title: Establishment of an in vitro equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) neutralization assay and a VLP-based vaccine for protection of equids against EcPV2-associated genital tumors.
abstract: The consistent and specific presence of Equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) DNA and mRNA in equine genital squamous cell carcinoma (gSCC) is suggestive of an etiological role in tumor development. To further validate this concept, EcPV2-neutralizing serum antibody titers were determined by an EcPV2 pseudovirion (PsV) neutralization assay. Furthermore, an EcPV2 L1 virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine was generated and its prophylactic efficacy evaluated in vivo. All 6/6 gSCC-affected, but only 3/20 tumor-free age-matched animals revealed EcPV2-neutralizing serum antibody titers by PsV assay. Vaccination of NZW rabbits and BalbC mice with EcPV2 L1 VLP using Freund׳s or alum respectively as adjuvant induced high-titer neutralizing serum antibodies (1600-12,800). Passive transfer with rabbit EcPV2-VLP immune sera completely protected mice from experimental vaginal EcPV2 PsV infection. These findings support the impact of EcPV2 in equine gSCC development and recommend EcPV2 L1 VLP as prophylactic vaccine against EcPV2 infection and associated disease in equids.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Oncology (LVO), Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: christina.schellenbacher@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schellenbacher
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Oncology (LVO), Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafti-Keramat
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Oncology (LVO), Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Equine Clinic, Veterinary University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.affiliation: Research Group Oncology (RGO), Equine Clinic, Veterinary University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Oncology (LVO), Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirnbauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000379:methods*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011817:Rabbits; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: Equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2); Genital squamous cell carcinoma; Horse; Pseudovirion neutralization assay; VLP vaccine