ARS | Publication request: Development of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Viruses Expressing the Glycoprotein (G) of Avian Metapneumovirus as Bivalent Vaccines

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 1, 2012
Publication Date: August 16, 2012
Citation: Yu, Q., Roth, J.P., Hu, H., Estevez, C., Zsak, L. 2012. Development of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Viruses Expressing the Glycoprotein (G) of Avian Metapneumovirus as Bivalent Vaccines [abstract]. Meeting Abstract. CDROM.

Technical Abstract: Using reverse genetics technology, Newcastle disease virus (NDV) LaSota strain-based recombinant viruses were engineered to express the glycoprotein (G) of avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), subtype A, B or C, as bivalent vaccines. These recombinant viruses were slightly attenuated in vivo, yet maintained similar growth dynamics, cytopathic effects, and virus titers in vitro when compared to the parental LaSota virus. Expression of the G protein in the recombinant virus-infected cells was detected by immunofluorescence assay. Vaccination of turkeys with rLS/aMPV-A G, rLS/aMPV-B G or rLS/aMPV-C G induced moderate aMPV subtype-specific immune responses and provided partial protection against homologous pathogenic aMPV challenge and complete protection against velogenic NDV CA02 strain challenge. These results suggest that the LaSota recombinant virus is a safe and effective vaccine vector and that expression of the aMPV G protein alone is not sufficient to provide full protection against an aMPV infection. Expression of other immunogenic protein(s) of the aMPV or in conjunction with the G protein may be needed to induce a stronger protective immunity against the aMPV diseases.