人源抗狂犬病毒二硫键稳定性Fv抗体的生物学特性研究

对抗狂犬病毒scFv进行稳定性改构 ,纯化制备有活性的人源抗狂犬病毒二硫键稳定性Fv抗体片段 (dsFv) ,然后对其生物学活性进行研究。将dsFvV_H 、V_L 基因在原核表达系统pET22b(+) BL21(DE3)中表达 ,将其包涵体分别在变性缓冲液中溶解 ,稀释后加入折叠缓冲液使其折叠形成有活性的dsFv抗体片段 ,上Ni-NTA柱进行纯化。然后以其亲本scFv作为对照 ,对dsFv的亲和力、稳定性以及体外中和活性进行评价。结果显示 ,与其母本抗体scFv相比 ,改构后的抗狂犬病毒dsFv保持了对狂犬病毒Vero疫苗的特异性识别能力 ,而且其亲和力明显提高 ;抗狂犬病毒dsFv在血清和BSA中的稳定性有明显的改进 ,而且其热稳定性和抵抗尿素化学变性的能力亦大大改进 ;蚀斑减少中和实验显示 ,抗狂犬病毒dsFv抗体片段能特异中和狂犬病毒 ,阻止狂犬病毒对Vero细胞的吸附 ,抑制狂犬病毒对靶细胞的感染 ,从而导致蚀斑减少甚至消失 ;scFv抗体片段仅可部分抑制蚀斑的形成 ,但不能全部抑制。这为进一步研究抗狂犬病毒dsFv基因工程抗体的免疫保护作用及其在临床的应用奠定了基础。     

表达轮状病毒nsp4基因重组腺病毒的构建与免疫评价

目的:应用非复制腺病毒表达系统构建表达人轮状病毒非结构蛋白4(NSP4)的重组腺病毒,初步评价其免疫保护效果。方法:构建含野生轮状病毒NSP4基因的穿梭质粒pshuttle-NSP4,与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdeasy经同源重组后在Ad-293细胞中包装获得pAd-NSP4重组腺病毒颗粒。电镜、RT-PCR、免疫荧光等方法鉴定病毒特征及在体外细胞中的表达。肌肉注射及滴鼻方式免疫小鼠,检测小鼠血清抗体效价及其中和保护效果。结果:获得了滴度为108.25CCID50/ml的重组腺病毒pAd-NSP4,免疫荧光检测到特异性目的蛋白的表达。二次免疫后肌肉注射和滴鼻小鼠的ELISA血清平均效价分别为1∶320和1∶1436.8;中和抗体效价1∶45.3和1∶71.8。结论:表达轮状病毒NSP4蛋白的非复制型重组腺病毒颗粒具有良好的免疫原性。滴鼻途径比肌肉注射可更加有效地诱导小鼠的免疫应答。     

A/California/07/2009亚型猪流感冷适应减毒疫苗株的拯救及免疫效果评价

应用反向遗传学技术,选择冷适应、温度敏感、减毒的A/Ann Arbor/6/60 ca (H2N2)型流感病毒的6个内部基因为骨架,与A/California/07/2009株流感病毒2个抗原基因HA、NA分别克隆到polⅠ-polⅡ转录表达载体pAD3000中,构建8个转录表达载体重组质粒,共转染Vero细胞,获得重配A/California/07/2009ca株流感病毒．重配病毒的TCID₅₀为7.5,病毒传4代后其血凝素(HA)滴度稳定在1∶256,半数感染剂量EID₅₀为8,鸡胚传20代,经RT-PCR鉴定未发现重组病毒基因突变,电镜观察重配病毒符合流感病毒的主要特征;蔗糖纯化的病毒经肌肉注射(灭活)及滴鼻(减毒活病毒)两种途径免疫BALB/c小鼠,结果显示：滴鼻免疫和肌肉注射都可以产生较高效价的血凝抑制(HI)抗体,肌肉注射组产生的HI抗体略高(P = 0.044),但肌肉注射组检测不到高效价IgA抗体;滴鼻免疫组鼻冲洗液中可以检测到高效价的IgA抗体,同型病毒感染后,IL-1β、TNFα、IFN-α等前炎因子分泌较早,且高于肌肉注射组(P < 0.05),可见,喷鼻减毒疫苗比灭活全病毒疫苗能更好地激发黏膜免疫反应．通过对小鼠各个器官病毒载量的检测发现,4天后鼻腔、气管、脑、肺、脾脏没有病毒存在,证明减毒活疫苗株在小鼠上是安全的．以上数据可以初步断定,重组病毒有作疫苗候选株的可能,而且喷鼻疫苗具有降低免疫剂量、同时激活体内体液免疫和细胞免疫的功能．     

一株人源性轮状病毒的分离及适应性培养

目的:研究轮状病毒野毒株的分离方法、组织培养适应条件及相应生物学性质.方法:对收集的样品采用胶体金、PCR、PAGE进行轮状病毒定性检测.阳性样品按常规方法处理并进行组织培养分离,对不同传代样品做基因组图谱、基因序列、病毒增殖动力学分析评价,采用轮状病毒P[8]G1型阳性血清进行病毒中和鉴别试验.结果:通过检测为A组轮状病毒,基因组为4∶2∶3∶2排列,基因分型G1P [8]型,在MA104细胞中传代后转至Vero细胞上适应培养可观察到CPE;电镜观察可见典型轮状病毒形态.毒株在Vero细胞上增殖到第10代,复制稳定,且感染性滴度达到7.25 log CCID50/ml,增殖高峰为96h.中和鉴别试验证实病毒培养液只包含轮状病毒,无其他病毒污染.结论:从腹泻样品中分离得到一株人源轮状病毒毒株,命名为ZTR-68株,该分离株具有良好的组织培养适应性,遗传稳定性,为进一步研究其生物学性质和疫苗制备提供了基础.     

柯萨奇病毒A组16型灭活抗原对小鼠免疫保护作用的研究

为了研究柯萨奇病毒A组16型(Coxsackievirus A16,CVA16)灭活抗原在小鼠体内所产生免疫保护作用效果,我们选用CVA16临床分离株521-01T,在Vero细胞中进行大量培养,并对培养产物进行甲醛灭活及超速离心纯化。SDS-PAGE和Western blot对纯化的灭活病毒纯度及性质进行初步分析。Al(OH)3+CVA16及单独CVA16抗原,分别经皮下注射免疫雌性ICR小鼠;相同免疫途径、剂量于第14和28d加强免疫2次。ELISA法检测CVA16特异性血清IgG抗体滴度;微量中和试验法鉴定血清中和抗体滴度;酶联免疫斑点试验(ELISPOT)检测特异性T淋巴细胞的活化。对Al(OH)3+CVA16抗原免疫组母鼠所产仔鼠进行脑腔攻毒,检测母传抗体对新生乳鼠的保护作用。结果显示,Al(OH)3+CVA16灭活抗原在小鼠体内能诱生高滴度的特异性抗体,3次免疫后产生的特异性血清IgG抗体滴度最高可达1∶1×105(P=0.000),中和滴度高于1∶256。同时,该抗原还可以诱导特异性T淋巴细胞的活化。以1 000LD50的病毒量脑腔接种48h内新生乳鼠的病毒攻击实验显示,该母传抗体对新生乳鼠具有100%的保护。这一结果表明该灭活CVA16病毒抗原具有较好的免疫原性及保护性,为CVA16灭活疫苗的研究及评价体系提供了参考。     

抗Ⅱ型登革病毒蛋白抗体的制备和特点分析

本研究旨在制备和鉴定小鼠抗Ⅱ型登革病毒（DENV‐2）10种蛋白的抗体,为后续相关研究提供实验材料。利用真核表达载体pReceiver构建DENV‐210种蛋白的重组质粒,提取质粒 DNA ,肌内注射免疫小鼠,共免疫4次。末次免疫后2周取小鼠血清,利用DENV‐2感染的Vero细胞和DENV‐2各蛋白的稳定表达细胞,通过酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）、间接免疫荧光法（IFA）和蛋白免疫印迹法评价免疫效果,分析抗体的特点。DNA免疫小鼠后获得抗DENV‐210种蛋白的抗血清,抗体效价波动于1∶400～1∶16127之间,以抗E蛋白抗体效价最高,达1∶16127,而抗NS3、NS4b、NS5蛋白抗体效价较低,仅为1∶400。利用DENV‐2感染的Vero细胞和稳定表达病毒蛋白的EAhy926细胞进行IFA染色,抗DENV‐2各蛋白的抗血清均可特异性识别DENV‐2抗原。蛋白免疫印迹结果显示,抗E、NS1、NS4b和NS5蛋白抗体能识别热变性蛋白,其他抗血清未呈现阳性反应条带。本研究提示,DNA免疫小鼠所获得的抗DENV‐2各蛋白抗体能特异性识别自然感染或模拟自然感染状态下的DENV‐2蛋白,可为后续相关研究提供工具,也表明DNA免疫法可作为抗体制备的一种策略。     

表达轮状病毒nsp4基因重组腺病毒的构建与免疫评价

目的：应用非复制腺病毒表达系统构建表达人轮状病毒非结构蛋白4（NSP4）的重组腺病毒,初步评价其免疫保护效果。方法：构建含野生轮状病毒NSP4基因的穿梭质粒pshuttle-NSP4,与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdeasy经同源重组后在Ad-293细胞中包装获得pAd-NSP4重组腺病毒颗粒。电镜、RT-PCR、免疫荧光等方法鉴定病毒特征及在体外细胞中的表达。肌肉注射及滴鼻方式免疫小鼠,检测小鼠血清抗体效价及其中和保护效果。结果：获得了滴度为10^8.25CCID50/ml的重组腺病毒pAd-NSP4,免疫荧光检测到特异性目的蛋白的表达。二次免疫后肌肉注射和滴鼻小鼠的ELISA血清平均效价分别为1：320 和1：1436.8;中和抗体效价1：45.3和1：71.8。结论：表达轮状病毒NSP4蛋白的非复制型重组腺病毒颗粒具有良好的免疫原性。滴鼻途径比肌肉注射可更加有效地诱导小鼠的免疫应答。     

抗IBDV独特型抗体杂交瘤细胞株的建立及其产物生物学特性测定

用纯化的抗IBDV IgG免疫Balb/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与SP2/0细胞在聚乙二醇（PEG）作用下融合,ELISA法检测筛选,经有限稀释法克隆3次,获得2株（5F₄株,2B₆株）分泌抗IBDV独特型抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,其能诱生Balb/c小鼠产生ELISA抗体效价分别为1∶12 800和1∶25 600的含抗IBDV独特型抗体的腹水。用此独特型抗体与福氏完全佐剂和福氏不完全佐剂乳化制备成抗IBDV独特型抗体疫苗,免疫接种SPF鸡和普通京白公鸡,然后用IBDV强毒株(SD株)2000 ELD50攻毒,SPF鸡免疫组50只,有5只发病、2只死亡;对照组10只全部发病,8只死亡。普通京白鸡免疫组30只,有7只发病, 1只死亡;对照组10只全部发病,6只死亡。经X²检验,SPF鸡X²＝34.15,普通鸡X²＝16.68,查X²值表得X²_(1)0.01＝6.63, SPF鸡X²和普通鸡X2均大于X²_{(1) 0.01}（P＜0.01）,由此表明抗IBDV独特型抗体疫苗具有很好的免疫原性,对易感日龄的SPF鸡和普通鸡均具有极其明显的保护作用。从而证实了抗IBDV独特型抗体疫苗有潜在的研究和应用价值。     

轮状病毒四价灭活疫苗的制备及在小鼠的免疫原性研究

制备轮状病毒四价灭活疫苗,观察其在小鼠体内的抗体应答情况。实验采用轮状病毒原液经凝胶过滤层析纯化,灭活后配制四价疫苗,肌肉注射免疫小鼠,ELISA法测定小鼠血清IgA、IgG。将单价G1、G2、G3、G4型灭活病毒原液及四价轮状病毒灭活疫苗免疫小鼠后,均可刺激产生针对RV的高水平的特异性IgG抗体,但IgA应答较弱。表明四价轮状病毒灭活疫苗在小鼠中具备很好的免疫原性。     

人心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ单克隆抗体及多克隆抗体的制备

目的:以重组人心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnⅠ)为抗原制备鼠源单克隆抗体(McAb)及兔源多克隆抗体,并鉴定抗体的特性。方法:以纯化的重组人cTnⅠ为抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠,取鼠脾细胞同Sp2/0骨髓瘤细胞融合,利用选择培养基筛选融合的杂交瘤细胞,用有限稀释法分离获得能够稳定分泌抗cTnⅠ的McAb阳性克隆,并利用体内诱生法大规模制备McAb,用辛酸-硫酸铵沉淀法纯化抗体;兔多抗制备以cTnⅠ为抗原常规免疫后取其血清;用间接ELISA和Western印迹鉴定抗体的性质。结果:经ELISA鉴定,筛选出5株能分泌cTnⅠMcAb的杂交瘤细胞株,即C5B2、C5B3、C5B4、C5B1、B1A6,效价最高的B1A6株分泌的McAb为IgG3型,纯化后效价为1∶10000,亲和常数为1.08×10-9mol/L,Western印迹鉴定表明cTnⅠMcAb有良好的特异性;兔多抗纯化后的效价为1∶8000。结论:制备了具有良好特性的cTnⅠMcAb和多克隆抗体。     

嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌脂多糖对斑点叉尾免疫保护作用

嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas maltophilia)是近年来引起斑点叉尾高致死性、传染性疾病的主要病原之一。为了研究嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌脂多糖对斑点叉尾的免疫保护作用,实验选用了400尾健康斑点叉尾,随机分成Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ四个组,每组用鱼100尾,每组下设两个重复,每个重复用鱼50尾,以腹腔注射的方式分别向Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ四个组的斑点叉尾注射嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌脂多糖、无花果多糖加脂多糖、全菌灭活苗和生理盐水,在试验第0、第28天时分别进行首次免疫和加强免疫,试验期间每隔7d,对试验鱼的血液白细胞杀菌活性、补体C3含量、IgM含量和血清凝集效价滴度进行测定;试验第49天时进行活菌攻毒。结果表明,首免后,接种脂多糖、无花果多糖加脂多糖的试验鱼血清凝集效价滴度明显升高,白细胞杀菌活性、补体C3含量、IgM含量也明显增加;加强免疫后,脂多糖、无花果多糖加脂多糖的试验鱼血清凝集效价滴度峰值分别为1∶256和1∶512,白细胞杀菌活性峰值分别为0.565和0.511,补体C3含量峰值分别0.194和0.180mg/mL,IgM含量峰值分别1.415和1.464mg/mL,免疫保护率分别为70.0%和65%。嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌脂多糖和脂多糖+无花果多糖受免鱼的上述指标均显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)地高于生理盐水注射组,这两者的免疫保护效果优越于全细胞灭菌苗。     

Response of monkeys to porcine zona pellucida as detected by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay

The immunological response of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) to immunization was evaluated utilizing collagenase-isolated pig zona pellucida. Six weeks after initial immunization a high serum titer of antibody was exhibited. Serum antibody titers demonstrated a noticeable decline 5 months after booster injections were discontinued. The assay method used is rapid and is capable of detecting antibody in serum dilutions of 1:78,000, as compared to 1:125,000 with the indirect fluorescence assay.     

Passive immunity to bovine rotavirus infection associated with transfer of serum antibody into the intestinal lumen.

The effect of circulating passive antibody on immunity to bovine rotavirus infections in neonatal calves was investigated. In the first experiment, rotavirus antibody titers in the small intestinal lumina of 5- and 10-day-old calves with a wide range of serum rotavirus antibody titers were determined. Neutralizing antibody was present in the small intestinal lumina in titers that correlated with the calves' serum titers (r = +0.84, P less than 0.01). Immunoglobulin G1 was the predominant isotype of intestinal luminal rotavirus antibody. Calves not fed colostrum during the absorptive period lacked rotavirus antibody in circulation and in the intestinal lumen at 7 days of age, even when they were fed large volumes of colostrum with a high rotavirus antibody titer at 48 h after birth. Therefore, rotavirus antibody is not retained in the intestinal lumen for 5 days following a colostrum meal, and the luminal antibody in the 5- and 10-day-old seropositive calves were probably derived from circulating antibody. In a second experiment, calves were passively immunized by subcutaneous injection of colostral whey with a high immunoglobulin G1 rotavirus antibody titer and challenged with virulent bovine rotavirus 48 h later. The passively immunized calves were protected from rotavirus infection and diarrhea compared with calves with comparable serum immunoglobulin concentrations but with lower serum rotavirus with lower serum rotavirus antibody titers. The results of these experiments indicate that circulating immunoglobulin G1 antibody appears in the gastrointestinal tract of neonatal calves and that circulating rotavirus antibody can prevent infection and diarrhea after rotavirus challenge.     

Effect of a booster dose of serogroup B meningococcal vaccine on antibody response to Neisseria meningitidis in mice vaccinated with different immunization schedules

The generation and maintenance of memory antibody response by different primary immunization schedules with the Cuban-produced outer membrane protein based vaccine was investigated in a murine model. We analyzed the duration of the antibody response (IgG-ELISA and bactericidal titer) and the effect of a booster dose on the antibody response. The IgG avidity index was determined in an attempt to find a marker for memory development. This study also included an analysis of IgG subclasses induced by primary and booster immunization. The specificity of bactericidal antibodies was investigated using local strains of the same serotype/serosubtype (4,7:P1.19,15) as the vaccine strain and mutant strains lacking major outer membrane proteins. A significant recall response was induced by a booster dose given 7 months after a primary series of 2, 3 or 4 doses of vaccine. The primary antibody response showed a positive dose-effect. In contrast, a negative dose-effect was found on the booster bactericidal antibody response. There was a significant increase in IgG1 levels after the fourth and booster doses. Three doses of vaccine were required to induce a significant increase in IgG avidity. Two injections of vaccine induced a significant antibody response to PorA protein, while 4 injections induced a larger range of specificities.     

Comparison of infection-neutralizing and -enhancing antibody balance induced by two distinct genotype strains of dengue virus type 1 or 3 DNA vaccines in mice

Dengue viruses have spread throughout tropical and subtropical countries, and vaccine development is urgently needed. However, one concern is that induction of insufficient levels of neutralizing antibodies in vaccines may increase disease severity because of a hypothetical mechanism termed antibody-dependent enhancement of infection. This study used two distinct genotype strains of dengue virus types 1 and 3 (DENV1 and DENV3, respectively) to compare antibody responses in a mouse-DNA vaccine model. As expected, a conventional neutralization test using Vero cells showed higher antibody titers in homologous rather than heterologous combinations of genotype strains used for mouse immunization and the neutralization test, for each of DENV1 and DENV3. However, our assay system using K562 cells to measure the balance of neutralizing and enhancing antibodies indicated that Vero cell-neutralizing antibody titers did not always correlate with enhancing activities observed at subneutralizing doses. Rather, induction of enhancing activities depended on the genotype strain used for mouse immunization. The genotype/strain difference also affected IgG subclass profiles and potentially the composition of antibody species induced in mice. This study suggests that enhancing activities of dengue virus-induced neutralizing antibodies may vary according to the genotype and has implications for vaccine antigen development.     

Enhanced Liposomal Vaccine Formulation and Performance: Simple Physicochemical and Immunological Approaches

The Dtxd (Diphtheria toxoid) was the first antigen encapsulated within liposomes, their adjuvant properties were discovered (their capacity to enhance the vaccine immunogenicity). The point here is not to propose a new method to prepare this lipossomal vaccine. The central idea is to give new dresses for old vaccines by using classical and well-established liposome preparation method changing only the encapsulation pH and the immunization protocol.

The most appropriate method of Dtxd encapsulation within liposome was based on lipid film hydration in 100 mM citrate buffer, pH 4.0. This was accompanied by changes on protein hydrophobicity, observed by CD and fluorescence spectroscopies. Whenever the Dtxd exposed its hydrophobic residues at pH 4.0, it interacted better with the lipossomal (observed by electrophoretic mobility) film than when its hydrophobic residues were buried (pH 9.0). The Dtxd partition coefficient in Triton-X114 and the acrylamide fluorescence quenching were also pH dependent. Both were bigger at pH 4.0 than at pH 9.0. The relationship protein structure and lipid interaction was pH dependent and now it can be easily maximized to enhance encapsulation of antigens in vaccine development.

Mice were primed with formulations containing 5 μg of Dtxd within liposomes prepared in pH 4.0 or 7.0 or 9.0. The boosters were done 38 or 138 days after the first immunization. The IgM produced by immediate response of all lipossomal formulations were higher than the control (free protein). The response patterns and the immune maturity were measured by IgG₁ and IgG_2a titrations. The IgG₁ titers produced by both formulations at pH 4.0 and 7.0 were at least 2² higher than those produced by mice injected lipossomal formulation at pH 9.0. When the boosters were done, 138 days after priming the mice produced a IgG_2a titer of 2⁹ and the group that received the booster 30 days after priming produced a titer of 2⁵. The strongest antibody production was the neutralizing antibody (2⁴⁵ higher than the control) produced by those mice injected with lipossomal formulation at pH 4.0 with the booster done 138 days after priming. The simple change on lipossomal pH formulation and timing of the booster enhanced both antibody production and selectivity.     

Inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine prepared from whole virus induces a high level of neutralizing antibodies in BALB/c mice

We tested the ability of inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine to induce neutralizing antibodies in BALB/c mice. The inactivated vaccine was prepared by SARS-CoV virus propagation in Vero cells, with subsequent beta-propiolactone inactivation and Sepharose 4FF column chromatography purification. One hundred forty BALB/c female mice were divided into seven groups of 20 mice each. Of the seven groups, three groups were inoculated with 0.1, 1, and 3 microg of the vaccine without adjuvant while three other groups were inoculated at the same three dosages of vaccine with aluminum hydroxide as adjuvant, respectively. The remaining group was set up as a blank control. Each mouse was inoculated twice at an interval of 3 weeks. One week after the second immunization, mice sera were collected to detect serum neutralizing antibodies. An assay for determining neutralizing antibody titers was developed. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) higher dosages of vaccine induced higher levels of neutralizing antibody titer; (2) the level of neutralizing antibodies induced by the inoculation with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant was slightly higher than that without adjuvant, but the difference was not statistically significant.     

流行性出血热(EHF)双价纯化灭活疫苗——I 期临床观察

根据卫生部药审(91)特申体第02号文件,本品纯化灭活双价疫苗92年完成了Ⅰ期人体反应及血清学效果观察。91001批双价疫苗以0,1,2月和0,14,35天程序免疫,91002批以0,1,2月程序免疫,各接种15人。接种后未出现任何不良反应,与Ⅰ型,Ⅱ型单价疫苗相同,是安全可靠的。两种免疫程序,二针次免疫后皆能产生较高免疫抗体,接种后半年仍保持一定抗体水平。中和抗体(PRNT)均在1∶10～1∶20,ELISA1∶478～1∶549(GMT),阳转率100％,再次证明本型纯化疫苗安全有效,并具有较高免疫活性,本型疫苗也可采用二针次(0,1月),总量2ml免疫。     

A serum-free Vero production platform for a chimeric virus vaccine candidate

MedImmune Vaccines has engineered a live, attenuated chimeric virus that could prevent infections caused by parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), causative agents of acute respiratory diseases in infants and young children. The work here details the development of a serum-free Vero cell culture production platform for this virus vaccine candidate. Efforts to identify critical process parameters and optimize culture conditions increased infectious virus titers by approximately 2 log₁₀ TCID₅₀/ml over the original serum-free process. In particular, the addition of a chemically defined lipid concentrate to the pre-infection medium along with the shift to a lower post-infection cultivation temperature increased virus titers by almost 100-fold. This improved serum-free process achieved comparable virus titers to the serum-supplemented process, and demonstrated consistent results upon scale-up: Vero cultures in roller bottles, spinner flasks and bioreactors reproducibly generated maximum infectious virus titers of 8 log₁₀ TCID₅₀/ml.     

Generation and Efficacy Evaluation of Recombinant Classical Swine Fever Virus E2 Glycoprotein Expressed in Stable Transgenic Mammalian Cell Line

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is the causative agent of classical swine fever (CSF), which is a highly contagious swine disease that causes significant economic loses to the pig industry worldwide. The envelope E2 glycoprotein of CSFV is the most important viral antigen in inducing protective immune response against CSF. In this study, we generated a mammalian cell clone (BCSFV-E2) that could stably produce a secreted form of CSFV E2 protein (mE2). The mE2 protein was shown to be N-linked glycosylated and formed a homodimer. The vaccine efficacy of mE2 was evaluated by immunizing pigs. Twenty-five 6-week-old Landrace piglets were randomly divided into five groups. Four groups were intramuscularly immunized with mE2 emulsified in different adjuvants twice at four-week intervals. One group was used as the control group. All mE2-vaccinated pigs developed CSFV-neutralizing antibodies two weeks after the first vaccination with neutralizing antibody titers ranging from 1∶40 to 1∶320. Two weeks after the booster vaccination, the neutralizing antibody titers increased greatly and ranged from 1∶10,240 to 1∶81,920. At 28 weeks after the booster vaccine was administered, the neutralizing antibody titers ranged from 1∶80 to 1∶10240. At 32 weeks after the first vaccination, pigs in all the groups were challenged with a virulent CSFV strain at a dose of 1×10⁵ TCID₅₀. At two weeks after the challenge, all the mE2-immunized pigs survived and exhibited no obvious symptoms of CSF. The neutralizing antibody titer at this time was 20,480. Unvaccinated pigs in the control group exhibited symptoms of CSF 3–4 days after challenge and were euthanized from 7–9 days after challenge when the pigs became moribund. These results indicate that the mE2 is a good candidate for the development of a safe and effective CSFV subunit vaccine.