The truncated E protein of DTMUV provide protection in young ducks

•C-terminally truncated E protein, prM-E and E proteins were constructed and applied as subunit vaccine candidates.•The constructed proteins could induce specific antibody responses and provide full protection against DTMUV infection.•The truncated E protein was suggested to be able to serve as a practical subunit vaccine candidate. Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is a major pathogen of duck industry in China. In the current study, we generated different constructs containing envelope (E) protein, pre-membrane-envelope (prM-E) protein, and C-terminally truncated E protein of the DTMUV. The constructed proteins could induce specific antibody responses in young ducks. When ducklings were immunized with the constructed proteins, they were 100% protected against DTMUV infection. Furthermore, the fluorescent signal of the truncated E protein was stronger than other constructed proteins, when Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system was applied. Our data demonstrated that the truncated E protein used in the current study could be applied as a potential vaccine candidate to control DTMUV infection in young ducks.