Flagellin in Fusion with Human Rotavirus Structural Proteins Exerts an Adjuvant Effect When Delivered with Replicating but Non-Disseminating Adenovectors Through the Intrarectal Route

Human rotavirus (HRV) is the worldwide leading cause of gastroenteritis in young children. Two live attenuated HRV vaccines have been approved since 2006. However, these live vaccines still have potential risks including reversion of virulence. Adenoviruses are suitable vectors for mucosal administration of subunit vaccines. In addition to the adjuvant effect of certain adenovirus components, the use of an adjuvant like flagellin is also another means to increase the immune response to the immunogen. The aim of this study was to determine whether flagellin in fusion with HRV structural proteins stimulates the innate immune response and enhances the HRV-specific immune response when delivered through the intrarectal route with replicating but non-disseminating adenovector (R-AdV). Salmonella typhimurium flagellin B (FljB) in fusion with HRV VP4Δ::VP7 protein induced IL-1β production in J774A.1 macrophages exposed to the R-AdV. Intrarectal administration of R-AdVs expressing either VP4Δ::VP7 or VP4Δ::VP7::FljB in BALB/c mice resulted in HRV-specific mixed Th1/Th2 immune responses. The HRV-specific antibody response elicited with the use of R-AdV expressing VP4Δ::VP7::FljB was higher than that with R-AdV expressing VP4Δ::VP7. The results also show that the replication capability of R-AdVs contributed to enhance the HRV-specific immune response as compared with that obtained with non-replicative AdVs. This work lays the foundation for using the R-AdV system and FljB-adjuvanted formulation to elicit a mucosal immune response specific to HRV.     

治疗型VP22△-mE6△/mE7重组蛋白疫苗的表达与免疫学初步分析

制备16型人乳头瘤病毒mE6Δ/mE7蛋白与I型人单纯疱疹病毒VP22Δ蛋白的治疗型分子内佐剂融合蛋白疫苗,并检测其免疫原性和抗肿瘤相关生物活性。通过克隆HSV-1 VP22Δ及HPV-16 mE6Δ/mE7基因,构建pET28a-VP22Δ-mE6Δ/mE7原核表达载体。重组质粒在Rosetta（DE3）宿主菌中进行诱导表达,表达蛋白经分离、复性后,通过镍离子亲和层析进行纯化,纯化蛋白经SDS-PAGE、Western blot 鉴定,并免疫BalB/C及C57BL/6小鼠,检测其免疫原性和抗肿瘤活性。结果显示,VP22Δ-mE6Δ/mE7蛋白以包涵体形式表达,分子量约为34kDa,表达量约占菌体总蛋白的45%。该蛋白免疫小鼠后血清特异性IgG、特异性淋巴细胞增殖效果及对TC-1致瘤小鼠的肿瘤治疗效果均高于无佐剂单一重组蛋白疫苗。以上结果说明,所获得的重组融合蛋白具有较好的免疫原性和抗肿瘤活性,为治疗型HPV分子内佐剂疫苗的进一步研究奠定了基础。     

Expression of a recombinant chimeric protein of hepatitis A virus VP1-Fc using a replicating vector based on Beet curly top virus in tobacco leaves and its immunogenicity in mice

We describe the expression and immunogenicity of a recombinant chimeric protein (HAV VP1-Fc) consisting of human hepatitis A virus VP1 and an Fc antibody fragment using a replicating vector based on Beet curly top virus (BCTV) in Agrobacterium-infiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Recombinant HAV VP1-Fc was expressed with a molecular mass of approximately 68?kDa. Recombinant HAV VP1-Fc, purified using Protein A Sepharose affinity chromatography, elicited production of specific IgG antibodies in the serum after intraperitoneal immunization. Following vaccination with recombinant HAV VP1-Fc protein, expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 were increased in splenocytes at the time of sacrifice. Recombinant VP1-Fc from infiltrated tobacco plants can be used as an effective experimental immunogen for research into vaccine development.     

轮状病毒疫苗研究进展及其转基因植物疫苗的开发前景

轮状病毒是目前婴幼儿秋冬季腹泻的最主要病原物,作者通过轮状病毒减毒株疫苗,亚单位疫苗和DNA疫苗研究进展的综合分析,指出了减毒株疫苗在实际应用中存在的弊端,论述了开发新型轮状病毒疫苗,特别是转基因植物疫苗的必要性和可行性。     

Cloning and expression of human rotavirus spike protein, VP8*, in Escherichia coli

A system for the expression and purification of soluble VP8*, part of the human rotavirus (HRV) spike protein, was established by expressing VP8* as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST). VP8 cDNA, from the Wa strain of HRV, was prepared by RT-PCR, cloned into a pUC18 plasmid, and inserted into a pGEX-4T-2 GST fusion vector. The GST-VP8* fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the VP8* was purified by Glutathione Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, yielding 1.8 mg VP8*/L culture. The purified VP8* was used to vaccinate chickens, eliciting antibodies which displayed high neutralization activity against the Wa strain of HRV, suggesting its use for the induction of specific neutralizing antibodies for potential immunotherapeutic applications for the prevention of HRV infection.     

Modulation of immunogenicity and immunoprotection of mucosal vaccine against coxsackievirus B3 by optimizing the coadministration mode of lymphotactin adjuvant

Induction of potent mucosal immune response is a goal of current vaccine strategies against mucus-infectious pathogens such as Coxsackievirus B3 type (CVB3). We previously showed that administration of lymphotactin (LTN) as an adjuvant could enhance the specific immune responses against a mucosal gene vaccine, chitosan-pVP1, against CVB3. To optimize the coadministration mode of the mucosal adjuvant, we compared the mucosal immune responses induced by chitosan-DNA vaccine with different combinations of the target VP1 antigen gene and the adjuvant LTN gene. The two genes were either cloned in separate vectors or coexpressed as a fusion or bicistron protein in the same vector before encapsulation in chitosan nanoparticles. Four doses of various adjuvant-combined chitosan-DNA were intranasally administrated to mice before challenge with CVB3. The results indicated that chitosan-formulated pVP1-LTN fusion plasmid exhibited very weak improvement of CVB3-specific immune responses. Although the bicistronic coexpression of LTN with VP1 was expected to be powerful, this combination had enhanced effects on serum IgG and systemic T cell immune responses, but not on mucosal T cell immunity. Coimmunization with VP1 and LTN as separate chitosan-DNA formulation remarkably enhanced antibody and T cell immune responses both in systemic and mucosal immune compartments, leading to the most desirable preventive effect on viral myocarditis. Taken together, how the adjuvant is combined with the target antigen has a strong influence on the mucosal immune responses induced by mucosal DNA vaccines.     

Comparison of immune responses against FMD by a DNA vaccine encoding the FMDV/O/IRN/2007 VP1 gene and the conventional inactivated vaccine in an animal model

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is highly contagious and responsible for huge outbreaks among cloven hoofed animals. The aim of the present study is to evaluate a plasmid DNA immunization system that expresses the FMDV/O/IRN/2007 VP1 gene and compare it with the conventional inactivated vaccine in an animal model. The VP1 gene was sub-cloned into the unique Kpn I and BamH I cloning sites of the pcDNA3.1+ and pEGFP-N1 vectors to construct the VP₁ gene cassettes. The transfected BHKT7 cells with sub-cloned pEGFP-N1-VP1 vector expressed GFP-VP1 fusion protein and displayed more green fluorescence spots than the transfected BHKT7 cells with pEGFP-N1 vector, which solely expressed the GFP protein. Six mice groups were respectively immunized by the sub-cloned pcDNA3.1⁺-VP1 gene cassette as the DNA vaccine, DNA vaccine and PCMV-SPORT-GMCSF vector (as molecular adjuvant) together, conventional vaccine, PBS (as negative control), pcDNA3.1⁺ vector (as control group) and PCMV-SPORT vector that contained the GMCSF gene (as control group). Significant neutralizing antibody responses were induced in the mice which were immunized using plasmid vectors expressing the VP1 and GMCSF genes together, the DNA vaccine alone and the conventional inactivated vaccine (P<0.05). Co-administration of DNA vaccine and GMCSF gene improved neutralizing antibody response in comparison with administration of the DNA vaccine alone, but this response was the most for the conventional vaccine group. However, induction of humeral immunity response in the conventional vaccine group was more protective than for the DNA vaccine, but T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ concentration were the most in DNA vaccine with the GMCSF gene. Therefore the group that was vaccinated by DNA vaccine with the GMCSF gene, showed protective neutralizing antibody response and the most Th1 cellular immunity.     

Protective immunity and antibody-secreting cell responses elicited by combined oral attenuated Wa human rotavirus and intranasal Wa 2/6-VLPs with mutant Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin in gnotobiotic pigs

Two combined rotavirus vaccination regimens were evaluated in a gnotobiotic pig model of rotavirus infection and disease and were compared to previously tested rotavirus vaccination regimens. The first (AttHRV/VLP2x) involved oral inoculation with one dose of attenuated (Att) Wa human rotavirus (HRV), followed by two intranasal (i.n.) doses of a rotavirus-like particle (2/6-VLPs) vaccine derived from Wa (VP6) and bovine RF (VP2) rotavirus strains. The 2/6-VLPs were coadministered with a mutant Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin, LT-R192G (mLT) adjuvant. For the second regimen (VLP2x/AttHRV), two i.n. doses of 2/6-VLPs+mLT were given, followed by one oral dose of attenuated Wa HRV. To compare the protective efficacy and immune responses induced by the combined vaccine regimens with individual rotavirus vaccine regimens, we included in the experiments the following vaccine groups: one oral dose of attenuated Wa HRV (AttHRV1x and Mock2x/AttHRV, respectively), three oral doses of attenuated Wa HRV (AttHRV3x), three i.n. doses of 2/6-VLPs plus mLT (VLP3x), three i.n. doses of purified double-layered inactivated Wa HRV plus mLT (InactHRV3x), mLT alone, and mock-inoculated pigs. The isotype, magnitude, and tissue distribution of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in the intestinal and systemic lymphoid tissues were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunospot assay. The AttHRV/VLP2x regimen stimulated the highest mean numbers of intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) ASCs prechallenge among all vaccine groups. This regimen induced partial protection against virus shedding (58%) and diarrhea (44%) upon challenge of pigs with virulent Wa HRV. The reverse VLP2x/AttHRV regimen was less efficacious than the AttHRV/VLP2x regimen in inducing IgA ASC responses and protection against diarrhea (25% protection rate) but was more efficacious than VLP3x or InactHRV3x (no protection). In conclusion, the AttHRV/VLP2x vaccination regimen stimulated the strongest B-cell responses in the intestinal mucosal immune system at challenge and conferred a moderately high protection rate against rotavirus disease, indicating that priming of the mucosal inductive site at the portal of natural infection with a replicating vaccine, followed by boosting with a nonreplicating vaccine at a second mucosal inductive site, may be a highly effective approach to stimulate the mucosal immune system and induce protective immunity against various mucosal pathogens.     

Adeno-associated virus-based malaria booster vaccine following attenuated replication-competent vaccinia virus LC16m8Δ priming

We previously demonstrated that boosting with adeno-associated virus (AAV) type 1 (AAV1) can induce highly effective and long-lasting protective immune responses against malaria parasites when combined with replication-deficient adenovirus priming in a rodent model. In the present study, we compared the efficacy of two different AAV serotypes, AAV1 and AAV5, as malaria booster vaccines following priming with the attenuated replication-competent vaccinia virus strain LC16m8Δ (m8Δ), which harbors the fusion gene encoding both the pre-erythrocytic stage protein, Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite (PfCSP) and the sexual stage protein (Pfs25) in a two-dose heterologous prime-boost immunization regimen. Both regimens, m8Δ/AAV1 and m8Δ/AAV5, induced robust anti-PfCSP and anti-Pfs25 antibodies. To evaluate the protective efficacy, the mice were challenged with sporozoites twice after immunization. At the first sporozoite challenge, m8Δ/AAV5 achieved 100% sterile protection whereas m8Δ/AAV1 achieved 70% protection. However, at the second challenge, 100% of the surviving mice from the first challenge were protected in the m8Δ/AAV1 group whereas only 55.6% of those in the m8Δ/AAV5 group were protected. Regarding the transmission-blocking efficacy, we found that both immunization regimens induced high levels of transmission-reducing activity (>99%) and transmission-blocking activity (>95%). Our data indicate that the AAV5-based multistage malaria vaccine is as effective as the AAV1-based vaccine when administered following an m8Δ-based vaccine. These results suggest that AAV5 could be a viable alternate vaccine vector as a malaria booster vaccine.     

Oral vaccination with salmonella simultaneously expressing Yersinia pestis F1 and V antigens protects against bubonic and pneumonic plague

The gut provides a large area for immunization enabling the development of mucosal and systemic Ab responses. To test whether the protective Ags to Yersinia pestis can be orally delivered, the Y. pestis caf1 operon, encoding the F1-Ag and virulence Ag (V-Ag) were cloned into attenuated Salmonella vaccine vectors. F1-Ag expression was controlled under a promoter from the caf1 operon; two different promoters (P), PtetA in pV3, PphoP in pV4, as well as a chimera of the two in pV55 were tested. F1-Ag was amply expressed; the chimera in the pV55 showed the best V-Ag expression. Oral immunization with Salmonella-F1 elicited elevated secretory (S)-IgA and serum IgG titers, and Salmonella-V-Ag(pV55) elicited much greater S-IgA and serum IgG Ab titers than Salmonella-V-Ag(pV3) or Salmonella-V-Ag(pV4). Hence, a new Salmonella vaccine, Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags, made with a single plasmid containing the caf1 operon and the chimeric promoter for V-Ag allowed the simultaneous expression of F1 capsule and V-Ag. Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags elicited elevated Ab titers similar to their monotypic derivatives. For bubonic plague, mice dosed with Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags and Salmonella-F1-Ag showed similar efficacy (>83% survival) against approximately 1000 LD(50) Y. pestis. For pneumonic plague, immunized mice required immunity to both F1- and V-Ags because the mice vaccinated with Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags protected against 100 LD(50) Y. pestis. These results show that a single Salmonella vaccine can deliver both F1- and V-Ags to effect both systemic and mucosal immune protection against Y. pestis.     

禽IL-2与传染性法氏囊VP2融合蛋白免疫学特性

为研究禽细胞因子IL-2与IBDV主要保护性抗原VP2基因融合蛋白的免疫学特性,将重组的rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白免疫鸡,通过IBDV-VP2 ELISA抗体效价、抗体亚型(IgG1和IgG2a)、淋巴细胞增殖、INF-γ和IL-4细胞因子的分泌水平、中和抗体以及动物攻毒试验检测评价其对鸡体免疫水平的影响。抗体滴度测定和淋巴细胞增殖试验结果显示,rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白免疫鸡体的体液和细胞免疫应答水平均明显高于单独的VP2蛋白免疫组。抗体亚型测定结果显示,rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白免疫组鸡体能产生一个平衡的IgG1和IgG2a抗体反应。细胞因子ELISA试验结果表明rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白能有效平衡Th1(γ-IFN)和Th2(IL-4)类型的细胞免疫反应。动物攻毒试验rVp2-IL-2融合蛋白免疫组鸡体获得了85%的保护率,表明构建的rVP2-IL-2融合蛋白对IBDV的攻击具有较好的免疫保护作用。本研究为进一步研制IBD高效的基因工程疫苗奠定了基础。     

牛疱疹病毒Ⅰ型VP22和猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒GP5融合基因DNA疫苗的免疫效应

为了提高表达GP5的猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）DNA疫苗的免疫效应,将具有蛋白转导功能的牛疱疹病毒1型（BHV-1）VP22基因插入到经过修饰具有更好免疫原性的PRRSV修饰型ORF5基因（ORF5M）上游,构建VP22和ORF5M融合表达的真核表达质粒pCI-VP22-ORF5M。经间接免疫荧光试验（IFA）和Westernblot检测证实体外表达后,免疫BALB/c小鼠,检测小鼠免疫后的GP5特异性ELISA抗体、抗PRRSV中和抗体和脾淋巴细胞增殖反应,并与非融合的真核表达质粒pCI-ORF5M进行比较。结果显示,融合表达VP22-GP5的DNA疫苗 pCI-VP22ORF5M诱导的体液免疫和细胞免疫反应均明显高于非融合表达的DNA疫苗pCI-ORF5M,表明蛋白转导相关蛋白BHV-1 VP22能显著增强表达GP5的PRRSV DNA 疫苗的免疫效应,有效发挥了基因免疫佐剂效应;这为研制PRRSV高效DNA疫苗奠定了基础,同时也为其它疾病的高效新型疫苗研究提供了思路。     

轮状病毒VP7基因在大肠杆菌中的表达及其免疫原性

轮状病毒是世界范围内引起婴幼儿病毒性腹泻的主要病原体。VP7是轮状病毒的主要外壳蛋白和中和抗原,是发展基因工程疫苗的首选。把包含全部3个主要抗原性区域的轮状病毒SA11 VP7基因片段以谷胱甘肽S转移酶融合蛋白的形式在大肠杆菌中进行表达,表达产物占菌体总蛋白的30%左右。经一步Glutathione Sepharose4B亲和纯化,重组蛋白纯度超过90%。Western blot实验表明,重组蛋白可被抗SA11的多抗特异地识别。动物实验表明,重组抗原可在小鼠和家兔体内诱导VP7特异的抗体和一定水平的SA11中和抗体。     

Synthesis and assembly of a cholera toxin B subunit-rotavirus VP7 fusion protein in transgenic potato

A gene encoding VP7, the outer capsid protein of simian rotavirus SA11, was fused to the carboxyl terminus of the cholera toxin B subunit gene. A plant expression vector containing the fusion gene under control of the mannopine synthase P₂ promoter was introduced into Solanum tuberosum cells by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The CTB::VP7 fusion gene was detected in the genomic DNA of transformed potato leaf cells by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification methods. Immunoblot analysis of transformed potato tuber tissue extracts showed that synthesis and assembly of the CTB::VP7 fusion protein into oligomers of pentameric size occurred in the transformed plant cells. The binding of CTB::VP7 fusion protein pentamers to sialo-sugar containing GM1 ganglioside receptors on the intestinal epithelial cell membrane was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA results showed that the CTB::VP7 fusion protein made up approx 0.01% of the total soluble tuber protein. Synthesis and assembly of CTB::VP7 monomers into biologically active pentamers in transformed potato tubers demonstrates the feasibility of using edible plants as a mucosal vaccine for the production and delivery system for rotavirus capsid protein antigens.     

Thermostable tag (TST) protein expression system: engineering thermotolerant recombinant proteins and vaccines

Methods to increase temperature stability of vaccines and adjuvants are needed to reduce dependence on cold chain storage. We report herein creation and application of pVEX expression vectors to improve vaccine and adjuvant manufacture and thermostability. Defined media fermentation yields of 6 g/L thermostable toll-like receptor 5 agonist flagellin were obtained using an IPTG inducible pVEX-flagellin expression vector. Alternative pVEX vectors encoding Pyrococcus furiosus maltodextrin-binding protein (pfMBP) as a fusion partner improved Influenza hemagglutinin antigen vaccine solubility and thermostability. A pfMBP hemagglutinin HA2 domain fusion protein was a potent immunogen. Manufacturing processes that combined up to 5 g/L defined media fermentation yields with rapid, selective, thermostable pfMBP fusion protein purification were developed. The pVEX pfMBP-based thermostable tag (TST) platform is a generic protein engineering approach to enable high yield manufacture of thermostable recombinant protein vaccine components.     

Immunization with a recombinant adenovirus encoding a lymphoma idiotype: induction of tumor-protective immunity and identification of an idiotype-specific T cell epitope

The Ig Id of a B cell lymphoma is a tumor-specific Ag, although as a self-Ag it is likely to be a weak immunogen. Provision of a foreign gene may enhance the immunogenicity of the idiotype. Viral vectors allow highly efficient transfer of genetic material and are themselves innately immunogenic. We have investigated the ability of recombinant adenoviral vectors, encoding the idiotypic gene with or without fusion to the human Fc region, to produce anti-idiotypic Ab- and T cell-mediated responses in a syngeneic BALB/c A20 murine lymphoma model. The idiotypic V(H) and V(L) sequences were assembled as a single chain variable fragment (scFv) and adenoviral vectors encoding the A20 scFv (Ad.A20) and A20 scFv linked to the Fc fragment of human IgG1 (Ad.A20hFc) were constructed. A single immunization of BALB/c mice with Ad.A20hFc but not Ad.A20 induced a specific anti-idiotypic Ab response. T cell lines generated from mice vaccinated with either vector displayed specific cytotoxicity, proliferation, and IFN-gamma release against a syngeneic dendritic cell line transduced using a retroviral vector to express the A20 scFv idiotype (XS52.A1.A20). Importantly, both T cell lines lysed the A20 lymphoma cells. An immunodominant H-2K(d)-restricted CD8(+) T cell peptide, DYWGQGTEL (A20[106-114]), was identified as a naturally occurring A20 scFv epitope. A single immunization with Ad.A20hFc but not Ad.A20 provided protection in >40% of animals challenged with a lethal dose of the A20 tumor line and was more effective, in this model, than a previously optimized plasmid vaccine.     

Production of Human Rotavirus and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella</Emphasis> Antigens in Plants and Elicitation of fljB-Specific Humoral Responses in Mice

A Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression system was used to express single antigen and dimeric combinations of the human rotavirus (HRV) VP7 and a truncated VP4 (VP4Δ) proteins fused with Salmonella typhimurium’s flagellin fljB subunit. Immunoblot analyses using rabbit antibodies generated against these proteins demonstrated that the constructs were successfully expressed with yields ranging from 0.85 to 31.97 μg of recombinant protein per gram of fresh leaf tissue. Expressing the single and dimeric antigens has no effect on plant growth and development except for VP7 and VP4Δ::VP7, which show mild necrotic lesions. Immunization of mice with proteins from leaves transformed with constructs bearing the fljB moiety elicited an fljB-specific humoral response. The Nicotiana benthamiana transient system is efficient to express multiple combinations of pathogen proteins and demonstrates the potential of generating a Salmonella typhimurium subunit vaccine in plants.     

Heterotypic passive protection induced by synthetic peptides corresponding to VP7 and VP4 of bovine rotavirus.

We have evaluated the potential of two peptides derived from highly conserved regions of rotavirus outer capsid proteins (VP7 and VP4) to act as a rotavirus vaccine. The capacity of peptides coupled to rotavirus VP6 spherical particles to provide passive protection in a murine model was compared with the protection induced by peptide-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) conjugates. Female mice were immunized a total of three times before and during pregnancy. Suckling mouse pups were challenged at 7 days of age with either homologous or heterologous rotavirus serotypes. The efficacy of vaccination was determined by analyzing the clinical symptoms and measuring xylose adsorption in the intestine. In this model the VP4 peptide-VP6 conjugate provided protection equal to that obtained using bovine rotavirus (BRV) as the immunogen. The VP7 peptide-VP6 conjugate provided slightly less protection than the VP4 peptide-VP6 conjugate. A mixture of the VP4 peptide-VP6 and VP7 peptide-VP6 conjugates provided better heterologous protection than immunization with BRV. In contrast, KLH-conjugated peptides provided only partial protection. The significance of a synthetic-peptide-based rotavirus vaccine in the prevention of rotavirus infections is discussed.     

Vaccination against very virulent infectious bursal disease virus using recombinant T4 bacteriophage displaying viral protein VP2

In order to develop a desirable inexpensive, effective and safe vaccine against the very virulent infectious bursal disease virus （vvIBDV）, we tried to take advantage of the emerging T4 bacteriophage surface protein display system. The major immunogen protein VP2 from the vvIBDV strain HK46 was fused to the nonessential T4 phage surface capsid protein, a small outer capsid （SOC） protein, resulting in the 49 kDa SOC-VP2 fusion protein, which was verified by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot. Immunoelectromicroscopy showed that the recombinant VP2 protein was successfully displayed on the surface of the T4 phage. The recombinant VP2 protein is antigenic and showed reactivities to various monoclonal antibodies （mAbs） against IBDV, whereas the wild-type phage T4 could not react to any mAb. In addition, the recombinant VP2 protein is immunogenic and elicited specific antibodies in immunized specific pathogen free （SPF） chickens. More significantly, immunization of SPF chickens with the recombinant T4-VP2 phage protected them from infection by the vvIBDV strain HK46. When challenged with the vvIBDV strain HK46 at a dose of 100 of 50% lethaldose （LD50） per chicken 4 weeks after the booster was given, the group vaccinated with the T4-VP2 recombinant phage showed no clinical signs of disease or death, whereas the unvaccinated group and the group vaccinated with the wild-type T4 phage exhibited 100% clinical signs of disease and bursal damages, and 30%-40% mortality. Collectively, the data herein showed that the T4-displayed VP2 protein might be an inexpensive, effective and safe vaccine candidate against vvIBDV.