• Vaccine Name: Truncated Recombinant DoBV Nucleocapsid Proteins (Dob-N rNp)
• Target Pathogen: Hantavirus
• Target Disease: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
• Vaccine Ontology ID: VO_0004103
• Type: Subunit vaccine
• Adjuvant:
  • Adjuvant name:
  • VO adjuvant ID: VO_0001241
  • Description: Dob-N rNp was emulsified in 2% Alhydrogel (Accurate Chemical & Scientific Corp., Westbury, N.Y., USA). The rNp P40-Dob-N, P40-Dob118 and P40p-Dob118 were administered in sterile PBS (Maes et al., 2006).
• Preparation: DOBV RNA (strain DOB-90/5) was extracted from infected Vero E6 cells (CRL 1586; ATCC, USA). The genomic RNA of DOBV was reverse-transcribed and PCR amplified in order to generate the entire S-segment, using following oligonucleotide primers: 5'-GCGAATTCGCAACACTAGAGGAACTCCAAAAGG-3' and 5'-CGAAGCTTAGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGAAGTTTGAGCGGCTCC-3'. The amino-terminal part encoding the first 118 amino acids was generated using 5'-CTGGCGCCTAACCGACGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGATTCGAAGC-3' as reverse primer. In all constructs, a histidine (His) tag was introduced at the C-terminal end. PCR fragments were cloned in plasmids pTEX(rP40) or pTEXmp18 respectively with or without the inclusion of the P40 sequence in the construct. Following transformation of the E. coli ICONE 200 strain, the recombinant proteins were produced as intracellular inclusion bodies, recovered, and renatured. The recombinant proteins were purifi ed by metal chelate affinity chromatography using a HisTrap kit (Pharmacia, Puurs, Belgium). Using this protocol, four DOBV rNp constructs were expressed and purified. The complete nucleocapsid protein of DOBV was expressed with or without the addition of the rP40 protein (constructs P40-Dob-N and Dob-N). The amino-terminal part of the DOBV nucleocapsid protein was expressed with the addition of the rP40 protein (construct P40-Dob118) or with the addition of only the periplasmic part of the rP40 protein (construct P40p-Dob118) (Maes et al., 2006).
• Virulence: Not virulent

Mouse Response

• Host Strain: NMRI mice (Elevage Janvier, Le Genest Saint Isle, France)
• Vaccination Protocol: Groups of ten 6-week-old NMRI mice (Elevage Janvier, Le Genest Saint Isle, France) were immunized three times subcutaneously with three different concentrations (0.2, 2 and 10 ug) of rNp with intervals of 2 weeks. The animals were injected with Dob-N rNp emulsifi ed in 2% Alhydrogel (Accurate Chemical & Scientific Corp., Westbury, N.Y., USA). The rNp P40-Dob-N, P40-Dob118 and P40p-Dob118 were administered in sterile PBS. Blood was drawn 14 days after each immunization (Maes et al., 2006).
• Persistence: N/A
• Side Effects: None.
• Challenge Protocol: Groups of 10 NMRI mice were immunized three times subcutaneously with 10 ug of the different constructs with intervals of 2 weeks, and were challenged intraperitoneal with DOBV 2 weeks after the last immunization. Three weeks later, all mice were sacrificed and serum samples were collected. Mice immunized three times subcutaneously with 10 ug of rP40 were used as a control group (Maes et al., 2006).
• Efficacy: All recombinant proteins were found to be highly immunogenic after three immunizations of rNp. The immunizations resulted in the induction of a strong Np-specific IgG response with a predominance of IgG1 over IgG2b and IgG2a, suggesting a mixed Th1/Th2 cell involvement. A specific IgG3 response could not be detected. Mice immunized with recombinant DOBV rNp without rP40 showed lower nucleocapsid-specific antibody responses in comparison with the rP40-conjugated constructs, but all mice were found to be protected against DOBV challenge. The results indicate that the rNp constructs coupled to rP40, represent promising vaccine candidates (Maes et al., 2006).