Molecular analysis of lungs from pigs immunized with a mutant transferrin binding protein B-based vaccine and challenged with Haemophilus parasuis

•Inflammatory response genes were seen in Glässer’s disease by microarray and qPCR.•Lower expression of them was seen in pigs vaccinated with an H. parasuis mutant TbpB.•Cell damage genes were seen in Glässer’s disease by microarray and qPCR.•Lower expression of them was seen in pigs vaccinated with an H. parasuis mutant TbpB.•Gene and protein expression was similar in mutant TbpB vaccinated and healthy pigs.

The molecular analysis of pigs vaccinated with a mutant transferrin-binding protein B (Y167A) from Haemophilus parasuis was compared with that performed for unvaccinated challenged (UNCH) and unvaccinated unchallenged (UNUN) pigs. Microarray analysis revealed that UNCH group showed the most distinct expression profile for immune response genes, mainly for those genes involved in inflammation or immune cell trafficking. This fact was confirmed by real-time PCR, in which the greatest level of differential expression from this group were CD14, CD163, IL-8 and IL-12. In Y167A group, overexpressed genes included MAP3K8, CD14, IL-12 and CD163. Proteomics revealed that collagen α-1 and peroxiredoxins 2 and 6 were overexpressed in Y167A pigs. Our study reveals new data on genes and proteins involved in H. parasuis infection and several candidates of resistance to infection that are induced by Y167A vaccine. The expression of proinflammatory molecules from Y176A pigs is similar to their expression in UNUN pigs.