https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4915 Immune Responses Induced by Recombinant Membrane Proteins of Mycoplasma agalactiae in Goats Sampaio, Beatriz Almeida Beatriz Almeida Sampaio 0000-0002-2103-5945 Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil Santos Júnior, Manoel Neres Manoel Neres Santos Júnior 0000-0001-8181-4556 Microbiology Department, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km a6, Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil Guimarães, Bruna Carolina de Brito Bruna Carolina de Brito Guimarães Microbiology Department, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km a6, Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil Andres, Emilly Stefane Souza Emilly Stefane Souza Andres 0009-0007-2816-3361 Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil da Silva, Ágatha Morgana Bertoti Ágatha Morgana Bertoti da Silva Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil Gomes, Camila Pacheco Camila Pacheco Gomes Microbiology Department, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km a6, Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil Bittencourt, Rafaela de Souza Rafaela de Souza Bittencourt Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil Correia, Thiago Macêdo Lopes Thiago Macêdo Lopes Correia Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil da Silva, Lucas Santana Coelho Lucas Santana Coelho da Silva Microbiology Department, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km a6, Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil da Cruz, Jurandir Ferreira Jurandir Ferreira da Cruz Goat Sheep Sector, Department of Plant Science and Animal Science, State University of Southwest Bahia, Estrada do Bem Querer, Km 4, Vitória da Conquista 45083-900, BA, Brazil Chopra-Dewasthaly, Rohini Rohini Chopra-Dewasthaly 0000-0002-6768-1256 Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria Campos, Guilherme Barreto Guilherme Barreto Campos Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil Timenetsky, Jorge Jorge Timenetsky Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 2415, Butantã 05508-900, SP, Brazil Bastos, Bruno Lopes Bruno Lopes Bastos Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil Marques, Lucas Miranda Lucas Miranda Marques Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil Barbosa, Maysa Santos Maysa Santos Barbosa Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 2415, Butantã 05508-900, SP, Brazil de Oliveira, Matheus Gonçalves Matheus Gonçalves de Oliveira Multidisciplinary Institute in Health, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Hormindo Barros 58, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, BA, Brazil MDPI journal article open access eng Background/Objectives: Contagious agalactia (CA) is a disease typically caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae, affecting small ruminants worldwide and being endemic in certain countries. CA causes severe economic losses due to mastitis, agalactia, and arthritis. As an alternative to existing immunoprophylactic measures, this study aimed to develop a recombinant subunit vaccine against M. agalactiae and evaluate its specific immune response in goats. Methods: Goats were divided into three groups: group 1 received recombinant proteins (P40 and MAG_1560), group 2 received formalin-inactivated M. agalactiae, and group 3 received Tris-buffered saline (negative control). All solutions were emulsified in Freund’s adjuvant. Animals were monitored for 181 days. IgG antibody production was assessed by ELISA, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by real-time PCR for the expression of IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-12, and MHC class II genes. Results: M. agalactiae-specific antibody response was observed for six months in the sera of animals from group 1. Analysis of cytokine gene expression revealed increased IL-1β mRNA levels over time in both experimental groups. In group 1, IFN-γ mRNA levels increased with P40 stimulation and decreased with MAG_1560. IL-12 mRNA expression decreased over time in group 1 with P40 stimulation, whereas group 2 showed increased IL-12 expression for both proteins. MHC-II expression was stimulated in both groups. Conclusions: The recombinant proteins induced antibody production and cytokine expression, demonstrating immunogenic potential and supporting their promise as vaccine candidates capable of eliciting both humoral and cellular immune responses against M. agalactiae. Contagious Agalactia M. Agalactiae Recombinant; Subunit Vaccine http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:4915/download 10.3390/vaccines13070746 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Vaccines issn:2076-393X VoR Vaccines 13 7 3.75 MB 2025