title: Efficacy of a BVDV subunit vaccine produced in alfalfa transgenic plants.
abstract: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is considered an important cause of economic loss within bovine herds worldwide. In Argentina, only the use of inactivated vaccines is allowed, however, the efficacy of inactivated BVDV vaccines is variable due to its low immunogenicity. The use of recombinant subunit vaccines has been proposed as an alternative to overcome this difficulty. Different studies on protection against BVDV infection have focused the E2 protein, supporting its putative use in subunit vaccines. Utilization of transgenic plants expressing recombinant antigens for the formulation of experimental vaccines represents an innovative and cost effective alternative to the classical fermentation systems. The aim of this work was to develop transgenic alfalfa plants (Medicago sativa, L.) expressing a truncated version of the structural protein E2 from BVDV fused to a molecule named APCH, that target to antigen presenting cells (APCH-tE2). The concentration of recombinant APCH-tE2 in alfalfa leaves was 1 μg/g at fresh weight and its expression remained stable after vegetative propagation. A methodology based an aqueous two phases system was standardized for concentration and partial purification of APCH-tE2 from alfalfa. Guinea pigs parentally immunized with leaf extracts developed high titers of neutralizing antibodies. In bovine, the APCH-tE2 subunit vaccine was able to induce BVDV-specific neutralizing antibodies. After challenge, bovines inoculated with 3 μg of APCH-tE2 produced in alfalfa transgenic plants showed complete virological protection.
authors.affiliation: Virology Institute, CICVyA, Buenos Aires, Argentina. msperez@cnia.inta.gov.ar
authors.forename: María Sol
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Peréz Aguirreburualde
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostachuk
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wolman
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albanesi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pecora
authors.forename: Anselmo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odeon
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ardila
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dus Santos
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wigdorovitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D002417:Cattle; D030241:Diarrhea Virus 1, Bovine Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C076551:gp53, bovine viral diarrhea virus