Abstract
The VP2 structural protein of parvovirus can produce virus-like particles (VLPs) by a self-assembly process in vitro, making VLPs attractive vaccine candidates. In this study, the VP2 protein of canine parvovirus (CPV) was expressed using a baculovirus expression system and assembled into parvovirus-like particles in insect cells and pupae. Electron micrographs of VLPs showed that they were very similar in size and morphology when compared to the wild-type parvovirus. The immunogenicity of the VLPs was investigated in mice and dogs. Mice immunized intramuscularly with purified VLPs, in the absence of an adjuvant, elicited CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses and were able to elicit a neutralizing antibody response against CPV, while the oral administration of raw homogenates containing VLPs to the dogs resulted in a systemic immune response and long-lasting immunity. These results demonstrate that the CPV-VLPs stimulate both cellular and humoral immune responses, and so CPV-VLPs may be a promising candidate vaccine for the prevention of CPV-associated disease.
Highlights
Canine parvovirus (CPV), which belongs to the genus parvovirus, is a 20–25 nm-diameter particle consisting of three structural proteins, VP1, VP2 and VP3, with VP2 being far more abundant than the other two proteins
Pupae infected with recombinant baculovirus were collected at 5 days and subjected to Western blot analysis using monoclonal antibodies directed against CPV
virus-like particles (VLPs) possess the same conformation as wild-type viral capsid proteins and are appealing as vaccine candidates because they function as effective antigens without possessing the viral genome or other potentially toxic viral gene products
Summary
Canine parvovirus (CPV), which belongs to the genus parvovirus, is a 20–25 nm-diameter particle consisting of three structural proteins, VP1, VP2 and VP3, with VP2 being far more abundant than the other two proteins. It is known that a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) of .1:80 can protect dogs from CPV infection [5]. Incomplete inactivation of the virus or reversal of an attenuated vaccine strain to a virulent state can cause disease in vaccinated animals [9]. These problems warrant the development of alternative vaccines
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