Immune response of mice to replication-defective recombinant adenovirus containing glycoprotein gene of rabies virus 3aG strain

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the immune response of mice immunized with El, E3 deleted replicative deficient recombinant adenovirus which can express glycoprotein of Chinese 3aG rabies virus. Methods Rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) was used to determine the titer of neutralizing antibodies; specific antigen induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation was determined by in vitro 3H-TdR incorporation assay, and lethal intracerebral challenge with CVS rabies virus was used to evaluate the protective effectiveness of the recombinant virus as candidate vaccine. Results Mice immunized by 1×107 recombinant virus developed high levels of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (VNA). The spleen lymphocyte of the immunized mice also demonstrated remarkable increased proliferation after stimulation with inactivated rabies virus; 70 %～90 % of the mice immunized by the recombinant virus were protected from lethal intracerebral challenge with CVS rabies virus. Conclusion El, E3 deleted replication defective recombinant adenovirus containing 3aG glycoprotein gene may be developed as effective rabies vaccine to control rabies in China.