A bacteriophage-based virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV)

Abstract Although vaccines against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV) are available, PED outbreaks continue to occur in many countries due to the emergence of new variants. Therefore, further endeavours are necessary to develop efficient and broadly protective vaccines. In this context, we pr...

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Main Authors: Jixiang Gu, Xu Zheng, Chunhui Li, Shipeng Wang, Xiangyu Xie, Martin F. Bachmann, Yuchen Nan, Liang Li, Pei Sun, Lisha Zha, Xinyue Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Veterinary Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01559-z
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author Jixiang Gu
Xu Zheng
Chunhui Li
Shipeng Wang
Xiangyu Xie
Martin F. Bachmann
Yuchen Nan
Liang Li
Pei Sun
Lisha Zha
Xinyue Chang
author_facet Jixiang Gu
Xu Zheng
Chunhui Li
Shipeng Wang
Xiangyu Xie
Martin F. Bachmann
Yuchen Nan
Liang Li
Pei Sun
Lisha Zha
Xinyue Chang
author_sort Jixiang Gu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Although vaccines against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV) are available, PED outbreaks continue to occur in many countries due to the emergence of new variants. Therefore, further endeavours are necessary to develop efficient and broadly protective vaccines. In this context, we present a nanoparticle vaccine candidate, referred to as AP205-S1, which successfully elicited antibody responses in mice and pigs. The vaccine was created by coupling the S1 protein of PEDV-KB2013, a G-II strain, to a bacterially expressed AP205-VLP using the SpyCatcher/SpyTag system. The AP205-S1 vaccine demonstrated an intact and homogenous viral particle structure, incorporating E. coli-derived ssRNA. Upon administration in mice, AP205-S1 induced high levels of S1-specific IgG antibodies in both serum and the gastrointestinal tract, particularly following a booster dose. Importantly, these antibodies were capable of neutralising PEDV in vitro, suggesting that the vaccine can generate protective antibodies against PEDV infection. Notably, the antibodies elicited by AP205-S1 exhibited cross-neutralising potential against a G-I strain, PEDV-AH2018-HF1, which was preserved in our lab. Additionally, S1-specific IgG antibodies were stimulated in piglets following immunisation with AP205-S1, and these antibodies could neutralise PEDV in vitro. Interestingly, piglets immunised with AP205-S1 exhibited lower viral loads compared to control piglets following a viral challenge. In conclusion, we developed a VLP-based vaccine candidate against PEDV, which demonstrated excellent immunogenicity in both mice and piglets, potentially providing protection against viral infection. Our work offers an effective option for preventing future PEDV epidemics.
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spelling doaj-art-f2d8b630d46b4264a36f76ff92ffcff62025-08-20T04:01:35ZengBMCVeterinary Research1297-97162025-07-0156112010.1186/s13567-025-01559-zA bacteriophage-based virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV)Jixiang Gu0Xu Zheng1Chunhui Li2Shipeng Wang3Xiangyu Xie4Martin F. Bachmann5Yuchen Nan6Liang Li7Pei Sun8Lisha Zha9Xinyue Chang10College of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural UniversityAbstract Although vaccines against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV) are available, PED outbreaks continue to occur in many countries due to the emergence of new variants. Therefore, further endeavours are necessary to develop efficient and broadly protective vaccines. In this context, we present a nanoparticle vaccine candidate, referred to as AP205-S1, which successfully elicited antibody responses in mice and pigs. The vaccine was created by coupling the S1 protein of PEDV-KB2013, a G-II strain, to a bacterially expressed AP205-VLP using the SpyCatcher/SpyTag system. The AP205-S1 vaccine demonstrated an intact and homogenous viral particle structure, incorporating E. coli-derived ssRNA. Upon administration in mice, AP205-S1 induced high levels of S1-specific IgG antibodies in both serum and the gastrointestinal tract, particularly following a booster dose. Importantly, these antibodies were capable of neutralising PEDV in vitro, suggesting that the vaccine can generate protective antibodies against PEDV infection. Notably, the antibodies elicited by AP205-S1 exhibited cross-neutralising potential against a G-I strain, PEDV-AH2018-HF1, which was preserved in our lab. Additionally, S1-specific IgG antibodies were stimulated in piglets following immunisation with AP205-S1, and these antibodies could neutralise PEDV in vitro. Interestingly, piglets immunised with AP205-S1 exhibited lower viral loads compared to control piglets following a viral challenge. In conclusion, we developed a VLP-based vaccine candidate against PEDV, which demonstrated excellent immunogenicity in both mice and piglets, potentially providing protection against viral infection. Our work offers an effective option for preventing future PEDV epidemics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01559-zPEDVAP205-VLPvaccineneutralizing antibody
spellingShingle Jixiang Gu
Xu Zheng
Chunhui Li
Shipeng Wang
Xiangyu Xie
Martin F. Bachmann
Yuchen Nan
Liang Li
Pei Sun
Lisha Zha
Xinyue Chang
A bacteriophage-based virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV)
Veterinary Research
PEDV
AP205-VLP
vaccine
neutralizing antibody
title A bacteriophage-based virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV)
title_full A bacteriophage-based virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV)
title_fullStr A bacteriophage-based virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV)
title_full_unstemmed A bacteriophage-based virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV)
title_short A bacteriophage-based virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses (PEDV)
title_sort bacteriophage based virus like particle vaccine induces cross reactive neutralising antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea viruses pedv
topic PEDV
AP205-VLP
vaccine
neutralizing antibody
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01559-z
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