Nipah virus (NiV) is a re-emerging zoonotic pathogen that causes high mortality in humans and pigs. Oral immunization in free-roaming animals is one of the most practical approaches to prevent NiV pandemics. We previously generated a recombinant rabies viruses (RABV) Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth (ERA) strain, rERAG_{333E}, which contains a mutation from arginine to glutamic acid at residue 333 of glycoprotein (G_{333E}) and serves as an oral vaccine for dog rabies. In this study, we generated two recombinant RABVs, rERAG_{333E}/NiVG and rERAG_{333E}/NiVF, expressing the NiV Malaysian strain attachment glycoprotein (NiV-G) or fusion glycoprotein (NiV-F) gene based on the rERAG_{333E} vector platform. Both rERAG_{333E}/NiVG and rERAG_{333E}/NiVF displayed growth properties similar to those of rERAG_{333E} and caused marked syncytia formation after co-infection in BSR cell culture. Adult and suckling mice intracerebrally inoculated with the recombinant RABVs showed NiV-G and NiV-F expression did not increase the virulence of rERAG_{333E}. Oral vaccination with rERAG_{333E}/NiVG either singularly or combined with rERAG_{333E}/NiVF induced significant NiV neutralizing antibody against NiV and RABV, and IgG to NiV-G or NiV-F in mice and pigs. rERAG_{333E}/NiVG and rERAG_{333E}/NiVF thus appeared to be suitable candidates for further oral vaccines for potential animal targets in endemic areas of NiV disease and rabies.
【저자키워드】 Oral vaccine, Nipah virus, fusion glycoprotein, Attachment glycoprotein, Rabies virus.,