EXPRESSION IN BACULOVIRUS VECTOR SYSTEM OF THE NUCLEOCAPSID PROTEIN GENE OF RINDERPEST VIRUS

The rinderpest (RV) nucleocapsid (NP) gene segment was inserted into t he genome of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) adjacent to the polyhedrin promoter. The expression of NP protein in Sf9 cells was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence and by Western blotting analysis with monoclonal antibodies. Recombinant RV-NP protei n was purified by ultracentrifugation on a sucrose density gradient, a nd used as an antibody. Both IgM and InG antibodies against RV-NP were detected in the sera of rabbits infected with the L strain of RV. The pattern of development of IgG anti RV-NP antibody closely correlated with that of virus neutralizing antibody. In rabbits inoculated with r ecombinant-vaccinia virus expressing RV-H gene (RRV-H), anti RV-NP was not detected. The results indicated that the baculovirus vector syste m can be used for the preparation of the diagnostic antigen of rinderp est as well as to distinguish between natural infection and vaccinatio n with RRV-H.