Transient expression of VP2 in Nicotiana benthamiana and its use as a plant-based vaccine against infectious bursal disease virus

Evangelina Gómez; María Soledad Lucero; Silvina Chimeno Zoth; Juan Manuel Carballeda; María José Gravisaco; Analía Berinstein

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.03.064

Transient expression of VP2 in Nicotiana benthamiana and its use as a plant-based vaccine against infectious bursal disease virus

Vaccine. 2013 May 28;31(23):2623-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.03.064. Epub 2013 Apr 10.

Authors

Evangelina Gómez¹, María Soledad Lucero, Silvina Chimeno Zoth, Juan Manuel Carballeda, María José Gravisaco, Analía Berinstein

Affiliation

¹ Instituto de Biotecnología, CICVyA, INTA, Castelar, Cc 25 B1712WAA, Buenos Aires, Argentina. [email protected]

PMID: 23583894
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.03.064

Abstract

Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) is the etiological agent of an immunosuppressive and highly contagious disease that affects young birds. This disease causes important economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. The VP2 protein has been used for the development of subunit vaccines in a variety of heterologous platforms. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate VP2 expression and immunogenicity using an experimental plant-based vaccine against IBDV. We determined that the agroinfiltration of N. benthamiana leaves allowed the production of VP2 with no apparent change on its conformational epitopes. Chickens intramuscularly immunized in a dose/boost scheme with crude concentrated extracts developed a specific humoral response with viral neutralizing ability. Given these results, it seems plausible for a plant-based vaccine to have a niche in the veterinary field. Thus, plants can be an adequate system of choice to produce immunogens against IBDV.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibodies, Neutralizing / biosynthesis
Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
Birnaviridae Infections / immunology
Birnaviridae Infections / prevention & control
Birnaviridae Infections / veterinary*
Chick Embryo
Chickens
Infectious bursal disease virus / genetics
Infectious bursal disease virus / immunology*
Nicotiana / genetics
Nicotiana / immunology
Nicotiana / metabolism
Nicotiana / microbiology*
Poultry Diseases / immunology
Poultry Diseases / prevention & control*
Poultry Diseases / virology
T-Lymphocytes / immunology
Vaccination / veterinary
Vaccines, Subunit / biosynthesis
Vaccines, Subunit / immunology
Vaccines, Synthetic / biosynthesis
Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
Viral Structural Proteins / biosynthesis*
Viral Structural Proteins / genetics
Viral Structural Proteins / immunology*
Viral Vaccines / biosynthesis*
Viral Vaccines / immunology

Substances

Antibodies, Neutralizing
VP2 protein, infectious bursal disease virus
Vaccines, Subunit
Vaccines, Synthetic
Viral Structural Proteins
Viral Vaccines