RR1 and RR2 gene deletion affects the immunogenicity of a live attenuated pseudorabies virus vaccine candidate in natural pig host

Abstract

As virulence-determining genes, RR1 and RR2 encode the small subunit and large subunit of viral ribonucleotide reductase (RR) in pseudorabies virus which have been extensively studied in mice. However, their role in pigs has not been adequately investigated. In this study, we deleted RR1 and RR2 genes based on a TK/gE/gI triple gene-deleted pseudorabies virus and tested its efficacy in pigs as a vaccine candidate. The rescued virus showed similar growth properties and plaque size in vitro as its parent strain. In an animal study, the virus could elicit humoral immune responses shown by generation of gB-specific antibodies and virus neutralizing antibodies. However, vaccination could not provide protection against virulent pseudorabies virus challenge since vaccinated pigs showed clinical pseudorabies-specific syndromes. The deficiency in protection may due to the generation of late and low levels of gB antibodies and virus neutralizing antibodies.

Keywords

pseudorabies virus / RR1 and RR2 / ribonucleotide reductase / vaccine candidate

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grant from Major Science and Technology Program in Henan Province (131100110200), Innovation Scientists and Technicians Troop Construction Projects of Henan Province (142101510001), Talents Plan for Scientific and Technological Innovation in Henan Province (144200510002), and Science and Technology Innovation team in Henan Province (C20130005).

Shijun Yan, He Yan, Chaolin Zhang, Tongyan Wang, Qingyuan Yang, Zhe Sun,Yan Xiao, Feifei Tan, Xiangdong Li, and Kegong Tian declare that they have no conflict of interest or financial conflicts to disclose.

All applicable institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg