ARS | Publication request: EFFICIENT EXPRESSION OF PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUSPROTEINS IN A BACULOVIRUS SYSTEM

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 14, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Infection by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes reproductive failure in pregnant sows, increased mortality in young animals, and a flu-like syndrome in animals of all ages. This virus has been recently characterized and included in a newly proposed family, the Arteriviridae. The main biological features of PRRSV are a restricted cell tropism and the ability to cause asymptotic, persistent infection even in the presence of circulating antibodies. The immunological response of infected animals is directed mainly to the capsid protein, which has common epitopes among most PRRSV isolates. Although great progress has been made on the molecular biology of PRRSV, a reliable diagnostic test based on a pure source of antigen is still awaited. Thus, a baculovirus expression system was used to express the gene products of PRRSV ORF 6 and 7. Using RT-PCR, the region corresponding to each gene was amplified and cloned into a transfer vector that was used to transfect insect cells, along with linearized baculovirus DNA. Recombinant baculoviruses containing PRRSV genes were selected by Southern blot. The protein product of each gene was characterized by SDS-PAGE of infected cell lysate followed by western blot. These proteins are being purified and their immunogenicity and potential use for diagnostic purposes are under study.