title: A cucumber mosaic virus based expression system for the production of porcine circovirus specific vaccines.
abstract: Potential porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) capsid protein epitopes, suitable for expression on the surface of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) particles were determined by a thorough analysis of the predicted PCV capsid protein structure. The ab initio protein structure prediction was carried out with fold recognition and threading methods. The putative PCV epitopes were selected on the basis of PCV virion models and integrated into the plant virus coat protein, after amino acid position 131. The recombinants were tested for infectivity and stability on different Nicotiana species and stable recombinant virus particles were purified. The particles were tested for their ability to bind to PCV induced porcine antibodies and used for specific antibody induction in mice and pigs. The results showed that PCV epitopes expressed on the CMV surface were recognized by the porcine antibodies and they were also able to induce PCV specific antibody response. Challenge experiment with PCV2 carried out in immunized pigs showed partial protection against the infection. Based on these results it was concluded that specific antiviral vaccine production for the given pathogen was feasible, offering an inexpensive way for the mass production of such vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Genomics, Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-2462 Martonvásár, Brunszvik, Hungary.
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gellért
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salánki
authors.forename: Kata
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tombácz
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuboly
authors.forename: Ervin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balázs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017925:Circovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017799:Cucumovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines