Expression and Immunogenicity of an Alphavirus Replicon African Swine Fever Virus Vaccine Candidate in Swine

African swine fever virus (ASFV) proteins were expressed in an alphavirus based replicon expression system. Pigs vaccinated with the recombinant vectors developed ASFV-specific antibodies. This is the first known use of this technology against ASFV

Development of an Alphavirus Replicon Classical Swine Fever Virus Vaccine Candidate

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) E2 glycoprotein was expressed in an alphavirus based replicon expression system. Vaccinated pigs developed CSFV-specific antibodies. This is the first known use of this technology against CSFV

Characterization of nucleotides 28-43 of the human parainfluenza virus type 3 antigenomic promoter in genome replication

Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) is a significant cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children worldwide. During replication of HPIV3, the 96-nucleotide antigenomic promoter directs synthesis of genomic RNA. Previous work showed that nucleotides 1-12 (from the terminus) were critical in promoting replication of an HPIV3 minireplicon, but the role of nucleotides 13-96 was not investigated. However, the 13-96 region of the genomic promoter was recently characterized and found to have elements involved in promoting replication. Therefore, to clarify the role of antigenomic promoter nucleotides 13-96 in replication, a series of mutations were introduced that collectively scanned this region in an HPIV3 minireplicon. Notably, mutation of nucleotides 13-39 significantly deceased replication, suggesting that this region regulates replication. Further analysis of the 13-39 element revealed a complicated control element with both stimulatory and repressing elements. Specifically, nucleotide 28 (and possibly 21-27) was shown to repress RNA replication, while flanking sequences had a stimulatory effect. The precise role of the 13-39 region is not known, but the differences between this region of the antigenomic promoter and an analogous region of the genomic promoter may contribute to the increased activity of the antigenomic promoter in directing genome replication

Expression and Immunogenicity of an Alphavirus Replicon African Swine Fever Virus Vaccine Candidate in Swine

African swine fever virus (ASFV) proteins were expressed in an alphavirus based replicon expression system. Pigs vaccinated with the recombinant vectors developed ASFV-specific antibodies. This is the first known use of this technology against ASFV.</p

Development of an Alphavirus Replicon Classical Swine Fever Virus Vaccine Candidate

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) E2 glycoprotein was expressed in an alphavirus based replicon expression system. Vaccinated pigs developed CSFV-specific antibodies. This is the first known use of this technology against CSFV.</p

Development and evaluation of a replicon particle vaccine expressing the E2 glycoprotein of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in cattle

Background: Bovine viral diarrhea virus is one of the most significant and costly viral pathogens of cattle worldwide. Alphavirus-derived replicon particles have been shown to be safe and highly effective vaccine vectors against a variety of human and veterinary pathogens. Replicon particles are non-propagating, DIVA compatible, and can induce both humoral and cell mediated immune responses. This is the first experiment to demonstrate that Alphavirus-based replicon particles can be utilized in a standard prime/boost vaccination strategy in calves against a commercially significant bovine pathogen. Findings: Replicon particles that express bovine viral diarrhea virus sub-genotype 1b E2 glycoprotein were generated and expression was confirmed in vitro using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific to E2. Vaccine made from particles was generated in Vero cells and administered to BVDV free calves in a prime/boost regimen at two dosage levels. Vaccination resulted in neutralizing antibody titers that cross-neutralized both type 1 and type 2 BVD genotypes following booster vaccination. Additionally, high dose vaccine administration demonstrated some protection from clinical disease and significantly reduced the degree of leukopenia caused by viral infection. Conclusions: Replicon particle vaccines administered in a prime/boost regimen expressing BVDV E2 glycoprotein can induce cross-neutralizing titers, reduce leukopenia post challenge, and mitigate clinical disease in calves. This strategy holds promise for a safe and effective vaccine to BVDV