Antigenic proteins of Flavobacterium psychrophilum recognized by ayu Plecoglossus altivelis antisera

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the causative agent of bacterial coldwater disease (BCWD) in ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis and is responsible for substantial economic losses in ayu culture in Japan. To develop effective vaccines for the disease, we identified antigenic proteins of F. psychrophilum using immunoglobulin from ayu that had recovered from BCWD. The whole protein extracted from the bacterium was separated using 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and was transferred to a polyvinylidene fluoride membrane. Subsequently, antigenic proteins of the bacterium were detected using western blotting and ayu antisera against F. psychrophilum. Each protein spot showing antigenicity was subjected to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis using a MALDI-QIT-TOF mass spectrometer. Protein identification based on the MS/MS data was performed using the genome database for F. psychrophilum JIP02/86, and the subcellular localization for each identified protein was predicted with web-based tools (LipoP and PSORTb). In total, 62 antigenic proteins were identified: of these, 46 were putative cytoplasmic proteins (e.g. elongation factor Tu and heat shock protein 90). The remaining 21 proteins were identified as putative membrane-bound or secreted proteins and are potential vaccine candidates. These proteins include OmpA, Omp 121, M13 family metallopeptidase, and M48 family metalloprotease.