title: Antigenic and immunogenic properties of a chimera of two immunodominant African swine fever virus proteins.
abstract: A chimera of the two immunodominant African swine fever (ASF) virus proteins p54 and p30 was constructed by insertion of the gene CP204L into a Not I restriction site of E183L gene. The resulting chimeric protein p54/30, expressed by a recombinant baculovirus in insect cells and in Trichoplusia ni larvae, retained antigenic determinants present in both proteins and reacted in Western blot with a collection of sera from inapparent ASF virus carrier pigs. Remarkably, pigs immunized with the chimeric protein developed neutralizing antibodies and survived the challenge with a virulent African swine fever virus, presenting a reduction of about two logs in maximum viremia titers with respect to control pigs. In conclusion, this study revealed that the constructed chimeric protein may have utility as a serological diagnostic reagent and for further immunological studies that may provide new insights on mechanisms of protective immunity to ASFV.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnología, INIA, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Barderas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gómez-Puertas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avilés
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beitia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Escribano
mesh_terms: D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015151:Immunoblotting; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000821:virology; D009036:Moths / Q000821:virology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018411:Spodoptera; D013552:Swine; D014611:Vaccination; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C093921:p54 protein, African swine fever virus; C074960:P30 protein, African Swine Fever Virus