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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Veterinary Infectious Diseases
Volume 12 - 2025 |
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1540102
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Incorporating Dominant T and B Cell Epitopes: Enhanced Immune Response in Piglets with CD154 Molecules
Provisionally accepted
Yuwan Li 1*
Weijun Zeng 2
Niu Xinni 3
Yuan Zhongmao 3 Shurou Li 3* Jinru Lin 4*
Kaiyuan Xie 3
Zixiang Zhu 5
Lin Yi 3 Hongxing Ding 3* Mingqiu Zhao 3* Shuangqi Fan 3*
Jinding Chen 3*- 1 College of Food and Bioengineering,Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China
- 2 Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- 3 Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guang Zhou, China
- 4 Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China., Guangzhou, China
- 5 State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,., Lanzhou, China
Introduction: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease caused by FMDV, resulting in vesicular lesions in cloven-hoofed animals and posing significant economic threats to the livestock industry. VLP vaccines, which lack viral genetic material and are non-infectious, demonstrate superior safety compared to traditional inactivated vaccines. This study employs ADDomer, a novel adenovirus-based VLP framework, to display FMDV antigenic epitopes on the VLP surface. Additionally, FMDV capsid proteins can assemble into VLPs, offering innovative approaches for developing more efficient and safer FMDV vaccines. Methods: Two FMDV VLP proteins were constructed using a baculovirus expression system. One VLP was developed by embedding the B-cell epitope of FMDV VP1 into the G-H loop of VP3 and co-expressing it with VP1 and VP0 to form VP1-VP3B-VP0. The other VLP, ADDomer-BBT, fused B-and T-cell epitopes from FMDV O-type VP1 into the ADDomer platform, with porcine CD154 expressed as an immune enhancer. Expression conditions were optimized, and proteins were purified. The VLPs, combined with porcine CD15 molecular adjuvant, were evaluated for immunogenicity in piglets. Results: After purification, both VLPs displayed virus-like structures under electron microscopy. Immunization in piglets induced high levels of FMDV-specific and neutralizing antibodies, enhanced cytokines IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ, and increased lymphocyte proliferation. The CD154-added group showed higher immune responses. Discussion: The VLP vaccines effectively induced strong cellular and humoral immune responses, with CD154 enhancing efficacy. These findings provide insights for developing safer, more effective FMDV vaccines and contribute to advancing livestock health and productivity.
Keywords: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), Virus-Like Particle Vaccine (VLP), CD154, T and B cell epitopes, ADDomer
Received: 05 Dec 2024; Accepted: 20 Jan 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li, Zeng, Xinni, Zhongmao, Li, Lin, Xie, Zhu, Yi, Ding, Zhao, Fan and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Yuwan Li, College of Food and Bioengineering,Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China
Shurou Li, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guang Zhou, China
Jinru Lin, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China., Guangzhou, China
Hongxing Ding, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guang Zhou, China
Mingqiu Zhao, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guang Zhou, China
Shuangqi Fan, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guang Zhou, China
Jinding Chen, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guang Zhou, China
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