Chimeric pestiviruses

Abstract

The present invention relates to chimeric pestiviruses having utility as immunogenic compositions and vaccines. Also described herein are methods and kits for treating or preventing the spread of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection, as well as methods and kits for differentiating between vaccinated and wild-type infected animals.

1 . A chimeric pestivirus, wherein said chimeric pestivirus comprises a bovine viral diarrhea virus which does not express its homologous E rns  protein, further wherein said chimeric pestivirus expresses a heterologous E rns  protein derived from another pestivirus, or a natural, synthetic or genetic variant of said heterologous E rns  protein. 
     
     
         2 . The chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 , wherein the heterologous E rns  protein of said chimeric pestivirus, or the natural, synthetic or genetic variant of said heterologous E rns  protein, is derived from a pestivirus selected from the group consisting of a reindeer pestivirus, a giraffe pestivirus, and a pronghorn antelope pestivirus. 
     
     
         3 . The chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 , wherein the heterologous E rns  protein of said chimeric pestivirus has at least one E rns  epitope which is not present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus. 
     
     
         4 . The chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 , wherein the heterologous E rns  protein of said chimeric pestivirus lacks at least one E rns  epitope which is present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus. 
     
     
         5 . A culture of the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A cell line or host cell comprising the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A polynucleotide molecule encoding for the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . An immunogenic composition comprising the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 , and a veterinarily-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 8 , wherein the veterinarily-acceptable carrier is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         10 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 8 , wherein said chimeric pestivirus is live attenuated. 
     
     
         11 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 8 , wherein said chimeric pestivirus is inactivated. 
     
     
         12 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more additional antigens useful for treating or preventing the spread of one or more additional pathogenic microorganisms in a bovine. 
     
     
         13 . An immunogenic composition comprising the polynucleotide molecule of  claim 7  and a veterinarily-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         14 . A vaccine comprising the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1  and a veterinarily-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The vaccine of  claim 14 , wherein the veterinarily-acceptable carrier is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         16 . The vaccine of  claim 14 , wherein said chimeric pestivirus is live attenuated. 
     
     
         17 . The vaccine of  claim 14 , wherein said chimeric pestivirus is inactivated. 
     
     
         18 . A vaccine comprising the polynucleotide molecule of  claim 7  and a veterinary acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The vaccine of  claim 14 , further comprising one or more additional antigens useful for treating or preventing the spread of one or more additional pathogenic microorganisms in a bovine. 
     
     
         20 . A kit comprising, in at least one container, the vaccine of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating or preventing the spread of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection, wherein the vaccine of  claim 14  is administered to an animal. 
     
     
         22 . A method of vaccinating an animal, wherein a DIVA pestivirus vaccine is administered to said animal, and wherein said DIVA pestivirus vaccine comprises the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 , further wherein said chimeric pestivirus has at least one E rns  epitope which is not present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus. 
     
     
         23 . A method of vaccinating an animal, wherein a DIVA pestivirus vaccine is administered to said animal, and wherein said DIVA vaccine comprises the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 , further wherein said chimeric pestivirus lacks at least one E rns  epitope which is present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus. 
     
     
         24 . A method of differentiating between an animal vaccinated with the vaccine of  claim 14  and an animal infected with wild type bovine viral diarrhea virus, wherein the animal vaccinated with said vaccine generates antibodies to at least one E rns  epitope which is present in the chimeric pestivirus of said vaccine, but which is not present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) obtaining a serum sample from the animals; 
 b) assaying said samples for the presence or absence of the antibodies; 
 c) identifying the animal having said antibodies as having been vaccinated with said vaccine; and 
 d) identifying the animal lacking said antibodies as having been infected with the wild type BVDV. 
 
     
     
         25 . A method of differentiating between an animal infected with wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus and an animal vaccinated with the vaccine of  claim 14 , wherein the animal infected with wild type bovine viral diarrhea virus generates antibodies to at least one E rns  epitope which is present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus, but which is not present in the chimeric pestivirus of said vaccine, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) obtaining a serum sample from the animals;   b) assaying said samples for the presence or absence of the antibodies;   c) identifying the animal having said antibodies as having been infected with the wild type BVDV; and   d) identifying the animal lacking said antibodies as having been vaccinated with said vaccine.   
     
     
         26 . A diagnostic kit for differentiating between an animal vaccinated with a vaccine comprising the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1  and an animal infected with wild type bovine viral diarrhea virus, said kit comprising reagents capable of detecting antibodies to at least one E rns  epitope which is present in the chimeric pestivirus of the vaccine, but which is not present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus. 
     
     
         27 . A diagnostic kit for differentiating between an animal infected with wild type bovine viral diarrhea virus and an animal vaccinated with a vaccine comprising the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 , said kit comprising reagents capable of detecting antibodies to at least one E rns  epitope which is present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus, but which is not present in the chimeric pestivirus of the vaccine. 
     
     
         28 . An antibody which recognizes an epitope of E rns  which is present in the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 , but which epitope is not present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus. 
     
     
         29 . An antibody which recognizes an epitope present in wild-type bovine viral diarrhea virus, but which epitope is not present in the chimeric pestivirus of  claim 1 .