title: Anti-prion activity generated by a novel vaccine formulation.
abstract: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of domestic and wild cervids in North America. To address possible prevention regimens for CWD, we have used a mouse model system and the Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) mouse-adapted scrapie prion strain to screen efficacy of potential vaccine candidates. Three peptides derived from the primary amino acid sequence of the prion protein were conjugated to blue carrier protein (BCP) and formulated in an adjuvant containing M. avium subsp. avium. CL57/BL6 mice were vaccinated and boosted with 50 microg of the carrier protein-peptide conjugate formulation; all vaccines produced a humoral immune response as measured by ELISA. Disease challenge with the RML scrapie prion strain revealed anti-prion activity was generated by the vaccine formulations as measured by a delay in clinical disease onset and prolonged survivorship.
authors.affiliation: USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA. john.1.pilon@aphis.usda.gov
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pilon
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loiacono
authors.forename: Danelle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Okeson
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vercauteren
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rhyan
authors.forename: Lowell
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014612:Vaccines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D034081:Wasting Disease, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes; D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D014612:Vaccines