Co-administration of rotavirus nanospheres VP6 and NSP4 proteins enhanced the anti-NSP4 humoral responses in immunized mice

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis 2022-02, Vol.163, p.105405-105405, Article 105405
• Main Authors: Afchangi, Atefeh, Jalilvand, Somayeh, Arashkia, Arash, Latifi, Tayebeh, Farahmand, Mohammad, Abolghasem Shirazi, Maryam Mashhadi, Mousavi Nasab, Seyed Dawood, Marashi, Sayed Mahdi, Roohvand, Farzin, Shoja, Zabihollah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antigens, Viral; Capsid Proteins - genetics; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nanospheres; NSP4; Protection; Rotavirus; Rotavirus Infections - prevention & control; Rotavirus Vaccines; Vaccine; VP6 nanosphere
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105405

Inconveniences associated with the efficacy and safety of the World Health Organization (WHO) approved/prequalified live attenuated rotavirus (RV) vaccines, sounded for finding alternative non-replicating modals and proper RV antigens (Ags). Herein, we report the development of a RV candidate vaccine based on the combination of RV VP6 nanospheres (S) and NSP4112-175 proteins (VP6S + NSP4). Self-assembled VP6S protein was produced in insect cells. Analyses by western blotting and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated expression of VP6 trimer structures with sizes of ≥140 kDa and presence of VP6S. Four group of mice were immunized (2-dose formulation) intra-peritoneally (IP) by either¨VP6S + NSP4¨ or each protein alone (VP6S or NSP4112-175) emulsified in aluminium hydroxide or control. Results indicated that VP6S + NSP4 formulation induced significant anti-VP6 IgG (P