Comparison of immune responses against foot-and-mouth disease virus induced by fusion proteins using the swine IgG heavy chain constant region or beta-galactosidase as a carrier of immunogenic epitopes

Previously, we demonstrated that a fusion protein (Gal-FMDV) consisting of beta-galactosidase and an immunogenic peptide, amino acids (141-160)-(21-40)-(141-160), of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) VP1 protein induced protective immune responses in guinea pigs and swine. We now designed a new potential recombinant protein vaccine against FMDV in swine. The immunogenic peptide, amino acids (141-160)-(21-40)-(141-160) from the VP1 protein of serotype O FMDV, was fused to the carboxy terminus of a swine immunoglobulin G single heavy chain constant region and expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed fusion protein (IgG-FMDV) was purified and emulsified with oil adjuvant. Vaccination twice at an interval of 3 weeks with the emulsified IgG-FMDV fusion protein induced an FMDV-specific spleen proliferative T-cell response in guinea pigs and elicited high levels of neutralizing antibody in guinea pigs and swine. All of the immunized animals were efficiently protected against FMDV challenge. There was no significant difference between IgG-FMDV and Gal-FMDV in eliciting immunity after vaccination twice in swine. However, when evaluating the efficacy of a single inoculation of the fusion proteins, we found that IgG-FMDV could elicit a protective immune response in swine, while Gal-FMDV only elicited a weak neutralizing activity and could not protect the swine against FMDV challenge. Our results suggest that the IgG-FMDV fusion protein is a promising vaccine candidate for FMD in swine.     

Immunogenicity of a recombinant fusion protein of tandem repeat epitopes of foot-and-mouth disease virus type Asia 1 for guinea pigs

In this study, the sequences of capsid protein VPI regions of YNAs1.1 and YNAs1.2 isolates of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) were analyzed and a peptide containing amino acids (aa) 133-158 of VP1 and aa 20-34 of VP4 of FMDV type Asia I was assumed to contain B and T cell epitopes, because it is hypervariable and includes a cell attachment site RGD located in the G-H loop. The DNA fragments encoding aa 133-158 of VP1 and aa 20-34 of VP4 of FMDV type Asia 1 were chemically synthesized and ligated into a tandem repeat of aa 133-158-20 approximately 34-133-158. In order to enhance its immunogenicity, the tandem repeat was inserted downstream of the beta-galactosidase gene in the expression vector pWR590. This insertion yielded a recombinant expression vector pAS1 encoding the fusion protein. The latter reacted with sera from FMDV type Asia 1-infected animals in vitro and elicited high levels of neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs. The T cell proliferation in immunized animals increased following stimulation with the fusion protein. It is reported for the first time that a recombinant fusion protein vaccine was produced using B and T cell epitopes of FMDV type Asia 1 and that this fusion protein was immunogenic. The fusion protein reported here can serve as a candidate of fusion epitopes for design of a vaccine against FMDV type Asia 1.     

Mapping of epitopes of VP2 protein of chicken anemia virus using monoclonal antibodies

To map the epitopes of VP2 protein of chicken anemia virus (CAV), VP2 was expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The Western blot demonstrated that recombinant VP2 protein could be recognized by sera of chickens infected with CAV. Female BALB/c mice were immunized with purified recombinant VP2 produced in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and seven VP2-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed. The results of Western blot showed that all the seven MAbs recognized the recombinant VP2 protein expressed in the baculovirus and reacted with MDCC-MSB1 cells infected with CAV by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The VP2 protein was dissected into 21 overlapping fragments, expressed as fusion peptides in E. coli and used for epitope mapping by pepscan analysis. ELISA and Western blot assays indicated that most of MAbs reacted with the 12th and 13th fragments (amino acids 111-136) and one of them reacted with the 3rd fragment (amino acids 21-36). The linear immunodominant epitope of VP2 was located mainly in amino acid residues 111-126 and 121-136.     

Expression of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus VP1 protein using a replication-competent recombinant canine adenovirus type 2 elicits a humoral antibody response in a porcine model

To develop a new type vaccine for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) prevention by using canine adenovirus as vector, the VP1 cDNA of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) type O strain China 99 was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pEGFP-C1 by replacing the GFP gene with the VP1 cDNA, resulting in an expression plasmid pVP1-C1. The expression cassette of VP1 composed of the CMV promoter, the VP1 gene and the SV40 early mRNA polyadenylation signal was recovered by Nsi I / Mlu I digestion of pVP1-C1 and cloned into the Canine adenovirus type-2 (CAV-2) genome in which E3 region was partly deleted by removing the Ssp I- Ssp I fragment. The recombinant virus (CAV-2-VP1) was obtained by transfecting the recombinant CAV-2-VP1 genome into MDCK cells with Lipofectamine 2000. Immunization trial in pigs with the recombinant virus, CAV-2-VP1, showed that CAV-2-VP1 could stimulate a specific immune response to both FMDV and the vector virus. Immune response to the VP1 and FMDV after VP1 expression was confirmed by ELISA, western blotting analysis and neutralization test. It was indicated that CAV-2 may serve as a vector for FMD vaccine development in pigs.     

Expression of VP1 protein of serotype A and O of foot-and-mouth disease virus in transgenic sunnhemp plants and its immunogenicity for guinea pigs

Recently, transgenic plants expressing immunogenic proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) have been used as oral or parenteral vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). They exhibit advantages like cost effectiveness, absence of processing, thermostability, and easy oral application. FMDV VP1 protein of single serotype has been mostly used as immunogen. Here we report the development of a?bivalent vaccine with tandem-linked VP1 proteins of two serotypes, A?and O, present in transgenic forage crop Crotalaria juncea. The expression of the bivalent protein in the transgenic plants was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Guinea pig reacted to orally or parenterally applied vaccine by humoral as well as cell-mediated immune responses including serum antibodies and stimulated lymphocytes, respectively. The vaccine protected the animals against a?challenge with the virus of serotype A?as well as O. This is the first report on the development of a?bivalent FMD vaccine using a?forage crop. Keywords: foot-and-mouth disease; sunnhemp; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; FMDV-VP1 gene; serotype O?and A; in planta transformation; transgenic plants; bivalent vaccine.     

Recombinant fusion protein and DNA vaccines against foot and mouth disease virus infection in guinea pig and swine.

In this study, we provide evidence that a recombinant fusion protein containing beta-galactosidase and a tandem repeat peptide of immunogenic dominant epitope of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) VP1 protein elicits high levels of neutralizing antibody and protects both guinea pigs and swine against infection. Vaccination with this fusion protein induced a FMDV-specific proliferative T-cell response and a neutralizing antibody response. The immunized guinea pigs and swine were protected against FMD type O virus infection. Two DNA plasmids expressing genes of foot-and-mouth disease were constructed. Both plasmids pBO1 and pCO1 contain a signal sequence of the swine immunoglobulin G (IgG) gene and fusion protein gene of pXZ84. The signal sequence and fusion protein gene were under the control of a metallothionein promoter in the case of the pBO1 plasmid and under the control of a cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter in the case of pCO1 plasmid. When pBO1 and pCO1 were inoculated intramuscularly into guinea pigs, both plasmids elicited a neutralizing antibody response and spleen cell proliferation increased following stimulation with FMDV antigen, but animals were not protected from viral challenge.     

O型口蹄疫病毒VP1表位重组蛋白疫苗的构建、表达和纯化

目的 为了克服灭活口蹄疫病毒疫苗可能存在的传播病毒的潜在危险,构建一种能预防O型口蹄疫病毒感染的VPI表位重组蛋白疫苗。方法采用O型口蹄疫病毒（FMDV）表面VP1蛋白上的B细胞表位肽和T细胞表位肽,以PCR扩增和克隆连接等方法构建VP1表位六聚体重组蛋白（vP1epi）基因,并在大肠杆菌中进行诱导表达,镍亲和层析纯化。用ELISA法检测VPlepi免疫豚鼠血清中抗FMDV抗体的水平。结果构建了一种由FMDV表面vP1中B细胞表位肽重复六次的蛋白质多肽,采用pET28原核表达系统,在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中获得了高效表达,表达产量约占菌体蛋白的30％左右,经镍亲和层析后获得纯度高于90％的VP1表位重组蛋白。VP1epi免疫的豚鼠血清中含有一定量的抗FMDV抗体。结论VP1epi重组蛋白能诱导机体产生抗O型FMDV的抗体,说明这种重组蛋白可能成为预防O型FMDV感染的基因工程蛋白质疫苗。     

Recombinant adenovirus co-expressing capsid proteins of two serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV): in vitro characterization and induction of neutralizing antibodies against FMDV in swine

Human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) has been evaluated as a novel gene delivery vector for the development of live-viral vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In this study, we constructed an Ad5 vector co-expressing the capsid precursor proteins, P1, of FMD virus (FMDV) field strains A24 Cruzeiro and O1 Campos and examined the neutralizing antibody responses in swine after inoculation with the vector. To construct the Ad5 vector, a bicistronic expression cassette containing a cytomegalovirus promoter, the P1 coding sequence of FMDV A24, the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) of FMDV A12, the P1 coding sequence of FMDV O1 Campos and the coding region of A12 3C protease was inserted into the E1 region of an E1/E3-deleted Ad5. The recombinant adenovirus, Ad5A24+O1, was generated by transfection of 293 cells with full-length pAd5A24+O1 recombinant plasmid DNA. The recombinant Ad5 co-expressed P1 of both A24 and O1 in infected 293 cells and P1 of both serotypes was processed to produce VP0, VP3, and VP1. We further demonstrated the formation of capsid protein complexes by co-precipitation of VP0, VP3, and VP1 with monoclonal antibodies against viral capsid proteins. Swine inoculated with Ad5A24+O1 generated neutralizing antibodies against both A24 and O1. However, the overall neutralizing antibody response was considerably lower than that induced by a commercial FMD vaccine or a monovalent Ad5-A24 vaccine.     

Display of the VP1 epitope of foot-and-mouth disease virus on bacteriophage T7 and its application in diagnosis

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious epidemic disease threatening the cattle industry since the sixteenth century. In recent years, the development of diagnostic assays for FMD has benefited considerably from the advances of recombinant DNA technology. In this study, the immunodominant region of the capsid protein VP1 of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was fused to the T7 bacteriophage and expressed on the surface of the bacteriophage capsid protein. The recombinant protein of about 42 kDa was detected by the anti-T7 tag monoclonal antibody in Western blot analysis. Phage ELISA showed that both the vaccinated and positive infected bovine sera reacted significantly with the recombinant T7 particle. This study demonstrated the potential of the T7 phage displaying the VP1 epitope as a diagnostic reagent.     

Enhanced immune response of DNA vaccine (VP1-pCDNA) adsorbed on cationic PLG for foot and mouth disease in guinea pigs

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is the major constraint to international trade in livestock and animal products. Though conventional vaccine has shown to provide protection, it has several limitations, like short duration of immunity and poor cell mediated immune response compared to DNA vaccines, which are known to induce both cell mediated as well as humoral responses. The present work envisages the production of DNA vaccine construct with partial 1D gene (coding for VP1) of FMDV type 'A' and studied the efficacy of the vaccine coated on cationic PLGA micro-particles in guinea pigs. Sequence coding for VP1 of serotype 'A' was amplified by PCR and cloned into mammalian expression vector, pCDNA-containing FMDV IRES. Expression of the construct was confirmed by transfection of the plasmid into BHK-21 cells followed by the protein profile by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting of the cell lysate. Guinea pigs were immunized with 25 mug of the vaccine construct intramuscularly, followed by a booster at 21st day. Sera from the animals of all the groups (pre-vaccinated, 14, 21, and 28 days of post-vaccination) was analyzed by ELISA and SNT. ELISA titers indicated significant improvement in the antibody titers in the PLG-coated DNA group (2.408 + 0.06), whereas the naked plasmid gave a titer of 1.505+. Serum neutralization titers were higher in PLG-coated vaccine group compared to the animals that received the naked DNA vaccine. Increased CTL response measured by MTT stimulation index (1.58 + 0.08) was observed in the case of PLG-coated DNA vaccine construct compared to the naked DNA vaccine (1.29 + 0.068). PLG-DNA vaccine construct conferred 100% protection to the animals when challenged with 100GpID50 of homologous virus compared to 50% protection in case of naked DNA vaccine construct. The present study has shown that adjuvantation with PLG markedly improved the efficacy of DNA vaccine against FMDV.     

Sindbis Virus Replicase-based DNA Vaccine Construct Encoding FMDV-specific Multivalent Epitope Gene: Studies on its Immune Responses in Guinea Pigs

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is still a perennial global menace affecting livestock health and production. It is imperative to figure out new ways to curb this disease. In this study, a sindbis virus replicase‐based DNA vaccine, pSinCMV‐Vac‐MEG990, encoding a multivalent epitope gene (representing tandemly linked VP1 C‐terminal halves of three foot‐and‐mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotypes) was constructed. In vitro transfection studies in BHK‐21 cells revealed that the construct was able to express FMDV‐specific antigen but does not overproduce the antigen. Immunization of guinea pigs with the construct at dose rate of 10, 5, 2 and 1 μg per animal through intramuscular route showed significant neutralizing antibody induction at all doses against all serotype tested as compared to non‐immunized controls. On viral challenge of guinea pigs 4 week post‐immunization with 1000 GPID₅₀ of FMDV serotype A, it was observed that the immunization not only delayed the appearance and reduced the severity of FMD lesions significantly (P < 0.05) but also provided complete protection in several guinea pigs. In fact, two of six and one of six guinea pigs were completely protected in 10 and 5 μg immunized groups, respectively. These results suggest that the development of the replicase‐based DNA vaccine may provide a promising approach as an alternative vaccine strategy for controlling FMD.     

肠毒素性大肠杆菌CS3菌毛呈现载体的构建

目的 构建大肠杆菌ＣＳ３菌毛呈现载体,实现外源表位在细菌表面的呈现。方法 通过对ＣＳ３亚基蛋白二级结构、抗原表位、亲水性及柔韧性的预测分析,确定外源表位的插入位点,重叠延伸ＰＣＲ方法进行定点突变,将口蹄疫病毒ＶＰＩ插入到ＣＳ３中以验证表现呈现能力;用重组菌腹腔注射免疫小鼠以探讨其抗原性。结果 在大肠杆菌ＣＳ３的１３６位氨基酸残在后突变插入ＢａｍＨⅠ酶切点构建成呈现载体,全细胞ＥＬＩＳＡ、电镜和免疫     

牛AsiaⅠ型口蹄疫病毒重组蛋白疫苗的构建及功能研究

目的为了取代有安全隐患的牛AsiaⅠ型口蹄疫病毒灭活疫苗,我们构建了基因工程重组蛋白疫苗。方法应用PCR方法合成含有表位的基因片段,经过克隆连接获得重组基因,在大肠杆菌中表达后经镍亲和层析纯化重组蛋白。重组蛋白免疫豚鼠后,分别经ELISA和乳鼠中和实验检测血清中抗FMDV抗体水平。结果构建了牛AsiaⅠ型口蹄疫病毒重组蛋白疫苗的结构基因,并成功表达和纯化了该重组蛋白。功能实验表明,该蛋白在豚鼠体内诱生了高水平的抗牛AsiaⅠ型口蹄疫病毒的中和性抗体。结论该重组蛋白为制备牛AsiaⅠ型口蹄疫病毒新型疫苗提供了有价值的线索。     

Past and present vaccine development strategies for the control of foot-and-mouth disease

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDV) was the first animal virus to be identified. Since then, it has become a model system in animal virology and more information has been obtained about FMDV. The disease causes heavy economic crises in enzootic countries both due to loss of animal health and productivity. The only way of its control in an enzootic area is strict vaccination and restricted animal movement. The first experimental vaccine against FMD was made in 1925 using formaldehyde inactivation of cattle tongue infected with the virus and this approach remained the basic one until late 1940s. Antigenic plurality and continuous co-circulation of different serotypes in a given geographical region and persistence of virus in infected or vaccinated animals make the disease very difficult to control. The latter is solely based upon the application of isolation, slaughter or aphtisation, and vaccination. With the advent of recombinant DNA technology, recombinant protein and/or DNA-based vaccines are being tested in various heterologous systems for development of FMD vaccines. The subunit vaccines, synthetic peptide vaccines, DNA vaccines, cytokine-enhanced DNA vaccines, recombinant empty capsid vaccines, chimeric viral vaccines, genetically engineered attenuated vaccines, recombinant viral vector vaccines, self-replicating genetic vaccines and transgenic plants with expressed FMDV proteins represent the present vaccine development strategies for control of FMD.     

O型口蹄疫病毒VP1蛋白在大肠埃希菌中的可溶性表达、纯化及纳米样结构观察

目的本实验旨在高效表达可溶性的O型口蹄疫病毒VP1蛋白,并形成纳米样颗粒。方法根据O型口蹄疫病毒核酸序列,得到FMDV O/MYA/7/98株的VP1蛋白基因,并进行截短和优化,共73个氨基酸;同时,从肠道沙门菌(Salmonella enterica)中分离得到135个氨基酸铁蛋白(Fn)基因片段,将O型口蹄疫病毒VP1蛋白与铁蛋白串联,设计并合成了口蹄疫病毒VP1蛋白-铁蛋白基因片段,命名为Se Fnt16798。构建了Se Fnt16798融合Grifin、GST、MBP、Sumo、Thioredoxin、γ-crystallin、Ars C、Ppi B、Ce HSP17等9种不同可溶性标签的表达重组载体。分别转化至大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)中,异丙基硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导,SDS-PAGE电泳对融合蛋白的可溶性表达进行检测,筛选高效可溶性表达的Se Fnt16798融合蛋白。重组蛋白通过Ni-NTA Agarose亲和纯化,进行电子显微镜检测。结果实验成功构建9个Se Fnt16798表达载体;9个标签中,MBP与Se Fnt16798蛋白相融合的可溶性表达效果最好,并获得了高纯度的MBP-Se Fnt16798重组蛋白质;电子显微镜结果显示,MBP-Se Fnt16798形成了纳米样颗粒。结论本实验建立了稳定获得Se Fnt16798重组蛋白质的方法。     

口蹄疫病毒 VP1 蛋白在酵母中的表达及免疫原性分析

目的 :利用毕赤酵母表达系统表达牛O型口蹄疫外壳蛋白(FMDVVP1) ,并对表达的蛋白进行免疫原性鉴定。方法 :将FMDVvp1基因克隆到毕赤酵母Pichiapastoris分泌性表达载体pSuperY中 ,构建重组表达载体pSuperY/vp1,经测序证明vp1基因序列的正确性。将纯化的重组质粒经线性化酶切后 ,用电转化法将pSuperY/vp1导入毕赤酵母菌种SMD116 8H中。对表达产物用SDS PAGE和Westernblot进行分析 ,并用酵母表达的FMDVVP1蛋白免疫小鼠。结果 :以重组质粒pSuperY/vp1转化毕赤酵母菌后 ,能表达相对分子量 (Mr)为 6 6 0 0 0和4 30 0 0的FMDVVP1蛋白。动物免疫结果表明 ,FMDVVP1蛋白能诱导小鼠产生特异性的体液和细胞免疫应答。结论 :在毕赤酵母中成功地表达FMDVVP1蛋白 ,为研制新型FMDVVP1的基因工程疫苗奠定了基础     

Plasmids encoding foot-and-mouth disease virus VP1 epitopes elicited immune responses in mice and swine and protected swine against viral infection

VP1 is a capsid protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and contains epitopes of the virus. Plasmids encoding two VP1 epitopes (amino acid residues 141-160 and 200-213) and a host-self immunoglobulin molecule were constructed to produce a new type of FMD DNA vaccine. Two plasmids, namely, pCEIM and pCEIS, containing mouse immunoglobulin (IgG) or swine IgG were subjected to immunogenicity testing in mice and swine, respectively. In mice administrated pCEIM in the abdomen using a genegun, both FMDV-specific T-cell proliferation and neutralizing antibodies were detected. In swine immunized with pCEIS at the back of the ear, immune responses were achieved after the second administration. Swine showed a T-cell proliferative response with a stimulation index (SI) of up to 8.1 and a neutralizing antibody response that was able to protect suckling mice from 10(2) LD(50) (lethal dose 50) FMDV challenge. To compare the immunogenicity of the DNA-based vaccine candidate, versus the protein-based vaccine candidates, a second group of swine was immunized with the protein F1-scIgG, which was encoded by the plasmid pCEIS. Injection with F1-scIgG elicited a T-cell proliferative response of SI < 1.7 and a neutralizing antibody response that protected suckling mice from up to 10(5) LD(50) FMDV challenge. In the challenge test, three of three swine immunized with pCEIS were fully protected from FMDV challenge.     

结核杆菌HSP65与HBcAg表位融合基因的构建和表达

目的构建一种能够激发特异性细胞免疫功能的基因工程乙肝疫苗。方法选取HBV核心抗原18-27氨基酸CTL表位,用PCR的方法融合在结核杆菌热休克蛋白HSP65下游,并将此融合基因在大肠杆菌表达系统pET15b中表达。结果 已经构建出热休克蛋白-乙型肝炎核心抗原表位(HSP-HBV-ME)融合基因,并在大肠杆菌BL21中表达出融合蛋白,经SDS-PAGE和Western印迹分析证明所表达的蛋白质是HSP-HBV-ME融合蛋白。结论利用PCR法构建融合基因是一种简单、快速的方法,而且可以在构建过程中对密码子进行优化,从而达到高效表达重组蛋白的目的。     

Location of neutralizing epitopes defined by monoclonal antibodies generated against the outer capsid polypeptide, VP1, of foot-and-mouth disease virus A12

The epitopes of six monoclonal antibodies generated against type A12 foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) VP1 or its largest cyanogen bromide fragment (13 kd) were characterized. Five of these monoclonal antibodies neutralized viral infectivity. Solid-phase and competitive antigen binding assays using virion-derived antigens or a biosynthetic VP1 polypeptide identified two distinct neutralizing epitopes. One epitope was located between amino acid residues 145-168 of VP1 and the other between amino acids 169-179. The results indicate that antibodies reacting with two distinct areas of the VP1 polypeptide are capable of neutralizing FMD virus.