RECEPTOR-BINDING SITE-DELETED FOOT-AND-MOUTH-DISEASE (FMD) VIRUS PROTECTS CATTLE FROM FMD

Binding of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) to cells requires an ar ginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence in the capsid protein VP1. We have genetically engineered an FMDV in which these three amino aci ds have been deleted, producing a virus particle which is unable to bi nd to cells. Cattle vaccinated with these receptor binding site-delete d virions were protected from disease when challenged with a virulent virus, demonstrating that these RGD deleted viruses could serve as the basis for fool-and-mouth disease vaccines safer than those currently in use. This strategy may prove useful in the development of vaccines for other viral diseases.