Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine for protecting a piglet against diseases associated with a novel pestivirus. The vaccine commonly includes a pestivirus antigen and, optionally an adjuvant. Methods for protecting pigs against diseases associated with pestivirus, including but not limited to congenital tremors and methods of producing the pestivirus vaccine are also provided.

Abstract: E2 is one of the three envelope glycoproteins of Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV). E2 is involved in several functions including virus attachment and entry to target cells, production of antibodies, induction of protective immune response in swine, and virulence. Seven putative glycosylation sites in E2 were modified by site directed mutagenesis of a CSFV Brescia infectious clone (BICv). A panel of virus mutants was obtained and used to investigate whether the removal of putative glycosylation sites in the E2 glycoprotein would affect viral virulence/pathogenesis in swine. We observed that rescue of viable virus was completely impaired by removal of all putative glycosylation sites in E2, but restored when mutation N185A reverted to wild-type asparagine produced viable virus that was attenuated in swine. Single mutations of each of the E2 glycosylation sites showed that amino acid N116 (N1v virus) was responsible for BICv attenuation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant yeast system for expressing the glycoprotein E2 of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), in which the expression level of yE2 is improved by codon optimization and shortening coding region of E2 gene. The truncated E2 subunits are used as major active ingredient in anti-CSFV vaccines and useful diagnostic blocking ELISA kits for CSFV infection with easy manipulation and low cost.

Abstract: The invention relates to a marker vaccine for prophylactic treatment of classical swine fever comprising modified live attenuated classical swine fever virus. The viral amino acid sequence of the TAV-epitope of the E2 protein comprises a different sequence from that of a wild-type classical swine fever virus. The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions of the marker vaccine. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing marker vaccines for prevention of classical swine fever using selective antibody pressure.

Abstract: Attenuated pestiviruses, in particular attenuated BVDV, wherein at least one mutation is in the coding sequence for glycoprotein Ems and at least another mutation in the coding sequence for Npro which preferably leads to combined inactivation of the RNase activity residing in glycoprotein Ems in addition to the inactivation of the (hypothesized) immunomodulating activity residing in Npro. Methods for attenuating pestiviruses such as BVDV, nucleic acids encoding the pestiviruses, in particular BVDV, compositions and vaccines comprising the attenuated pestiviruses, in particular BVDV, of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin vaccine composition, which advantageously provides immunity from infection after a single administration. The composition comprises an inactivated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and an adjuvant mixture, which, in combination, provide immunity from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection after a single administration, and elicit an immune response specific to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and including cell-mediated immunity and local (secretory IgA) immunity. In a preferred embodiment, the adjuvant mixture comprises an acrylic acid polymer, most preferably CARBOPOL®, and a mixture of a metabolizable oil such as one or more unsaturated terpene hydrocarbons, preferably squalene or squalane, and a polyoxyethylene-polypropylene block copolymer such as PLURONIC®. The vaccine composition may optionally include a preservative, preferably thimerosal and/or EDTA.

Abstract: E2 is one of the three envelope glycoproteins of Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV). E2 is involved in several functions including virus attachment and entry to target cells, production of antibodies, induction of protective immune response in swine, and virulence. Seven putative glycosylation sites in E2 were modified by site directed mutagenesis of a CSFV Brescia infectious clone (BICv). A panel of virus mutants was obtained and used to investigate whether the removal of putative glycosylation sites in the E2 glycoprotein would affect viral virulence/pathogenesis in swine. We observed that rescue of viable virus was completely impaired by removal of all putative glycosylation sites in E2, but restored when mutation N185A reverted to wild-type asparagine produced viable virus that was attenuated in swine. Single mutations of each of the E2 glycosylation sites showed that amino acid N116 (N1v virus) was responsible for BICv attenuation.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin vaccine composition, which advantageously provides immunity from infection after a single administration. The composition comprises an inactivated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and an adjuvant mixture, which, in combination, provide immunity from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection after a single administration, and elicit an immune response specific to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and including cell-mediated immunity and local (secretory IgA) immunity. In a preferred embodiment, the adjuvant mixture comprises an acrylic acid polymer, most preferably CARBOPOL®, and a mixture of a metabolizable oil such as one or more unsaturated terpene hydrocarbons, preferably squalene or squalane, and a polyoxyethylene-polypropylene block copolymer such as PLURONIC®. The vaccine composition may optionally include a preservative, preferably thimerosol and/or EDTA.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin vaccine composition, which advantageously provides immunity from infection after a single administration. The composition comprises an inactivated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and an adjuvant mixture, which, in combination, provide immunity from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection after a single administration, and elicit an immune response specific to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and including cell-mediated immunity and local (secretory IgA) immunity. In a preferred embodiment, the adjuvant mixture comprises an acrylic acid polymer, most preferably CARBOPOL®, and a mixture of a metabolizable oil such as one or more unsaturated terpene hydrocarbons, preferably squalene or squalane, and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer such as PLURONIC®. The vaccine composition may optionally include a preservative, preferably thimerosol and/or EDTA.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin vaccine composition, which advantageously provides immunity from infection after a single administration. The composition comprises an inactivated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and an adjuvant mixture, which, in combination, provide immunity from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection after a single administration, and elicit an immune response specific to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and including cell-mediated immunity and local (secretory IgA) immunity. In a preferred embodiment, the adjuvant mixture comprises an acrylic acid polymer, most preferably CARBOPOL®, and a mixture of a metabolizable oil such as one or more unsaturated terpene hydrocarbons, preferably squalene or squalane, and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer such as PLURONIC®. The vaccine composition may optionally include a preservative, preferably thimerosol and/or EDTA.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of increasing protein expression in baculo vector virus expression systems. The invention provides a method to produce a recombinant protein in insect cell culture which comprises selecting a recombinant baculovirus expressing said protein, growing insect cells in growth medium in a culture vessel and infecting the cells with an inoculum of at least one baculovirus at a cell density of 1×105 to 5×106 cells/ml with an m.o.i of <0.01. The invention also provides a method to produce recombinant pestivirus E2 or Em9 protein or fragments thereof in insect cell culture characterized by a final concentration of the protein fragments in the growth medium at harvest of at least 100 ?g/ml. The invention also provides a method of producing recombinant FSH, ?-units and/or ?-units, and complexes and fragments thereof, at a concentration in the growth medium at harvest of at least 15 ?/ml.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is: an immunogenic or vaccine composition for inducing in an avian host an immunological response against avian pathologies containing at least one plasmid that contains and expresses in vivo in an avian host cell nucleic acid molecule(s) having sequence(s) encoding antigen(s) of the avian pathogen(s); and, methods for using and kits employing such compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to increase protein expression in baculo vector virus expression systems. The invention provides a method to produce a recombinant protein in insect-cell culture which comprises selecting a recombinant baculovirus expressing said protein, growing insect cells in growth medium in a culture vessel and infecting the cells with an inoculum of at least one baculovirus at a cell density of 1×105 to 5×106 cells/ml with an m.o.i of <0.01. The invention furthermore provides a method to produce recombinant pestivirus E2 or Em9 protein or fragments thereof in insect cell culture characterized by a final concentration of said protein (fragments) in the growth medium at harvest of at least 100 &mgr;g/ml. The invention furthermore provides a method to produce recombinant follicle stimulating hormone, &agr;-units an/or &bgr;-units and complexes and fragments thereof, at a concentration in the growth medium at harvest of at least 15 &mgr;l.

Abstract: RNA polymerase I transcription in vivo in transiently DNA-transfected cells has been used for expression of influenza vRNA molecules coding for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) in anti-sense orientation. Influenza virus superinfection served to provide viral RNA polymerase and other proteins for transcriptional conversion of minus-strand vRNA into plus-strand viral mRNA molecules expressing CAT activity. This system has been used for an analysis via nucleotide exchanges as well as deletions and insertions of both terminal segments of the vRNA sequence which cooperatively constitute the vRNA promoter structure. Several mutants with greatly enhanced expression rates over wild-type levels have been constructed, which also can be packaged and serially passaged into progeny virus. The data obtained for the mutations in various promoter elements support a model of consecutive, double strand vRNA promoter structures in binding of viral polymerase and initiation of RNA synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to antigenic preparations and vaccines directed against the porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), comprising at least one porcine circovirus antigen, preferably type II, and at least one porcine parvovirus antigen.

Abstract: The invention relates to antigenic preparations and vaccines directed against the porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), comprising at least one porcine circovirus antigen, preferably type II, and at least one porcine parvovirus antigen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine formula allowing in particular the vaccination of pigs against reproductive and respiratory pathologies. It also relates to a corresponding method of vaccination.