Deletion of the ORF2 gene of the neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus type 1 strain Ab4 reduces virulence while maintaining strong immunogenicity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) induces respiratory infection, abortion, and neurologic disease with significant impact. Virulence factors contributing to infection and immune evasion are of particular interest. A potential virulence factor of the neuropathogenic EHV-1 strain Ab4 is ORF2. This study on 24 Icelandic horses, 2 to 4 years of age, describes the infection with EHV-1 Ab4, or its deletion mutant devoid of ORF2 (Ab4ΔORF2) compared to non-infected controls (each group n = 8). The horses' clinical presentation, virus shedding, viremia, antibody and cellular immune responses were monitored over 260 days after experimental infection.

Results

Infection with Ab4ΔORF2 reduced fever and minimized nasal virus shedding after infection compared to the parent virus

SUBMITTER: Schnabel CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6106926 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature