N-terminal Domain of the Spike Protein of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus as a New Candidate Molecule for a Mucosal Vaccine.
- Author:
Sae Hae KIM
1
;
Byeol Hee CHO
;
Kyung Yeol LEE
;
Yong Suk JANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Mucosal immunity; N-terminal domain; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus; Vaccine
- MeSH: Coronavirus; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Escherichia coli; Immunity, Mucosal; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus*; Swine
- From:Immune Network 2018;18(3):e21-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a contagious coronavirus infecting pigs that leads to significant economic losses in the swine industry. Given that PEDV infection occurs in gut epithelial cells mainly via the fecal-oral route, induction of PEDV-specific immune responses in the mucosal compartment is required for protective immunity against viral infection. However, an effective mucosal vaccine against the currently prevalent PEDV strain is not available. In this study, we demonstrated that the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the spike (S) protein of PEDV represents a new vaccine candidate molecule to be applied via the mucosal route. We first established an Escherichia coli expression system producing the partial NTD (NTD231–501) of the PEDV S protein. Orally administered NTD231–501 protein specifically interacted with the apical area of M cells in the follicle-associated epithelium of Peyer's patch. Additionally, the NTD protein induced antigen-specific immune responses in both the systemic and mucosal immune compartments when administered orally. Collectively, we propose the NTD of the PEDV S protein to be a candidate mucosal vaccine molecule.
