Broad neutralization of CSFV with novel monoclonal antibodies in vivo

Generation and epitope mapping of novel neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against glycoprotein E2 of CSFV

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is a highly contagious and economically important pathogen threatening pig industry worldwide, the envelope glycoprotein E2 of CSFV is the dominant antigen inducing strong antiviral neutralizing immunity. In this study, 7 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with neutralizing potency were generated using E2 protein of CSFV Shimen strain (SM) expressed by eukaryotic cells. Their reactivity with 116 CSFV strains in cell cultures and E2 proteins of 10 subgenotypes in western blots showed different CSFV spectrums they recognized. Of them, three (HCL-001, HCL-005 and HCL-010) reacted with all CSFV subgenotypes, while HCL-014 and HCL-002 reacted with most CSFV strains, except for some variants in genotype 2.3. In contrast, mAb HCL-009 reacted only with a few subgenotype 1.1 strains including SM, field strains and some vaccine strains. Interestingly, mAb HCL-018 reacted only with SM and field subgenotype 1.1 strains, not with any vaccine strains. Further epitope mapping using chimeric and site-directed mutated E2 proteins showed that HCL-001, HCL-005 and HCL-010 recognized a conservative epitope motif 143SPT145,L147, and HCL-002 recognized a conformational epitope with key aa motifs of 95GDD97,157RX(D/E)K(R)XFXXR164. HCL-014 recognized a new conservative epitope with key aa motifs of 41D,58XNVVXRR64. HCL-009 and HCL-018 recognized the epitope with key aa motifs of 36D,40ND41,45KXI47 and 69LHXGXLLT76, respectively. Taken together, present study has provided not only new insights into the antigenic structure of E2 protein, but also key reagents for antigenic characterization of CSFV strains and development of antibody assay for evaluation of the vaccination efficacy.

Defining correlates of protection for mammalian livestock vaccines against high-priority viral diseases

Enhancing livestock biosecurity is critical to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers, global and local economies, and food security. Vaccination is fundamental to the control and prevention of exotic and endemic high-priority infectious livestock diseases. Successful implementation of vaccination in a biosecurity plan is underpinned by a strong understanding of correlates of protection-those elements of the immune response that can reliably predict the level of protection from viral challenge. While correlates of protection have been successfully characterized for many human viral vaccines, for many high-priority livestock viral diseases, including African swine fever and foot and mouth disease, they remain largely uncharacterized. Current literature provides insights into potential correlates of protection that should be assessed during vaccine development for these high-priority mammalian livestock viral diseases. Establishment of correlates of protection for biosecurity purposes enables immune surveillance, rationale for vaccine development, and successful implementation of livestock vaccines as part of a biosecurity strategy.

Classical swine fever virus non-structural protein 4A recruits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase to facilitate viral replication

Mitochondria are energy producers in cells, which can affect viral replication by regulating the host innate immune signaling pathways, and the changes in their biological functions are inextricably linked the viral life cycle. In this study, we screened a library of 382 mitochondria-targeted compounds and identified the antiviral inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis pathway of pyrimidine ribonucleotides, against classical swine fever virus (CSFV). Our data showed that the inhibitors interfered with viral RNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) ranging from 0.975 to 26.635 nM. Remarkably, DHODH inhibitors obstructed CSFV replication by enhancing the innate immune response including the TBK1-IRF3-STAT1 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, the data from a series of compound addition and supplementation trials indicated that DHODH inhibitors also inhibited CSFV replication by blocking the de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Remarkably, DHODH knockdown demonstrated that it was essential for CSFV replication. Mechanistically, confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation assays showed that the non-structural protein 4A (NS4A) recruited and interacted with DHODH in the perinuclear. Notably, NS4A enhanced the DHODH activity and promoted the generation of UMP for efficient viral replication. Structurally, the amino acids 65-229 of DHODH and the amino acids 25-40 of NS4A were pivotal for this interaction. Taken together, our findings highlight the critical role of DHODH in the CSFV life cycle and offer a potential antiviral target for the development of novel therapeutics against CSF.

IMPORTANCE

Classical swine fever remains one of the most economically important viral diseases of domestic pigs and wild boar worldwide. dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors have been shown to suppress the replication of several viruses in vitro and in vivo, but the effects on Pestivirus remain unknown. In this study, three specific DHODH inhibitors, including DHODH-IN-16, BAY-2402234, and Brequinar were found to strongly suppress classical swine fever virus (CSFV) replication. These inhibitors target the host DHODH, depleting the pyrimidine nucleotide pool to exert their antiviral effects. Intriguingly, we observed that the non-structural protein 4A of CSFV induced DHODH to accumulate around the nucleus in conjunction with mitochondria. Moreover, NS4A exhibited a strong interaction with DHODH, enhancing its activity to promote efficient CSFV replication. In conclusion, our findings enhance the understanding of the pyrimidine synthesis in CSFV infection and expand the novel functions of CSFV NS4A in viral replication, providing a reference for further exploration of antiviral targets against CSFV.

Development and application of classical swine fever virus monoclonal antibodies derived from single B cells

Vaccination with E2 subunit vaccines is currently the main measure to control classical swine fever virus (CSFV), which is an endemic disease, and detection of antibodies against CSFV E2 is the most effective way to evaluate herd immunity. In the present study, the E2 protein was expressed by a baculovirus expression system, and two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), namely, 3A9 and 4F7, were successfully produced using techniques for the isolation of single B cells from splenocytes from mice immunized with the E2 protein. Moreover, two linear B-cell epitopes, 25GLTTTWKEYSHDLQL39 and 259GNTTVKVHASDERGP273, reactive to 3A9 and 4F7, respectively, were identified using epitope mapping of the E2 protein. In addition, the diagnostic performance of the two mAbs was evaluated using blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA), and the results showed that the two mAbs had high diagnostic specificity (96.08%, 94.38%) and diagnostic sensitivity (97.49%, 95.97%). Together, these findings identify two ideal candidate peptides and matching mAbs for a new method of CSFV diagnosis, which will contribute to the control and eradication of classical swine fever.

Identification of neutralizing epitopes on the D/A domain of the E2 glycoprotein of classical swine fever virus

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) shares high antigenic homology with other members of the genus Pestivirus. Because several pestivirus species can also infect swine, eliciting cross-reactive antibodies, it is important to define CSFV-specific epitopes for the differential diagnosis of classical swine fever (CSF) by serology. For this purpose, epitope mapping of seven monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), recognizing sites on the D/A domain of glycoprotein E2, was performed using recombinant expressed antigenic domains and mutants of E2, as well as an overlapping peptide library. Three CSFV-specific epitopes, i.e., 780-IEEMGDDFGFGLCPF-794, 810-NGSAFYLVCPIGWTG-824, and 846-REKPF-850, were identified within the D/A domain of E2. Site-directed mutagenesis further confirmed that residues 783-MGD-785, 789-FGLCPF-794, 813-AFYLVCPIGWTG-824, and 846-REK-848 were critical residues in these regions. In addition, a F789S difference within the epitope 780-IEEMGDDFGFGLCPF-794 was responsible for the absence of binding of two mAbs to the E2 protein of the live attenuated CSFV vaccine strain Riems. Structural modeling revealed that, the three epitopes are located near each other, suggesting that they may form a more complex conformational epitope on the D/A domain in vivo. Six of the mAbs neutralized viruses of diverse genotypes, indicating that the target epitopes are involved in virus interaction with cells. The binding of CSFV to cells was significantly reduced after pre-incubation with either truncated E2 proteins comprising the D/A domain or with the CSFV-specific mAbs targeting the domain D/A. These epitopes identified on the D/A domain are important targets for virus neutralization that might be involved in the early steps of CSFV infection. These findings reveal potential candidates for improving the differential diagnosis of pestiviruses by serology.

A novel linear epitope at the C-terminal region of the classical swine fever virus E2 protein elicits neutralizing activity

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is a member of the genus Pestivirus, which causes serious economic losses. The re-emergence of the disease in Japan in 2018 has increased awareness of CSFV. In this study, Balb/c mice were immunized with plant-derived E2 protein, and four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 4B11, 7B3, 11A5 and 6F3 were generated. Two of these mAbs, 4B11 and 7B3, effectively blocked CSFV infection of PK-15 cells. Both mAbs recognized a novel linear epitope, 256CLIGNTTVKVHASDER271. The neutralizing ability of anti-CSFV serum decreased 63%, when pre-incubated with the linear peptide at 200 μg/mL. Structural analysis showed that this linear epitope is present at the border of Domain C and Domain D on the surface of the E2 protein. Alignment of amino acid sequences showed that the epitope was conserved in different subgroups of CSFV but not in other members of the Pestivirus genus. Consistently with the analysis above, this epitope distinguished antibodies against CSFV from those against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Our study provides an ideal candidate peptide for new vaccine design and differential diagnosis of CSFV. These findings will contribute to the control and eradication of classical swine fever.

Identification of a Common Conformational Epitope on the Glycoprotein E2 of Classical Swine Fever Virus and Border Disease Virus

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) shares high structural and antigenic homology with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and border disease virus (BDV). Because all three viruses can infect swine and elicit cross-reactive antibodies, it is necessary to differentiate among them with regard to serological diagnosis of classical swine fever. To understand the mechanism of cross-reactivity, it is important to define common or specific epitopes of these viruses. For this purpose, epitope mapping of six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was performed using recombinant expressed antigenic domains of CSFV and BDV E2 proteins. One CSFV-specific conformational epitope and one CSFV and BDV common epitope within domain B/C of E2 were identified. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that residues G725 and V738/I738 of the CSFV-specific epitope and P709/L709 and E713 of the second epitope are important for mAbs binding. Infection of CSFV in porcine cells was significantly reduced after pre-incubation of the cells with the domain B/C of E2 or after pre-incubation of CSFV with the mAbs detecting domain B/C. 3D structural modeling suggested that both epitopes are exposed on the surface of E2. Based on this, the identified epitopes represent a potential target for virus neutralization and might be involved in the early steps of CSFV infection.