A recombinant rabies virus expressing Echinococcus granulosus EG95 induces protective immunity in mice. Issue 4 (26th August 2021) - Xu, Tong
Abstract: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus ( E, is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution, resulting in heavy impact to public health and social economics. In this study, we generated a recombinant rabies virus (RABV) expressing EG95 protein of E. granulosus (LBNSE‐EG95) as a bivalent candidate vaccine for use in sheep and cattle against CE and rabies, which is another severe health threat in CE‐endemic areas. It was found that EG95 was successfully expressed without altering the pathogenicity of parent LBNSE vector. Further study showed that LBNSE‐EG95 immunization in mice elicited activation of dendric cells (DCs) and B cells and induced Th1‐/Th2‐mediated cellular immune responses, leading to robust production of RABV neutralizing antibodies and high level of EG95‐sepecific antibodies with more than 90% protection against CE. In addition, single dose of LBNSE‐EG95 conferred full protection against lethal RABV challenge in mice. Collectively, these results suggest that the recombinant LBNSE‐EG95 has the potential to be developed as an efficient bivalent vaccine for sheep and cattle use in endemic areas of CE and rabies.