A Novel E2 Glycoprotein Subunit Marker Vaccine Produced in Plant Is Able to Prevent Classical Swine Fever Virus Vertical Transmission after Double Vaccination.

Youngmin Park,Sungmin Gu,Sangmin Lee,Soohong Park,Llilianne Ganges,Yeonsu Oh,Jungae Park,Eunju Sohn,José Alejandro Bohórquez,Jongkook Kim,Miaomiao Wang

doi:10.3390/vaccines9050418

Youngmin Park, Sungmin Gu + Show 9 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9050418

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Abstract

The efficacy of a novel subunit vaccine candidate, based in the CSFV E2 glycoprotein produced in plants to prevent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) vertical transmission, was evaluated. A Nicotiana benthamiana tissue culture system was used to obtain a stable production of the E2-glycoprotein fused to the porcine Fc region of IgG. Ten pregnant sows were divided into three groups: Groups 1 and 2 (four sows each) were vaccinated with either 100 μg/dose or 300 μg/dose of the subunit vaccine at 64 days of pregnancy. Group 3 (two sows) was injected with PBS. Groups 1 and 2 were boosted with the same vaccine dose. At 10 days post second vaccination, the sows in Groups 2 and 3 were challenged with a highly virulent CSFV strain. The vaccinated sows remained clinically healthy and seroconverted rapidly, showing efficient neutralizing antibodies. The fetuses from vaccinated sows did not show gross lesions, and all analyzed tissue samples tested negative for CSFV replication. However, fetuses of non-vaccinated sows had high CSFV replication in tested tissue samples. The results suggested that in vaccinated sows, the plant produced E2 marker vaccine induced the protective immunogenicity at challenge, leading to protection from vertical transmission to fetuses.

Highlights

Classical swine fever (CSF) is considered as a highly contagious diseases affecting the Suidae family
The causative agent is a small, enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus known as CSF virus (CSFV), which belongs to the Pestivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, together with several other viral species, including Bovine viral diarrhea virus and Border disease virus [1,2]
At the time of vaccination (64 days of gestation), sows in all three groups were seronegative against CSFV

Summary

Introduction

Classical swine fever (CSF) is considered as a highly contagious diseases affecting the Suidae family. The causative agent is a small, enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus known as CSF virus (CSFV), which belongs to the Pestivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, together with several other viral species, including Bovine viral diarrhea virus and Border disease virus [1,2]. CSF outbreaks have major socio-economic consequences, including serious restrictions on international trade of pigs and pork-derived products [3]. The outbreak of this disease has been accompanied by a high financial burden due to direct or indirect losses in the pig industry [4]. Many countries manage this at the national level, the disease is endemic in several regions, such as South and Central America, the Caribbean and Asia [5,6]

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