Antigenic and immunogenic properties of a chimera of two immunodominant African swine fever virus proteins

• DOI: 10.1007/s007050170056
• Publication Date: 2003-02-12T18:05:56Z
• Authors: M. G. Barderas; F. Rodríguez; P. Gómez-Puertas; M. Avilés; F. Beitia; C. Alonso; J. M. Escribano
• Keywords: Viral Structural Proteins; 0301 basic medicine; Immunodominant Epitopes; Swine; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Immunoblotting; Vaccination; Viral Vaccines; Moths; Spodoptera; Antibodies, Viral; Phosphoproteins; African Swine Fever Virus; 3. Good health; Viral Proteins; 03 medical and health sciences; Neutralization Tests; Macrophages, Alveolar; Animals; African Swine Fever; Baculoviridae; Cells, Cultured

A chimera of the two immunodominant African swine fever (ASF) virus proteins p54 and p30 was constructed by insertion of the gene CP204L into a Not I restriction site of E183L gene. The resulting chimeric protein p54/30, expressed by a recombinant baculovirus in insect cells and in Trichoplusia ni larvae, retained antigenic determinants present in both proteins and reacted in Western blot with a collection of sera from inapparent ASF virus carrier pigs. Remarkably, pigs immunized with the chimeric protein developed neutralizing antibodies and survived the challenge with a virulent African swine fever virus, presenting a reduction of about two logs in maximum viremia titers with respect to control pigs. In conclusion, this study revealed that the constructed chimeric protein may have utility as a serological diagnostic reagent and for further immunological studies that may provide new insights on mechanisms of protective immunity to ASFV.