Progress towards using recombinant myxoma virus as a vector for fertility control in rabbits

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Robinson ◽  
R. Jackson ◽  
P. Kerr ◽  
J. Merchant ◽  
I. Parer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Recombinant Virus ◽  
Fertility Control ◽  
Myxoma Virus ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Recombinant Viruses ◽  
History Of ◽  
Insertion Sites ◽  
Influenza Virus Haemagglutinin ◽  
Double Recombinant ◽  
Virus Haemagglutinin

The history of myxoma virus, its use in Australia as a mortality agent and the development of the virus as a vector for controlling fertility in wild rabbit populations in Australia is reviewed. Myxoma virus recombinants have been constructed to express model antigens. Four potential insertion sites in the genome have been identified and two have been used to construct single and double recombinant viruses expressing Escherichia colienzymes β-galactosidase and β-glucuronidase. Another recombinant expressing an influenza virus haemagglutinin gene (A/PR8/34) induced high and sustained antibody responses following intradermal inoculation in rabbits. To demonstrate the potential of introducing a recombinant virus into wild rabbit populations, a virus containing a natural deletion was released at four field locations. Preliminary analysis of the data has shown that the introduced virus spread well on 3 of the 4 locations. The steps being taken to address the ethical and safety implications of the introduction of a recombinant virus into the field are discussed.

Virus-vectored immunocontraception for control of wild rabbits: identification of target antigens and construction of recombinant viruses

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 631 ◽  
Author(s):  
MK Holland ◽  
RJ Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Fertility Control ◽  
Myxoma Virus ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Recombinant Viruses ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Control Virus

The need to control animal populations arises in many situations in the world from a variety of motives. Present control strategies are almost universally based on lethal procedures. Increasingly, there is dissatisfaction with such approaches from many different perspectives. In response to these concerns, the concept of controlling populations of pest species through control of their fertility has been mooted. Successful examples of this approach exist in cases of small, discrete pest populations but application of this to a widely distributed species over a broad geographical area has not yet been achieved. In this article, we report on a new approach to fertility control, virus-vectored immunocontraception, and discuss its applicability to control of wild rabbit populations. Particular emphasis is placed on the strategy for selection of a target molecule capable of inducing an immunocontraceptive response and on how the gene encoding such a molecule might be engineered into the myxoma virus for distribution into the population. The fact that the procedures for antigen identification and the viral engineering methods used are, to varying extents, generic means that the broad principles of this approach are applicable in other species.

scholarly journals Horizontal Transmissible Protection against Myxomatosis and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease by Using a Recombinant Myxoma Virus

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 1114-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Bárcena ◽  
Mónica Morales ◽  
Belén Vázquez ◽  
José A. Boga ◽  
Francisco Parra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Myxoma Virus ◽  
Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus ◽  
Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Recombinant Viruses ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Transmissible Gastroenteritis ◽  
Capsid Protein Vp60

ABSTRACT We have developed a new strategy for immunization of wild rabbit populations against myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) that uses recombinant viruses based on a naturally attenuated field strain of myxoma virus (MV). The recombinant viruses expressed the RHDV major capsid protein (VP60) including a linear epitope tag from the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) nucleoprotein. Following inoculation, the recombinant viruses induced specific antibody responses against MV, RHDV, and the TGEV tag. Immunization of wild rabbits by the subcutaneous and oral routes conferred protection against virulent RHDV and MV challenges. The recombinant viruses showed a limited horizontal transmission capacity, either by direct contact or in a flea-mediated process, promoting immunization of contact uninoculated animals.

scholarly journals Towards a unique and transmissible vaccine against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease for rabbit populations

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Angulo ◽  
Juan Bárcena
Keyword(s):  
Recombinant Virus ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Myxoma Virus ◽  
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Vaccine Strategy ◽  
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease

Currently available vaccines against myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) are not suited to immunise wild rabbit populations, as vaccines need to be delivered individually by conventional veterinary practices. As an alternative approach, research in Spain has focused on the development of a transmissible vaccine. A recombinant virus has been constructed based on a naturally attenuated myxoma virus (MV) field strain, expressing the RHDV capsid protein (VP60). Following inoculation of rabbits, the recombinant virus (MV-VP60) induced specific antibody responses against MV and RHDV, conferring protection against lethal challenges with both viruses. Furthermore, the recombinant MV-VP60 virus showed a limited horizontal transmission capacity, either by direct contact or in a flea-mediated process, promoting immunisation of contact uninoculated animals. Efficacy and safety of the vaccine have been extensively evaluated under laboratory conditions and in a limited field trial. The development of the transmissible vaccine strategy and the steps being taken to obtain the marketing authorisation for the vaccine in the European Union are presented in this review.

scholarly journals The conformation of influenza virus haemagglutinin

FEBS Letters ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.T. Flanagan ◽  
J.J. Skehel
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza Virus Haemagglutinin ◽  
Virus Haemagglutinin

scholarly journals Three-dimensional structure of an antigenic mutant of the influenza virus haemagglutinin

Nature ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 311 (5987) ◽  
pp. 678-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Knossow ◽  
R. S. Daniels ◽  
A. R. Douglas ◽  
J. J. Skehel ◽  
D. C. Wiley
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
Influenza Virus Haemagglutinin ◽  
Virus Haemagglutinin

scholarly journals Studies on the Structure of the Influenza Virus Haemagglutinin at the pH of Membrane Fusion

1988 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 2785-2795 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. H. Ruigrok ◽  
A. Aitken ◽  
L. J. Calder ◽  
S. R. Martin ◽  
J. J. Skehel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Influenza Virus Haemagglutinin ◽  
Virus Haemagglutinin

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of High-Copy-Number LTR Retrotransposons in Asian Pears

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Shuang Jiang ◽  
Xiaoqing Wang ◽  
Chunhui Shi ◽  
Jun Luo
Keyword(s):  
Copy Number ◽  
Long Terminal Repeat Retrotransposons ◽  
High Copy Number ◽  
Pyrus Pyrifolia ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Asian Pear ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
History Of ◽  
Insertion Sites

A large proportion of the genome of ‘Suli’ pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) contains long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs), which suggests that LTR-RTs have played important roles in the evolution of Pyrus. Further analysis of retrotransposons, particularly of high-copy-number LTR-RTs in different species, will provide new insights into the evolutionary history of Pyrus. A total of 4912 putative LTR-RTs classified into 198 subfamilies were identified in the ‘Suli’ pear genome. Six Asian pear accessions, including cultivars and wild species, were resequenced. The comparison of copy number for each LTR-RT subfamily was evaluated in Pyrus accessions, and data showed up to four-fold differences for some subfamilies. This contrast suggests different fates for retrotransposon families in the evolution of Pyrus. Fourteen high-copy-number subfamilies were identified in Asian pears, and more than 50% of the LTR-RTs in the genomes of all Pyrus accessions were from these 14 identified LTR-RT subfamilies. Their average insertion time was 3.42 million years ago, which suggests that these subfamilies were recently inserted into the genome. Many homologous and specific retrotransposon insertion sites were identified in oriental and occidental pears, suggesting that the duplication of retrotransposons has occurred throughout almost the entire origin and evolution of Pyrus species. The LTR-RTs show high heterogeneity, and their copy numbers vary in different Pyrus species. Thus, our findings suggest that LTR-RTs are an important source of genetic variation among Pyrus species.

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