ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF BOVINE TYPE III INTERFERON AGAINST FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS

摘要

A member of the bovine type-III IFN family, boIFN-λ3, is identified and characterized. We have expressed boIFN-λ3 using a recombinant replication defective human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) and demonstrated antiviral activity against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in bovine cells in vitro. Furthermore, we have tested the efficacy of boIFN-λ3 against FMDV in vivo by inoculation of cattle with Ad5-boIFN-λ3 followed by intradermolingual or aerosol virus challenge. Our results demonstrate that the type-III IFN family is conserved in bovines and that treatment of cattle with boIFN-λ3 alone or in combination with IFN-α is able to confer delayed and reduced severity of FMD. Inoculation with Ad5-boIFN-λ3 alone conferred full protection against aerosol challenge for at least 7 days after administration, suggesting possible therapy filling one of the current gaps in emergency vaccination against FMDV.