Induction of antiviral and cell mediated immune responses significantly reduce viral load in an acute foot-and-mouth disease virus infection in cattle

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes a severe infection in ruminant animals. Here we present an in-depth transcriptional analysis of soft-palate tissue from cattle experimentally infected with FMDV. The differentially expressed genes from two Indian cattle (Bos indicus) breeds (Malnad Gidda and Hallikar) and Holstein Friesian (HF) crossbred calves, highlighted the activation of metabolic processes, mitochondrial functions and significant enrichment of innate antiviral immune response pathways in the indigenous calves. The results of RT-qPCR based validation of 12 genes was in alignment with the transcriptome data. The indigenous calves showing lesser virus load, elicited early neutralizing antibodies and IFN-γ immune responses. This study revealed that induction of potent innate antiviral response and cell mediated immunity in indigenous cattle, especially Malnad Gidda, significantly restricted FMDV replication during acute infection. These data highlighting the molecular processes associated with host-pathogen interactions, could aid in the conception of novel strategies to prevent and control FMDV infection in cattle.

Expression and characterization of the non-structural protein V of small ruminant morbillivirus

Peste-des-petits ruminants is a transboundary viral disease of small ruminants caused by small ruminant morbillivirus (SRMV). In the present study, the full-length V gene of SRMV was constructed through site-directed mutagenesis from the P gene transcripts of the vaccine virus (Sungri/96 India) and expressed in a prokaryotic expression system. In animals, the seroconversion against this protein occurs from 14-days and is getting produced from 48 h in cell culture. An indirect ELISA developed using this protein has a relative sensitivity and relative specificity of 77.73% and 73.775%, respectively as compared to c-ELISA. In this ELISA, it was observed that most of the convalescent animals elicited higher level of antibodies than vaccinated animals.