Lack of antibody response in pigs immunized with the transmembrane envelope protein of porcine endogenous retroviruses.
Recently, we immunized different mammalian species (goats, mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters) with the recombinant ectodomain of the transmembrane envelope (TM) protein p15E of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV). In all cases, neutralizing immune sera were induced, which recognized epitopes in the fusion peptide proximal region and the membrane proximal external region of p15E. In order to analyse whether pigs are also able to produce such antibodies, and whether such antibodies can be used to study the involvement of the TM protein in placental development (as was shown for endogenous retroviruses of other species), German landrace pigs were immunized with PERV p15E. No binding and neutralizing antibodies were produced as shown in three Western blot analyses and in a neutralization assay, indicating that pigs are tolerant to their endogenous retroviruses, at least for the ectodomain of the TM protein.
Robert Koch Institute, HIV and Other Retroviruses, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
Martina
M
Keller
Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, 31535 Neustadt am Rübenberge, Germany.
Björn
B
Petersen
Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, 31535 Neustadt am Rübenberge, Germany.
Heiner
H
Niemann
Robert Koch Institute, HIV and Other Retroviruses, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
Joachim
J
Denner
D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D013552:Swine; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines