Bovine Herpesvirus 1 VP22 Enhances the Efficacy of a DNA Vaccine in Cattle

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Abstract
For this study, the intercellular trafficking ability of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) VP22 was applied to improve the efficacy of a DNA vaccine in calves. A plasmid encoding a truncated version of glycoprotein D (tgD) fused to VP22 was constructed. The plasmid encoding tgD-VP22 elicited significantly enhanced and more balanced immune responses than those induced by a plasmid encoding tgD. Furthermore, protection against a BHV-1 challenge was obtained in calves immunized with the plasmid encoding tgD-VP22, as shown by significant reductions in viral excretion. However, less significant protection was observed for animals vaccinated with the tgD-expressing plasmid, correlating with the lower level of immunity observed prechallenge. This is the first report of the use of VP22 as a transport molecule in the context of a DNA vaccine for a large animal species.