傳染性華氏囊炎病毒引起的傳染性華氏囊炎,是目前幾個影響禽類養殖業的主要疾病之一。該疾病主要影響雞隻的華氏囊炎,具有高傳染性以及高致死率,會對整個養殖產業帶來重大損失。傳染性華氏囊炎病毒為禽類雙股RNA病毒,其中病毒外殼由VP2蛋白組成。本研究選殖傳染性華氏囊炎之外殼蛋白VP2基因,並利用大腸桿菌系統表現重組蛋白VP2及V2V。外殼蛋白VP2中的變異區V2V是影響中和抗體是否能夠有效保護宿主的主要關鍵。為了開發針對傳染性華氏囊炎使用的次單位疫苗,已經成功利用大腸桿菌系統表現VP2及V2V蛋白,並以膠體電泳及西方墨點法確認產物大小,將重組蛋白VP2及V2V搭配油質佐劑製成疫苗。於SPF雞的動物實驗中,V2V重組蛋白為試驗疫苗,抗原濃度35 μg/mL,實驗所得之數據與對照組PBS做比較所得之結果並無顯著差異。
Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), the causative agent of infectious bursal disease, threatens the poultry industry. The disease, mainly affecting the chicken’s bursa of Fabricius, is highly contagious and fatal, causing significant economic losses. IBDV is a non- enveloped avibirnavirus and the VP2 capsid protein is the main antigen. Within the VP2 protein, the variable region is a main target for neutralizing antibody. To develop subunit vaccines for IBDV, we have successfully clone the full length of VP2 and the smaller variable domain of VP2. The two proteins were produced using the E. coli expression system. We will study the immune responses elicited by the two antigens by evaluating the antibody levels, T-cell proliferation and cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-6) production. Challenge tests will also be perform to determine the protective efficacy of these antigens.