A New Vaccine Candidate Expressing JUNV GP1–GP2 Against Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever Based on Baculovirus Surface Display

Abstract

With the aim of developing a new vaccine candidate using a recombinant baculovirus (rBV) expressing the Junín virus (JUNV) GP1 and GP2 proteins on its surface, a pBacPAK9 vector containing the BV-GP64 signal peptide, the JUNV GP1– GP2 and the transmembrane domain of the vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G) protein were synthesized. This plasmid was co-transfected with the bApGOZA bacmid into Sf9 cells. The rBV was recovered from the supernatant. Protein expression was confirmed with a human serum by Western blot and with an anti-GPC monoclonal antibody by IFI staining and virometry. In an ELISA test, mice immunized with rBV exhibited specific antibody levels that also showed neutralizing properties in a plaque reduction test compared to controls. Guinea pigs immunized with rBV and challenged with JUNV showed partial protection compared to the Candid#1 vaccine. We have developed an rBV surface display platform to validate a potential JUNV vaccine candidate.