Comparative analysis of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and new RHDV2 virus antigenicity, using specific virus-like particles

Juan Bárcena , Beatriz Guerra , Iván Angulo , Julia González , Félix Valcárcel , Carlos P. Mata , José R. Castón , Esther Blanco , Alí Alejo

In 2010 a new Lagovirus related to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) emerged in France and has since rapidly spread throughout domestic and wild rabbit populations of several European countries. The new virus, termed RHDV2, exhibits distinctive genetic, antigenic and pathogenic features. Notably, RHDV2 kills rabbits previously vaccinated with RHDV vaccines. Here we report for the first time the generation and characterization of RHDV2-specific virus-like particles (VLPs). Our results further confirmed the differential antigenic properties exhibited by RHDV and RHDV2, highlighting the need of using RHDV2-specific diagnostic assays to monitor the spread of this new virus.

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Juan Bárcena, Beatriz Guerra, Iván Angulo, Julia González, Félix Valcárcel, et al.. Comparative analysis of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and new RHDV2 virus antigenicity, using specific virus-like particles. Veterinary Research, 2015, 46 (1), pp.106. ⟨10.1186/s13567-015-0245-5⟩. ⟨hal-01341414⟩