A suicidal DNA vaccine expressing the fusion protein of peste des petits ruminants virus induces both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in mice.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious disease induced by PPR virus (PPRV), affects sheep and goats. PPRV fusion (F) protein is important for the induction of immune responses against PPRV. We constructed a Semliki Forest virus (SFV) replicon-vectored DNA vaccine ("suicidal DNA vaccine") and evaluated its immunogenicity in BALB/c mice. The F gene of PPRV was cloned and inserted into the SFV replicon-based vector pSCA1. The antigenicity of the resultant plasmid pSCA1/F was identified by indirect immunofluorescence and western blotting. BALB/c mice were then intramuscularly injected with pSCA1/F three times at 14-d intervals. Specific antibodies and virus-neutralizing antibodies against PPRV were quantified by indirect ELISA and microneutralization tests, respectively. Cell-mediated immune responses were examined by cytokine and lymphocyte proliferation assays. The pSCA1/F expressed F protein in vitro and induced specific and neutralizing antibody production, and lymphocyte proliferation in mice. Mice vaccinated with pSCA1/F had increased IL-2 and IL-10 levels after 24-h post first immunization. IFN-γ and TNF-α levels increased from that time point and gradually decreased thereafter. Thus, the Semliki Forest virus replicon-vectored DNA vaccine expressing the F protein of PPRV induced both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in mice. This could be considered as a novel strategy for vaccine development against PPR.
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, PR China; Breeding and Reproductive Engineering and Technology Research Centre of Sheep and Goat in Anhui Province, Hefei 230036, PR China.
Yong
Y
Wang
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, PR China.
Xiaolin
X
Yue
State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, PR China.
Hongyan
H
Jin
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 518, Ziyue Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China.
Guangqing
G
Liu
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, PR China.
Ling
L
Pan
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, PR China.
Guijun
G
Wang
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei 230036, PR China.
Hao
H
Guo
State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, PR China. Electronic address: gli358@gmail.com.
Gang
G
Li
Municipal Key Laboratory of Virology, Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo 315010, PR China. Electronic address: liyd@nbcdc.org.cn.
Yongdong
Y
Li
D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D018107:Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010957:Plasmids; D012672:Semliki forest virus / Q000235:genetics; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; C096524:F protein, Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins
Fusion protein; Immune response; Peste des petits ruminants virus; Suicidal DNA vaccine