title: Immunisation with recombinant BCG expressing the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) L1 gene provides protection from CRPV challenge.
abstract: Recombinant Bacille Calmette-Guerin (rBCG) could potentially be the vaccine vehicle of choice to deliver foreign antigens from multiple pathogens. In this study we have used the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) rabbit model to provide a "proof of concept" that immunisation with rBCG expressing the CRPV major capsid protein, L1 (rBCG/CRPVL1), will protect outbred New Zealand White rabbits against CRPV challenge. Rabbits immunised with rBCG/CRPVL1 (10(7) cfu/ml) were protected 5 weeks post-CRPV challenge. Rabbits immunised with rBCG/CRPVL1 (10(5) cfu/ml) had papillomas, which were smaller and took longer to appear than the control rabbits. None of the negative control rabbits vaccinated with rBCG expressing an irrelevant gene or PBS were protected from CRPV challenge. Sera from rabbits immunised with rBCG/CRPVL1 (10(7) cfu/ml) were able to neutralise 54.5% of CRPV at serum dilutions of 1:200. These results provide evidence that BCG could potentially be used as a vaccine delivery vehicle for human papillomavirus proteins as a possible prophylactic vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Medical School, Observatory 7925, and National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Govan
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berkower
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: A-L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D012777:Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D007114:Immunization; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001500:BCG Vaccine; C073505:L1 protein, cottontail rabbit papillomavirus; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines