title: Evaluation of a multi-epitope subunit vaccine against avian leukosis virus subgroup J in chickens.
abstract: The intricate sequence and antigenic variability of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) have led to unprecedented difficulties in the development of vaccines. Much experimental evidence demonstrates that ALV-J mutants have caused immune evasion and pose a challenge for traditional efforts to develop effective vaccines. To investigate the potential of a multi-epitope vaccination strategy to prevent chickens against ALV-J infections, a recombinant chimeric multi-epitope protein X (rCMEPX) containing both immunodominant B and T epitope concentrated domains selected from the major structural protein of ALV-J using bioinformatics approach was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3). Its immunogenicity and protective efficacy was studied in chickens. The results showed that rCMEPX could elicit neutralizing antibodies and cellular responses, and antibodies induced by rCMEPX could specifically recognize host cell naturally expressed ALV-J proteins, which indicated that the rCMEPX is a good immunogen. Challenge experiments showed 80% chickens that received rCMEPX were well protected against ALV-J challenge. This is the first report of a chimeric multi-epitope protein as a potential immunogen against ALV-J.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China.
authors.forename: Xingjiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China.
authors.forename: Fangkun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271018, China. Electronic address: xmzhao66@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001353:Avian Leukosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002645:Chickens; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: ALV-J; Immunogenicity; Multi-epitope vaccine; Neutralizing antibodies; T-lymphocytes