Immunological Strategies for Aeromonas Hydrophila Control in Aquaculture

Aeromonas hydrophila remains one of the most pervasive bacterial pathogens in global finfish and shellfish production, precipitating motile Aeromonas septicaemia and severe economic losses. Contemporary immunological strategies have evolved beyond conventional inactivated vaccines to embrace a spectrum of biotechnological approaches aimed at eliciting robust innate and adaptive responses while facilitating practical deployment in intensive rearing systems. Subunit vaccines based on conserved outer membrane proteins have demonstrated consistent induction of antigen-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and T-cell activation, improving survival rates across diverse species. Live-attenuated strains generated through targeted deletion of virulence genes engage both humoral and cellular arms of the immune system, providing prolonged protection via mucosal and systemic routes. DNA- and nanoparticle-based formulations offer precision in antigen delivery, enhancing stability and enabling oral or immersion administration. Concurrently, probiotic and genetically engineered microbial carriers have emerged as dual-function agents, modulating gut microbiota composition while delivering immunostimulatory factors at mucosal surfaces. Integration of transcriptomic and proteomic profiling has refined antigen selection by revealing iron-regulated secreted proteins and pathogenesis-related outer membrane components. Together, these advances underscore a multifaceted immunisation paradigm that leverages antigen design, delivery technology and host–microbiome interactions to reduce antibiotic reliance, improve fish welfare and support the sustainable expansion of aquaculture worldwide.

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Technical terms

Outer membrane protein (OMP): A surface-exposed bacterial protein often conserved across strains and targeted as an antigen in vaccine design.

Subunit vaccine: A formulation containing one or more purified antigenic components of a pathogen rather than the whole organism.

Live-attenuated vaccine: A preparation of a pathogen rendered non-virulent by specific gene deletions, capable of eliciting strong immune responses without causing disease.

Probiotic: A live microorganism, typically lactic acid bacteria, administered to improve host microbial balance and modulate immune function.

Mucosal immunity: Immune protection arising at internal surfaces (e.g. gills, gut) involving local antibody production and innate defences.

References

1. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of OmpA subunit vaccine against Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Megalobrama amblycephala: An effective alternative to the inactivated vaccine. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
2. Importance of Probiotics in Fish Aquaculture: Towards the Identification and Design of Novel Probiotics. Microorganisms (2024).
3. Current State of Modern Biotechnological‐Based Aeromonas hydrophila Vaccines for Aquaculture: A Systematic Review. BioMed Research International (2019).
4. Comparative Extracellular Proteomics of Aeromonas hydrophila Reveals Iron-Regulated Secreted Proteins as Potential Vaccine Candidates. Frontiers in Immunology (2019).
5. Construction and Characterization of an Aeromonas hydrophila Multi-Gene Deletion Strain and Evaluation of Its Potential as a Live-Attenuated Vaccine in Grass Carp. Vaccines (2021).
6. Oral vaccination with recombinant Lactobacillus casei expressing Aeromonas hydrophila Aha1 against A. hydrophila infections in common carps. Virulence (2022).
7. Oral vaccination with recombinant Lactobacillus casei expressing Aha1 fused with CTB as an adjuvant against Aeromonas veronii in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Microbial Cell Factories (2022).