Enhanced survival of shrimp, Penaeus (Marsupenaeus) japonicus from white spot syndrome disease after oral administration of recombinant VP28 expressed in Brevibacillus brevis

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) disease is a major threat to shrimp culture worldwide. Here, we assessed the efficacy of the oral administration of purified recombinant VP28, an envelope protein of WSSV, expressed in a Gram-positive bacterium, Brevibacillus brevis, in providing protection in shrimp, Penaeus japonicus, upon challenge with WSSV. Juvenile shrimp (2–3 g in body weight) fed with pellets containing purified recombinant VP28 (50 μg/shrimp) for 2 weeks showed significantly higher survival rates than control groups when challenged with the virus at 3 days after the last day of feeding. However, when shrimp were challenged 2 weeks after the last day of feeding, survival rates decreased (33.4% and 24.93%, respectively). Survival rate was dose-dependent, increasing from 60.7 to 80.3% as the dose increased from 1 to 50 μg/shrimp. At a dose of 50 μg/shrimp, the recombinant protein provided protection as soon as 1 day after feeding (72.5% survival). Similar results were obtained with larger-sized shrimp. These results show that recombinant VP28 expressed in a Gram-positive bacterium is a potential oral vaccine against WSSV.