title: The N-terminal domain of Schmallenberg virus envelope protein Gc is highly immunogenic and can provide protection from infection.
abstract: Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is transmitted by insect vectors, and therefore vaccination is one of the most important tools of disease control. In our study, novel subunit vaccines on the basis of an amino-terminal domain of SBV Gc of 234 amino acids ("Gc Amino") first were tested and selected using a lethal small animal challenge model and then the best performing formulations also were tested in cattle. We could show that neither E. coli expressed nor the reduced form of "Gc Amino" protected from SBV infection. In contrast, both, immunization with "Gc Amino"-encoding DNA plasmids and "Gc-amino" expressed in a mammalian system, conferred protection in up to 66% of the animals. Interestingly, the best performance was achieved with a multivalent antigen containing the covalently linked Gc domains of both, SBV and the related Akabane virus. All vaccinated cattle and mice were fully protected against SBV challenge infection. Furthermore, in the absence of antibodies against the viral N-protein, differentiation between vaccinated and field-infected animals allows an SBV marker vaccination concept. Moreover, the presented vaccine design also could be tested for other members of the Simbu serogroup and might allow the inclusion of additional immunogenic domains.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wernike
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aebischer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Gleyder
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roman-Sosa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D000072417:Protein Domains / Q000276:immunology*; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines