A fowlpox virus vaccine vector with insertion sites in the terminal repeats: demonstration of its efficacy using the fusion gene of Newcastle disease virus

• Published in: Veterinary Microbiology [VET. MICROBIOL.]. 1990 Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 305 - 316
• Main Authors: Boursnell, M.E.G., Green, P.F., Campbell, J.I.A., Deuter, A., Peters, R.W., Tomley, F.M., Samson, A.C.R., Emmerson, P.T., Binns, M.M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.1990
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral - analysis; AVES DE CORRAL; AVIPOXVIRUS; Blotting, Western; Chickens; DNA, Viral - analysis; Fowlpox virus - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Genetic Vectors; Newcastle Disease - prevention & control; NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS; Newcastle disease virus - genetics; Newcastle disease virus - immunology; Plasmids; POULTRY; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; VACCIN; Vaccination - veterinary; VACCINES; Vaccines, Synthetic; VACUNA; VECTEUR DE MALADIE; VECTORES; VECTORS; Viral Vaccines; VIRUS DE LA ENFERMEDAD DE NEWCASTLE; VIRUS MALADIE DE NEWCASTLE; VOLAILLE
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-1135(90)90161-N

In this paper we report the development and testing of a fowlpox virus vector system. Insertion sites in non-essential regions within the terminal inverted repeats of the virus have been characterised. Foreign genes inserted into these sites are shown to be present in two copies in the resultant recombinant virus. To test the potential use of this vector as a live vaccine the fusion gene of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been inserted into a vaccine strain of fowlpox virus, and inoculated into chickens. The experiments demonstrate the ability of the recombinant to protect chickens against challenge by a virulent strain of NDV and to elicit the formation of anti-fusion protein antibody.