Molecular cloning, expression and immunological analysis of the capsid precursor polypeptide (P1) from swine vesicular disease virus

Swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) is the aetiological agent of a highly contagious viral disease of pigs, whose symptoms are indistinguishable from those caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The gene coding for the capsid protein precursor of SVDV (P1) from a recent spanish isolate (SPA/1/ʹ93) was cloned and expressed in bacteria, and the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the recombinant product were evaluated. The recombinant P1 was recognised by antibodies against SVDV induced in pigs infected experimentally with different SVDV strains. Immunisation of swine with recombinant P1-induced SVDV-specific cellular and humoral immune responses. The implications of these results in SVD diagnostic as well as in vaccine development are discussed.