title: Recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein E and domain III expressed in insect larvae protects mice against West Nile disease.
abstract: In this study, West Nile virus (WNV) envelope (rE) protein and its domain III (rDIII) were efficiently expressed in a cost-effective system based on insect larvae as non-fermentative living biofactories. Mice immunized with the partially purified rE or rDIII elicited high antibodies titers that neutralized viral infectivity in cell culture and in suckling mice. All vaccinated animals were fully protected when challenged with neurovirulent WNV NY99. Passive transfer of protective antibodies from immunized mothers to their offspring occurred both by transplacental and lactation routes. These results indicate that the insect-derived antigens tested may constitute potential vaccine candidates to be further evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Ctra. Coruña Km. 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso-Padilla
authors.forename: Nereida Jiménez
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: de Oya
authors.forename: Ana-Belén
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Blázquez
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Escribano-Romero
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: Juan-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Saiz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005260:Female; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D007313:Insecta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D011247:Pregnancy; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053060:West Nile Virus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D053060:West Nile Virus Vaccines