High-level expression of rabies virus glycoprotein with the RNA-based Semliki Forest Virus expression vector

Rabies is to this date one of the most important death causing zoonotic viral diseases, with 98% of deaths reported in developing countries, where access to modern vaccines and tools for efficient diagnostic remain unaffordable. In this paper, we describe a newly engineered RNA-based rabies virus glycoprotein (RVGP) expression vector based on the Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) system. A recombinant SFV carrying an RNA coding for RVGP (SFV-RVGP) was constructed and the RVGP expression was evaluated in animal cell cultures. The mRNA coding for RVGP and the RVGP itself were assessed by qPCR, Western-blotting, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and ELISA. Moreover, SFV-RVGP was proven to be highly efficient in expressing the functionally trimeric RVGP. SFV-RVGP is easy to produce and efficient in different cell lines, making it an interesting candidate for efficient and functional viral glycoprotein expression.