Bovine serological response to a recombinant BPV-1 major capsid protein vaccine

Four of five groups of Holestine by Angus calves (5 calves/group) were immunized with different formulations of a recombinant BPV-1 DNA vaccine using a BPV-1 major capsid:B-galactosidase fusion protein as the immunogen. Group 5 was not vaccinated. Vaccinated calves received the vaccine on days 0 and 21 of the trial, and calves from all five groups were challenged intradermally with 10(10) BPV-1 particles at each of two different sites on day 56. All calves were bled on days 3, 24, 55, 77, and 104 of the trial, and the sera were tested for reactivity with intact and disrupted BPV-1 particles by ELISA. At the time of challenge with BPV-1 virions (day 56), 19 of 20 vaccinated calves were seropositive for disrupted BPV-1 particles; sera from 3 of 20 calves reacted with intact BPV-1 virions. By day 77, 11 of 19 vaccinated calves had developed antibody titers to intact BPV-1 virions; only 1 calf in group 5 developed antibodies (transiently) against BPV-1 capsid epitopes. After challenge, 24 of 25 calves from the five groups developed intradermal fibromas, the biological end point of this study. Fibromas appeared to increase in size in group 5 (unvaccinated, inoculated controls), whereas most tumors from the four vaccinated groups (1-4) stabilized or decreased in size. Although the calves developed fibromas, 90% of calves (in groups 1-4) developed antibodies against disrupted BPV-1 capsid proteins whereas 58% developed antibodies that reacted with intact virions. The immunologic response of vaccinated calves to intact and disrupted BPV-1 particles appeared to be determined in large part by the various formulations of the vaccine, particularly the adjuvant.