The heterologous expression of novel recombinant protein composed of HN and F moieties of Newcastle disease virus and immunogenicity evaluation in mouse model

Atena  Mozafari; Mehregan  Rahmani; Yasaman  Yasini Nasab; Shahla  Shahsavandi; Mahyat  Jafari; Ali Hatef  Salmanian

doi:10.18502/ijm.v16i5.16801

Atena Mozafari Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
Mehregan Rahmani Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
Yasaman Yasini Nasab Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
Shahla Shahsavandi Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
Mahyat Jafari Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
Ali Hatef Salmanian Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v16i5.16801

Keywords: Newcastle disease; Hemagglutinin neuraminidase; Fusion (F) glycoprotein; Immune response; LTB bio-adjuvant

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The rapid spread of Newcastle disease (ND), driven by extensive commercial exchange in the poultry industry, necessitates urgent preventive measures. Although effective vaccines against the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) have been used since 1940, recent outbreaks and the limitations of current vaccines highlight the need for improved solutions. Advances in synthetic biology, reverse vaccinology, molecular biology, and recombinant DNA technology over the past 20 years have led to the development of recombinant vaccines, which offer enhanced protection and broader immuno- genic coverage against NDV. This study aimed to express the immunogenic domains of Hemagglutinin Neuraminidase (HN) and Fusion (F) glycoproteins, linked to the heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) bio-adjuvant, to develop an effective and reliable recombinant vaccine for NDV.

Materials and Methods: In this study, the L(HN)2F protein, composed of the LTB bio-adjuvant and the immunogenic regions of the doubled Hemagglutinin Neuraminidase (HN-HN) and Fusion (F) epitope, was expressed in Escherichia coli. Subcutaneous injection was used to evaluate the humoral immune response in mice and the result was compared with B1 vaccine.

Results: The induction of strong humoral immune responses proved the strong immunoreactivity of the recombinant protein.

Conclusion: The IgG elicited by the recombinant proteins was comparable to that of the commercial B1 vaccine against NDV, indicating its potential as a viable candidate for further development and evaluation as a recombinant vaccine against NDV.