Respiratory microbiota dynamics in piglets under nanotechnology-based and conventional vaccination protocols against...

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a key pathogen in porcine enzootic pneumonia (PEP) and plays an important role in the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). Understanding how vaccination strategies relate to the respiratory microbiota in piglets may provide insights into host-microbiota interactions and vaccine performance. This study evaluated the temporal dynamics of the respiratory microbiota in piglets subjected to different vaccination protocols, including a nanotechnology-based oral vaccine formulated with mesoporous silica (SBA-15), alone or combined with a commercial vaccine, on the respiratory microbiota of piglets. Forty-eight piglets from M. hyopneumoniae-free sows were divided into four experimental groups receiving different vaccination protocols: CV + SBA received the pure silica-based adjuvant (SBA-15) orally and a commercial vaccine at 24 days of life; OV3 + CV received an oral vaccine (OV) at 3 days and an intramuscular commercial vaccine at 24 days; CV received only the intramuscular commercial vaccine at 24 days; and OV + CV received both the oral and commercial vaccines at 24 days. Microbiota composition was assessed at 3, 41, and 71 days of life using 16S rRNA gene sequencing from nasal swabs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Significant differences in nasal microbiota diversity were observed at early life stages. At D3, CV exhibited the highest diversity, while OV3 + CV had the lowest (Shannon index, p < 0.05 between CV and OV3 + CV). At D41, microbiota differences between groups had diminished, with only OV + CV showing higher richness compared with OV3 + CV (Chao1 index, p < 0.05). At D71, no significant differences were observed in overall diversity or bacterial composition among groups. As no treatment had been administered prior to sampling, these differences likely reflect baseline variability between groups. Additionally, no consistent associations were detected between microbiota diversity patterns and vaccination outcomes assessed by lung lesion scores and bacterial DNA load. These findings indicate that early-life differences in nasal microbiota were observed, but these were not sustained over time, and the respiratory microbiota converged toward a more stable community structure regardless of vaccination protocol.