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Veterinary research2018; 49(1); 105; doi: 10.1186/s13567-018-0600-4

Safety and immunogenicity of plant-produced African horse sickness virus-like particles in horses.

Abstract: African horse sickness (AHS) is caused by multiple serotypes of the dsRNA AHSV and is a major scourge of domestic equids in Africa. While there are well established commercial live attenuated vaccines produced in South Africa, risks associated with these have encouraged attempts to develop new and safer recombinant vaccines. Previously, we reported on the immunogenicity of a plant-produced AHS serotype 5 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine, which stimulated high titres of AHS serotype 5-specific neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs. Here, we report a similar response to the vaccine in horses. This is the first report demonstrating the safety and immunogenicity of plant-produced AHS VLPs in horses.
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Publication Date: 2018-10-11 PubMed ID: 30309390PubMed Central: PMC6389048DOI: 10.1186/s13567-018-0600-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research study examines the safety and efficacy of a new type of vaccine made from plants for African horse sickness, a deadly disease affecting horses in Africa. This new vaccine was found to be safe and able to induce a strong immune response in horses.

Research Objective and Context

  • The goal of this research was to determine the safety and ability to trigger an immune response (immunogenicity) of a new type of preventative measure against African horse sickness (AHS). AHS is caused by a virus (AHSV) and is a significant threat to domestic horse populations in Africa.
  • Although vaccines for AHS exist and are commercially available, they carry various risks due to their live attenuated state (a live virus that has been weakened, but could still present risk). The research team aimed to develop a safer vaccine using a recombinant technique.
  • The new vaccine is based on Virus-like particles (VLPs) for AHS serotype 5 and was produced using plants. This is a novel method and differs significantly from traditionally produced vaccines.

Methodology and Findings

  • The vaccine’s effectiveness had previously been tested on guinea pigs, where it was shown to stimulate a high level of AHS serotype 5-specific neutralizing antibodies, meaning it triggered the animals’ immune response to effectively neutralise the virus.
  • In this research, the team expanded their testing to horses. Similar to the guinea pigs’ response, the horses showed a robust immune response, suggesting the vaccine’s effectiveness can be translated to the species it was originally designed to protect.
  • Importantly, the vaccine was found to be safe to use in horses, an equally crucial factor in any new vaccine’s potential viability.

Implications

  • This research represents the first report on the safety and immunogenicity of a plant-produced AHS vaccine in horses. It shows that plant-produced VLPs could be a viable alternative to live attenuated vaccines for AHS.
  • The study could pave the way for further research into plant-produced vaccines for other animal diseases. A successful implementation could potentially lead to more secure and flexible vaccine production processes.

Cite This Article

APA
Dennis SJ, O'Kennedy MM, Rutkowska D, Tsekoa T, Lourens CW, Hitzeroth II, Meyers AE, Rybicki EP. (2018). Safety and immunogenicity of plant-produced African horse sickness virus-like particles in horses. Vet Res, 49(1), 105. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-018-0600-4

Publication

Veterinary research
ISSN: 1297-9716
NlmUniqueID: 9309551
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 1
Pages: 105

Researcher Affiliations

Dennis, Susan J
  • Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
O'Kennedy, Martha M
  • Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Biosciences, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
Rutkowska, Daria
  • Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Biosciences, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
Tsekoa, Tsepo
  • Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Biosciences, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
Lourens, Carina W
  • Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa.
Hitzeroth, Inga I
  • Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
Meyers, Ann E
  • Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa. ann.meyers@uct.ac.za.
Rybicki, Edward P
  • Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
  • Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.

MeSH Terms

  • African Horse Sickness / prevention & control
  • African Horse Sickness Virus
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Horses
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Grant Funding

  • TAHIC13-00023-CC / South African Technology Innovation Agency

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Citations

This article has been cited 14 times.
  1. Tinarwo M, Dennis SJ, Hitzeroth II, Meyers AE, Rybicki EP, Mbewana S. Development of an African horse sickness VP6 DIVA diagnostic ELISA. Virol J 2025 Aug 12;22(1):276.
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  2. Mardanova ES, Vasyagin EA, Ravin NV. Virus-like Particles Produced in Plants: A Promising Platform for Recombinant Vaccine Development. Plants (Basel) 2024 Dec 20;13(24).
    doi: 10.3390/plants13243564pubmed: 39771262google scholar: lookup
  3. Pitchers KG, Boakye OD, Campeotto I, Daly JM. The Potential of Plant-Produced Virus-like Particle Vaccines for African Horse Sickness and Other Equine Orbiviruses. Pathogens 2024 May 28;13(6).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens13060458pubmed: 38921755google scholar: lookup
  4. O'Kennedy MM, Roth R, Ebersohn K, du Plessis LH, Mamputha S, Rutkowska DA, du Preez I, Verschoor JA, Lemmer Y. Immunogenic profile of a plant-produced nonavalent African horse sickness viral protein 2 (VP2) vaccine in IFNAR-/- mice. PLoS One 2024;19(4):e0301340.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301340pubmed: 38625924google scholar: lookup
  5. Kheirvari M, Liu H, Tumban E. Virus-like Particle Vaccines and Platforms for Vaccine Development. Viruses 2023 May 2;15(5).
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  7. Monreal-Escalante E, Ramos-Vega A, Angulo C, Bañuelos-Hernández B. Plant-Based Vaccines: Antigen Design, Diversity, and Strategies for High Level Production. Vaccines (Basel) 2022 Jan 10;10(1).
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  8. Clemmons EA, Alfson KJ, Dutton JW 3rd. Transboundary Animal Diseases, an Overview of 17 Diseases with Potential for Global Spread and Serious Consequences. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 8;11(7).
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