Cell-mediated immune responses induced by BHV-1: rational vaccine design

Abstract

Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) is one of the major respiratory pathogens in cattle worldwide. Although antibodies have been correlated with protection and recovery from BHV-1 infection, the cell-mediated immune response is also a critical defense mechanism because cell-to-cell spread occurs before hematogenous spread. Furthermore, induction of robust T-cell memory is critical for the long-term duration of immunity. Among current commercial vaccines, the attenuated conventional vaccines induce a balanced immune response and long-term memory but may result in viral shedding. By contrast, inactivated vaccines primarily elicit a humoral immune response and relative short-term memory. These vaccines do not allow differentiation of vaccinated from infected cattle. Recent efforts are focusing on the development of vaccines that induce a balanced immune response and long-term memory, as well as having differentiation markers. This includes well-defined genetically engineered gene-deleted, subunit and vectored vaccines.

Keywords::

• bovine herpesvirus-1
• cell-mediated immunity
• humoral immunity
• vaccine

Acknowledgements

I thank all current and previous members of my laboratory, my colleagues and the animal care group at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization who contributed to this work. Work in my laboratory is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Krembil Foundation, Agricultural Development Fund (Saskatchewan), Alberta Agricultural Research Institute, Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund (British Columbia) Ontario Cattlemen’s Association and Beef Cattle Research Council.