Mycoplasma bovis is one of the primary pathogens associated with bovine respiratory disease. The clinical manifestations of this disease primarily include pneumonia, mastitis, and arthritis, which have resulted in significant economic losses worldwide. Currently, there is no effective vaccine available, and antibiotic treatment often yields unsatisfactory results. Therefore, the development of vaccines with high immunogenicity and effective protective capabilities is crucial for preventing and treating M. bovis outbreaks. This study aimed to develop a multiepitope vaccine for M. bovis and to evaluate its immunogenicity and protective efficacy in BALB/C mice and rabbits. On the basis of the three dominant antigens, MbovP274, MbovP570, and ENO1, the researchers designed the multiepitope tandem recombinant protein, MbovE3. The vaccine was prepared using prokaryotic expression vectors, baculovirus, and DNA vectors for expressing MbovE3, and BALB/C mice and rabbits were utilized as experimental models to verify vaccine effectiveness. The rMbovE3 vaccine, based on a prokaryotic expression system, induced high levels of specific IgG and cellular immune responses in both the BALB/C mice and rabbit models, significantly reducing M. bovis infection and tissue damage in rabbits. Additionally, MbovE3 expressed via baculovirus and the DNA vaccine DNAE3+GM-CSF, expressed by DNA vectors, both exhibited effective protective effects in rabbits. Overall, these findings suggest that rMbovE3, developed via a multiepitope approach, is a promising candidate vaccine against M. bovis infection. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the development of effective vaccines against M. bovis and will facilitate research on and the development of related vaccine products.

To Cite This Article: Li R, Yu X, Liang J, Sheng J, Zhang H, Chen C, Hu R, Wang Y and Ma Z, 2026. Universal design multiepitope vaccines induces effective immunity to Mycoplasma bovis in BALB/C mice and rabbits. Pak Vet J, 46(5): 1122-1139. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.101