VP5-deficient mutant virus induced protection against challenge with very virulent infectious bursal disease virus of chickens

A mutant infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) deficient in expressing VP5, rGx-F9VP2ΔVP5, was generated using reverse genetics technology. In comparison to the characteristics of rGx-F9VP2 virus in vitro, the mutant virus demonstrated lower viral titer and cytopathogenicity. To understand the role of VP5 in the pathogenicity of IBDV in vivo, animal experiments were conducted. rGx-F9VP2ΔVP5 caused reduced bursal lesion of SPF chickens compared to rGx-F9VP2. Although rGx-F9VP2ΔVP5 induced lower serum antibody than rGx-F9VP2 did, both inoculated groups were fully protected against vvIBDV challenge 4 weeks post-inoculation. In addition, immunosuppression induced by VP5-deficient virus was studied in 2-week-old SPF chickens immunized with AIV inactivated vaccine. And there was reduced immunosuppression as shown in our experimental results. The results showed that AIV hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies of the rGx-F9VP2ΔVP5 inoculated group were similar to those of the mock-inoculated group, however, they were higher than those of the rGx-F9VP2 inoculated group, indicating that deficiency of VP5 decreased the immunosuppression of rGx-F9VP2ΔVP5 in chickens. All data indicated that VP5 played an important role in viral replication and pathogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. The VP5-deficient mutant virus could be a good candidate as a marked vaccine.