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
Summary
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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