用电穿孔方法研究 H5N1 禽流感病毒DNA 疫苗对动物的免疫保护作用

为了研究 H5N1 DNA 疫苗对小鼠和鸡的保护效率,用 H5N1 禽流感病毒 HA DNA 疫苗免疫 BALB/c 小鼠和 SPF 鸡 . 小鼠和鸡分别经电穿孔和肌肉注射免疫两次,间隔为 3 周 . 二次免疫后,用致死量的同源病毒进行攻毒实验 . 空白对照组在攻毒后全部死亡,而经电穿孔免疫的小鼠和鸡均获得了完全的保护,并能有效地抑制病毒在小鼠肺脏和鸡泄殖腔的繁殖 . 同时,电穿孔免疫的小鼠和鸡均产生了高水平的特异性抗体 . 经电穿孔免疫的小鼠攻毒后 CTL 反应明显加强 . 这些结果表明, HA DNA 疫苗能有效地保护小鼠和鸡对禽流感病毒的感染,同时也表明电穿孔免疫是 DNA 疫苗免疫的有效途径之一 .     

共表达PRRSV GP5蛋白和CSFV E2蛋白的“自杀性”DNA疫苗在小鼠体内诱导的免疫应答

为了获得新型双价"自杀性"DNA疫苗,将猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(Porcine reproductive and respiratorysyndrome virus,PRRSV)GP5基因克隆于此前构建的表达猪瘟病毒(Classical swine fever virus,CSFV)E2基因的甲病毒复制子载体疫苗pSFV1CS-E2中.为了增强免疫效果,在密码子优化的GP5基因中插入了泛DR表位(PADRE),在CSFV E2基因后融合伪狂犬病病毒(PrV)UL49基因,获得了6种重组质粒.间接免疫荧光试验显示,PRRSV GP5和CSFV E2基因在瞬时转染的293T细胞中得到同时表达,将6种重组质粒和空载体pSFV1CS分别免疫BALB/c小鼠,用间接ELISA方法检测血清抗体水平,通过基于CSFE/WST-8的淋巴细胞增殖试验和细胞因子ELISA评价疫苗诱导的细胞免疫.结果显示,除pSFV1CS组外,从各疫苗组小鼠血清中均可检测到低水平的针对GP5和E2蛋白的抗体;各疫苗组小鼠脾细胞经CSFV和PRRSV刺激后均能诱导特异性的淋巴细胞增殖:部分疫苗组小鼠脾细胞经CSFV和PRRSV刺激后可分泌较高水平的IFN-γ和IL-4;引入UL49的疫苗组细胞免疫应答显著高于其它疫苗组.结果表明,这些共表达GP5和E2蛋白的自杀性DNA疫苗可以诱导体液免疫和细胞免疫,PrV UL49可以增强其细胞免疫应答.     

The Immunodominance Change and Protection of CD4+ T-Cell Responses Elicited by an Envelope Protein Domain III-Based Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine in Mice

Dengue is the leading cause of mosquito-borne viral infections and no vaccine is available now. Envelope protein domain III (ED3) is the major target for the binding of dengue virus neutralizing antibodies; however, the ED3-specifc T-cell response is less well understood. To investigate the T-cell responses to four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV-1 to 4), we immunized mice using either a tetravalent ED3-based DNA or protein vaccine, or combined both as a DNA prime-protein boost strategy (prime-boost). A significant serotype-dependent IFN-γ or IL-4 response was observed in mice immunized with either the DNA or protein vaccine. The IFN-γ response was dominant to DENV-1 to 3, whereas the IL-4 response was dominant to DENV-4. Although the similar IgG titers for the four serotypes were observed in mice immunized with the tetravalent vaccines, the neutralizing antibody titers varied and followed the order of 2 = 3>1>4. Interestingly, the lower IFN-γ response to DENV-4 is attributable to the immunodominance change between two CD4⁺ T-cell epitopes; one T-cell epitope located at E_349-363 of DENV-1 to 3 was more immunogenic than the DENV-4 epitope E_313-327. Despite DENV-4 specific IFN-γ responses were suppressed by immunodominance change, either DENV-4-specific IFN-γ or neutralizing antibody responses were still recalled after DENV-4 challenge and contributed to virus clearance. Immunization with the prime-boost elicited both IFN-γ and neutralizing antibody responses and provided better protection than either DNA or protein immunization. Our findings shed light on how ED3-based tetravalent dengue vaccines sharpen host CD4 T-cell responses and contribute to protection against dengue virus.     

含庚型肝炎病毒E2基因片段质粒DNA能诱发相当强烈的体液免疫应答

研究了庚型肝炎病毒E2(HGV E2)基因片段作为DNA疫苗的可行性。将来自于质粒pThioHis-E2编码HGV E2的基因片段(559bp)亚克隆到质粒pCMV-S中,使之和HBsAg基因位于同一阅读框,形成重组质粒pCMV-S-E2。用纯化的质粒pCMV-S-E2 DNA注射到昆明小鼠后腿四头肌中来免疫小鼠,同时用pCMV-S作为对照。间隔14天再加强一次免疫。在加强免疫后的第8天眼眶取血。用E2—GST融合蛋白作为固定化抗原,通过ELISA检测受试小鼠的体液免疫应答。结果表明,用质粒pCMV-S-EDNA免疫的小鼠可以产生很强的体液免疫应答。     

Exploring of Primate Models of Tick-Borne Flaviviruses Infection for Evaluation of Vaccines and Drugs Efficacy

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is one of the most prevalent and medically important tick-borne arboviruses in Eurasia. There are overlapping foci of two flaviviruses: TBEV and Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV) in Russia. Inactivated vaccines exist only against TBE. There are no antiviral drugs for treatment of both diseases. Optimal animal models are necessary to study efficacy of novel vaccines and treatment preparations against TBE and relative flaviviruses. The models for TBE and OHF using subcutaneous inoculation were tested in Cercopithecus aethiops and Macaca fascicularis monkeys with or without prior immunization with inactivated TBE vaccine. No visible clinical signs or severe pathomorphological lesions were observed in any monkey infected with TBEV or OHFV. C. aethiops challenged with OHFV showed massive hemolytic syndrome and thrombocytopenia. Infectious virus or viral RNA was revealed in visceral organs and CNS of C. aethiops infected with both viruses; however, viremia was low. Inactivated TBE vaccines induced high antibody titers against both viruses and expressed booster after challenge. The protective efficacy against TBE was shown by the absence of virus in spleen, lymph nodes and CNS of immunized animals after challenge. Despite the absence of expressed hemolytic syndrome in immunized C. aethiops TBE vaccine did not prevent the reproduction of OHFV in CNS and visceral organs. Subcutaneous inoculation of M. fascicularis with two TBEV strains led to a febrile disease with well expressed viremia, fever, and virus reproduction in spleen, lymph nodes and CNS. The optimal terms for estimation of the viral titers in CNS were defined as 8–16 days post infection. We characterized two animal models similar to humans in their susceptibility to tick-borne flaviviruses and found the most optimal scheme for evaluation of efficacy of preventive and therapeutic preparations. We also identified M. fascicularis to be more susceptible to TBEV than C. aethiops.     

Co-immunization with West Nile DNA and inactivated vaccines provides synergistic increases in their immunogenicities in mice

West Nile virus is now distributed throughout many temperate, subtropical and tropical areas: vaccines need to be developed that are affordable for developed and developing countries. Here, we constructed and evaluated a DNA vaccine expressing the premembrane and envelope proteins of West Nile virus (pcWNME). Mice immunized twice with 100 or 10 microg of pcWNME developed high or moderate levels of neutralizing antibodies, respectively. These mice were protected from viremia and death after lethal challenge. Mice immunized with a mixture of 1 microg of pcWNME and a small amount (1/10 dose) of a commercial inactivated vaccine developed moderate levels of neutralizing antibodies, whereas immunization with pcWNME or the inactivated vaccine alone induced only low or undetectable levels: co-immunization with the DNA and protein vaccines synergistically increased their own immunogenicities. The synergism reduced the amount of DNA sufficient to induce neutralizing antibodies: a single immunization with doses as low as 0.1 microg induced a titer of 1:40 at a 90% plaque reduction 6 or 9 weeks after immunization. Both IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies were induced in mice by co-immunization with the DNA and protein vaccines.     

Induction of tetravalent protective immunity against four dengue serotypes by the tandem domain III of the envelope protein

In the present study, the domain IIIs of all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes were connected sequentially to construct the tandem domain III. The resulting DNA fragment was then cloned into pBAD/Topo ThioFusion plasmid. After induction, the Escherichia coli expression protein was purified and used to immunize BALB/c mice by subcutaneous route. The sera from mice immunized with the purified protein were confirmed to contain specific high antibody titers against DEN1, DEN2, and DEN4, and moderate antibody titer against DEN3. In suckling mouse model, 70% of the mice challenged with DEN1, DEN2, and DEN4 in combination with sera from mice immunized with the purified protein were protected, and 18% of the mice challenged with DEN3 in combination with the same sera were protected. Our data suggest that the tandem domain III of the envelope protein can be used as a potential tetravalent dengue vaccine based on a single antigen.     

Protective Efficacy of a Human Endogenous Retrovirus Envelope-Coated,Nonreplicable, Baculovirus-Based Hemagglutin Vaccine against Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009

Despite the advantages of DNA vaccines, overcoming their lower efficacy relative to that of conventional vaccines remains a challenge. Here, we constructed a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) envelope-coated, nonreplicable, baculovirus-based HA vaccine against swine influenza A/California/04/2009(H1N1) hemagglutin (HA) (AcHERV-sH1N1-HA) as an alternative to conventional vaccines and evaluated its efficacy in two strains of mice, BALB/c and C57BL/6. A commercially available, killed virus vaccine was used as a positive control. Mice were intramuscularly administered AcHERV-sH1N1-HA or the commercial vaccine and subsequently given two booster injections. Compared with the commercial vaccine, AcHERV-sH1N1-HA induced significantly higher levels of cellular immune responses in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Unlike cellular immune responses, humoral immune responses depended on the strain of mice. Following immunization with AcHERV-sH1N1-HA, C57BL/6 mice showed HA-specific IgG titers 10- to 100-fold lower than those of BALB/c mice. In line with the different levels of humoral immune responses, the survival of immunized mice after intranasal challenge with sH1N1 virus (A/California/04/2009) depended on the strain. After challenge with 10-times the median lethal dose (MLD₅₀) of sH1N1 virus, 100% of BALB/c mice immunized with the commercial vaccine or AcHERV-sH1N1-HA survived. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice immunized with AcHERV-sH1N1-HA or the commercial vaccine showed 60% and 70% survival respectively, after challenge with sH1N1 virus. In all mice, virus titers and results of histological analyses of lung tissues were consistent with the survival data. Our results indicate the importance of humoral immune response as a major defense system against influenza viral infection. Moreover, the complete survival of BALB/c mice immunized with AcHERV-sH1N1-HA after challenge with sH1N1 virus suggests the potential of baculoviral vector-based vaccines to achieve an efficacy comparable to that of killed virus vaccines.     

Highly efficient induction of protective immunity by a vaccinia virus vector defective in late gene expression

Vaccinia viruses defective in the essential gene coding for the enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) do not undergo DNA replication and do not express late genes in wild-type cells. A UDG-deficient vaccinia virus vector carrying the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus prM/E gene, termed vD4-prME, was constructed, and its potential as a vaccine vector was evaluated. High-level expression of the prM/E antigens could be demonstrated in infected complementing cells, and moderate levels were found under noncomplementing conditions. The vD4-prME vector was used to vaccinate mice; animals receiving single vaccination doses as low as 10(4) PFU were fully protected against challenge with high doses of virulent TBE virus. Single vaccination doses of 10(3) PFU were sufficient to induce significant neutralizing antibody titers. With the corresponding replicating virus, doses at least 10-fold higher were needed to achieve protection. The data indicate that late gene expression of the vaccine vector is not required for successful vaccination; early vaccinia virus gene expression induces a potent protective immune response. The new vaccinia virus-based defective vectors are therefore promising live vaccines for prophylaxis and cancer immunotherapy.     

Vaccination with DNA Plasmids Expressing Gn Coupled to C3d or Alphavirus Replicons Expressing Gn Protects Mice against Rift Valley Fever Virus

Background

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an arthropod-borne viral zoonosis. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an important biological threat with the potential to spread to new susceptible areas. In addition, it is a potential biowarfare agent.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We developed two potential vaccines, DNA plasmids and alphavirus replicons, expressing the Gn glycoprotein of RVFV alone or fused to three copies of complement protein, C3d. Each vaccine was administered to mice in an all DNA, all replicon, or a DNA prime/replicon boost strategy and both the humoral and cellular responses were assessed. DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn elicited high titer neutralizing antibodies that were similar to titers elicited by the live-attenuated MP12 virus. Mice vaccinated with an inactivated form of MP12 did elicit high titer antibodies, but these antibodies were unable to neutralize RVFV infection. However, only vaccine strategies incorporating alphavirus replicons elicited cellular responses to Gn. Both vaccines strategies completely prevented weight loss and morbidity and protected against lethal RVFV challenge. Passive transfer of antisera from vaccinated mice into naïve mice showed that both DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn elicited antibodies that protected mice as well as sera from mice immunized with MP12.

Conclusion/Significance

These results show that both DNA plasmids expressing Gn-C3d and alphavirus replicons expressing Gn administered alone or in a DNA prime/replicon boost strategy are effective RVFV vaccines. These vaccine strategies provide safer alternatives to using live-attenuated RVFV vaccines for human use.     

共表达H5N1流感病毒M1和HA基因的DNA疫苗与腺病毒载体疫苗的小鼠免疫评价

为评价在小鼠体内表达流感病毒M1和HA基因诱导的免疫反应,制备共表达H5N1亚型禽流感病毒 (A/Anhui/1/2005) 全长基质蛋白1 (M1) 基因和血凝素 (HA) 基因的重组DNA疫苗pStar-M1/HA和重组腺病毒载体疫苗Ad-M1/HA,将其按初免-加强程序免疫BALB/c小鼠,共免疫4次,每次间隔14 d。第1、3次用DNA疫苗,第2、4次用重组腺病毒载体疫苗,每次免疫前及末次免疫后14 d采集小鼠血清用于检测体液免疫应答,末次免疫后14 d采集小鼠脾淋巴细胞用于检测细胞免疫应答。血凝     

Construction of sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase DNA vaccine and experimental study of its immunocontraceptive effect on mice

Lactate dehydrogenase C4 (LDHC4) is a key enzyme for sperm metabolism. It is distributed specifically in testis and is highly immunogenic. In this study, two DNA vaccines pVAX1-hLDHC and pVAX1-mLDHC were constructed by inserting coding sequences of human and mice LDHC4 into the eukaryotic ex-pression vector pVAX1. The production of LDHC4 specific antibodies was induced in the sera of vac-cinated mice and the reproductive tract secretions of vaccinated female mice through immunization by mucosal surface instillation. Furthermore, the antibody titer increased with the times of immunization. In the mating experiment, the number of newborns of the vaccinated mice reduced significantly and some immunized female mice even lost the ability to bear any offsprings, suggesting that the difference between the immunized and control mice was statistically significant. Sperm agglutination analysis indicated that both the antisera from immunized mice and the reproductive tract secretions of vacci-nated female mice could agglutinate normal sperms. Results of immunohistochemistry showed that the antibodies present in the sera of immunized mice and the reproductive tract secretions of vaccinated female mice could specifically react with LDHC4 antigen, which mainly locates in the cytoplasm, acrosome membrane externa and acrosome capsule of the sperm. Taken together, our results indicated that the constructed contraceptive DNA vaccines did yield immunocontraceptive effects on mice and this would enable clinical trials in near future.     

Effect of strain differences on the potency testing of rabies vaccines in mice

Antigenic differences between several strains of rabies virus, namely CVS, SAD and Flury (LEP) strains, were studied in cross-challenge experiments or cross-neutralization tests performed on sera of mice immunized with vaccines containing each strain. A typical wild fox virus strain was also included as challenge virus. The strain differences affected the relative potencies of the three vaccines in the European Pharmacopoeia mouse protection test for veterinary rabies vaccines, in that higher antigenic values were obtained when the vaccine strain was homologous to the challenge virus. This observation was confirmed by neutralizing antibody induction in mice.     

三个HIV-1广谱中和表位与HBV S抗原融合表达可诱导小鼠特异性抗体应答

为了增强HIV-1交叉中和表位的免疫原性,本研究使用PCR克隆技术将HIV-1三个具有一定广谱中和活性的线性抗原表位ELDKWA(简称2F5)、NWFDIT(简称4E10)和GPGRAFY(简称447-52D)基因分别融合到HBV S基因的3味端,构建了分别表达这三种融合基因的天坛株重组痘苗病毒疫苗RVJ1175S-2F5、RVJ1175S-4E10和RVJ1175S-447-52D,使用这三种重组痘苗病毒感染的细胞培养上清液经分离纯化制备了三种相应的蛋白亚单位疫苗PS-2F5、PS-4E10和PS-447-52D,对重组痘苗病毒和亚单位疫苗中三种融合抗原的生物学及免疫学特性进行了比较研究.PCR和测序结果表明,三种融合基因序列正确重组到痘苗病毒TK区,HBsAg的ELISA检测表明三种融合蛋白有效表达并分泌到细胞培养上清液中,SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳显示三种纯化后的融合蛋白均含分子量为23kD和27kD两种典型HBsAg条带,Western blot证明这两个条带均能与HBsAg抗体反应,并分别能与三种表位相应的HIV-1单抗2F5、4E10和447-52D反应.小鼠免疫结果显示,三种重组痘苗病毒疫苗和三种蛋白亚单位疫苗均能诱发较高水平的HBsAg抗体和相应HIV-1交叉中和表位抗体,蛋白亚单位疫苗诱生的这两类抗体均明显高于对应的重组痘苗病毒疫苗.这些结果为进一步研究三种表位抗体的中和活性和通过不同类型疫苗联合免疫进一步增强其免疫效果研究奠定了基础.     

The influence of the type of immunosorbent on rabies antibody EIA; advantages of purified glycoprotein over whole virus

Two types of in vitro assay (enzyme immunoassay and sero-neutralization test) for the titration of rabies antibodies were used to assay sera from mice and humans immunized with cell culture vaccines or neural tissue vaccines. Enzyme immunoassays (EIA) were performed in plates sensitized with whole virus, purified glycoprotein or purified nucleocapsid. Neutralizing antibody titres were determined by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (REFIT) and by an in vitro seroneutralization test including a rapid enzyme immunotitration of intracellular antigens (REITICA). The results obtained with sera of immunized mice and humans showed that (1) cell culture vaccines mainly induced the synthesis of antiglycoprotein neutralizing antibodies; and (2) neural tissue vaccines induced a high synthesis of antinucleocapsid non-neutralizing antibodies and a more or less important synthesis of antiglycoprotein antibodies depending on the origin of the tissue used for their preparation. Consequently, it was emphasized that when using EIA, the antibody titration must be run in glycoprotein-coated plates rather than in whole virus-coated plates to appreciate correctly the immunizing potency of a rabies vaccine, especially neural tissue vaccine.     

超抗原SEA增强小鼠对HBV DNA 疫苗的免疫反应

观察超抗原SEA(D227A)的真核表达载体(pmSEA),对HBVDNA疫苗诱导Balbc小鼠(H2d)免疫应答的调节作用。肌内注射空载体pcDNA3、HBVDNA疫苗加pmSEA佐剂(pHBVS2S+pmSEA)或不加佐剂(pHBVS2S);ELISA法测定血清抗HBs;ELISPOT检测分泌IFNγ的脾淋巴细胞;4h51Cr释放法检测小鼠脾细胞CTL活性。HBVDNA佐剂组免疫小鼠抗HBsAg抗体滴度明显高于不加佐剂组,其IgG1IgG2a的比例不同于多肽免疫组,二者分别为0.282与10。HBVDNA佐剂组均能增强IgG1和IgG2a的产生,是不加佐剂组的1.36、1.73倍。佐剂组小鼠脾淋巴细胞IFNγ的分泌量是不加佐剂组2～3倍。CTL细胞杀伤活性(E:T=100)佐剂组与不加佐剂组分别为:69.77%±7.5%、42.81%±7.7%,差异显著(P<0.05)。HBVDNA疫苗具有较强的免疫原性,能够诱导机体产生特异性的抗体及CTL反应;pmSEA佐剂能够提高小鼠对DNA疫苗的免疫应答,有望成为DNA疫苗的免疫佐剂。     

Evaluation on the Efficacy and Immunogenicity of Recombinant DNA Plasmids Expressing Spike Genes from Porcine Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus

Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PDEV) can cause severe diarrhea in pigs. Development of effective vaccines against TGEV and PEDV is one of important prevention measures. The spike (S) protein is the surface glycoprotein of TGEV and PEDV, which can induce specific neutralization antibodies and is a candidate antigen for vaccination attempts. In this study, the open reading frames of the TGEV S1 protein and in addition of the S or S1 proteins of PEDV were inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector, pIRES, resulting in recombinant plasmids, pIRES-(TGEV-S1-PEDV-S1) and pIRES-(TGEV-S1-PEDV-S). Subsequently, 6–8 weeks old Kunming mice were inoculated with both DNA plasmids. Lymphocyte proliferation assay, virus neutralization assay, IFN-γ assay and CTL activity assay were performed. TGEV/PEDV specific antibody responses as well as kinetic changes of T lymphocyte subgroups of the immunized mice were analyzed. The results showed that the recombinant DNA plasmids increased the proliferation of T lymphocytes and the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subgroups. In addition, the DNA vaccines induced a high level of IFN-γ in the immunized mice. The specific CTL activity in the pIRES-(TGEV-S1-PEDV-S) group became significant at 42 days post-immunization. At 35 days post-immunization, the recombinant DNA plasmids bearing full-length S genes of TGEV and PEDV stimulated higher levels of specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies in immunized mice.     

Protection against lethal measles virus infection in mice by immune-stimulating complexes containing the hemagglutinin or fusion protein.

The importance of each of the two surface glycoproteins of measles virus in active and passive immunization was examined in mice. Infected-cell lysates were depleted of either the hemagglutinin (H) or fusion (F) glycoprotein by using multiple cycles of immunoaffinity chromatography. The products were used to prepare immune-stimulating complexes (iscoms) containing either F or H glycoprotein. Such complexes are highly immunogenic, possibly as a result of effective presentation of viral proteins to the immune system [B. Morein, B. Sundquist, S. H?glund, K. Dalsgaard, and A. Osterhaus, Nature (London) 308:457-460, 1984]. Groups of 3-week-old BALB/c mice were inoculated with the iscom preparations. All animals developed hemolysis-inhibiting antibodies, whereas only sera of animals immunized with the iscoms containing the H glycoprotein had hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies. Sera from animals immunized with the H or F preparation only precipitated the homologous glycoprotein in radioimmune precipitation assays. The immunized animals were challenged with a lethal dose of the hamster neurotropic variant of measles virus. Of the 7-week-old animals in the nonimmunized control group, 50% died within 10 days after challenge. No animals in the immunized groups showed symptoms of disease throughout the observation period of 3 months. Passive administration of anti-H monoclonal antibodies gave full protection against the 100% lethal acute infection with the hamster neurotropic variant of measles virus in newborn mice, whereas anti-F monoclonal antibodies failed to protect the animals. This study emphasizes that both H and F glycoproteins need to be considered in the development of measles virus subunit vaccines.     

Protective immunity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis>-synthesized NS1 protein of Japanese encephalitis virus

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of recombinant Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) NS1 proteins generated using DNA vaccines and recombinant viruses have been demonstrated to induce protection in mice against a challenge of JEV at a lethal dose. The West Nile virus NS1 region expressed in E. coli is recognized by these protective monoclonal antibodies and, in this study, we compare immunogenicity and protective immunity of the E. coli-synthesized NS1 protein with another protective immunogen, the envelope domain III (ED3). Pre-challenge, detectable titers of JEV-specific neutralizing antibody were detected in the immunized mice with E. coli-synthesized ED3 protein (PRNT50 = 1:28) and the attenuated JEV strain T1P1 (PRNT50 = 1:53), but neutralizing antibodies were undetectable in the immunized mice with E. coli-synthesized NS1 protein (PRNT50 < 1:10). However, the survival rate of the NS1-immunized mice against the JEV challenge was 87.5% (7/8), showing significantly higher levels of protection than the ED3-immunized mice, 62.5% (5/8) (P = 0.041). In addition, E. coli-synthesized NS1 protein induced a significant increase of anti-NS1 IgG1 antibodies, resulting in an ELISA titer of 100,1000 in the immunized sera before lethal JEV challenge. Surviving mice challenged with the virulent JEV strain Beijing-1 showed a ten-fold or greater rise in IgG1 and IgG2b titers of anti-NS1 antibodies, implying that the Th2 cell activation might be predominantly responsible for antibody responses and mice protection.