Recombinant rotavirus inner core proteins produced in the milk of transgenic rabbits confer a high level of protection after intrarectal delivery.

Eric Soler (1) , Nathalie Parez (2) , Bruno Passet (3) , Catherine Dubuquoy , Sabine Riffault , Matthieu Pillot , Louis-Marie Houdebine , Isabelle Schwartz-Cornil (4)

1 CGPhiMC - Centre de génétique et de physiologie moléculaire et cellulaire
2 UPMC - Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6
3 INRA - Département de Génétique des Animaux
4 VIM (UR 0892) - Unité de recherche Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires

Development of a safe, cheap and efficient vaccine against rotavirus is important to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. High quantities of two inner core rotavirus-derived proteins (VP2 and a nonglycosylated mutant VP6 (VP6(NG)) from the RF81 bovine strain) were produced in the milk of transgenic rabbits. We show here that rectal administration of partially purified milk-derived VP2 and VP6(NG) proteins with the detoxified LT(R192G) adjuvant almost completely prevented fecal shedding induced by a highly infectious challenge in mice with the murine ECw strain. The vaccine generated rotavirus-specific fecal secretory IgA, systemic IgG and IgA and a rotavirus-specific Th1 response. We thus demonstrate in clinically feasible settings that mass production of viral protein in transgenic milk is a promising way to generate subunit vaccine against rotavirus.

Domaines: Chimie organique

Eric Soler, Nathalie Parez, Bruno Passet, Catherine Dubuquoy, Sabine Riffault, et al.. Recombinant rotavirus inner core proteins produced in the milk of transgenic rabbits confer a high level of protection after intrarectal delivery.. Vaccine, 2007, 25 ((34)), pp.6373-80. ⟨10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.06.011⟩. ⟨hal-00815843⟩