[Protective efficacy of recombinant rotavirus epitope-based vaccine in mice].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate in vivo immunological protective efficacy and safety of expressed recombinant rotavirus epitopes in mice.


METHODS
Using the Flock House virus capsid protein as a vector, three epitopes derived from rotavirus Vp4 amino acid 223-242 [rotavirus epitope A, (REA)], 243-262 [rotavirus epitope B, (REB)], and 234-251 [rotavirus epitope C, (REC)] were genetically engineered on the surface of the vector protein and expressed in pET-3 (E. coli BL21 [DE3]) system into multiple epitopes, REABC, which comprises REA, REB, and REC. Kunming strain mice were inoculated with the recombinant epitopes REABC, and then challenged perorally by cell culture-adapted rotavirus Wa (type G1P1A) and SA11 (type G3P2). Infection syndrome was observed, and virus antigen in stools of mice and serum neutralizing antibody activities were determined and analyzed.


RESULTS
The recombinant epitopes REABC significantly induced rotavirus specific neutralyzing antibodies against WA and SA11, reduced virus reproduction, elicitted immune memory in inoculated mice, and protected inoculated mice from challenge by WA or SA11 (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The recombinant epitopes have high immunological protective efficacy and mild side effects in mice. It may be used as an epitope-based vaccine candidate in human.
Liu
Xiao
X
Key Laboratory, Institute of Medical Biology, CAMS and PUMC, Kunming 650118, China.
Li
Jia-qi
JQ
Xiong
Xin-yu
XY
Chen
Yu-na
YN
Peng
Mei
M
Dai
Qing
Q
Wen
Yu-ling
YL
Chen
Yuan-ding
YD
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D000091402:Prohibitins; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus; D014765:Viral Vaccines