New baculovirus recombinants expressing Pseudorabies virus (PRV) glycoproteins protect mice against lethal challenge infection

Vaccine. 2009 Jun 2;27(27):3584-91. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.03.067. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

Abstract

The present study demonstrates the protective potential of novel baculovirus recombinants, which express the glycoproteins gB, gC, or gD of Pseudorabies virus (PRV; Alphaherpesvirus of swine) and additionally contain the glycoprotein G of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV-G) in the virion (Bac-G-PRV). To evaluate the protective capacity, mixtures of equal amounts of the PRV gB-, gC-, and gD-expressing baculoviruses were used for immunization. Three intramuscular immunizations with that Bac-G-PRV mixture could protect mice against a lethal PRV challenge infection. To achieve complete protection high titers of Bac-G-PRV and three immunizations were necessary. This immunization with Bac-G-PRV resulted in the induction of high titers of PRV-specific serum antibodies of the IgG2a subclass and of interferon (IFN)-gamma, indicating a Th1-type immune response. Moreover, splenocytes of immunized mice exhibited natural killer cell activity accompanied by the production of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma. Collectively, the presented data demonstrate for the first time that co-expression of VSV-G in baculovirus recombinant vaccines can improve the induction of a protective immune response against foreign antigens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Baculoviridae / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 1, Suid / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • G protein, vesicular stomatitis virus
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Vaccines
  • pseudorabies virus glycoproteins
  • Interferon-gamma