Modern biotechnological strategies for vaccine development in aquaculture – Prospects and challenges

Advances in genomics and the gradual reduction of cost for technologies like whole-genome sequencing have provided exciting opportunities for developing modern biotechnological-based vaccines in aquaculture. This systemic review describes the prospects and challenges of implementing these high-tech vaccines in fish species. The majority of the commercial vaccines in aquaculture utilize conventional procedures for which cost of administration, protective immunity and safety issues are the major challenges. In recent years, more efficient vaccines are being developed by adopting the advances in vaccine technology. Vaccines based on surface antigens, protein/peptide/polysaccharide subunits, recombinant DNA/mRNA/plasmids, novel antigen expression and delivery systems (bacteriophage particles, virus like particles/VLPs, recombinant yeast, mucosal vaccines), novel molecular adjuvants (IL-8, IL-12, HSPs), and encapsulation polymers and polysaccharides like chitosan nanoparticles and PLGA microcapsule were successfully developed. These biotechnology-based vaccines have proved to be very efficient in field trials, but are always in the research pipeline or as patents. Only very few of them are licensed for use, that too, in high-valued fishes like salmonids. Currently, commercial aquaculture vaccines are available for Aeromonas salmonicida, Vibrio salmonicida, Yersinia ruckeri, Vibrio anguillarum, Edwardsiella ictalurid, and for certain Betanodaviruses. Nevertheless, no registered vaccines are available for other major infectious diseases/pathogens such as viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), viral nervous necrosis virus (VNN) and certain other betanodaviruses, channel catfish virus (CCV), gill disease bacteria, mycobacteria, flavobacterium, Edwardsiella tarda, and certain streptococci. Despite the important economic losses that the pathogens cause to aquaculture worldwide, the commercialization of vaccines remains limited due to immunological pitfalls in aquatic species, large-scale vaccination issues, unregulated use of antibiotics and chemicals, gene-based vaccine regulations and commercial viability. If attempts are to be made to develop novel delivery methods, cost-effective procedures, and relaxations in DNA vaccine regulations, biotechnology-based vaccination could circumvent the emerging disease challenges in aquaculture.