Immunization with a peptide derived from the G glycoprotein of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) reduces the incidence of BRSV-associated pneumonia in the natural host.
Previous reports demonstrate that synthetic peptides corresponding to the amino acid region 174-187 of G glycoprotein from subgroups A and B human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), containing a Cys-->Ser substitution at position 186, confer complete resistance to immunized BALB/c mice against infection with the respective virus. In this report, we show that a Cys186-->Ser substituted peptide (BG/174-187) representing the corresponding region of the bovine (B) RSV G glycoprotein conferred complete protection of mice against BRSV challenge, suggesting that the 174-187 region of RSV G glycoproteins constitutes a dominant protective epitope which has been maintained throughout evolution. Furthermore, immunization of calves with peptide BG/174-187 efficiently induced the production of antibodies capable of recognizing both the parental G glycoprotein and peptide BG/174-187. Following challenge with live BRSV, although none of the animals were protected from upper respiratory tract disease, there were little or no gross pneumonic lesions in the four peptide-immunized calves. In contrast, moderate to extensive pneumonic lesions were observed in 2 out of 3 calves in the control group. Our results thus suggest that peptide BG/174-187 efficiently prevented BRSV-associated pneumonia in the natural host. The use of this system as a model is quite promising with regard to the development of a human synthetic vaccine.
Bastien
N
N
Centre de recherche en virologie, Université du Québec, Canada.
Taylor
G
G
Thomas
L H
LH
Wyld
S G
SG
Simard
C
C
Trudel
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015707:HN Protein; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D018112:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D015707:HN Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C116204:attachment protein G