Introduction of translation stop codons into the viral glycoprotein gene in a fish DNA vaccine eliminates induction of protective immunity.
A highly efficacious DNA vaccine against a fish rhabdovirus, infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), was mutated to introduce two stop codons to prevent glycoprotein translation while maintaining the plasmid DNA integrity and RNA transcription ability. The mutated plasmid vaccine, denoted pIHNw-G2stop, when injected intramuscularly into fish at high doses, lacked detectable glycoprotein expression in the injection site muscle, and did not provide protection against lethal virus challenge 7 days post-vaccination. These results suggest that the G-protein itself is required to stimulate the early protective antiviral response observed after vaccination with the nonmutated parental DNA vaccine.
Garver
Kyle A
KA
Western Fisheries Research Center, United States Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, 6505 NE 65th St., Seattle, WA, 98115, USA.
Conway
Carla M
CM
Kurath
Gael
G
D000818:Animals; D018388:Codon, Terminator / Q000235:genetics*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D029142:Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D018388:Codon, Terminator; D006023:Glycoproteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines