Production of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Virus-Like Particles by an Attenuated Recombinant Pseudorabies Virus

Authors:

Chi JN¹, Wu CY^1, Wu PC¹, Chien MS² and Huang C^1_*

DOI: 10.23880/vij-16000101

Volume 1, Issue 1

Abstract

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are economically important swine viruses that cause
pseudorabies (PR) and porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD), respectively. Vaccination appears to be efficacious
for PR eradication and control of PCVAD. Combining the PRV marker vaccine and the PCV2 immunogen in a single vaccine
would reduce cost and stress on vaccination strategies. We constructed a glycoprotein E (gE)/thymidine kinase (tk)
double-deletion pseudorabies virus (gE-tk-/PCV2cap+ PRV) containing PCV2 cap encoding the major capsid protein (Cap).
The recombinant virus gE-tk-/PCV2cap+ PRV expressed PCV2 Cap proteins that self-assembled to form virus-like
particles. Virulence of gE-tk-/PCV2cap+ PRV was completely attenuated in mice. Guinea pigs immunized with gE-tk-
/PCV2cap+ PRV mounted significant antibody responses against PRV and PCV2. The recombinant virus has the potential
to be developed into a candidate live, attenuated bivalent vaccine to simplify vaccination strategies.

Keywords:

Pseudorabies virus; Porcine circovirus type 2; Recombinant virus; Virus-like particles; Bivalent vaccine

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