A NOVEL METHOD FOR INDUCTION OF SPECIFIC IMMUNE RESPONSE IN MICE BY ORAL IMMUNIZATION WITH Trichoplusia ni LARVAE PRODUCING A VIRUS DERIVED ANTIGEN

Abstract

Advances in recombinant technology led to the development of recombinant vaccines without the drawbacks associated with the use of attenuated or inactivated live pathogens. Baculoviruses were developed to express the capsid protein from mouse minute virus, mouse parvovirus, mouse norovirus, and DsRed protein with varying abilities to self assemble virus like particles (VLPs). Trichoplusia ni larvae expressing these baculoviruses were fed to mice to induce a specific immunoresponse. Successful seroconversion was observed for MMV and MPV recombinant proteins able to self-assemble into virus like particles. A neutralizing antibody titer was demonstrated for recombinant MMV and MPV I . These results indicate the production of VLPs in infected larvae may be critical to induction of a specific immune response when administered via the oral route. Thus, oral administration of' immunogens with larvae expressing the target protein in the form of VLPs can induce a protective immune response and may be used in vaccine development.