Development of a Chimeric Vaccine Providing Protection Against the Type A ASIA/Sea-97 FMDVs in East Asia

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Immunology
• Vaccine Development

Background:

• Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) poses a significant threat to livestock in East Asia.
• Serotype A strains, particularly the A/ASIA/Sea-97 lineage with G1 and G2 sublineages, are prevalent in the region.
• Effective vaccination requires selecting appropriate vaccine strains for regional FMD control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a potent chimeric vaccine candidate.
• To ensure protection against the A/ASIA/Sea-97 lineage G1 and G2 sublineages.
• To provide an effective FMD control strategy for East Asia.

Main Methods:

• Chimeric vaccine construction by incorporating antigenic sites from A/ASIA/Sea-97 G1 and G2 sublineages.
• Evaluation of candidate vaccine efficacy in mouse models.
• Protective efficacy testing of the selected vaccine in pigs against relevant FMDV strains.

Main Results:

• Candidate vaccines conferred strong protection in mice against G1 and G2 sublineages and other FMDV strains.
• Pigs vaccinated with the selected candidate showed complete protection against prevalent East Asian FMDV strains.
• The chimeric vaccine demonstrated efficacy against A/POC/2010 and A/GP/2018.

Conclusions:

• The developed chimeric strain shows significant potential as a vaccine against circulating type A FMD viruses in East Asia.
• This vaccine represents a promising strategy for regional FMD control.
• Chimeric vaccine technology offers a viable approach for developing FMD vaccines against emerging strains.