Analysis of the protective immunity induced by feline immunodeficiency virus vaccination

Abstract

This chapter discusses the analysis of the protective immunity induced by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccination. Since its discovery in 1986, FIV infection has been shown to result in an immunodeficiency in cats that is similar to AIDS in human beings. The virus is now recognized as a long-established and important feline pathogen and an appropriate animal model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, playing a key role in the development of vaccines against HIV. Furthermore, because FIV induces significant disease in cats, the development of an effective FIV vaccine is of great veterinary interest. Protection against FIV infection has been achieved by immunizing cats with a whole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccine produced from the FL4 feline lymphoblastoid cell line, which is persistently infected with the Petaluma isolate of FIV (FIV/PET). This cell line appears to be unique, because it produces large amounts of FIV/PET rich in envelope glycoprotein (Env) that is well preserved during purification.