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Rational design of the first commercially available subunit vaccine against BVDV targeted to immune system cells
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  • Demian Bellido,
  • Josefina Baztarrica,
  • Lucia Rocha,
  • Andrea Pecora,
  • Mario Acosta,
  • José M. Escribano,
  • Viviana Parreño,
  • Andrés Wigdorovitz
Demian Bellido
Vetanco SA

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Josefina Baztarrica
Vetanco SA
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Lucia Rocha
INTA
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Andrea Pecora
INTA
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Mario Acosta
Vetanco SA
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José M. Escribano
Algenex
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Viviana Parreño
National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA)
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Andrés Wigdorovitz
Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria, Instituto de Virologia e Innovaciones Tecnlógicas (IVIT-CONICET)
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Abstract

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a major cause of economic loss in the cattle industry, worldwide. Infection results in reduce productive performance, growth retardation, reduced milk production, and increased susceptibility to other diseases leading to early culling of animals. There are two main measures used to control the spread of BVDV: the elimination of persistently infected (PI) animals and vaccination. Currently, modified live or inactivated vaccines are used in BVDV vaccination programs, but there are safety risks or insufficient protection, respectively, with these vaccines. Here we report the development and efficacy of the first targeted subunit vaccine against BVDV. The core of the vaccine is a fusion of the BVDV structural protein, E2, to a single-chain antibody, APCH, together termed, APCH-E2. The APCH antibody targets the E2 antigen to the major histocompatibility type II molecule (MHC-II) present on antigen-presenting cells. Industrial production of the vaccine is carried out using the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) using single-use manufacturing technologies. This new subunit vaccine induces strong BVDV-specific neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs and cattle. Importantly, in cattle with low levels of natural BVDV-specific neutralizing antibodies, the vaccine induced strong neutralizing antibody levels to above the protective threshold, as determined by a competition ELISA. The APCH-E2 vaccine induced a rapid and sustained neutralizing antibody response compared to a conventional vaccine in cattle. The development of this subunit targeted vaccine provides cattle and dairy producers with an inexpensive, easily administered, safe, and efficacious BVDV vaccine.
21 Aug 2020Submitted to Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
22 Aug 2020Submission Checks Completed
22 Aug 2020Assigned to Editor
26 Aug 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
17 Nov 20201st Revision Received
17 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
17 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
18 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Dec 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Dec 2020Editorial Decision: Accept