Abstract

In a recent study, we reported that a recombinant protein from fusion expression of flagellin to porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) Cap induced robust humoral and cell-mediated immunity that afforded full protection for PCV2 infection using BALB/c mice. Here, we further evaluated the immunogenicity and protection of the recombinant protein using specific pathogen free (SPF) pigs. Twenty-five 3-week-old piglets without passively acquired immunity were divided into 5 groups. All piglets except negative controls were challenged with a virulent PCV2 at 21 days after booster vaccination and necropsied at 21 days post-challenge. Vaccination of piglets with the recombinant protein without adjuvant induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses as observed by high levels of PCV2-specific IgG antibodies and neutralizing antibodies, as well as frequencies of PCV2-specific IFN-γ-secreting cells that conferred good protection against PCV2 challenge, with significant reduced PCV2 viremia, mild lesions, low PCV2 antigen-positive cells, as well as improved body weight gain, comparable to piglets vaccinated with a commercial PCV2 subunit vaccine. These results further demonstrated that the recombinant flagellin-Cap fusion protein is capable of inducing solid protective humoral and cellular immunity when administered to pigs, thereby becoming an effective PCV2 vaccine candidate for control of PCV2 infection.

Highlights

  • Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-associated diseases (PCVAD) [1,2,3] are known to include varieties of clinical syndromes, such as postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), porcine respiratory disease complex, reproductive failure, dermatopathy and PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0147432 February 5, 2016Flagellin-Cap Protein Protects Pigs against PCV2 Challenge

  • Three out of five non-vaccinated PCV2-challenged pigs exhibited lung lesions characterized by small, focal, solid areas of pneumonia

  • We reported that a recombinant flagellin-Cap protein based on baculovirus expression system was capable of eliciting a strong immune response that conferred full protection for mice from PCV2 infection

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Summary

Introduction

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-associated diseases (PCVAD) [1,2,3] are known to include varieties of clinical syndromes, such as postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), porcine respiratory disease complex, reproductive failure, dermatopathy and PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0147432 February 5, 2016Flagellin-Cap Protein Protects Pigs against PCV2 Challenge.

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