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In this study, researchers of the CReSA selected 14 peptides with better scoring. T-cell epitopes of PRRSV glycoproteins 4 (GP4), 5 (GP5) and nucleocapsid (N) were predicted by researchers of the CReSA using bioinformatics and later tested by IFN-γ ELISPOT in pigs immunized with either a modified live vaccine (MLV) or DNA (open reading frames 4, 5 or 7).
The results obtained are summarized next:
1. The methodology applied is useful; 8/14 synthesized peptides were recognized in the immunological assay (57%). Furthermore, the location of the ORF 5 epitopes was confirmed, as previously described by researchers of Illinois University using different strains and different methodology (Vashisht et al., 2008).
2. New T-cell epitopes of N protein (ORF 7), GP4 (ORF 4) and GP5 (ORF 5) have been located in the virus.
3. It has been demonstrated -using a wide virus sequence database, including genotype I (European) and genotype II (American) strains- that some epitopes described are common to all the strains, and subsequently, must be taken into consideration for the future development of third-generation vaccines.
Díaz I, Pujols J, Ganges L, Gimeno M, Darwich L, Domingo M, Mateu E. In silico prediction and ex vivo evaluation of potential T-cell epitopes in glycoproteins 4 and 5 and nucleocapsid protein of genotype-I (European) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Vaccine. 2009 Sep 18;27(41):5603-11.
