Biotechnological Advances in the Development of Outer Membrane Protein-Based Vaccines for Use in Aquaculture

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food-producing sectors globally, and the pressure on the system to have maximum productivity in a limited time with very high stocking densities requires high feed inputs. This is contradictory to the natural culture systems, and thus it is often hampered by various disease problems with bacterial cause most often being a consequence of the above culture practice. Therefore, a strategy to prevent diseases through better management practices would be most appropriate. Towards this, vaccination offers itself an acceptable strategy that the farmer can easily adopt for successful aquaculture without any environmental effects. However, the availability and selection of suitable vaccine candidates are relentlessly researched upon for having a vaccine that offers greatest protection to the commonly encountered pathogens. Though outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of bacteria play an important role in virulence, deciphering them as vaccine candidates offer promise as these molecules directly interact with host cells due to exposed epitopes and can induce an effective immune response. They are not only crucial for host immune response but serve as targets for drug therapy. In recent years, many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of OMP-based vaccines and recommended them as potentially important molecules for vaccine development that would provide for long-lasting and improved immunity. A comprehensive review of biotechnological advances on the use of OMPs as the potential new-generation vaccine candidates for fish is presented.