Mechanisms of vaccine protection in chickens against challenge with virulent Mycoplasma synoviae

Abstract

The Vaxsafe MS vaccine is used globally to control infections with Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) in commercial poultry. It provides long-term protective immunity against airsacculitis and tracheitis caused by M. synoviae. However, the mechanisms involved in the protection afforded by the vaccine are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate and compare tracheal mucosal responses to challenge with virulent M. synoviae in chickens vaccinated with Vaxsafe MS and in unvaccinated chickens. The tracheal mucosal transcriptional profiles were obtained using messenger RNA sequencing. Compared to the unvaccinated-unchallenged chickens, 64 genes were differentially transcribed in the vaccinated-c..