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A vaccinia virus double recombinant expressing the F and H genes of rinderpest virus protects cattle against rinderpest and causes no pock lesions.

Rinderpest is a highly contagious viral disease of ruminants with greater than 95% morbidity and mortality. We have constructed an infectious vaccinia virus recombinant that expresses both the fusion (F) gene and the hemagglutinin (H) gene of rinderpest virus. The Wyeth strain of vaccinia virus was used for the construction of the recombinant. Cattle vaccinated with the recombinant virus were 100% protected from challenge inoculation with greater than 1000 times the lethal dose of rinderpest virus. No transmission of recombinant vaccinia virus from vaccinated animals to contact animals was observed. The lyophilized form of vaccinia virus is thermostable and allows circumvention of the logistical problems associated with the distribution and administration of vaccines in the arid and hot regions of Asia and Africa. The insertional inactivation of both the thymidine kinase and the hemagglutinin genes of vaccinia virus led to increased attenuation of the virus; this was manifested by the lack of detectable pock lesions in vaccinated animals. This approach may have wide application in the development of safe and efficacious recombinant vaccines for humans and animals. This becomes quite relevant with the concern of the use of vaccinia virus in a population with high incidence of the human immunodeficiency virus.

Animals↗

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the VP2 gene of Australian strains of infectious bursal disease virus.

Twenty-four Australian strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were characterized by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and compared with previously published overseas strains. A primer pair designed to amplify a 743 base pair fragment of the VP2 gene was used and restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles were determined for each strain using three restriction enzymes, Bst NI, MboI and SspI. Australian strains comprised 12 molecular groups that were unique and distinct from overseas IBDV strains. A specific SspI site that is used to predict a very virulent IBDV phenotype was absent from all Australian strains, contrary to a previous finding by Jackwood and Sommer (1999). One Australian strain (N1/99) contained an SspI site; however, this was located at a different position than that found in very virulent IBDV strains. The results demonstrate that restriction fragment length polymorphism can be used to rapidly differentiate Australian IBDV strains from overseas strains. However, the existence of a large number of molecular groups might preclude its effectiveness for inter-strain differentiation.

Animals↗

Protection from infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)-induced immunosuppression by immunization with a fowlpox recombinant containing IBDV-VP2.

Immunosuppression resulting from infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection has critical health and welfare implications for birds, yet it is incompletely understood and largely overlooked as a measure of vaccine efficacy. The ability of a fowlpoxvirus recombinant (fpIBD1) containing the VP2 protein of IBDV to protect against IBDV-induced immunosuppression was investigated by measuring the convalescent chicken's ability to mount antibody responses to IBDV infection, and to inactivated IBDV and salmonella vaccines. An immunoglobulin (Ig)M response, but no IgG response, occurred after IBDV infection. Uninfected chickens produced a sustained IgM response and some IgG response to inactivated IBDV vaccine, while in previously infected birds only a transient IgM response was detected. A moderate suppression of the response to a commercial salmonella vaccine was evident after IBDV infection, which was largely prevented by immunization with fpIBD1. These results indicate that measurement of immunosuppression could be a useful strategy for assessing the efficacy of vaccines to protect against the consequences of IBDV infection.

Animals↗

Quantification of infectious bursal disease viral proteins 2 and 3 in inactivated vaccines as an indicator of serological response and measure of potency.

Viral protein 2 and viral protein 3 (VP2 and VP3) were quantified in a series of inactivated infectious bursal disease oil emulsion vaccines using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the dependence of the serological response on vaccine antigen content was studied. Large differences in antigen content, up to 50-fold, were found between vaccines. Neutralizing antibody titres at 3 to 6 weeks after vaccination varied from 3 log2 to 16 log2. None of the vaccines induced an antibody titre equal to that of the reference serum used as an indicator of sufficient potency in the European Pharmacopoeia. Neutralizing antibody titres after vaccination correlated highly with the VP2 content of the vaccines. A significant correlation was also found between the VP3 content and the antibody response. Our data illustrate that the antigen content of inactivated infectious bursal disease vaccines is a reliable indicator of the protective serological response after vaccination, and consequently could be used as a measure of vaccine potency. This holds true for both VP2, the antigen that induces neutralizing antibodies, as well as for VP3, which does not induce neutralizing antibodies.

Animals↗

Adenovirus structure.

Structural studies continue to play an essential role as the focus of adenovirus research shifts in emphasis from basic biology to adenovirus-based vector technologies. A crucial step in developing novel therapeutics for gene replacement, cancer, and vaccines is often to modify the virion. Such engineered changes are designed to retarget the virus, or to reduce the immunological responses to infection. These efforts are far more effective when they are based on detailed structural knowledge. This minireview provides a brief summary of the wealth of information that has been obtained from the combined application of X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. This knowledge now includes a good working model for the architectural organization of the virion, and atomic resolution molecular structures for all the major capsid proteins, hexon, penton, and fiber. We highlight new developments, which include the structure of the penton base and the discovery that adenovirus has several relatives. We sketch how the structural information can be used to engineer novel virions and conclude with the prospects for future progress.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Protective cell-mediated immunity by DNA vaccination against Papillomavirus L1 capsid protein in the Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus model.

Papillomavirus major capsid protein L1 has successfully stimulated protective immunity against virus infection by induction of neutralizing antibodies in animal models and in clinical trials. However, the potential impact of L1-induced protective cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses is difficult to measure in vivo because of the coincidence of anti-L1 antibody. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that L1 could activate CMI, using the Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus (CRPV)-rabbit model. A unique property of this model is that infections can be initiated with viral DNA, thus bypassing all contributions to protection via neutralizing anti-L1 antibody. DNA vaccines containing either CRPV L1, or subfragments of L1 (amino-terminal two-thirds of L1 [L1N] and the carboxylterminal two-thirds of L1 [L1C]), were delivered intracutaneously into rabbits, using a gene gun. After three booster immunizations, the rabbits were challenged with several viral DNA constructs: wild-type CRPV, CRPV L1ATGko (an L1 ATG knockout mutation), and CRPV-ROPV hybrid (CRPV with a replacement L1 from Rabbit Oral Papillomavirus). Challenge of L1 DNA-vaccinated rabbits with wild-type CRPV resulted in significantly fewer papillomas when compared with challenge with CRPV L1ATGko DNA. Significantly smaller papillomas were found in CRPV L1-, L1N-, and L1C-vaccinated rabbits. In addition, rabbits vaccinated with either L1 or L1N grew significantly fewer and smaller papillomas when challenged with CRPV-ROPV hybrid DNA. Therefore, CRPV L1 DNA vaccination induced CMI responses to CRPV DNA infections that can contribute to protective immunity. Cross-protective immunity against CRPV L1 and ROPV L1 was elicited in these CRPV L1- and subfragment-vaccinated rabbits.

Animals↗

Recombinant bivalent vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O/A infection in guinea pig.

In this study, two DNA fragments encoding amino acid (141-160)-(21-140)-(141-160) of the VP1 of FMDV (foot-and-mouth disease virus) serotype O and (138-160)-(21-40)-(138-160) of the serotype A FMDV were chemically synthesized. These two tandem-repeat fragments were ligated and transfected into prokaryotic expression vector pTrcHis A to construct pTH-O-A. The other vector called pTH-O-scIgG-A was constructed similarly only that the two tandem-repeat DNA fragments were linked by the bovine-IgG heavy chain coding sequence. Guinea pigs immunized with the two bivalent vaccines pTH-O-A and pTH-O-scIgG-A showed both specific antibody activity and T cell proliferation responses. FMDV challenge tests showed that 85% and 70% of guinea pigs vaccinated twice with 200 mg of the fusion protein of pTH-O-A were protected from FMDV serotype O and serotype A infection respectively. 70% and 57% of the guinea pigs immunized with the fusion protein of pTH-O-scIgG-A were protected from FMDV serotype O and serotype A infection respectively.

Animals↗

Immune response and resistance to infectious bursal disease virus of chicken lines selected for high or low antibody response to Escherichia coli.

Two experimental broiler lines were developed by divergent selection for high (HH) and low (LL) antibody response to Escherichia coli. Antibody response of these lines to immunization with a commercial vaccine (whole inactivated virus, WIV) against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) or with proteins VP2 and VP3 of that virus, and their resistance to challenge with a virulent IBDV, were tested. The study was performed with 213 male and female chicks from the tenth generation of the HH and LL lines. At 15 d of age, after disappearance of maternal antibodies, chicks from each line were randomly divided into four groups and injected with WIV, VP2, VP3, or adjuvant alone as a negative control. Chicks were bled 18 d postinjection, and antibody titers were determined by ELISA. Ten days later, the chicks were challenged with a virulent strain of the virus and killed after 10 d; the ratio of bursa of Fabricius to 100 g BW was determined for each bird. Significant differences in antibody titers were found among immunized and control chicks. Chicks from the HH line exhibited significantly higher antibody titers than LL chicks in response to WIV and VP2 vaccines but not to VP3 vaccine. Following challenge, bursa weight (relative to BW) of HH and LL chicks vaccinated with WIV and VP2 was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of chicks vaccinated with VP3 or the challenged unvaccinated control. No difference was found in this parameter between the latter two groups. Possible explanations for the differences in the line response to VP2 and VP3 are discussed.

Animals↗

Characterization by Western blotting of the immunogens of infectious bursal disease virus.

The Australian isolate of infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus (002/73) was purified from infected bursae by rate-zonal and density-equilibrium centrifugation and characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two major polypeptides having approximate mol. wt. of 32 000 (32K) and 37K and three other polypeptides of approximate mol. wt. 29K, 41.5K and 91.5K were present in all preparations of virus having a buoyant density of 1.33 g/ml. Western blotting of the polypeptides of IBD virus showed that the initial antibody response of chickens infected with live virus or injected with an inactivated oil-emulsion vaccine was directed primarily towards the 32K polypeptide. Only sera obtained late in the response to live virus or following hyperimmunization contained antibodies recognizing the 29K, 37K and 41.5K polypeptides. An antibody response to the 91.5K polypeptide was not detected routinely by this technique. It was concluded that the 32K polypeptide is a major immunogen of IBD virus.

Animals↗

Recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C protects mice against herpes simplex virus challenge.

The gene encoding the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein C (gC) was isolated and cloned into a vaccinia virus insertion vector, and the resulting vaccinia-gC vector was used to construct a recombinant vaccinia virus that expressed gC (VVgC5). Infection of cells with VVgC5 resulted in cell surface expression of authentic HSV-1 gC. HSV-1 gC-specific neutralizing antibodies were produced in VVgC5-immunized mice, and lymphocytes exhibited an HSV-1-specific proliferation response in vitro following infection. More importantly, VVgC5-immunized mice were resistant to subsequent lethal HSV-1 challenge.

Animals↗

Inactivation of the thymidine kinase gene of a gI deletion mutant of pseudorabies virus generates a safe but still highly immunogenic vaccine strain.

In an earlier report, we described the construction of the genetically engineered pseudorabies virus strain 2.4N3A which does not express glycoprotein gI. Although this strain showed a strongly reduced virulence in 10-week-old seronegative pigs, it could still cause severe disease or death in 3-day-old piglets. To attenuate the strain further, we constructed mutants with a deletion in the viral thymidine kinase gene. One mutant strain, designated 783, has a deletion of 19 base pairs and was shown to be highly immunogenic and safe for vaccination of pigs against pseudorabies virus.

Animals↗

17D yellow fever vaccine virus envelope protein expressed by recombinant baculovirus is antigenically indistinguishable from authentic viral protein.

We have constructed a recombinant baculovirus containing cloned DNA encoding the membrane and envelope (E) proteins of 17D yellow fever vaccine virus. Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with this recombinant baculovirus produced a 66K protein which corresponded to the estimated size of the protein encoded by the cloned inserted DNA, and a 54K protein with the same molecular size as that of the authentic 17D yellow fever virus E protein. This recombinant 54K protein was labile, producing E protein-specific breakdown products (45K to 36K). Indirect immunofluorescence, using a panel of E protein-specific monoclonal antibodies, showed that the recombinant protein was presented both inside as well as on the surface of cells and was antigenically indistinguishable from the E protein of 17D yellow fever vaccine virus.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequence comparisons of the fusion protein gene from virulent and attenuated strains of rinderpest virus.

We have cloned and sequenced the entire fusion (F) protein gene of the RBOK vaccine strain of rinderpest virus and the coding regions for the F genes of two mild field isolates of the virus from Africa. Analysis of the nucleotide and the predicted amino acid sequences showed that the vaccine virus was more than 99% identical in the protein coding region to the virulent Kabete O strain from which it was derived, whereas the field isolates differed by 10 to 12% from each other and from the vaccine strain. No changes were found in the F protein which could explain attenuation of the vaccine; however, each of the mild field isolates had amino acid changes in important functional areas which may be related to their attenuated phenotype.

Africa↗

Cloning and expression of the VP1 major capsid protein of diabetogenic encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus and prevention of EMC virus-induced diabetes by immunization with the recombinant VP1 protein.

The development of diabetes in mice induced by encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus provides the best experimental evidence that viruses have an aetiological role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The major capsid protein (VP1) of EMC virus is important for both the attachment of the virus to pancreatic beta cells and for the determination of antigenicity. This experiment was initiated to clone the gene for the major capsid protein, VP1, of the diabetogenic EMC (EMC-D) virus, express the VP1 protein, and test whether the recombinant VP1 protein can prevent development of EMC-D virus-induced diabetes in mice. We successfully cloned the VP1 gene of the EMC-D virus in the expression vector pRSET and subsequently expressed the protein in Escherichia coli. The recombinant VP1 protein was then purified by affinity chromatography. Five- to six-week-old male SJL/J mice were immunized intraperitoneally with purified VP1 protein and then challenged after various intervals with highly diabetogenic EMC-D virus. None of the VP1-immunized mice developed diabetes, irrespective of the interval between immunization and virus challenge, whereas 80 to 95% of the EMC-D virus-infected control mice did develop diabetes. All of the VP1-immunized mice showed intact pancreatic islet architecture, whereas most of the infected control mice showed severe beta cell necrosis and lymphocytic infiltration of their pancreatic islets. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that the recombinant VP1 protein of EMC-D virus can completely prevent the development of EMC-D virus-induced diabetes in mice.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isogenic adenoviruses type 5 expressing or not expressing the E1A gene: efficiency as virus vectors in the vaccination of permissive and non-permissive species.

We have previously constructed a recombinant adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vector expressing the gD gene of pseudorabies virus (Ad-gD). In this virus the E1A gene was deleted, so that Ad-gD was replication defective. When high doses of this virus were inoculated into target species, it was nevertheless able to elicit a strong and protective immune response. We have restored a functional E1A gene in Ad-gD, by rescuing the E1A transcription unit in an ectopic position, far from the enhancer sequences of E1A. Unlike Ad-gD, this new virus (Ad-gD-E1A) was able to replicate in non-transcomplementing Vero cells. The kinetics of replication of Ad-gD-E1A were similar to that of the wild-type Ad5 when cells were infected at medium or high m.o.i. Nevertheless, the level of virus replication was low when Ad-gD-E1A was plated at low m.o.i. Cotton rats and mice were vaccinated once with 10(9) to 10(5) TCID50 of each of the two viruses. In both species, Ad-gD and Ad-gD-E1A induced similar antibody responses for each dose tested. Both were able to give a high level of protection against the challenge. However, the protective dose of Ad-gD-E1A was at least 250-fold lower in cotton rats, an Ad5-permissive species, than that of Ad-gD. In mice, a species restricted for Ad5 replication, the protective dose of Ad-gD-E1A was still not significantly different from that of Ad-gD. These data indicate that the protective dose of such an adenovirus vector vaccine for an animal species is strictly linked to the capacity of the virus to replicate in this species, at least in the model used. So, in designing an adequate vector one needs to balance the use of low dose vaccines against risks in terms of biosafety. Nevertheless, for diseases in which the protective immune response is mainly based on the antibody response, defective and non-defective adenovirus vectors should demonstrate similar protective doses.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

A single dose immunization with rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus major capsid protein produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae induces protection.

The gene coding for the major capsid protein (VP60) from rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the phosphoglycerate kinase promoter. The recombinant VP60 produced in yeast was antigenically similar to the viral polypeptide as determined with a polyclonal serum. Electron microscopic observation of the recombinant yeast-derived antigen revealed the presence of virus-like particles similar in size and appearance to native capsids. Subcutaneous vaccination of rabbits with a single dose of this antigen in the absence of commercial adjuvants conferred complete protection against the haemorrhagic disease.

Animals↗

Induction of an antigen-specific immune response and partial protection of cattle against challenge infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) after lipopeptide vaccination with FMDV-specific B-cell epitopes.

To evaluate the potential of chemically synthesized lipopeptides for vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), seven lipopeptides containing the immunostimulating principle of bacterial lipoproteins and linear B-cell epitopes of FMDV strain O(1)Kaufbeuren (O(1)K) were used to immunize cattle (n=7). Animals were vaccinated once and 21 days after immunization animals were infected with the homologous virus. Four animals were protected. After vaccination, as well as after challenge infection, B- and T-cell responses were examined. Sera were tested for virus- and peptide-specific antibodies and showed after vaccination only a weak antibody response. After challenge infection, an increase in antibody titre was obvious but there was no correlation between antibody titre and protection. The reactivity of the cellular immune system was detected by analyses of PBMCs for virus- and peptide-specific T-lymphocytes. With regard to the virus-specific T-lymphocytes, a heterogeneous reactivity could be shown. No correlation between virus-specific T-cell proliferation and protection was found. Obvious was the fact that all protected animals showed after vaccination a strong T-cell response against at least one of the peptides used for immunization. These results suggest a correlation between the onset of an antigen-specific T-cell reaction and protection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

DNA immunization against very virulent infectious bursal disease virus with VP2-4-3 gene and chicken IL-6 gene.

The present study was to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of the DNA vaccine to protect chickens against very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) infection. A plasmid DNA carrying VP2-4-3 genes of vvIBDV SH95 and a plasmid DNA carrying chicken interleukin-6 (ChIL-6) genes were constructed and designated as pALTER-MAX-VP2-4-3 and pALTER-MAX-ChIL-6 respectively. Several DNA vaccination experiments were performed: 1-week-old chickens were intramuscularly injected with only plasmid pcDNA3-VP2, pALTER-MAX-VP2-4-3 or mixture with pALTER-MAX-ChIL-6. The chickens at 4 weeks old were orally inoculated with vvIBDV SH95. The results showed that immunization with the mixture of pALTER-MAX-VP2-4-3 and pALTER-MAX-ChIL-6 three times conferred protection for 90% of chickens. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody titres in chickens immunized together with pALTER-MAX-ChIL-6 were higher than those immunized simply with plasmid pcDNA3-VP2 or pALTER-MAX-VP2-4-3. IBDV was not detected in the bursa of the protected chickens at 8 days after challenge by RT-PCR. The results indicate that protection against vvIBDV can be achieved by using the VP2-4-3 gene of vvIBDV as a DNA vaccine. Furthermore, the simultaneous injection of ChIL-6 plasmid significantly increased the protection after challenge with the very virulent strain.

Animals↗