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Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) envelope glycoprotein E2 containing one structural antigenic unit protects pigs
P A van Rijn1, A Bossers, G Wensvoort
1Institute for Animal Science and Health, Department of Mammalian Virology, Lelystad, The Netherlands. P.A.VANRIJN@ID.DLO.NL
The Journal of General Virology
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) envelope glycoprotein E2 protects pigs. Even with parts of E2 removed, pigs vaccinated with the remaining sections were still protected from lethal CSFV challenge.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) poses a significant threat to swine populations globally.
- The envelope glycoprotein E2 is a key target for neutralizing antibodies against CSFV.
- Understanding the antigenic structure of E2 is crucial for developing effective vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective capacity of individual structural antigenic units of CSFV E2.
- To determine if deletion mutants of E2 retain protective immunity against CSFV.
Main Methods:
- Production of E2 deletion mutants using the baculovirus expression system.
- Immunization of pigs with intact and mutant E2 proteins.
- Assessment of neutralizing antibody titers and protection against lethal CSFV challenge.
Main Results:
- Pigs immunized with E2 mutants lacking either antigenic unit B/C or A showed comparable neutralizing antibody titers to those immunized with intact E2.
- All vaccinated pigs, including those receiving mutant E2 proteins, were protected against a lethal intranasal CSFV challenge.
Conclusions:
- A single structural antigenic unit of CSFV E2 is sufficient to induce protective immunity in pigs.
- These findings provide valuable insights for the rational design of subunit vaccines against classical swine fever.
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