The Potential of Plant-Produced Virus-like Particle Vaccines for African Horse Sickness and Other Equine Orbiviruses

Pitchers, Kieran G.; Boakye, Oliver D.; Campeotto, Ivan; Daly, Janet M.

Abstract

African horse sickness is a devastating viral disease of equids. It is transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides with mortalities reaching over 90% in naïve horses. It is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and is seasonally endemic in many parts of southern Africa. However, outbreaks in Europe and Asia have occurred that caused significant economic issues. There are attenuated vaccines available for control of the virus but concerns regarding the safety and efficacy means that alternatives are sought. One promising alternative is the use of virus-like particles in vaccine preparations, which have the potential to be safer and more efficacious as vaccines against African horse sickness. These particles are best made in a complex, eukaryotic system, but due to technical challenges, this may cause significant economic strain on the developing countries most affected by the disease. Therefore, this review also summarises the success so far, and potential, of recombinant protein expression in plants to reduce the economic strain of production.

Citation

Pitchers, K. G., Boakye, O. D., Campeotto, I., & Daly, J. M. (2024). The Potential of Plant-Produced Virus-like Particle Vaccines for African Horse Sickness and Other Equine Orbiviruses. Pathogens, 13(6), Article 458. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060458

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: May 24, 2024
• Online Publication Date: May 28, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-06
• Deposit Date: May 30, 2024
• Journal: Pathogens
• Electronic ISSN: 2076-0817
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 458
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060458
• Keywords: African horse sickness; virus-like particle; recombinant plant expression; Orbivirus; live attenuated vaccine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/35436718
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/6/458