Rabies VLPs adjuvanted with saponin-based liposomes induce enhanced immunogenicity mediated by neutralizing antibodies in cattle, dogs and cats

J Virol Methods. 2020 Dec:286:113966. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113966. Epub 2020 Sep 6.

Abstract

We carried out an investigation on rabies virus-like particles (RV-VLPs) expressed in HEK293 cells using serum free medium. These RV-VLPs were formulated with two different adjuvants in order to analyse the enhancement of the triggered immune response and its stability. In experiments in mice, RV-VLPs showed an enhanced humoral immune response when injected with adjuvant, in contrast to the obtained for the RV-VLPs without adjuvant addition. Besides, higher titers of neutralizing antibodies were induced when RV-VLPs were formulated with LipoSap® in comparison with the obtained with Alhydrogel®. At the same time, the positive effect of this adjuvant in vaccine's potency and stability was demonstrated, showing that LipoSap® significantly increases the value obtained in NIH efficiency test for rabies vaccine, and proving that this value is maintained after 15 months storage at 4 °C. Further, we showed that RV-VLPs induces an immune response based on neutralizing antibodies when cat, dogs and bovines were vaccinated with only one dose of RV-VLPs. These results demonstrated that this vaccine candidate could be applied for the prevention of rabies in pets as well as for the control of paralytic rabies in cattle.

Keywords: Adjuvant; Neutralizing Antibodies; Rabies, Virus-Like Particles; Vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Cat Diseases*
  • Cats
  • Cattle
  • Dog Diseases*
  • Dogs
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Liposomes
  • Mice
  • Rabies Vaccines*
  • Rabies* / prevention & control
  • Rabies* / veterinary
  • Saponins*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Liposomes
  • Rabies Vaccines
  • Saponins