title: Recombinant rabies virus expressing IL-21 enhances immunogenicity through activation of T follicular helper cells and germinal centre B cells.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that the lack of interleukin-21 (IL-21) signalling could affect specific antibody induction after rabies vaccination. Here, to further investigate the over-expression of IL-21 on the immunogenicity of rabies virus (RABV), a recombinant RABV expressing murine IL-21, designated LBNSE-IL21, was constructed and evaluated in a mouse model. It was found that in mice immunized with LBNSE-IL21, there was a substantial increase in the number of T follicular helper cells and germinal centre B cells but no enhancement of dendritic cell activation. Furthermore, significantly higher rabies virus-neutralizing antibody (VNA) titres were produced in mice immunized with LBNSE-IL21 than in mice immunized with the parent virus LBNSE in the first six weeks, resulting in higher protection. Together, these results suggest that LBNSE-IL21 can induce a rapid and robust VNA titre, and it has the potential to be developed as a promising rabies vaccine.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Yajing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Kunlun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Huanchun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|Department of Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Zhen F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.|State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007378:Interleukins; D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D000098546:Interleukin-21