Construction and immunogenicity of a recombinant pseudorabies virus co-expressing porcine circovirus type 2 capsid protein and interleukin 18

•A recombinant PRV virus expressing PCV2 ORF2 and IL-18 was constructed.•The recombinant PRV virus could protect mice from PCV2 and PRV challenge.•The recombinant virus may be useful for preventing PCV2 and PRV associated diseases in pigs.

A novel recombinant pseudorabies virus (PRV) expressing porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) capsid protein and IL-18 was constructed. The PCV2 open reading frame 2 (ORF2) and porcine IL-18 genes were amplified by PCR and then inserted into the PRV transfer vector (pG) to produce a recombinant plasmid (pGO18). Plasmid pGO18 was transfected into porcine kidney cell (PK15) pre-infected with PRV HB98 vaccine strain to generate a recombinant virus. The recombinant virus PRV-ORF2-IL18 was purified by green fluorescent plaque purification and the inserts were confirmed by PCR, enzyme digestion, sequencing, and Western blot. The humoral and cellular responses induced by the recombinant virus were assessed in mice. Mice (n = 10) were immunized with PRV-ORF2-IL18, PRV-ORF2, PRV HB98, or inactivated PCV2. PRV-ORF2-IL18 elicited high titers of ELISA and serum neutralizing antibodies and strong cell-mediated immune responses in mice as indicated by anti-PCV2 ELISA, PRV-neutralizing assay, PCV2 specific lymphocyte proliferation assay, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes analysis, respectively. And PRV-ORF2-IL18 immunization protected mice against a lethal challenge of a virulent PRV Fa strain and significantly reduced the amount of PCV2 viremia. These results suggest an adjuvant effect of IL-18 on cellular immune responses. The recombinant virus might be an attractive candidate vaccine for preventing PCV2 and PRV infections in pigs.