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Vaccine2014; 32(39); 4932-4937; doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.031

Immunogenicity of recombinant VP2 proteins of all nine serotypes of African horse sickness virus.

Abstract: African horse sickness (AHS) is an equine disease with a mortality of up to 90% for susceptible horses. The causative agent AHS virus (AHSV) is transmitted by species of Culicoides. AHSV serogroup within the genus Orbivirus of the Reoviridae family consists of nine serotypes that show no or very limited cross-neutralization. Of the seven structural proteins (VP1-VP7) of AHSV, VP2 is the serotype specific protein, and the major target for neutralizing antibodies. In this report, recombinant VP2 proteins of all nine serotypes were expressed individually by the baculovirus expression system and the immunogenicity of each was studied by immunization of guinea pigs with single VP2 as well as with cocktails of VP2 proteins. Homologous neutralizing antibodies measured by 50% plaque reduction assay showed varying degrees (from 37 to 1365) of titers for different VP2 proteins. A low cross-neutralizing antibody titer was found for genetically related AHSV serotypes. Immunization with VP2 cocktails containing equal amounts of each of the VP2 proteins also triggered neutralizing antibodies albeit to lower titers (4-117) to each of the serotypes in the cocktail. This study is a first step to develop a VP2 subunit vaccine for AHS and our results indicate that VP2 subunit vaccines are feasible individually or in a multi-serotype cocktail.
Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2014-07-18 PubMed ID: 25045805PubMed Central: PMC4148702DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.031Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article focuses on the immunogenic response to recombinantly expressed VP2 proteins from all nine serotypes of the African horse sickness virus. The study demonstrates the potential viability of these proteins in the development of a vaccine against the disease.

Introduction and Background

  • The article begins by providing some context on African horse sickness (AHS), a highly lethal disease affecting equines, with a mortality rate of up to 90% for susceptible horses.
  • The causative agent behind this disease is the AHS virus (AHSV), which is spread via Culicoides species.
  • The AHSV falls into a group of nine serotypes that show minimal cross-neutralization. Among the seven structural proteins of the AHSV, the study focuses on VP2, which is specific to each serotype and the main target for neutralizing antibodies.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers expressed VP2 proteins of all nine serotypes individually using the baculovirus expression system, a robust tool for producing large quantities of recombinant proteins.
  • They then studied the immunogenicity of each individual VP2 protein and also combinations of these proteins by immunizing guinea pigs.
  • The neutralizing antibody production of the guinea pigs was then measured using a 50% plaque reduction assay. This is a test that measures the ability of the immune system to neutralize viruses.

Results and Findings

  • The results revealed varying degrees of antibody titers to different VP2 proteins. This means that the immune response varied depending on the particular serotype of the virus.
  • The study also found a low cross-neutralizing antibody titer for genetically related AHSV serotypes.
  • Immunization with cocktails of VP2 proteins, containing equal amounts of each serotype’s VP2, also elicited the production of neutralizing antibodies, although titers were lower compared to the individual proteins.

Implications of the Study

  • This study is a pioneering effort towards developing a subunit vaccine for AHS using the VP2 proteins of the virus. The data suggests that it is quite feasible to develop such subunit vaccines, either for individual serotypes or as a multi-serotype cocktail.
  • While the antibody response to the cocktail was lower, the authors note that it still triggered a response to all serotypes included in the cocktail. This suggests that a cocktail-based vaccine could potentially provide broader protection against multiple serotypes of the virus.

Cite This Article

APA
Kanai Y, van Rijn PA, Maris-Veldhuis M, Kaname Y, Athmaram TN, Roy P. (2014). Immunogenicity of recombinant VP2 proteins of all nine serotypes of African horse sickness virus. Vaccine, 32(39), 4932-4937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.031

Publication

Vaccine
ISSN: 1873-2518
NlmUniqueID: 8406899
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 39
Pages: 4932-4937

Researcher Affiliations

Kanai, Yuta
  • Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
van Rijn, Piet A
  • Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University (CVI), PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands; Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Human Metabonomics, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
Maris-Veldhuis, Mieke
  • Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University (CVI), PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands.
Kaname, Yuki
  • Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
Athmaram, T N
  • Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
Roy, Polly
  • Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: polly.roy@lshtm.ac.uk.

MeSH Terms

  • African Horse Sickness / prevention & control
  • African Horse Sickness Virus / classification
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Baculoviridae
  • Capsid Proteins / immunology
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Serogroup
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Grant Funding

  • BB/K015168/1 / Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

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This article has been cited 19 times.
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