Immunization of chickens with VP2 protein of infectious bursal disease virus expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Transgenic plants represent a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to produce vaccines. The immunogenicity of VP2 protein of an infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus variant E isolate expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana was compared with a commercial vaccine in specific-pathogen-free broiler chickens. The VP2 coding sequence was isolated and integrated into A. thaliana genome by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Soluble VP2 expressed in transgenic plants was used to immunize chickens. Chickens receiving oral immunization with plant-derived VP2 at 1 and 3 wk of age had an antibody response using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and 80% protection against challenge infection at 4 wk. Chickens primed with a commercial vaccine at 1 wk followed by an oral booster with VP2 expressed in plants at 3 wk of age showed 90% protection. Chickens immunized with a commercial vaccine at 1 and 3 wk showed 78% protection. Results supported the efficacy of plant-produced VP2 as a vaccine against IBD.
Wu
H
H
Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Singh
Narendra K
NK
Locy
Robert D
RD
Scissum-Gunn
K
K
Giambrone
Joseph J
JJ
D000367:Age Factors; D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000821:virology*; D018175:Birnaviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus / Q000276:immunology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C082513:VP2 protein, infectious bursal disease virus; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines