Oral immunization of weaned piglets with tobacco seeds expressing antigenic proteins of verocytotoxic Escherichia coli strains

The aim of this study was focalized on the evaluation of edible vaccines represented by transgenic tobacco seeds, previously engineered for the seed specific expression of B subunit of VT22 toxin and F18 adhesive fimbriae of VTEC strain as described by Rossi et al. 2003, in weaned piglets. We showed that oral administration of recombinant tobacco seeds expressing antigenic proteins against VTEC strains can induce an increase of mucosal antibodies and a protective effect against the challenge strain in piglets.