Links between fecal microbiota and the response to vaccination against influenza A virus in pigs
Marion Borey, Fany Blanc, Gaëtan Lemonnier, Jean‐Jacques Leplat, Déborah Jardet, Marie‐Noëlle Rossignol, Laure Ravon, Yvon Billon, Maria Bernard, Jordi Estellé, Claire Rogel Gaillard
Abstract
This study describes the associations between fecal microbiota and vaccine response variability in pigs, using 98 piglets vaccinated against the influenza A virus at 28 days of age (D28) with a booster at D49. Immune response to the vaccine is measured at D49, D56, D63, and D146 by serum levels of IAV-specific IgG and assays of hemagglutination inhibition (HAI). Analysis of the pre-vaccination microbiota characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal DNA reveals a higher vaccine response in piglets with a richer microbiota, and shows that 23 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are differentially abundant between high and low IAV-specific IgG producers at D63. A stronger immune response is linked with OTUs assigned to the genus Prevotella and family Muribaculaceae, and a weaker response is linked with OTUs assigned to the genera Helicobacter and Escherichia-Shigella. A set of 81 OTUs accurately predicts IAV-specific IgG and HAI titer levels at all time points, highlighting early and late associations between pre-vaccination fecal microbiota composition and immune response to the vaccine.