EXPRESSION AND PROPERTIES OF FELINE HERPESVIRUS TYPE-1 GD (HEMAGGLUTININ) BY A RECOMBINANT BACULOVIRUS

We constructed a recombinant baculovirus expressing feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) go in insect cells (Sf9 cells). The expressed product was identified as FHV-1 go by a panel of monoclonal antibodies specifi c for the FHV-1 go, and had an apparent molecular mass of approximatel y 49 kDa, which was less than that of the authentic FHV-1 go. When the FHV-1 go protein were expressed in Sf9 cells and CRFK cells in the pr esence of tunicamycin, the FHV-1 go exhibited a molecular mass of 41 k Da. It was shown that the go protein was transported to the surface of recombinant virus-infected Sf9 cells when examined by membrane-immuno fluorescence analysis, and that the go expressed on the surface of Sf9 cells adsorbed feline erythrocytes. Mice inoculated with a lysate of Sf9 cells expressing FHV-1 go induced antibodies with virus-neutralizi ng and hemagglutination-inhibition activities. Therefore, the expresse d go appears to be biologically authentic. These data suggested that r ecombinant FKV-1 go produced in Sf9 cells may be a useful immunogen as a feline vaccine. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science B.V.