\u3cem\u3eStaphylococcus aureus\u3c/em\u3e Isdc and Esxa Chimeric Vaccines to Prevent Bovine Mastitis

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is fast becoming a losing battle. Human health is not the only concern, however. Meat and dairy industries are feeling financial, production, and ethical pressures to find alternatives to antibiotics. Vaccines are a promising solution to this issue. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that causes bovine mastitis, an infection in the udders of cows. Our research focuses on the antigens, IsdC and EsxA found in bovine strains of Staphylococcus aureus. We hypothesize that immunity to S. aureus can be achieved through an intranasal vaccine comprised of these antigens and a cholera toxin A2/B (CTA2/B) chimera adjuvant. The antigens will be amplified using polymerase chain reaction, purified and, inserted into a vector expressing the CTA2/B subunits in E. coli. Once transformation of E. coli is confirmed, proteins will be induced and isolated using affinity chromatography to D-galactose and analyzed on SDS-PAGE. These proteins will later be incorporated into a multivalent vaccine to present S. aureus mastitis. The development of an effective, easy to administer, and affordable vaccine for bovine mastitis will decrease animal suffering, antibiotic use, and costs associated with S. aureus bovine mastitis. Additionally, our research findings will contribute the development of vaccines for human S. aureus infections