Enhancing heterologous protection in pigs vaccinated with chimeric porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus containing the full-length sequences of shuffled structural genes of multiple heterologous strains. Issue 18 (25th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tian, Debin; Cao, Dianjun; Lynn Heffron, C.; Yugo, Danielle M.; Rogers, Adam J.; Overend, Christopher; Matzinger, Shannon R.; Subramaniam, Sakthivel; Opriessnig, Tanja; LeRoith, Tanya; Meng, Xiang-Jin
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 35:Issue 18(2017)
• Page Start: 2427
• Page End: 2434
• Publication Date: 2017-04-25
• Subjects: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) -- Vaccine -- DNA shuffling -- Cross-protection -- Heterologous strains -- RFLP 1-7-4; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: A chimera with full-length sequences of shuffled structural genes was generated. The chimera induced neutralizing antibodies in pigs against heterologous strains. The chimera conferred enhanced heterologous protection in pigs. The chimera VR2385-S3456 is a good PRRSV vaccine candidate. Abstract: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the causative agent of arguably the most economically important global swine disease. The extensive genetic variation of PRRSV strains is a major obstacle for heterologous protection of current vaccines. Previously, we constructed a panel of chimeric viruses containing only the ectodomain sequences of DNA-shuffled structural genes of different PRRSV strains in the backbone of a commercial vaccine, and found that one chimeric virus had an improved cross-protection efficacy. In this present study, to further enhance the cross-protective efficacy against heterologous strains, we constructed a novel chimeric virus VR2385-S3456 containing the full-length sequences of shuffled structural genes (ORFs 3-6) from 6 heterologous PRRSV strains in the backbone of PRRSV strain VR2385. We showed that the chimeric virus VR2385-S3456 induced a high level of neutralizing antibodies in pigs against two heterologous strains. A subsequent vaccination and challenge study in 48 pigs revealed that the chimeric virus VR2385-S3456 conferred an enhanced cross-protection when challenged with heterologous virus strain NADC20 or a contemporary heterologous strain RFLP 1-7-4. The results suggest that the chimera VR2385-S3456 may be a good PRRSV vaccine candidate for further development to confer heterologous protection.