Protection induced by a gp90 protein-based vaccine derived from a Reticuloendotheliosis virus strain isolated from a contaminated IBD vaccine

Zhihao Ren,Yixin Wang,Zhizhong Cui,Peng Zhao,Fanfeng Meng,Xiaofeng Liu,Qiuchen Li,Shuang Chang

doi:10.1186/s12985-018-0948-0

Abstract

BackgroundReticuloendotheliosis is an immunosuppressive disease caused by avian reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). It is commonly found in poultry farms and has caused a notable economic loss worldwide. Despite this, there is currently no effective vaccine available to protect against REV infection.MethodIn this study, gp90 protein derived from an REV isolated from a contaminated vaccine was co-administered with cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) adjuvant to hens to determine if it protects their chicks against REV infection. To synthesize the gp90 protein, the gp90 gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified. The resulting recombinant protein was injected intramuscularly into breeder hens along with CpG-ODN adjuvant and then serum antibody levels were regularly evaluated. After the fertilized eggs from these vaccinated hens had hatched, the resulting chicks were challenged with a 102.7 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) of REV at 1 day old and the REV antibody levels in these hatched chickens were evaluated before and after the challenge. Viremia and growth rate were measured weekly and statistically analyzed.ResultsThe results suggest that the gp90 recombinant protein was successfully prepared and, when used with CpG-ODN adjuvant to immunize breeder hens, induced serological antibody production against REV in both hens and their hatched chicks. In addition, the maternal antibodies induced by the gp90 protein vaccine effectively protected majority of the chicks from REV infection.ConclusionsOverall, we found the gp90 protein obtained in this study may be a potential vaccine candidate that had good immunogenicity and could be an auxiliary measure to accelerate the eradication of REV.

Highlights

Reticuloendotheliosis is an immunosuppressive disease caused by avian reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV)
The results suggest that the gp90 recombinant protein was successfully prepared and, when used with cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) adjuvant to immunize breeder hens, induced serological antibody production against REV in both hens and their hatched chicks
The maternal antibodies induced by the gp90 protein vaccine effectively protected majority of the chicks from REV infection

Summary

Introduction

Reticuloendotheliosis is an immunosuppressive disease caused by avian reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). It is commonly found in poultry farms and has caused a notable economic loss worldwide. There is currently no effective vaccine available to protect against REV infection. Reticuloendotheliosis (RE) is an important neoplastic and immunosuppressive disease caused by avian reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). REV infects chickens, and turkeys, ducks, geese, quails, and pheasants. It can spread both horizontally and vertically. The misuse of REV-contaminated attenuated virus vaccines is considered an important cause of the widespread prevalence of REV [1,2,3,4,5]. To date, no country has made a plan for the eradication of REV

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