Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-like Particles Produced in <i>E. coli</i> as Potential Antigens for a Novel Vaccine
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) continues to pose a significant threat to livestock health and the global agricultural economy, particularly in endemic regions of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Current vaccines based on chemically inactivated FMDV present several challenges, including biosaf...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| author | Sang-Cheol Yu In-Kyu Lee Hyun-Seok Kong Sung-Ho Shin Sung-Yoon Hwang Yu-Jin Ahn Jong-Hyeon Park Bong-Yoon Kim Young-Cheon Song |
| author_facet | Sang-Cheol Yu In-Kyu Lee Hyun-Seok Kong Sung-Ho Shin Sung-Yoon Hwang Yu-Jin Ahn Jong-Hyeon Park Bong-Yoon Kim Young-Cheon Song |
| author_sort | Sang-Cheol Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) continues to pose a significant threat to livestock health and the global agricultural economy, particularly in endemic regions of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Current vaccines based on chemically inactivated FMDV present several challenges, including biosafety risks, high production costs, and limited effectiveness against emerging viral variants. To overcome these limitations, we developed virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines targeting FMDV serotypes O, A, and Asia1 using a recombinant <i>Escherichia coli</i> expression system. The resulting VLPs self-assembled into 25–30 nm particles with native-like morphology and antigenic properties, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, SDS-PAGE, and Western blot analysis. Immunogenicity was evaluated in mice and pigs using ELISA and virus neutralization tests (VNT), and protective efficacy was assessed through viral challenge studies. All VLPs induced strong serotype-specific antibody responses, with ELISA PI values exceeding 50% and significantly increased VNT titers after booster immunization. In mice, PD<sub>50</sub> values were 73.5 (A-type), 32.0 (O-type), and 55.7 (Asia1-type); in pigs, PD<sub>50</sub> values reached 10.6 (O-type) and 22.6 (Asia1-type). Notably, the vaccines induced robust immune responses even at lower antigen doses, suggesting the feasibility of dose-sparing formulations. These findings demonstrate that FMDV VLPs produced in <i>E. coli</i> are highly immunogenic and capable of eliciting protective immunity, highlighting their promise as safe, scalable, and cost-effective alternatives to conventional inactivated FMD vaccines. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-42a1430dbb9f423a937a84c0b1dbd6cb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-42a1430dbb9f423a937a84c0b1dbd6cb2025-08-20T02:21:54ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-06-0112653910.3390/vetsci12060539Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-like Particles Produced in <i>E. coli</i> as Potential Antigens for a Novel VaccineSang-Cheol Yu0In-Kyu Lee1Hyun-Seok Kong2Sung-Ho Shin3Sung-Yoon Hwang4Yu-Jin Ahn5Jong-Hyeon Park6Bong-Yoon Kim7Young-Cheon Song8Watson RnD Sharing Co., Ltd., #1003, 282, Sunhwagung-ro, Namyangju-si 12106, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaWatson RnD Sharing Co., Ltd., #1003, 282, Sunhwagung-ro, Namyangju-si 12106, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Animal Science, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of KoreaCenter for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 177 Hyeoksin 8-ro, Gimcheon City 39660, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of KoreaCenter for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 177 Hyeoksin 8-ro, Gimcheon City 39660, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of KoreaWatson RnD Sharing Co., Ltd., #1003, 282, Sunhwagung-ro, Namyangju-si 12106, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaCenter for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 177 Hyeoksin 8-ro, Gimcheon City 39660, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of KoreaWatson RnD Sharing Co., Ltd., #1003, 282, Sunhwagung-ro, Namyangju-si 12106, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaCollege of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of KoreaFoot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) continues to pose a significant threat to livestock health and the global agricultural economy, particularly in endemic regions of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Current vaccines based on chemically inactivated FMDV present several challenges, including biosafety risks, high production costs, and limited effectiveness against emerging viral variants. To overcome these limitations, we developed virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines targeting FMDV serotypes O, A, and Asia1 using a recombinant <i>Escherichia coli</i> expression system. The resulting VLPs self-assembled into 25–30 nm particles with native-like morphology and antigenic properties, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, SDS-PAGE, and Western blot analysis. Immunogenicity was evaluated in mice and pigs using ELISA and virus neutralization tests (VNT), and protective efficacy was assessed through viral challenge studies. All VLPs induced strong serotype-specific antibody responses, with ELISA PI values exceeding 50% and significantly increased VNT titers after booster immunization. In mice, PD<sub>50</sub> values were 73.5 (A-type), 32.0 (O-type), and 55.7 (Asia1-type); in pigs, PD<sub>50</sub> values reached 10.6 (O-type) and 22.6 (Asia1-type). Notably, the vaccines induced robust immune responses even at lower antigen doses, suggesting the feasibility of dose-sparing formulations. These findings demonstrate that FMDV VLPs produced in <i>E. coli</i> are highly immunogenic and capable of eliciting protective immunity, highlighting their promise as safe, scalable, and cost-effective alternatives to conventional inactivated FMD vaccines.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/539foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)virus-like particles (VLPs)<i>E. coli</i> expression systemvaccine immunogenicityanimal challenge model |
| spellingShingle | Sang-Cheol Yu In-Kyu Lee Hyun-Seok Kong Sung-Ho Shin Sung-Yoon Hwang Yu-Jin Ahn Jong-Hyeon Park Bong-Yoon Kim Young-Cheon Song Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-like Particles Produced in <i>E. coli</i> as Potential Antigens for a Novel Vaccine Veterinary Sciences foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) virus-like particles (VLPs) <i>E. coli</i> expression system vaccine immunogenicity animal challenge model |
| title | Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-like Particles Produced in <i>E. coli</i> as Potential Antigens for a Novel Vaccine |
| title_full | Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-like Particles Produced in <i>E. coli</i> as Potential Antigens for a Novel Vaccine |
| title_fullStr | Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-like Particles Produced in <i>E. coli</i> as Potential Antigens for a Novel Vaccine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-like Particles Produced in <i>E. coli</i> as Potential Antigens for a Novel Vaccine |
| title_short | Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus-like Particles Produced in <i>E. coli</i> as Potential Antigens for a Novel Vaccine |
| title_sort | foot and mouth disease virus like particles produced in i e coli i as potential antigens for a novel vaccine |
| topic | foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) virus-like particles (VLPs) <i>E. coli</i> expression system vaccine immunogenicity animal challenge model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/539 |
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