Flagellin-deficient outer membrane vesicles as adjuvant induce cross-protection of Salmonella Typhimurium outer membrane proteins against infection by heterologous Salmonella serotypes.

Salmonella enteric serovar infections result in high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cross-protective vaccines are an effective strategy in controlling salmonellosis caused by multiple serotypes. In our previous study, outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from flagellin-deficient Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) were proven effective in mediating cross-protection against infection by multiple Salmonella serotypes; OMVs also exhibit potent adjuvant effects. In this study, we further investigated the adjuvant capacities of flagellin-deficient S. Typhimurium OMVs. Our finding showed that outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in combination with flagellin-deficient S. Typhimurium OMVs could function as adjuvants and invoke stronger humoral, cellular, mucosal, and cross-protective immune responses compared to conventional aluminum (alum). Furthermore, as an adjuvant, OMVs could induce significantly higher cellular immune responses and display enhanced cross-protection for OMPs against wild-type virulent Salmonella Choleraesuis and Salmonella Enteritidis challenge. In summary, OMVs function as a potent adjuvant with the capability of conferring greater cross-protection against infection by multiple Salmonella serotypes, and may be of great value as an effective vaccine adjuvant in enteric diseases.