title: Induction of Hantaan virus-specific immune responses in C57BL/6 mice by immunization with a modified recombinant adenovirus containing the chimeric gene, GcS0.7.
abstract: Hantavirus glycoprotein Gc is one of the main components that contribute to the generation of humoral immune responses, while the nucleocapsid protein (NP) is involved in cellular immune responses through the induction of antibody-dependent cytotoxic T cells. In this study, a chimeric gene, GcS0.7, which encodes a fusion protein containing Gc and truncated NP, was constructed as a candidate for Hantaan virus (HTNV) vaccine development. The chimeric gene was cloned into an adenoviral vector in conjunction with the powerful hybrid cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer/chicken β-actin (CAG) promoter or the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) post-transcriptional regulatory element (WPRE), or both. Both elements increased the expression level of the fusion protein. The rAd-GcS0.7-pCAG group demonstrated the highest fusion protein expression level, with a 2.3-fold increase compared with the unmodified adenoviral vector. To further evaluate the humoral and cellular immunity induced by the recombinant adenovirus, the antibody titers, interferon (IFN)-γ secretion level and cytotoxic T cell ratio were detected in immunized mice. The strongest HTNV‑specific humoral and cellular immune responses were detected in the rAd-GcS0.7‑pCAG group. The immunogenicity of these recombinant adenoviruses was compared with that of the inactivated vaccine through a series of immunological assays. In terms of the cellular immune responses, the rAd-GcS0.7-pCAG group even exceeded those induced by the vaccine control. The CAG hybrid promoter improved not only the expression level, but also the immunogenicity of the fusion protein, and may thus provide a promising strategy for HTNV vaccine research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Pu-Yuan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xing-An
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zi-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lin-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wen-Tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Fang-Lin
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Kai
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D023061:Gene Order; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018063:Hantaan virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D051379:Mice; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines