title: DNA vaccine encoding nucleocapsid and surface proteins of wild type canine distemper virus protects its natural host against distemper.
abstract: Canine distemper virus (CDV), a member of the genus Morbillivirus induces a highly infectious, frequently lethal disease in dogs and other carnivores. Current vaccines against canine distemper consisting of attenuated viruses have been in use for many years and have greatly reduced the incidence of distemper in the dog population. However, certain strains may not guarantee adequate protection and others can induce post vaccinal encephalitis. We tested a DNA vaccine for its ability to protect dogs, the natural host of CDV, against distemper. We constructed plasmids containing the nucleocapsid, the fusion, and the attachment protein genes of a virulent canine distemper virus strain. Mice inoculated with these plasmids developed humoral and cellular immune responses against CDV antigens. Dogs immunized with the expression plasmids developed virus-neutralizing antibodies. Significantly, vaccinated dogs were protected against challenge with virulent CDV, whereas unvaccinated animals succumbed to distemper.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Animale, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cherpillod
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tipold
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griot-Wenk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cardozo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fatzer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schobesberger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zurbriggen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruckner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandevelde
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wittek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zurbriggen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004216:Distemper / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019251:Nucleocapsid / Q000276:immunology*; D010957:Plasmids; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines