Evaluation of rubella virus E2 and C proteins in protection against rubella virus in a mouse model

An animal model is described that can provide further information for evaluating novel vaccines against rubella virus (RV). A group of mice was immunized with the lysate of insect cells infected by a recombinant baculovirus expressing E2 and C proteins of RV. Another group of mice was immunized with the RA27/3 rubella vaccine. After 2 weeks, both groups of mice were challenged intramuscularly with live RV and the blood was drawn after 8, 24, 48 and 72 h. The presence of rubella challenge virus in an unnatural host, such as the mouse, was monitored by RT-PCR. The mice immunized with the RA27/3 rubella vaccine were the only ones able to inhibit the challenge virus replication, E2 and C proteins, which alone are not sufficient to protect animals against RV, served as a negative control for a protective vaccine against RV that expresses E1 protein of RV.