title: Chimeric calicivirus-like particles elicit protective anti-viral cytotoxic responses without adjuvant.
abstract: We have analyzed the potential of virus-like particles (VLPs) from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) as a delivery system for foreign T cell epitopes. To accomplish this goal, we generated chimeric RHDV-VLPs incorporating a CD8(+) T cell epitope (SIINFEKL) derived from chicken ovalbumin (OVA). The OVA epitope was inserted in the capsid protein (VP60) of RHDV at two different locations: 1) the N-terminus, predicted to be facing to the inner core of the VLPs, and 2) a novel insertion site predicted to be located within an exposed loop. Both constructions correctly assembled into VLPs. In vitro, the chimeric VLPs activated dendritic cells for TNF-alpha secretion and they were processed and presented to specific T cells. In vivo, mice immunized with the chimeric VLPs without adjuvant were able to induce specific cellular responses mediated by cytotoxic and memory T cells. More importantly, immunization with chimeric VLPs was able to resolve an infection by a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing OVA protein.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, UAB-IRTA, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. maria.montoya@cresa.uab.es
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crisci
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Almanza
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Córdoba
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gómez-Casado
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Castón
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fraile
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bárcena
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montoya