Porcine IL-12 plasmid as an adjuvant improves the cellular and humoral immune responses of DNA vaccine targeting transmissible gastroenteritis virus spike gene in a mouse model

LI, Xunliang; LI, Pengchong; CAO, Liyan; BAI, Yunyun; CHEN, Huijie; LIU, He; REN, Xiaofeng; LI, Guangxing

KEY WORDS: adjuvant, DNA vaccine, porcine interleukin-12 gene, spike protein, transmissible gastroenteritis virus Transmissible gastroenteritis is a highly infectious and acute digestive disease caused by transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) infection. The classical symptoms of this disease include severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. Swine of different ages and breeds are susceptible to TGEV infection. TGEV is often isolated in cases of poly-infections involving other pathogens and mainly infects piglets. The mortality rate can be as high as 100% and may decline as the animal gets older; however, the decrease in the feed utilization of infected animals may have huge economic consequences [11, 16] .