title: Safety and immunogenicity of recombinant rabies virus (ERAGS) in mice and raccoon dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The development of a genetically modified live rabies vaccine applicable to wild raccoon dogs is necessary for the eradication of rabies in Korea. Thus, we constructed a recombinant rabies virus (RABV) called the ERAGS strain, using a reverse genetic system and evaluated its safety and efficacy in mice and its safety and immunogenicity in raccoon dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  ERAGS, which has Asn194Ser and Arg333Glu substitutions in the glycoprotein, was constructed using site-directed mutagenesis. Mice were inoculated with the ERAGS strain (either 10(5.0) or 10(7.0) FAID50/mL) via intramuscular (IM) or intracranial injections and then challenged with a virulent RABV. Raccoon dogs were administered the ERAGS strain (10(8.0) FAID50/mL) either orally or via the IM route and the immunogenicity of the strain was evaluated using fluorescent antibody virus neutralization tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ERAGS strain inoculated into murine neuroblastoma cells reached 10(7.8) FAID50/mL at 96-hour post-inoculation. The virus was not pathogenic and induced complete protection from virulent RABV in immunized 4- and 6-week-old mice. Korean raccoon dogs immunized with the ERAGS strain via IM or oral route were also safe from the virus and developed high titer levels (26.4-32.8 IU/mL) of virus-neutralizing antibody (VNA) at 4 weeks post-inoculation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ERAGS RABV strain was effectively protective against rabies in mice and produced a high VNA titer in raccoon dogs.
authors.affiliation: Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, MAFRA, Gimcheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Kun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5765-3043
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, MAFRA, Gimcheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ha-Hyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6473-0035
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, MAFRA, Gimcheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Suk
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5124-9736
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Tack
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6388-550X
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Jeonnam Wildlife Management Center, Suncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang-Bok
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6215-326X
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, MAFRA, Gimcheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Heon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6024-3798
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, MAFRA, Gimcheon, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Soo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2692-3191
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Mouth; Rabies virus; Raccoon dogs; Vaccines