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Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A CANDIDATE VACCINE FOR NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS BY EPITOPE DISPLAY IN THE CUCUMBER MOSAIC VIRUS CAPSID PROTEIN

Author
item Zhao, Yan
item Hammond, Rosemarie

Submitted to: Biotechnology Letters
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/28/2005
Publication Date: 3/1/2005
Citation: Zhao, Y., Hammond, R. 2005. Development of a candidate vaccine for newcastle disease virus by epitope display in the cucumber mosaic virus capsid protein. Biotechnology Letters. 27:375-382.

Interpretive Summary: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infects many species of both domestic and wild birds, with the death rates varying among animal species and strains of the virus. The most widely used vaccines against NDV are live viruses that can themselves cause mild disease. Our goal was to develop an alternative anti-NDV vaccine that is safe and cost-effective. To achieve this, we chose a technology where high-level production of desired foreign proteins in the host plant results from a rapidly multiplying plant virus carrying the foreign gene. We attached a piece of a protective NDV protein to the surface of the plant virus. The purified plant virus reacted with serum that recognizes NDV. This plant-produced protein has the potential for development into a candidate vaccine for vaccination of chicks against NDV. These results will be of interest to plant and animal researchers, and representatives of industry, academia, and government organizations with an interest in plant-based systems for production of vaccine, immunology, and veterinary health.

Technical Abstract: Peptide fusion to the capsid protein (CP) of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was designed to express either a 17 amino acid (aa) neutralizing epitope of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein or an 8 aa neutralizing epitope of the NDV hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein. Fusions of the F, HN and HN2 (duplicated HN epitope) were made in the internal ßH-ßI loop (motif 5) within the CMV CP. Recombinant RNA3 transcripts of the Ixora strain of CMV were inoculated onto Nicotiana benthamiana, together with CMV RNA1 and CMV RNA2. When the F and HN epitopes were placed in the internal motif, the modified virus was infectious and the HN NDV epitope was recognized by anti-NDV sera. However, in some plants, deletions of one to several of the inserted amino acids occurred. A duplication of the HN epitope rendered the virus non-viable.