3.2 A VLPs-ISPA vaccine confers total protection against FMDV in a
murine model
The protective efficacy of the inclusion of ISPA as adjuvant in a VLPs
vaccine (VLPs-ISPA) was tested in mice. Groups of mice were vaccinated
with VLPs, VLPs-ISPA, VLPs-CA, Commercial vaccine, CA alone, ISPA alone
or PBS (negative controls) at 0 and 21 dpv. Then, mice were challenged
with infective FMDV at 36 dpv (Figure 2). Notably, while protection with
VLPs alone was achieved in 40% of mice, inclusion of ISPA in the
formulation increased protection levels to 100% as well as with the
VLPs-CA and commercial vaccines. Animals inoculated with CA, ISPA or PBS
were not protected, indicating that the viral challenge was conducted
properly and indicates that protection depends on the inclusion of
antigen in the vaccine.