Development of an mRNA vaccine encoding IHNV glycoprotein protects rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from infection

作者：Jing Wang, K. Wu, Yu Liu, Shiyao Wang, Zhao Li, Donghui Zhang, Runhui Liu, Yuhong Ren, Shuai Shao, Qin Liu · 发表于：npj Vaccines · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41541-025-01222-w · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Animal Virus Infections Studies、RNA Interference and Gene Delivery、SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research

mRNA vaccines have demonstrated significant potential in preventing human diseases and controlling livestock infections. However, the application of mRNA vaccines in aquaculture, especially on fish, remains limited. Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is an RNA virus that mainly affects rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), leading to high mortality rates. In this study, we systematically engineered three UTR-optimized mRNA constructs, exhibiting comparable and sustained in vitro antigen expression. Following encapsulation, the mG1-LNP formulation, incorporating endogenous antigen-specifics, conferred robust relative protection against IHNV challenge, accompanied by enhanced levels of IgM and neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore, dose-response profiling identified 10 μg/dose as the immunologically optimized regimen, eliciting efficient immunogenicity. Moreover, biodistribution analyses revealed complete mG1-LNP clearance from injection sites and hepatic tissues by 28 dpv, confirming favorable biosafety. Collectively, our work demonstrates the successful development of mRNA-LNP vaccine against infectious IHNV in rainbow trout, providing the first empirical demonstration of mRNA-LNP vaccine efficacy in aquaculture.