Immunogenicity of bacteriophage lambda particles displaying porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) capsid protein epitopes

Phage lambda particles displaying four immunodominant regions of porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) capsid protein (LDP-D-CAP) was shown to be immunogenic in pigs. The immunodominant regions were fused to the carboxyl-terminal of lambda head protein D. Expression of D-CAP on lambda display particles was demonstrated by ELISA and Western blots. Pigs receiving LDP-D-CAP, without incorporating adjuvant, showed significant anti-PCV2 immune response following the primary vaccination. The LDP-D-CAP preparation induced PCV2 neutralizing antibodies. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction scores revealed that the immunized pigs were hypersensitive to both lambda phage and PCV2 antigens. The LDP-D-CAP elicited both cellular and humoral immune responses. Neither LDP-D-CAP nor the lambda control elicited any untoward local or systemic reactions following immunization. These studies produced the first potential phage vaccine to porcine Circovirus 2.