Baculovirus expression of the M genome segment of Rift Valley fever virus and examination of antigenic and immunogenic properties of the expressed proteins

Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis viral recombinants containing coding information for the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) envelope glycoproteins (G1 and 132) and varying amounts of preglycoprotein coding sequences were prepared by using transfer vectors pAc373 or pAcYM1. Expression products were processed to yield proteins indistinguishable from authentic G1 and G2 by gel electrophoresis. The immunogenic properties of the expressed proteins were assessed by immunizing mice and challenging with RVFV. A single inoculation with lysates of cells infected with recombinants expressing both G1 and G2 induced neutralizing antibody responses in mice and protected them from an otherwise lethal challenge with RVFV. Lysates of cells infected with a recombinant expressing only G2 also induced a protective response after two immunizations. Survivors displayed elevated antibody titers to G1 and G2 and also developed antibodies to the RVFV nucleocapsid protein, the latter allowing discrimination from vaccinated mice and indicating that animals had survived infection. Nonimmune mice were protected from lethal RVFV infection by passive transfer of sera from animals immunized with recombinant antigens, indicating that a humoral immune response is sufficient to protect against RVFV.