Objective: To evaluate the immune response, of mice immunized with E1, E3 deleted replicative deficient recombinant adenovirus which can express glycoprotein of Chinese 3aG rabies virus.
Methods: Rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) was used to determine the titer of neutralizing antibodies; specific antigen induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation was determined by in vitro 3H-TdR in-corporation assay, and lethal intracerebral challenge with CVS rabies virus was used to evaluate the protective effectiveness of the recombinant virus as candidate vaccine.
Results: Mice immunized by 1 x 10(7) recombinant virus developed high levels of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (VNA). The spleen lymphocyte of the immunized mice also demonstrated remarkable increased proliferation after stimulation with inactivated rabies virus; 70%-90% of the mice immunized by the recombinant virus were protected from lethal intracerebral challenge with CVS rabies virus.
Conclusion: E1, E3 deleted replication defective recombinant adenovirus containing 3aG glycoprotein gene may be developed as effective rabies vaccine to control rabies in China.