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Author Analytic: Rehtanz, M.;G.D. Bossart; B. Doescher; A. Rector; M. Van Ranst; P.A. Fair; A.B. Jenson; S-J. Ghim
Center: CCEHBR
Title Analytic: Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) papillomaviruses: Vaccine antigen candidates and screening test development
Journal Title: Veterinary Microbiology
Date of Publication: 2009
Volume ID: 133
Issue ID: 1, 2
Location In Work: 43-53
 Location URL: doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.06.017
Keywords: Papillomavirus prevalence; TtPV vaccine; Serological screening test; Bottlenose dolphin; Tursiops truncatus
 Availability: Pat.Fair@noaa.gov
Type: Journal Article
 Abstract: Papillomaviruses (PVs) have been shown to be the etiologic agents of various benign and malignant tumours in many vertebrate species. A high prevalence of orogenital tumours has recently been documented in dolphins and porpoises, in which at least three novel species-specific PV types were detected. To determine the prevalence of PV infection in bottlenose dolphins in the future, we developed a serological PV screening test. Using the baculovirus expression system, virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from the L1 proteins of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin PV types 1 and 2 [Tursiops truncatus (Tt) PV1 and -2] were generated. Polyclonal TtPV VLP antibodies were produced in rabbits and the antibody specificity for the VLPs was confirmed. Pilot Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) studies revealed that the generated VLPs self-assembled into particles presenting conformational immunodominant epitopes, resulting in potential vaccine antigen candidates. Subsequently, the VLPs served as antigens in initial ELISA tests using six bottlenose dolphin sera to investigate PV antibody presence. Three of these sera, derived from dolphins with a genital tumour history, showed positive PV ELISA reactivity, while the remaining sera were PV antibody-negative. The results suggest that the developed screening test represents a potential tool to determine PV prevalence and to observe transmission rates in dolphin populations as the significance of PV infection in cetaceans starts to unfold.
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