Evaluation of a chimeric multi-epitope-based DNA vaccine against subgroup J avian leukosis virus in chickens.
The prokaryotic expressed recombinant chimeric multi-epitope protein X (rCMEPX) had been evaluated with good immunogenicity and protective efficacy against subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) in our previous study. In the present research, we cloned the chimeric multi-epitope gene X into the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1 to evaluate its potency as a DNA vaccine. The purified recombinant gp85 protein and rCMEPX were used as positive controls and a DNA prime-protein boost strategy was also studied. Six experimental groups of 7-day-old chickens (20 per group) were immunized intramuscularly three times at 2weeks interval with PBS, gp85, rCMEPX, pVAX1, pVAX-X and pVAX-X+rCMEPX respectively. The antibody titers and cellular immune responses were assayed after immunization. The efficacy of immunoprotection against the challenge of ALV-J NX0101 strain was also examined. The results showed that the DNA vaccine could elicit both neutralizing antibodies and cellular responses. Immune-challenge experiments showed good protection efficacy against ALV-J infection. Particularly, the regimen involving one priming pVAX-X and twice recombinant rCMEPX boosting, induced the highest antibody titers in all immunized groups. Our results suggest that the constructed chimeric multi-epitope DNA has potential for a candidate vaccine against ALV-J when used in proper prime-boost combinations. The data presented here may provide an alternative strategy for vaccine design in chicken ALV-J prevention.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271017, China; Shandong Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy, Shandong Binzhou Research, Development and Promotion Center for Livestock and Poultry Propolis Vaccine, 169 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou City, Shandong Province 256600, China.
Qingqing
Q
Xu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271017, China.
Ning
N
Cui
College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271017, China.
Xingjiang
X
Ma
College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271017, 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.
Fangkun
F
Wang
College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271017, 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.
Hongmei
H
Li
Shandong Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy, Shandong Binzhou Research, Development and Promotion Center for Livestock and Poultry Propolis Vaccine, 169 Huanghe 2nd Road, Binzhou City, Shandong Province 256600, China.
Zhiqiang
Z
Shen
College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Taian City, Shandong Province 271017, 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.
Xiaomin
X
Zhao
D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001353:Avian Leukosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus; D002645:Chickens; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D064166:Vaccine Potency; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C107403:glycoprotein 85, avian leukosis virus
Cellular immune response; Multi-epitope DNA vaccine; Neutralizing antibodies; Prime-boost strategy; Subgroup J avian leukosis virus