Multivariate Analysis as a Method to Evaluate Antigenic Relationships between Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus 1b Isolates and Vaccine Strains

Shollie M Falkenberg; Hao Ma; Eduardo Casas; Rohana P Dassanayake; Michael W Bolton; Gage Raithel; Scott Silvis; John D Neill; Paul H Walz

doi:10.3390/v15102085

Multivariate Analysis as a Method to Evaluate Antigenic Relationships between Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus 1b Isolates and Vaccine Strains

Viruses. 2023 Oct 13;15(10):2085. doi: 10.3390/v15102085.

Authors

Shollie M Falkenberg^{1

2}, Hao Ma², Eduardo Casas², Rohana P Dassanayake², Michael W Bolton³, Gage Raithel¹, Scott Silvis¹, John D Neill², Paul H Walz¹

Affiliations

¹ Sugg Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
² Ruminant Disease and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA 50010, USA.
³ Spring Hill Farm Consulting, Honor, MI 49640, USA.

Abstract

The antigenicity of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has been evaluated using virus-neutralizing titer data analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and has demonstrated numerous isolates to be antigenically divergent from US vaccine strains. The lack of BVDV-1b strains in currently licensed vaccines has raised concerns regarding the lack of protection against BVDV-1b field strains. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antigenic diversity of BVDV-1b strains and better understand the breadth of antigenic relatedness using BVDV-1b antisera and antisera from vaccine strains. Results from this analysis demonstrate the antigenic diversity observed among BVDV-1b isolates and genetic assignment into the BVDV-1b subgenotype is not representative of antigenic relatedness. This is demonstrated by BVDV-1b isolates (2280N, SNc, Illc, MSU, and 2337) observed to be as antigenically dissimilar as BVDV-2a isolates when using BVDV-1b antisera. Additionally, when BVDV-1a vaccine antisera was used for comparisons, a greater percentage of BVDV-1b isolates clustered with BVDV-1a vaccine strains as part of PC1, suggesting antigenic relatedness and potentially partial protection. Collectively, data from this study would suggest that while most BVDV-1b isolates are antigenically similar, there are antigenically dissimilar BVDV-1b isolates as determined by the lack of cross-reactivity, which may contribute to the lack of protection.

Keywords: antigenicity; bovine viral diarrhea virus; genetic diversity; principal component analysis; virus-neutralizing titer.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease*
Cattle
Diarrhea
Diarrhea Virus 1, Bovine Viral*
Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral* / genetics
Immune Sera
Multivariate Analysis
Phylogeny
Vaccines*

Substances

Vaccines
Immune Sera

Grants and funding

This study was supported by USDA-ARS. This research was supported by funding through internal USDA research dollars (USDA/Agricultural Research Service, National Animal Disease Center, 5030-32000-229-00D). Animal Health, Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ, USA provided funding under approved protocol PRN 2018-3350. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendations or endorsement by the endorsement by the USDA. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.