ARS | Publication request: Generation of recombinant newcastle disease viruses, expressing the glycoprotein (G) of avian metapneumovirus, subtype A, or B, for use as bivalent vaccines

Submitted to: International Symposium on Avian Corona and Pneumoviruses and Complicating Pathogens
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: June 30, 2012
Publication Date: November 1, 2012
Citation: Yu, Q., Roth, J.P., Hu, H., Estevez, C., Zsak, L. 2012. Generation of recombinant newcastle disease viruses, expressing the glycoprotein (G) of avian metapneumovirus, subtype A, or B, for use as bivalent vaccines. International Symposium on Avian Corona and Pneumoviruses and Complicating Pathogens. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Virulent strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) can cause serious respiratory diseases in poultry. Vaccination combined with strict biosecurity practices has been the recommendation for controlling both NDV and aMPV diseases in the field. To develop a bivalent vaccine against NDV and aMPV, a recombinant NDV expressing the glycoprotein (G) of avian metapneumovirus aMPV, subtype A, or B, was generated. Vaccination of turkeys with the NDV/aMPV-A or B recombinant virus induced moderate aMPV-A or B-specific immune responses and provided partial protection against homologous pathogenic aMPV challenge and complete protection against virulent NDV challenge. These results suggest that the LaSota recombinant virus is a safe and effective vaccine vector and that expression of the aMPV G protein alone is not sufficient to provide full protection against an aMPV-A or B infection. Expression of other immunogenic protein(s) of the aMPV-A or B virus may be needed to induce a stronger protective immunity against the aMPV diseases.

Technical Abstract: Using reverse genetics technology, Newcastle disease virus (NDV) LaSota strain-based recombinant viruses were engineered to express the glycoprotein (G) of avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), subtype A, or B, as bivalent vaccines. These recombinant viruses, rLS/aMPV-A G and rLS/aMPV-B G, were slightly attenuated in vivo, yet maintained similar growth dynamics, cytopathic effects, and virus titers in vitro when compared to the parental LaSota virus. Expression of the G protein in the aMPV-B G virus-infected cells was detected by immunofluorescence assay. Vaccination of turkeys with rLS/aMPV-A G or rLS/aMPV-B G induced moderate aMPV-A or B-specific immune responses and provided partial protection against homologous pathogenic aMPV challenge and complete protection against velogenic NDV CA02 strain challenge. These results suggest that the LaSota recombinant virus is a safe and effective vaccine vector and that expression of the aMPV G protein alone is not sufficient to provide full protection against an aMPV-A or B infection. Expression of other immunogenic protein(s) of the aMPV-A or B virus or in conjunction with the G protein may be needed to induce a stronger protective immunity against the aMPV diseases.