Self-assembly of virus-like particles of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus capsid protein expressed in Escherichia coli and their immunogenicity in rabbits.
In this study, virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) were evaluated for the development of a vaccine against RHDV infection. The VP60 gene was cloned and inserted into a pSMK expression vector containing a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) tag that can promote the soluble expression of heterologous proteins in Escherichia coli cells. After expression and purification of His-SUMO-VP60 and cleavage of the SUMO tag, we found that the RHDV VP60 protein had self-assembled into VLPs with a similar shape and smaller size compared with authentic RHDV capsid. Next, the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the VLPs were examined. The results showed that RHDV-specific responses were clearly induced in rabbits and that all rabbits in the VLP group survived while those in the negative control group died within 72 h post-infection. These results suggest that VLP-based RHDV could be a promising RHDV vaccine candidate.
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 200241, Shanghai, China.
Huimin
H
Guo
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 200241, Shanghai, China.
Jie
J
Zhu
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 200241, Shanghai, China.
Yonggui
Y
Tan
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 200241, Shanghai, China.
Chuanfeng
C
Li
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 200241, Shanghai, China.
Zongyan
Z
Chen
Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 730046, Gansu, China. Electronic address: sunshiqi@caas.cn.
Shiqi
S
Sun
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 200241, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: liugq@shvri.ac.cn.
Guangqing
G
Liu
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D017929:Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Rabbit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D000071497:Immunogenicity, Vaccine; D011817:Rabbits; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C081149:viral protein 60, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus; VP60 gene; Vaccine; Virus-like particle