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J. Virol. doi:10.1128/JVI.00502-07
Copyright (c) 2007, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

DNA immunization with plasmids encoding fusion and nucleocapsid proteins of BRSV induces a strong cell-mediated immunity and protects calves against challenge

Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (VAR), 1180 Brussel, Belgium; Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, Unité de Recherche en Biologie Moléculaire, 5000 Namur, Belgium

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: boxus.m{at}fsagx.ac.be.

	Abstract

Respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) are one of the most important respiratory pathogens of humans and cattle and there is currently no safe and effective vaccine prophylaxy. In this study, we designed two codon-optimized plasmids encoding the bovine RSV (BRSV) fusion (F) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins and assessed their immunogenicity in young calves. Two administrations of both plasmids elicited low antibody levels but primed a strong cell-mediated immunity characterized by lymphoproliferative response and IFN- production in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, this strong cellular response drastically reduced viral replication, clinical signs and pulmonary lesions after a highly virulent challenge. Moreover, calves that were further vaccinated with a KV vaccine developed high levels of neutralizing antibody and were fully protected following challenge. These results indicate that DNA vaccination could be a promising alternative to the classical vaccines against RSV in cattle and could therefore open perspectives for vaccinating young infants.