The expression in plants of an engineered VP2 protein of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus induces formation of structurally heterogeneous particles that protect from a very virulent viral strain

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247134
• Publication Date: 2021-02-16T21:45:23Z
• Authors: Carla Marusic; Charifa Drissi To...; Alessio Bortolami; Marcello Donini; Claudia Zanardello; Chiara Lico; Emile Rage; Siham Fellahi; Mohammed El Houadfi; Calogero Terregino; Selene Baschieri
• Keywords: Infectious bursal disease; Bursa of Fabricius; Virus-like particle; Agroinfiltration; Porcine parvovirus

Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV), the etiological agent of Gumboro disease, causes mortality and immunosuppression in chickens major losses to poultry industry worldwide. The IBDV capsid protein VP2 is considered best candidate for production novel subunit vaccines. This structural contains conformational epitopes responsible induction neutralizing antibodies has been demonstrated able form supramolecular structures yeast insect cells. aim this study was express an engineered version (His-pVP2) verify its ability self-assemble into virus-like particles plants. recombinant transiently expressed by agroinfiltration Nicotiana benthamiana transmission electron microscopy sucrose density gradient fractions revealed presence a mixed population differently shaped ranging from spherical capsids, with diameter between ~25 ~70 nm, tubular structures, variable length (from 100 400 nm). VP2-based when used intramuscular immunization specific-pathogen-free chicks resulted induce anti-IBDV specific at titers comparable those induced commercial vaccine. Moreover, all immunized birds survived challenge Moroccan very virulent strain no histomorphological alterations Bursa Fabricius, similarly what obtained inactivated