A host-restricted viral vector for antigen-specific immunization against Lyme disease pathogen.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccine Development

Background:

• Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an avian paramyxovirus.
• NDV is attenuated in primates and explored as a human vaccine vector.
• Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate NDV as a vaccine vector for expressing Borrelia burgdorferi antigens.
• To assess the immunogenicity and efficacy of NDV-based vaccines against Lyme disease.

Main Methods:

• Recombinant NDVs were engineered to express intracellular or extracellular forms of BmpA and OspC antigens from Borrelia burgdorferi.
• Antigen expression was confirmed in cultured chicken cells.
• Mice and hamsters were immunized intranasally, intramuscularly, or intraperitoneally with NDV vectors, and antibody responses were measured. Hamsters were challenged with B. burgdorferi to assess protection.

Main Results:

• NDV vectors successfully expressed B. burgdorferi antigens in chicken cells.
• Intranasal immunization in mice elicited strong anti-NDV antibodies but weak anti-Borrelia responses.
• Hamsters showed robust antibody responses to B. burgdorferi antigens after various immunization routes.
• Immunization with NDV vectors expressing BmpA significantly reduced Borrelia burgdorferi load in hamster joints.

Conclusions:

• NDV serves as an effective vaccine vector for inducing humoral immunity against Borrelia burgdorferi antigens.
• NDV-based immunization demonstrated protective effects against Lyme disease pathogen challenge in a hamster model.
• NDV vectors offer a promising platform for developing simple and effective vaccines against bacterial infections like Lyme disease.