Vaccination of horses with a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara virus (MVA) expressing African horse sickness (AHS) virus major capsid protein VP2 provides complete clinical protection against challenge.
Abstract: African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is an arthropod-borne pathogen that infects all species of equidae and causes high mortality in horses. Previously, a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus expressing the protein VP2 of AHSV serotype 4 was shown to induce virus neutralising antibodies in horses and protected interferon alpha receptor gene knock-out mice (IFNAR -/-) against virulent AHSV challenge. This study builds on the previous work, examining the protective efficacy of MVA-VP2 vaccination in the natural host of AHSV infection. A study group of 4 horses was vaccinated twice with a recombinant MVA virus expressing the major capsid protein (VP2) of AHSV serotype 9. Vaccinated animals and a control group of unvaccinated horses were then challenged with a virulent strain of AHSV-9. The vaccinated animals were completely protected against clinical disease and also against viraemia as measured by standard end-point dilution assays. In contrast, all control horses presented viraemia after challenge and succumbed to the infection. These results demonstrate the potential of recombinant MVA viruses expressing the outer capsid VP2 of AHSV as a protective vaccine against AHSV infection in the field.
Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2014-05-14 PubMed ID: 24837765PubMed Central: PMC4061461DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.036Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research discusses the effective use of a genetically modified virus, called MVA-VP2, for protecting horses against the deadly African horse sickness virus (AHSV). The study found that horses vaccinated with MVA-VP2 were completely shielded from the disease, unlike the unvaccinated ones which all contracted the infection.
About African horse sickness virus (AHSV)
- AHSV is a deadly pathogen carried by arthropods that infects all equidae species and results in high mortality rates in horses.
- Earlier, a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus expressing the protein VP2 of AHSV serotype 4 showed promising results by generating virus neutralising antibodies in horses, and protection to mice genetically engineered to lack an interferon alpha receptor gene (IFNAR -/-) against virulent AHSV.
The Study Details
- Building on previous discoveries, this research aimed to check the protective effectiveness of MVA-VP2 vaccination in horses, which are the natural hosts of AHSV infection.
- The study involved four horses that received two injections of a recombinant MVA virus, which expressed the major capsid protein (VP2) of AHSV serotype 9.
The Study Findings
- Upon exposure to a virulent strain of AHSV-9, the vaccinated animals showed complete protection against both clinical disease and viraemia, as gauged by standard end-point dilution assays.
- Contrarily, the horses that weren’t vaccinated exhibited signs of viraemia after exposure and eventually succumbed to the infection.
- These findings clearly suggest the potential of the recombinant MVA-VP2 as an effective vaccine against AHSV infection.
Conclusion
- The study yielded valuable insights into the potential use of a recombinant MVA virus to provide horses complete protection against African horse sickness. It paves the way for effective vaccine measures that may save equidae species from falling prey to this deadly infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Alberca B, Bachanek-Bankowska K, Cabana M, Calvo-Pinilla E, Viaplana E, Frost L, Gubbins S, Urniza A, Mertens P, Castillo-Olivares J.
(2014).
Vaccination of horses with a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara virus (MVA) expressing African horse sickness (AHS) virus major capsid protein VP2 provides complete clinical protection against challenge.
Vaccine, 32(29), 3670-3674.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.036 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Zoetis-Spain, Ctra de Comprodon, Finca La Riba, 17813 Vall de Bianya, Girona, Spain.
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, Surrey, UK.
- Zoetis-Spain, Ctra de Comprodon, Finca La Riba, 17813 Vall de Bianya, Girona, Spain.
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, Surrey, UK.
- Zoetis-Spain, Ctra de Comprodon, Finca La Riba, 17813 Vall de Bianya, Girona, Spain.
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, Surrey, UK.
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, Surrey, UK.
- Zoetis-Spain, Ctra de Comprodon, Finca La Riba, 17813 Vall de Bianya, Girona, Spain.
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, Surrey, UK.
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, Surrey, UK. Electronic address: javier.castillo-olivares@pirbright.ac.uk.
MeSH Terms
- African Horse Sickness / prevention & control
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Capsid Proteins / immunology
- Female
- Horses / immunology
- Male
- Neutralization Tests
- Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
- Vaccinia virus / genetics
- Viral Vaccines / immunology
- Viremia / prevention & control
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