Transfer of Anti-Rotavirus Antibodies during Pregnancy and in Milk Following Maternal Vaccination with a Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Amplicon Vector

Meier, Anita F.; Suter, Mark; Schraner, Elisabeth M.; Humbel, Bruno M.; Tobler, Kurt; Ackermann, Mathias; Laimbacher, Andrea S.

Here, we show that the transduction of cells in vitro with the HSV-1 amplicon vector that delivers a DNA cassette encoding a single polycistronic messenger RNA, which contains the coding sequences of the three capsid proteins VP2, VP6, and VP7 triggers the synthesis of all three encoded RV proteins. Moreover, these proteins assemble into RVLPs within the transduced cells. When administered intramuscularly, the RV protein encoding HSV-1 amplicon vectors induce a RV specific antibody response detected in sera as well as in milk of vaccinated dams and in addition in sera of their unvaccinated offspring nursed by vaccinated animals. Although lactogenic transfer of RV specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the pups of vaccinated dams occurred, full protection of the newborn against RV induced symptoms was not achieved under the present experimental conditions.