NS1: a promising novel target antigen with strong immunogenicity and protective efficacy for avian flavivirus vaccine development

Juan Huang; Wanfa Wang; Tingting Yu; Mingshu Wang; Mafeng Liu; Dekang Zhu; Shun Chen; Xinxin Zhao; Qiao Yang; Ying Wu; Shaqiu Zhang; Xumin Ou; Sai Mao; Bin Tian; Di Sun; Yu He; Zhen Wu; Renyong Jia; Anchun Cheng

Poultry Science (Apr 2024)

NS1: a promising novel target antigen with strong immunogenicity and protective efficacy for avian flavivirus vaccine development

Juan Huang,
Wanfa Wang,
Tingting Yu,
Mingshu Wang,
Mafeng Liu,
Dekang Zhu,
Shun Chen,
Xinxin Zhao,
Qiao Yang,
Ying Wu,
Shaqiu Zhang,
Xumin Ou,
Sai Mao,
Bin Tian,
Di Sun,
Yu He,
Zhen Wu,
Renyong Jia,
Anchun Cheng

Affiliations

Juan Huang: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Wanfa Wang: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Tingting Yu: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Mingshu Wang: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Mafeng Liu: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Dekang Zhu: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Shun Chen: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Xinxin Zhao: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Qiao Yang: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Ying Wu: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Shaqiu Zhang: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Xumin Ou: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Sai Mao: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Bin Tian: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Di Sun: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Yu He: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Zhen Wu: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Renyong Jia: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
Anchun Cheng: Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Corresponding author:

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 103, no. 4
p. 103469

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: Tembusu virus (TMUV), an avian pathogenic flavivirus, has emerged as a significant threat to the duck industry in Southeast Asia, causing substantial economic losses. Due to the antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) effect of TMUV subneutralizing antibodies, there is a pressing need to further develop new TMUV vaccine target antigens that ensure both safety and efficacy. Here, the TMUV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) as a target for development of effective anti-TMUV vaccines was unveiled. The amino acid sequences of TMUV NS1 exhibit a high degree of conservation across different strains (92.63–100%). To investigate the potential of TMUV NS1 as a vaccine target, the TMUV NS1-based plasmids were constructed and identified the C-terminal 30 amino acids residues of TMUV E (EC30) as an effective signal peptide for promoting NS1 expression and secretion. Subsequently, the plasmid pVAX1-EC30-NS1 was employed to immunize ducks, resulting in specific anti-NS1 IgG responses being stimulated, while without inducing anti-TMUV neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore, the cellular immune responses triggered by the TMUV NS1 were evaluated, observing a notable increase in lymphocyte proliferation at 4 wk and 6 wk postinjection with the pVAX1-EC30-NS1. Additionally, there was a significant up-regulation of NS1-specific Il-4 and Ifnγ levels at these time points. Following this, ducks from different groups were challenged with TMUV, and remarkably, those immunized with the NS1 vaccine displayed significantly lower viral copies both at 3 d postinfection (dpi) and 7 dpi (P < 0.05) compared to ducks immunized with the control vector. Notably, the NS1 demonstrated remarkable protection against TMUV challenge without causing severe gross lesions. Collectively, these findings highlighted the impressive immunogenicity and protectivity of the TMUV NS1. Consequently, NS1 holds great promise as a novel antigen target for the development of efficient and safe TMUV vaccines.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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Abstract

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