RECOMBINANT AND VIRION-DERIVED SOLUBLE AND PARTICULATE IMMUNOGENS FORVACCINATION AGAINST TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS

Using different forms of the envelope glycoprotein E from tick-borne e ncephalitis virus we investigated the influence of physical and antige nic structure on the efficacy of vaccination. Different protein E-cont aining preparations were either derived from purified virions or were produced as recombinant protein in COS cells. These included soluble d imeric forms (virion-derived protein E dimers with and without membran e anchor; recombinant protein E dimers without membrane anchor), micel lar aggregates of protein E (rosettes), and recombinant subviral parti cles (RSPs). The structural differences between these immunogens were verified by sedimentation analysis, immunoblotting and epitope mapping with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Specific immunogenicities were determined in mice in comparison to formalin-inactivated whole virus. Rosettes and RSPs were excellent immunogens and exhibited similar eff icacies as inactivated virus in terms of antibody induction and protec tion against challenge, whereas all of the soluble forms were much les s immunogenic. These data emphasize the importance of the immunogen's antigenic and physical structure for an effective stimulation of the i mmune system and indicate that RSPs represent an excellent candidate f or a recombinant vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis.