.1 TOPO- ORF2(X/K) were digested with Xhol and Kpnl for cloning ORF2 into Ppio promoter.

After screening and recombinant clone confirmation, the two copies of the ORF2 genes were inserted into pFastBac-Dual for production of recombinant baculovirus.

E. coli Mech Tl chemical competent cells (Invitrogen) were transformed with the plasmid DNAs of recombinant pFastBac-dual. Recombinant pFastBac-dual with ORF2 gene was selected on LB agar plate with ampicillin (100 μg/mL). Insertion of the

ORF2 gene was confirmed with either restriction endonuclease digestion or PCR amplification. The digestion of BamHi/Hindlll or Xhol/Kpnl released the ORF2 gene from the pFastBac-dual vector.

Generating recombinant bacmid

After the recombinant pFastBac-Dual construct with ORF2 gene was generated, the purified plasmid DNA was transformed into DHl OBac E. coli cells to produce a recombinant bacmid by transposition. MAX Efficiency DHlOBac chemically competent cells (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) were used for transformation of recombinant pFastBac-dual and the blue/white colony selection was used to identify colonies containing the recombinant bacmid. Recombinant bacmid was also selected on an LB agar plate containing 50 μg/mL kanamycin, and 7 μg/mL gentamicin. After incubating the plate for 48 hrs at 37°C, the largest, most isolated white colonies were picked up for further screening.

White colonies (10) were picked and restreaked onto fresh LB plates containing 50 μg/mL kanamycin, 7 μg/mL gentamicin, 10 μg/mL tetracycline, 100 μg/mL Bluo- gal, and 40 μg/mL IPTG. From a single white colony, a liquid culture containing 50 μg/mL kanamycin, 7 μg/mL gentamicin, and 10 μg mL tetracycline was grown for isolation of recombinant bacmid DNA with the S.N.A.P. MiniPrep Kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). The recombinant bacmid DNA was analyzed by PCR amplification.

The bacmid contained Ml 3 Forward (-40) and Ml 3 Reverse priming sites flanking the mini-a Tn7 site within the lac a-complementation region of bacmid which can be used to facilitate PCR analysis. To verify the presence of the ORF2 gene in the recombinant bacmid, either pUCM13 Forward (-20) and pUCM13 Reverse primers or a combination of the pUCM13 Forward (-20) or pUCM13 Reverse primer and a primer that hybridizes with ORF2 gene were used. Multiple PCR amplifications were performed to verify that the recombinant bacmid with two copies of ORF2 genes was inserted into the genome of baculovirus. pUCM13F/XHORF2bR PCR was performed to validate that the ORF2 gene was inserted between Ppio and HSVtk pA. The PCR product was approximately 2.4 kb. pUCMl 3R/BHORF2bF PCR was performed to validate that the ORF2 gene was inserted between PPH and SV40 pA. The PCR product was approximately 1.2 kb.

Generating recombinant baculovirus by transfection of insect cells The recombinant bacmid (rBacmid) containing the ORF2 gene was used to transfect Sf9 (Spodoptera frugiperda ) insect cells to produce recombinant baculovirus with the ORF2 gene. Transfection was performed in a 6-well plate with lxl 0 ⁶ cells/well. For each transfection sample, bacmid DNA and Cellfectin Reagent complexes were prepared in 12 x 75mm sterile tubes as follows:

Solution A: 100 μΐ culture medium (SF-900 II SFM medium; Invitrogen, Grand Island, NY) + 9.0 μΐ (cellfectin reagent)

Solution B: 100 μΐ culture medium + rBacmid DNA (1.5-12 μg) Solution A and Solution B were combined and incubated for 30 minutes at 20°C +/- 5°C. 0.8 mL of SF-900 medium was added to each tube before adding the complexes into Sf9 cells. The DNA ellfectin complexes were transferred into Sf9 cells and incubated for 5 hrs in 27°C +/-1 °C. The transfection complexes were removed from cell culture and fresh cell culture added. The transfected cells were incubated at 27°C for generation of recombinant baculovirus.

Recombinant baculoviruses (rBav) produced from transfection of Sf9 cells were released into the medium at 4 to 5 days post-transfection. Once the Sf9 cells appeared infected, the viruses were harvested from the cell culture medium by centrifugation at 500 x g for 10 minutes to remove cells and large debris. The rBav was then amplified by 4 passages in Sf9 cells.

T.ni {Trichoplusia ni) cells (Allele Biotechnology, San Diego, CA) were infected with rBAV PCV2 at a MOI of about 0.05 to about 0.2 and cultured in Express Five SFM medium (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). The cell culture was incubated at 27°C +/- 1 °C with aeration and agitation. When the cell density reached between 1 -6 x 10 ⁶ , fresh cell culture media was added to adjust the cell density to 1 -5 x 10 ⁵ . Media was added approximately every 2-6 days. The time from inoculation to harvest of the cells ranged from 6 to 12 days.

The harvested culture was concentrated and purified by filtration and then centrifugation. The harvest was filtered through a 10 kd filter. When concentrated to approximately 1/6 of the original volume, the concentrated harvested material was transferred to centrifugation tubes, centrifuged at 5,000 x g for 45 minutes, and the supernatants retained. PB buffer (0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 6.9) was added to the centrifuge tubes containing the pellets 1/50 of the original volume and the tubes were subjected to three freeze and thaw cycles to release the PCV2 capsid antigen from the T.ni cells. Freezing was accomplished in either a <-75°C freezer or in an ethanol /dry- ice bath. The contents in the tube were frozen for 5 minutes to 24 hours. Thawing was done in a 37°C ±1°C water bath.

The supernatants containing the PCV2 capsid antigen from the concentration by centrifugation and freeze-thaw procedure were inactivated with binary ethyleneimine (BEI) at 20°C ±3°C with constant mixing for 48-72 hours. The BEI was then inactivated with 2M sodium thiosulfate at 20°C ±3°C with constant mixing for 2-18 hours.

Example 2

Production of a First Embodiment of a Ready-To-Use Vaccine An isolate of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae was cultured and harvested when the culture reached a bacterium concentration of about lxl 0 ⁷ CCU/ml culture medium. The harvested cells were washed three times in Tris-sodium chloride (TN) buffer

[lOmM Tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane; 140 mM NaCl], pH 7.2 and 7.4 and then concentrated by centrifugation. The harvested cells were inactivated by sonic disruption with a sonicator. The antigen concentration was adjusted to 2 to 3 mg per ml with TN buffer, solubilized with a non-ionic detergent, and then a proportional amount of Quil-A saponin was added to the solubilized antigen. Merthiolate was then added to the mixture from about 1 : 10,000 to about 1 :20,000 of the final vaccine volume to form a partially adjuvanted mixture. The partially adjuvanted mixture contained at least 120 μg of the processed and concentrated M. hyopneumoniae and about 100 micrograms of saponin per ml.

Inactivated PCV2 capsid antigen was produced as described in Example 1. 1% v/v NP-40 was added to the antigen and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature to solubilize the antigen. A sample was removed for dose determination by ELISA. The reference antigen for the ELISA was PCV2-Ag-05181. A standard curve was established for the reference antigen by serially diluting the reference antigen and detecting the antigen with mononclonal anti-PCV2 antibody (RTI, Brookings, SD) at a concentration of 0.4 μg/ml. One ELISA unit was defined as the minimum protective dose of PCV2 capsid antigen, as determined by PCV2 vaccination and challenge, as described for example in Examples 4 and 6. The reference antigen contained 4 ELISA units/ml. Once the ELISA units of the reference antigen were determined, the number was used for dose determination for all samples tested by ELISA against the reference antigen. The partially adjuvanted M. hyopneumoniae mixture was then mixed with the PCV2 capsid antigen in a proportion of 120 μg of the processed and concentrated M. hyopneumoniae to 1 ELISA unit of PCV2 capsid antigen. The solution was mixed for at least one hour and then TN buffer was added to dilute the solution to the final volume and Trigen adjuvant was added to 15% v/v of the final volume to provide a vaccine having 15%) v/v Trigen and 100 μg saponin per ml. The vaccine was mixed for at least 2 hours and then stored at 2-7°C. Table 4 shows an exemplary formulation of the ready-to-use vaccine.

Table 4

Example 3

Production of a Second Embodiment of a Ready-To-Use Vaccine A partially adjuvanted mixture containing at least 120 μg of the processed M. hyopne moniae was prepared as described in Example 2. The partially adjuvanted M. hyopneumoniae mixture was then mixed with the PCV2 capsid antigen in a proportion of 120 μg of the processed and concentrated M. hyopneumoniae to 1 ELISA unit of PCV2 capsid antigen. The solution was mixed for at least one hour and then TN buffer was added to dilute the solution to the final volume and Montadine Gel 01 (SEPPIC) was added to 15% v/v of the final volume to provide a vaccine having 15% v/v gel and 100 μg saponin per ml. The vaccine was mixed for at least 2 hours and then stored at 2- 7°C. Table 5 shows an exemplary formulation of the ready-to-use vaccine.

Table 5

Example 4

Efficacy of a Single Dose of Ready-To-Use Vaccine in Piglets

Against PCV2 Challenge

A determination of the efficiency of the ready-to-use vaccine of Example 2 in piglets was conducted in two studies. The first study demonstrated the efficacy of a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 2 against field-isolated virulent PCV2 challenge. The second study (Example 5) demonstrated the efficacy of a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 2 against M. hyopneumoniae challenge. These studies show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 2 is efficacious against M. hyopneumoniae and PCV2 infections in piglets.

Forty-six Caesarian Derived, Colostrum Deprived (CDCD) piglets (mixed sex, age 12 days +/- 1 day) were randomly divided into the following three treatment groups as shown in Table 6.

Table 6

The piglets in Group 1 and Group 2 were vaccinated with a 1 ml dose of placebo control or the ready-to-use PCV2- M. hyopneumoniae vaccine according to Example 2, respectively. All the piglets were observed daily during the study period and blood samples were collected from the piglets in Groups 1 , 2, and 3 on day 0 and weekly throughout the study period. The piglets were observed daily for any abnormalities in respiratory (0=normal; l=panting/rapid; 2=dyspnea), behavior (0=normal; l =mild to moderately lethargic; 2=severely lethargic or recumbent), body condition (0=normal; l=mild loss of body condition; 2= moderate/severe loss of body condition) and injection site from day 0 to day 27 (data not shown). No injection site reactions were observed from any piglets. Two of the piglets from the placebo group and two piglets from the vaccine group had clinical abnormalities during the observation period but necropsy of these animals provided no evidence that the vaccine and/or vaccination caused any adverse reactions in the host animal.

Prechallenge serum samples were collected from piglets in the placebo group

(Group 1) and the vaccine group (Group 2) and testing for PCV2 specific antibodies in an ELISA assay. The results of this assay (data not shown) indicated that only three piglets in the vaccinated group tested positive for PCV2 specific antibody during the prechallenge period. All others, along with the samples from the placebo group were negative for PC V2 specific antibody.

On day 31 , the piglets in Groups 1 , 2, and 3 were challenged by intranasal inoculation of 1 ml per nare of a PCV2 field isolate provided by Newport Laboratories (Worthington, MN) and 1 ml intramuscularly of a 50/50 dose of the Newport strain and PCV2 isolate P12 7/7/06 (University of Minnesota Veterinary School, St. Paul, MN). The rectal temperatures of the piglets were measured and recorded on day -2, -1 , 0 and daily until day 12 post challenge. Piglets in group 3 were terminated on day 28 post vaccination. All of the piglets in Groups 1 and 2 were terminated on day 59 post vaccination (4 weeks post challenge). Gross lung lesions, hypertrophy in

tracheobronchial, mesenteric and sub-iliac lymph nodes and the tonsil were evaluated. The tonsil, mesenteric lymph node, and sub-iliac lymph node were examined and scored according to established procedures at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ISU VDL). Each of the lymph node samples were valued and scored as the following:

Lymph Node Deletion Score:

0 = Negative

1 Positive-mild

2 Positive -moderate

3 Positive -severe

Lymph Node Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Score:

0 = Negative

1 = Positive, <10% of cells with PCV2 staining 2 = Positive, 10-50% cells with PCV2 staining

3 = positive, >50% of cells with PCV2 staining.

Serum samples collected on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 post vaccination were analyzed by ELISA for PCV2 specific antibodies, expressed as S/P ratio (S/P ratio < 0.4 considered negative). Serum samples collected on days 31 (day of challenge), 38, 45, 52 and 59 were also analyzed by ELISA for PCV2 specific antibodies (S/P ratio of < 0.3 considered negative). All samples collected on day 0 post challenge were negative for PCV2 specific antibodies. Nine samples in Group 2 became positive on day 7 post challenge. All samples from day 14, 21 and 28 in Group 2 were positive for PCV2 antibody. All day 7 and 14 post challenge samples from Group 1 were negative. The average ELISA OD values of Group 1 (placebo) and Group 2 (vaccine) shown in FIG. 1. Statistical analysis revealed that titers in the vaccinated group increased significantly over time, and the rate at which the titers increased in the vaccinated group was significantly greater than in the placebo group (data not shown).

Serum samples collected on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 post challenge were tested by qPCR at ISU VDL to determine the virus load. The results were expressed as the number of copies per mL in the tested samples. The geometric mean viral loads (Log) of Group 1 (placebo control) and Group 2 (vaccine) are shown in FIG. 2. All samples collected on day 0 were negative. All samples in Group 1 became positive at day 7 post challenge, while all but two samples from Group 2 were positive (data not shown). In addition, 1 1 animals from Group 2 produced negative qPCR results on day 28 post challenge while only 1 Group 1 animal was negative on Day 28 (data not shown). The mean virus load reduction in the vaccinated group as compared to that in the placebo group was over 97% on day 7 and over 99% on days 14, 21 and 28 of post challenge. Statistical analysis revealed that viral loads in the vaccinated group (Group 2) were significantly lower than the placebo group (Group 1 ) on all sample dates after challenge. In addition, the rate of decrease in viral load was significantly greater in the vaccinated group than that in the placebo group (data not shown). The qPCR and ELISA results show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 2 reduced virema in the piglets caused by PCV2 infection. The piglets in Groups 1 and 2 were tested for temperature from day -2 to day 12 post challenge (day 29 to day 43 post vaccination). The average temperature in both

Group 1 (placebo) and Group 2 (vaccine) was high on the first day of temperature

taking. There were no significant differences in temperature between Groups 1 and 2 from day -2 to day 7 post challenge. The temperatures were, however, significantly

higher in the placebo group (Group 1), when compared to vaccinates (Group 2), on day 8 (p=0.015), day 9 (p=0.009), day 1 1 (p=0.020) and day 12 (p=0.009) post challenge

(data not shown). The average temperatures of Group 1 (placebo) and Group 2

(vaccine) are depicted in FIG. 3.

Gross pathology and diagnosis were performed on day 28 post challenge by

Veterinary Resource, Inc. The summary of histopathology and gross pathological

diagnosis are shown in Table 7 (placebo) and Table 8 (vaccinates). Thirteen out of 20

(65%) piglets in Group 1 exhibited gross pathological signs consistent with the clinical signs of PCV2 infection. Only 2 piglets in Group 2 had mild lymph node hypertrophy.

This data, along with the significant temperature difference between the piglets in

Group 1 (placebo) and Group 2 (vaccinates), shows that administration of a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 2 prevented virus colonization of lymphoid tissues,

lymphoid depletion, and clinical signs caused by PCV2 infection in the piglets.

Table 7

Tonsil MLN ILN TBI LN TOTALS

I L IH L IH L IH L IHC- LD- Gross Diagnosis

H D C D C D C D total total Pathology

C and

Remarks

2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 No gross Normal lesions

4 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 No gross Normal lesions

6 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Consolidati Minor on pneumonias

7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No gross Normal lesions

0 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 4 3 Enteritis, Enteritis, rounded lymph node margins on hypertrophy liver see

lymph node

scores

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 12 12 Poor body Presumptivf condition, PCV found dead associated mortality

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No gross Normal lesions

2 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 3 3 No gross Normal lesions

1 0 0 1 1 2 1 2 3 5 Umbilical Minor hernia, pneumoniae consolidatio enteritis n, enterities, present,

MLN poor congested, condition poor suggestive condition of PCV infection

1 2 2 1 0 2 2 2 5 7 Poor body loss of bod} condition condition suggestive of PCV infection

1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 4 6 mottled very minor discoloratio pneumoniai n

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 See lymph mild lymph node scores node

hypertroph;

3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 10 12 Poor body generalized condition, icterus icteric typical of diffuse PCV

infection

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 12 12 Found dead Enteritis an

HMayl 2, mild small areas pneumonia of mottled present, discoloratio bross lesioi n in lungs, suggest

MLN nodes enteritis anc appear mild enlarged pneumonia. and

congested,

mild loss of

body

condition

45 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 No gross Normal lesions

47 2 2 1 1 0 2 1 2 4 7 Poor body Lymph nod condition, hypertrophy see lymph poor node scores condition suggestive of PCV infection

48 2 2 3 3 2 3 2 3 9 11 Poor body Enteritis condition, present enteritis

76 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 4 4 Mottled minor discoloratio penumonia* n, poor and poor condition condition suggestive of PCV infection

98 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No gross Normal lesions

102 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 See lymph Lymph nod node scores hypertroph;

MLN: mesenteric lymph node

ILN: iliac lymph node

TBLN: tracheobronical lymph node

LD: lymphoid depletion

Table 8

Tonsil MLN ILN TBI LN TOTALS

ID IH L IH L IH L IH L IHC- LD- Gross Diagnosis

C D C D C D C D total total Pathol

ogy

and

Remar ks

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 See Mild lymph lymph node node hypertroph) scores

0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 No Normal gross

lesions

1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 3 4 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

82 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

101 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

103 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 See mild lymph lymph node node hypertroph) scores

104 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

105 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No Normal gross

lesions

Tonsil (t), mesenteric lymph node (MLN), sub-iliac lymph node (SLN) and

tracheobronchial lymph node (TBLN) were collected from all piglets on the day of

termination. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was conducted on the samples. The results are summarized in Table 9. When comparing the IHC score between the two

groups, highly significant differences were found in all the examined tissues; the p- values of MLN, SLN, T, TBLN were 0.0001 , 0.0034, 0.0008 and 0.0010, respectively.

The individual piglet and tissue scores are shown in Tables 7 and 8.

Table 9

Seventeen out of twenty (85%) piglets in Group 2 (vaccinates) were negative in IHC tests for all examined tissues, while 17 out of 20 (85%) piglets in Group 1 (placebo) showed positive results in the IHC test. In addition, the highest total IHC score of the positive piglets in Group 2 was 3, while 12 piglets in Group 1 had a IHC score of 4 or higher (2 had max. score of 12). The IHC score distribution of Group 1 and Group 2 are shown in FIG. 4. The results in Table 9 and FIG. 4 show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 2 prevented virus colonization of lymphoid tissues in the piglets caused by PCV2 infection.

When comparing the depletion scores in Groups 1 and 2, significant differences were found in all examined tissues; the p-values were 0.0003, 0.0003, 0,005 and 0.0008 for MLN, SLN, T, TBLN, respectively. Eighty percent (16 out 20) of piglets in Group 1 (placebo) had lymphoid tissue depletion scores, while 85% (17 out 20) of piglets in Group 2 (vaccinates) had no lymphoid depletion scores. Three piglets in Group 1 had the maximum score of 12. The score distribution is shown in FIG. 5. These results show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 2 prevented lymphoid depletion in the piglets caused by PCV2 infection. Example 5

Efficacy of a Single Dose of Ready-To-Use Vaccine in Piglets

Against M. hyopneumoniae Challenge

A study of the efficacy of the ready-to-use vaccine of Example 2 in piglets against M. hyopneumoniae challenge was conducted. This study in conjunction with the PCV2 challenge study in Example 4 demonstrated that a single dose of the vaccine of Example 2 is efficacious against M. hyopneumoniae and PCV2 infections in piglets.

Forty-three CDCD piglets (mixed sex, age 12 days +/- 1 day) were randomly divided into the following treatment groups as shown in Table 10. The piglets were M. hyopneumoniae antibody negative (S/P Ratio < 0.4).

Table 10

The piglets were vaccinated as shown in Table 10 and observed daily during the study for normal health. On day 33 post-vaccination, the piglets where challenged with M. hyopneumoniae lung inoculum (LI37), obtained from the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University. All piglets were challenged intratracheally with an 18 mL inoculum. Daily observation of the piglets showed all to have normal health throughout the duration of the study, except for one piglet in the placebo group which was determined to have died of a strangulated gut. The piglets were terminated on day 37 post challenge and necropsied to score lung lesions. The lesion scores were expressed as the percentage of the lung surface area showing gross lesions typical of enzootic pneumonia. The method for evaluating lung lesions was adapted from Pointon et al., 1999, Disease surveillance at slaughter, In: Straw, B.E., D'Allaire, S., Mengeling, W.L., Taylor, D.J. (Eds.), Diseases of Swine, 8 ^th Ed., Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, USA, pp.1 1 1 1 - 1 132. The lung was divided into seven sections: left apical (0.1), right apical (0.1), left cardiac (0.1), right cardiac (0.1), left diaphragmatic (0.25), right diaphragmatic (0.25) and intermediate (0.1 ). The lung lesions were scored individually for each section and expressed as a percentage of the diseased lung versus the whole section. When calculating the total lung lesion score, each section was given a coefficient to represent the percentage of each section to the whole lung. The coefficients of each section are shown as the number in parenthesis above. The average lung lesion score in the vaccinated group (Group 2) was 1.727%. The average lung lesion score in the placebo group (Group 1 ) was 6.713%. There were 1 1 piglets in Group 2 that had no lung lesion, whereas, 18 out of 20 (90%) of piglets in Group 1 had lung lesions, with lesion scores ranging from 1.0% to 16.5%.

Mitigated fraction analysis revealed the lung lesions scores of the piglets in Group 1 were significantly higher than that of the piglets in Group 2. A Mitigated Fraction of 0.6409 (95%CI: .3523, .8818) was estimated when the litter effect was not considered, while a Mitigated Fraction of 0.5955 (95%CI: 0.4355, 0.7553) was estimated when the litter effect was considered. Both demonstrated that the vaccine significantly reduced the lung lesion scores in the vaccinated piglets as compared with the piglets in the placebo group.

Lung tissue samples that contained the lesions, as well as a portion of the apparently normal lung tissue adjacent to the lesions, were collected aseptically. A sample from the apical lobe was collected if there was no lesion in the lung. Each of the samples was kept in a sterile tube with 5ml of culture media. The samples were analyzed by PCR for presence of M. hyopneumoniae in the sample. Five piglets in the vaccinated group (Group 2) were negative in PCR test and two of them were suspect.

The rest of piglets in Group 2 were positive. In Group 1 , 19 out 20 (95%) piglets were PCR positive for M. hyopneumoniae. The lung lesion and PCR results show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 2 reduces lung lesions caused by M.

hyopneumoniae infection.

Example 6

Efficacy of a Single Dose of Ready-To-Use Vaccine in Piglets

Challenged with PCV2

A study of the efficacy of the ready-to-use vaccine of Example 3 in piglets was conducted in two studies. The first study demonstrated the efficacy of a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 3 against field isolated virulent PCV2 challenge. The second study demonstrated the efficacy of a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 3 against M. hyopneumoniae challenge. These studies show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 3 is efficacious against M. hyopneumoniae and PCV2 infections in piglets.

Forty-six CDCD piglets (mixed sex, age 12 days +/- 1 day) were randomly divided into the following three treatment groups as shown in Table 1 1.

Table 1 1

The piglets in Group 5 and Group 4 were vaccinated with a 1 ml dose of placebo control or the ready-to-use PCV2- M. hyopneumoniae vaccine according to Example 3, respectively. All the piglets were observed daily during the study period and blood samples were collected from the piglets in Groups 3, 4, and 5 on day 0 and weekly throughout the study period. The piglets were observed daily for any abnormalities in respiratory, behavior, body condition and injection site from day 0 to day 27 as described in Example 4. No injection site reactions were observed from any piglets. One pig from the vaccinate group (Group 4) exhibited mild clinical signs during the observation period.

On day 31 , the piglets in Groups 4 and 5 were challenged by intranasal inoculation of 1 ml per nare of a PCV2 field isolate (Newport Laboratories,

Worthington, MN) and 1 ml intramuscularly of a 50/50 dose of the Newport strain and PCV2 isolate P12 7/7/06 (University of Minnesota Veterinary School, St. Paul, MN). The rectal temperatures of the piglets were measured and recorded on day -2, -1, 0 and daily until day 12 post challenge. Piglets in group 3 were terminated on day 28 post vaccination. All of the piglets in Groups 4 and 5 were terminated on day 59 post vaccination (4 weeks post challenge). Gross lung lesions, hypertrophy in

tracheobronchial, mesenteric and sub-iliac lymph nodes and the tonsil were evaluated and scored as described in Example 4.

Serum samples collected on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 post vaccination were analyzed by ELISA for PCV2 specific antibodies as described in Example 4. Serum samples collected on days 31 (day of challenge), 38, 45, 52 and 59 were analyzed by ELISA for PCV2 specific antibodies as described in Example 4. Two piglets in Group 4 (vaccinates) tested positive for PCV2 specific antibody during the prechallenge period. All others, along with the samples collected from the placebo group (Group 5) were negative.

All samples collected on day 0 post challenge were negative for PCV2 specific antibodies. Samples collected from the placebo group (Group 5) on day 7 and 14 post challenge were negative. Seven of the piglets in Group 4 (vaccinates) were positive on day 7 post challenge and 19 of the piglets were positive on day 14 post challenge. The average S/P ratio of Group 5 (placebo) and Group 4 (vaccinates) are shown in FIG. 6. Statistical analysis revealed that titers in the vaccinated group increased significantly over time, and the rate at which the titers increased in the vaccinated group was significantly greater than in the placebo group (data not shown).

Serum samples collected on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 post challenge were tested by qPCR as described in Example 4. The results were expressed as the number of copies per mL in the tested samples. The geometric mean viral loads (Log) of Group 5 (placebo control) and Group 4 (vaccinates) are shown in FIG. 7. All samples collected on day 0 were negative. All samples in Group 5 became positive at day 7 post challenge, while all but one sample from Group 4 was positive (data not shown). The average number of copies of the PCV2 genomic materials in 1 ml of the serum samples was 12,589, 912, 1737 and 125 in the vaccinated group (group 4) and in the placebo group (group 5) was 239, 883, 851,138, 229, 086 and 38,018 on day 7, 14, 21 and 28, respectively, post challenge. Accordingly, the reduction of virus load in the vaccinates (Group 4) as compared to group 5 (placebo) was 95% on day 7 and over 99% on day 14, 21 , and 28 post challenge.

Statistical analysis revealed that viral loads in the vaccinated group (Group 4) were significantly lower than the placebo group (Group 5) on all sample dates after challenge. Viral load stayed high in the placebo group as evidenced by non-significant decreases in viral load on every sampling date, while the viral load significantly dropped from day 7 to day 14 and from day 21 to day 28 post challenge (data not shown). The qPCR and ELISA results show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 3 reduced virema in the piglets caused by PCV2 infection.

The piglets in Groups 4 and 5 were tested for temperature from day -2 to day 12 post challenge (day 29 to day 43 post vaccination). The average temperature in both Group 5 (placebo) and Group 4 (vaccinates) was high on the first day of temperature taking. There were no significant differences in temperature between Groups 4 and 5 on the days prior to the challenge and days of post challenge, except that on day 2 post challenge the temperature in the placebo group (Group 5) were significantly higher than that of the vaccinate group (Group 4), p< 0.05 (data not shown). The average temperatures of Groups 4 and 5 are shown in FIG. 8. Gross pathology and diagnosis were performed on day 28 post challenge as described in Example 4. The summary of histopathological and gross pathological diagnosis are shown in Table 12 (placebo) and Table 13 (vaccinates). Twelve of the 21 (57%) piglets in Group 5 (placebo) exhibited gross pathological signs consistent with the clinical signs of PCV2. Sixteen of the 21 piglets in the vaccinated group (Group 4) did not have gross lesions. The gross lesion reduction in the vaccinated group as

compared with the placebo group was over 41%. This data, along with the significant temperature difference between the piglets in Group 5 (placebo) and Group 4

(vaccinates), shows that administration of a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 3 prevented virus colonization of lymphoid tissues, lymphoid depletion, and clinical signs caused by PCV2 infection in the piglets.

Table 12

Tonsil MLN ILN TBLN TOTALS

Gross

IHC- LD-

IHC LD IHC LD IHC LD IHC LD Pathology Diagnosis total total

and Remarks

See lymph Lymph node0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

node scores hypertrophy

See lymph Lymph node4 0 0 0 0 1 ] 0 ] 1 2

node scores hypertrophy

No gross

5 0 0 D 1 1 1 1 2 2 4 Normal lesions

No gross

6 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 ormal lesions

No gross

7 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 Normal lesions

No gross

1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 Normal lesions

o gross

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 Norma] lesions

No gross

7 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 Normal lesions

minor

Consolidation, pneumoniae1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 see lymph and lymph node scores node hypertrophy

No gross

5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Normal lesions

No gross

7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Normal lesions

No gross

9 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 2 2 Normal lesions

5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No gross Normal lesions

See lymph Lymph node

97 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 3

node scores hypertrophy

No gross

100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Normal lesions

No gross

107 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Normal lesions

See lymph Lymph node

108 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

node scores hypertrophy

No gross

109 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ormal lesions

No gross

1 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Normal lesions

No gross

1 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ormal lesions

No gross

1 13 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 5 6 Normal lesions

MLN: mesenteric lymph node

ILN: iliac lymph node

TBLN: tracheobronical lymph node

LD: lymphoid depletion

Table 13

Tonsil MLN ILN TBLN TOTALS

Gross

IHC- LD-

ID 1HC LD IHC LD IHC LD IHC LD Pathology Diagnosis

total total

and Remarks

19 2 2 1 2 0 2 1 2 See lymph Lymph node

4 8

node scores hypertrophy

See lymph Lymph node

21 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 8 10

node scores hypertrophy

No gross Normal

23 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 5 3

lesions

Enteritis, see Enteritis, lymph

28 1 0 0 1 1 2 2 2 4 5 lymph node node

scores hypertrophy

See lymph Mild lymph node

29 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 8 6 node scores hypertrophy present

See lymph Lymph node

32 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 7 6

node scores hypertrophy

No gross Normal

78 0 0 0 0 1 1 I I 2 2

lesions

Mottled minor

79 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 2

discoloration pneumoniae

No gross Normal

80 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 4 2

lesions

See lymph Lymph node

83 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

node scores hypertrophy

Sever pneumoniae

84 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 12 12

intralobular edema,

consolidation,

poor body

condition

Mottled minor discoloration, pneumoniae and

86 0 1 0 1 1 1 2 4

• see lymph lymph node node scores hypertrophy

No gross Normal

88 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 4 2

lesions

No gross Normal

90 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 4

lesions

No gross Normal

91 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2

lesions

See lymph Lymph node

92 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 4 7

node scores hypertrophy

No gross Normal

94 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2

lesions

See lymph Lymph node

96 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 1

node scores hypertrophy

No gross Normal

99 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 1

lesions

See lymph Lymph node

106 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 3 4

node scores hypertrophy

No gross Normal

1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 2

lesions

Tonsil (t), mesenteric lymph node (MLN), sub-iliac lymph node (SLN) and tracheobronchial lymph node (TBLN) were collected from all piglets on the day of termination. The samples were examined and scored as described in Example 4. The results are summarized in Table 14, When comparing the IHC score between the two groups, highly significant differences were found in all the examined tissues; the p- values of MLN, SLN, T, TBLN were 0.011, 0.001, 0.0008 and 0.002, respectively. The individual piglet and tissue scores are shown in Tables 12 and 13.

Table 14

Score Median/Mean

Group P-value

0 1 2 3 Score

MLN-IHC

4 19 (91%) 2 (9%) 0 0 0 / 0.10

5 12 (57%) J 5 (24%) 3 (14%) 1 (5%) 0 / 0.67

31 7 3 1 0.01 1

SLN-IHC

4 12 (57%) 9 (43%) 0 0 0 / 0.43

5 3 (14%) 14 (67%) 3 (14%) 1 (5%) 1 / 1.10 15 23 3 1 0.001

T-IHC

4 19 (91%) 2 (9%) 0 0 0 / 0.10

5 9 (43%) 6 (28%) 5 (24%) 1 (5%) 1 / 0.91

28 8 5 1 0.0008

TBLN-IHC

4 13 (62%) 7 (33%) 1 (5%) 0 0 / 0.43

5 3 (14%) 14 (67%) 3 (14%) 1 (5%) 1 / 1.10

16 21 4 1 0.002

The overall scores between the vaccinated group and the placebo group are highly significant with a P value of 0.0002. The IHC score distribution of Group 4 and Group 5 are shown in FIG. 9. The results in Table 14 and FIG. 9 show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 3 reduced virus colonization of lymphoid tissues in the piglets caused by PCV2 infection.

When comparing the depletion scores in Groups 4 and 5, significant differences were found in all examined tissues, the p-values were 0.009, 0.0002, 0,0007 and 0.0267 for MLN, SLN, T, TBLN, respectively (data not shown). The score distribution is shown in FIG 10. The overall depletion scores between the vaccinated and the placebo group show a highly significant difference with a P value of 0. 0003. These results show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 3 reduced lymphoid depletion in the piglets caused by PCV2 infection.

Example 7

Efficacy of a Single Dose of Ready-To-Use Vaccine in Piglets

Challenged With M. hyopneumoniae

A study of the efficacy of the ready-to-use vaccine of Example 3 in piglets against M. hyopneumoniae challenge was conducted. This study in conjunction with the PCV2 challenge study in Example 6 demonstrated that a single dose of the vaccine of Example 3 is efficacious against M. hyopneumoniae and PCV2 infections in piglets. Forty-two CDCD piglets (mixed sex, age 12 days +/- 1 day) were randomly divided into the following treatment groups as shown in Table 15. The piglets were M hyopneumoniae antibody negative (S/P Ratio < 0.4).

Table 15

The piglets were vaccinated as shown in Table 15 and observed daily during the study for normal health. On day 33 post-vaccination, the piglets where challenged with M. hyopneumoniae lung inoculum (LI37) as described in Example 5. All piglets were challenged intratracheally with an 18 mL inoculum. Daily observation of the piglets showed all to have normal health throughout the duration of the study, except for one piglet in the vaccinates group, which was determined to have died of a twisted gut.

The piglets were terminated on day 37 post challenge and necropsied to score lung lesions. The lesion scores were expressed as the percentage of the lung surface area showing gross lesions typical of enzootic pneumonia as described in Example 5. The average lung lesion score in the vaccinated group (Group 3) was 4.34%. The average lung lesion score in the placebo group (Group 4) was 9.70%.

Mitigated Fraction analysis revealed the lung lesions scores of the piglets in Group 4 were significantly higher than that of the piglets in Group 3. A Mitigated Fraction of 0.4619 (95%CI: 0.1405, .7429) was estimated when the litter effect was not considered, while a Mitigated Fraction of 0.4419 (95%CI: 0.1471 , 0.7000) was estimated when the litter effect was considered. Both demonstrated that the vaccine of Example 3 significantly reduced the lung lesion scores in the vaccinated piglets as compared with the piglets in the placebo group.

Lung tissue samples that contained lesions, as well as a portion of the apparently normal lung tissue adjacent to the lesions were analyzed by PCR for presence of M. hyopneumoniae in the sample as described in Example 5. One piglet in the vaccinated group (Group 3) was negative and 4 were suspect. The rest of piglets in Group 3 were positive. In Group 45, 19 out 21 (95%) piglets were PCR positive for M.

hyopneumoniae, one was negative, and one was suspect. The lung lesion and PCR results show that a single 1 ml dose of the vaccine of Example 3 reduces lung lesions caused by M. hyopneumoniae infection.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. While the specification includes a detailed description, the invention's scope is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as illustrative aspects and embodiments of the invention. Various other aspects, embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description herein, may suggest themselves to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the claimed subject matter.