Generation of single-round infectious rotavirus with a mutation in the intermediate capsid protein VP6.
J Virol
; 98(7): e0076224, 2024 Jul 23.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38837379
ABSTRACT
Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea in infants. Although live attenuated rotavirus vaccines are available, vaccine-derived infections have been reported, which warrants development of next-generation rotavirus vaccines. A single-round infectious virus is a promising vaccine platform; however, this platform has not been studied extensively in the context of rotavirus. Here, we aimed to develop a single-round infectious rotavirus by impairing the function of the viral intermediate capsid protein VP6. Recombinant rotaviruses harboring mutations in VP6 were rescued using a reverse genetics system. Mutations were targeted at VP6 residues involved in virion assembly. Although the VP6-mutated rotavirus expressed viral proteins, it did not produce progeny virions in wild-type cells; however, the virus did produce progeny virions in VP6-expressing cells. This indicates that the VP6-mutated rotavirus is a single-round infectious rotavirus. Insertion of a foreign gene, and replacement of the VP7 gene segment with that of human rotavirus clinical isolates, was successful. No infectious virions were detected in mice infected with the single-round infectious rotavirus. Immunizing mice with the single-round infectious rotavirus induced neutralizing antibody titers as high as those induced by wild-type rotavirus. Taken together, the data suggest that this single-round infectious rotavirus has potential as a safe and effective rotavirus vaccine. This system is also applicable for generation of safe and orally administrable viral vectors.IMPORTANCERotavirus, a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants, causes an annual estimated 128,500 infant deaths worldwide. Although live attenuated rotavirus vaccines are available, they are replicable and may cause vaccine-derived infections. Thus, development of safe and effective rotavirus vaccine is important. In this study, we report the development of a single-round infectious rotavirus that can replicate only in cells expressing viral VP6 protein. We demonstrated that (1) the single-round infectious rotavirus did not replicate in wild-type cells or in mice; (2) insertion of foreign genes and replacement of the outer capsid gene were possible; and (3) it was as immunogenic as the wild-type virus. Thus, the mutated virus shows promise as a next-generation rotavirus vaccine. The system is also applicable to orally administrable viral vectors, facilitating development of vaccines against other enteric pathogens.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rotavirus Infections
/
Rotavirus
/
Rotavirus Vaccines
/
Capsid Proteins
/
Mutation
/
Antigens, Viral
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Virol
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Japan