Use of a Sindbis virus DNA-based expression vector for induction of protective immunity against pseudorabies virus in pigs

Injection of plasmid DNA encoding pseudorabies virus (PRV) glycoproteins into pig muscle has been shown to result in protective immunity against lethal infection. Nevertheless, such DNA vaccines are still less efficient than some attenuated or killed live vaccines. One way to increase DNA vaccine efficacy is to improve the vectorisation system at the molecular level, thereby enhancing the rate of in vivo-produced immunogen protein and consequently specific acquired immunity. The present study compared the effectiveness of the protein expression system depending on Sindbis virus (SIN) replicase [J. Virol. 70 (1996) 508] with that of more classical pcDNA3 plasmid. Pigs were vaccinated twice at 3-week interval with a mixture of three pcDNA3 plasmids expressing gB, gC and gD (designated as PRV-pcDNA3) or a mixture of three SIN plasmids expressing the same glycoproteins (PRV-pSINCP), and were challenged with a highly virulent PRV strain. The two DNA vaccines induced PRV-specific T cell-mediated immune response characterized by very low levels of IFN-gamma mRNA in PBMC after in vitro antigen-specific stimulation. Very low levels of neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were also obtained in sera following DNA injection(s). A second DNA injection did not boost immune responses. After a lethal challenge, high levels of IFN-gamma mRNA and high NAb response were induced in all DNA-vaccinated pigs, regardless of the vector used. Therefore, the two eukaryotic expression systems showed comparable efficacy in inducing antiviral immunity and clinical protection against PRV in pigs. This suggests that SIN DNA-based vector immunizing potential may differ according to antigen and/or host.     

Enhanced protective response and immuno-adjuvant effects of porcine GM-CSF on DNA vaccination of pigs against Aujeszky’s disease virus

This study was conducted to investigate whether the co-delivery of DNA encoding porcine cytokines would enhance a protective immune response in pigs to a Pseudorabies virus (PRV; or Aujeszky’s disease virus) DNA vaccine. Aujeszky’s disease in pigs results in respiratory and nervous symptoms with important economic losses. To evaluate cytokine effects, eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed for porcine GM-CSF, IL-2 and IFN-γ. cDNA for each of these cytokines was inserted under the control of a CMV promoter in the pcDNA3 plasmid and cytokine expression was confirmed after DNA transfection in various mammalian cell cultures by bioassays (GM-CSF and IL2) and ELISA (IFN-γ). Pigs were vaccinated by single intramuscular injection with plasmid DNA encoding PRV gB and gD along with various combinations of cytokine plasmid constructs. Pig serum was tested for the production of antibody by isotype specific anti-PRV ELISA. Pigs were then challenged with the highly virulent PRV strain NIA3 on day 21 after vaccination. The survival and growth rate of pigs were monitored for seven days after the viral challenge. The co-administration of GM-CSF plasmid increased the immune response induced by gB and gD PRV DNA vaccine. This immune response was characterized by an earlier appearance of anti-PRV IgG2, a significantly enhanced anti-PRV IgG1 and IgG2 antibody response, a significantly decreased and shortened viral excretion in nasal swabs and an improved protection to the viral challenge. In contrast, the co-administration of porcine IL-2 or IFN-γ had no adjuvant effects. Our results thus demonstrate for the first time that the application of porcine GM-CSF gene in a DNA vaccine formulation can exert immuno-adjuvant and protective effects with single vaccination in the natural host pig against Aujeszky’s disease.     

Potency of an experimental DNA vaccine against Aujeszky's disease in pigs

Intradermal vaccination with plasmid DNA encoding envelope glycoprotein C (gC) of pseudorabies virus (PrV) conferred protection of pigs against Aujeszky's disease when challenged with strain 75V19, but proved to be inadequate for protection against the highly virulent strain NIA-3. To improve the performance of the DNA vaccine, animals were vaccinated intradermally with a combination of plasmids expressing PrV glycoproteins gB, gC, gD, or gE under control of the major immediate-early promotor/enhancer of human cytomegalovirus. 12.5 microg per plasmid were used per immunization of 5-week old piglets which were injected three times at biweekly intervals. Five out of six animals survived a lethal challenge with strain NIA-3 without exhibiting central nervous signs, whereas all the control animals succumbed to the disease. This result shows the increased protection afforded by administration of the plasmid mixture over vaccination with a gC expressing plasmid alone. A comparative trial was performed using commercially available inactivated and modified-live vaccines and a mixture of plasmids expressing gB, gC, and gD. gE was omitted to conform with current eradication strategies based on gE-deleted vaccines. All six animals vaccinated with the live vaccine survived the lethal NIA-3 challenge without showing severe clinical signs. In contrast, five of six animals immunized with the inactivated vaccine died, as did two non-vaccinated controls. In this test, three of six animals vaccinated with the DNA vaccine survived without severe clinical signs, whereas three succumbed to the disease. Comparing weight reduction and virus excretion, the DNA vaccine also ranged between the inactivated and modified-live vaccines. Thus, administration of DNA constructs expressing different PrV glycoproteins was superior to an adjuvanted inactivated vaccine but less effective than an attenuated live vaccine in protection of pigs against PrV infection. Our data suggest a potential use of DNA vaccination in circumstances which do not allow administration of live attenuated vaccines.     

Successful pseudorabies vaccination in maternally immune piglets using recombinant vaccinia virus vaccines

Three gilts were vaccinated with a NYVAC vaccinia recombinant expressing glycoprotein gD of pseudorabies virus (PRV) (NYVAC/gD). After farrowing, the piglets were allowed to nurse normally to obtain colostral immunity and then were divided into four groups, receiving NYVAC/gD, a NYVAC recombinant expressing glycoprotein gB of PRV (NYVAC/gB), an inactivated PRV vaccine (iPRV), or no vaccine. The piglets were vaccinated twice, three weeks apart beginning at approximately two weeks of age and later challenged with virulent PRV oronasally. Piglets that received NYVAC/gB or iPRV were the best protected based on lack of mortality, lower temperature responses, decreased weight loss and decreased viral shedding after challenge. These results indicate effective strategies for stimulating active immune response while still under the protection of maternal immunity.     

猪伪狂犬病病毒JSSQ2013株的分离鉴定及重要功能基因序列分析

为了解江苏省猪伪狂犬病病毒(Pseudorabies virus,PRV)野毒株的特点,本研究从2013年采自江苏省宿迁市的疑似PRV感染病料中分离纯化了一株PRV病毒,对其进行了PCR和间接免疫荧光法(IFA)鉴定,并进一步在Vero细胞上测定该分离株的病毒滴度TCID50和一步生长曲线,扩增其gB、gC、gD和gE基因进行序列比对及分子遗传进化分析,并将该分离株分别接种新西兰白兔和15日龄仔猪研究其致病性。结果显示,该病毒为一株PRV,命名为PRV JSSQ2013株,纯化后的病毒滴度为10^7.8 TCID50/ml;生长曲线测定显示在感染20h后病毒滴度即达到最高,为10^8.6 TCID50/ml。与我国近几年分离的PRV变异株序列相比,PRV JSSQ2013株的gB、gC、gD和gE基因核苷酸序列同源性分别为99.5~99.6%、99.5~99.6%、99.5~99.6%和98.7~99.7%,氨基酸序列同源性分别为98.9~99.0%、99.5~99.7%、99.0~99.2%和98.1~99.3%,均高于其与经典毒株(Ea、Fa和SC株)和欧美毒株(Becker、Kaplan、Bartha、Kolchis和NIA3)的同源性;基于gB、gC、gD和gE基因的遗传进化树分析均显示PRV JSSQ2013株与国内近几年分离的PRV变异株属同一分支。该病毒接种新西兰白兔后均出现典型的PR症状,如厌食、兴奋、啃咬或用爪挠接种部位等典型症状,且在48h内全部死亡;接种仔猪后第1天开始出现典型的PR症状,第5天全部死亡。以上结果证实,从江苏省宿迁市采集的疑似PRV感染病料中分离到一株强毒力的PRV变异株。本研究为了解江苏PRV分子流行特征、丰富我国PRV分子流行病学资料及新型疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

Use of DNA and recombinant canarypox viral (ALVAC) vectors for equine herpes virus vaccination

In this study, experimental canarypox virus (ALVAC) and plasmid DNA recombinant vaccines expressing the gB, gC and gD glycoproteins of EHV-1 were assessed for their ability to protect conventional ponies against a respiratory challenge with EHV-1. In addition, potential means of enhancing serological responses in horses to ALVAC and DNA vaccination were explored. These included co-administration of the antigen with conventional adjuvants, complexation with DMRIE-DOPE and co-expression of the antigen along with equine GM-CSF. Groups of EHV primed ponies were vaccinated twice intra-muscularly with one dose of the appropriate test vaccine at an interval of 5 weeks. Two to 3 weeks after the second vaccination, ponies were infected intra-nasally with the virulent Ab4 strain of EHV-1 after which they were observed clinically and sampled for virological investigations. The results demonstrated that DNA and ALVAC vaccination markedly reduced virus excretion after challenge in terms of duration and magnitude, but failed to protect against cell-associated viremia. Noteworthy was the almost complete absence of virus excretion in the group of ponies vaccinated with ALVAC-EHV in the presence of Carbopol adjuvant or DNA plasmid formulated with aluminium phosphate. The administration of the DNA vaccine in the presence of GM-CSF and formulated in DMRIE-DOPE and of the ALVAC vaccine in the presence of Carbopol adjuvant significantly improved virus neutralising antibody responses to EHV-1. These findings indicate that DNA and ALVAC vaccination is a promising approach for the immunological control of EHV-1 infection, but that more research is needed to identify the immunodominant protective antigens of EHV-1 and their interaction with the equine immune system.     

Vaccine-induced T cell-mediated immunity plays a critical role in early protection against pseudorabies virus (suid herpes virus type 1) infection in pigs

The aim of our study was to evaluate the relative importance of antibody and T cell-mediated immunity in protection against pseudorabies virus (suid herpes virus type 1) infection in pigs. We induced different levels of immune responses by using: (1) a modified live vaccine; (2) the same modified live vaccine with an oil-in-water (o/w) adjuvant; (3) an inactivated vaccine; and (4) the same inactivated vaccine with an o/w adjuvant. Subsequently, we challenged pigs with virulent pseudorabies virus (PRV). We demonstrated that best-protected pigs stood out by maintaining strong T cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses after challenge. Of the immune parameters tested, protection against virus shedding was correlated best with the magnitude of the IFN-gamma response of in vitro re-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with an additional role for PRV-specific IgG2 antibodies. The use of an o/w adjuvant resulted in higher antibody and CMI responses, in particular with an increased frequency of memory T helper blast cells of in vitro re-stimulated PBMC. However, this adjuvant-induced enhancement of the immune response had a limited additional effect on the efficacy of inactivated vaccines. This study suggests a major contribution of the CMI response in early protection against PRV infection and that PRV-induced IFN-gamma responses may serve as a suitable indicator for assessing the immune status of vaccinated pigs.     

Isolation,Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Important Functional Genes of Porcine Pseudorabies Virus LC Strain

To find out the reason of the reproductive failure in pregnant sows in a hoggery in Guangdong, the mixture with brain, lymph nodes and lungs of farm abortion stillbirth were identified by PCR, virus isolation and culture, tissue culture infective dose (TCID₅₀) assay, homology and phylogenetic analysis of the important functional genes (gB, gC, gD and gE) and animal test. The results showed that the mixture was proved to be porcine pseudorabies virus (PRV) positive samples. The typical cytopathogenic effect was induced in the third passage of Vero cell and the titer of the fifth passage was 10^-6.8/0.1 mL. The sequence analysis and phylogenetic relationship of gB, gC, gD and gE genes showed that it was a Chinese PRV variant, which was named as LC strain. The typical pseudorabies clinical and pathological symptoms were presented in 12-week-old piglets inoculated with LC strain. The results demonstrated that a local pseudorabies virus had been isolated, suggesting that the Bartha-K61 vaccine was not fully effective for controlling the current epidemic of pseudorabies in China.     

猪伪狂犬病病毒LC株的分离鉴定及其重要功能基因的进化分析

为确诊广东某猪场母猪流产发病原因,本研究收集该猪场流产死胎的脑、淋巴结、肺脏混合液,进行PCR鉴定、病毒分离培养、半数组织培养感染剂量（tissue culture infective dose,TCID₅₀）测定、猪伪狂犬病病毒（pseudorabies virus,PRV）重要功能基因（gB、gC、gD、gE）序列测定和进化分析及动物回归试验。结果显示,病料混合液为PRV阳性,接种Vero细胞传至第3代即出现稳定的细胞病变（CPE）,第5代TCID₅₀达到10^-6.8/0.1 mL,PRV gB、gC、gD、gE基因序列测定、同源性及进化树分析显示为,PRV中国变异株,命名为LC株。动物试验显示,LC株对12周龄猪具有一定致病性,可形成PRV典型临床症状及病理变化。本研究分离到一株PRV流行毒株,推测当前使用疫苗Bartha-K61株尚无法完全控制新毒株的流行。     

猪伪狂犬病病毒gD核酸疫苗构建及IL-15基因佐剂对其免疫增强试验

运用PCR技术扩增出伪狂犬病病毒糖蛋白gD基因,将该基因定向克隆于真核表达载体pcDNA3.1+、pCI-neo中,命名重组质粒为pcD-gD、pCI-gD.以小鼠为动物模型,对构建的基因疫苗进行免疫原性的初步评价.为了证明细胞因子是否能增强基因疫苗的免疫效力,本试验用IL-15的表达质粒联合pcD-gD、pCI-gD免疫.结果表明,重组质粒组主要提高细胞免疫水平,特别是联合组中的CD8~+相对其他组别较高.重组质粒在体液免疫方面没有表现出优势,抗体滴度达不到阳性对照组的水平,但是整个抗体水平相对稳定,提示DNA疫苗诱导的抗体维持时间较长.     

Antibody and cellular immune responses following DNA vaccination and EHV-1 infection of ponies

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is the cause of serious disease with high economic impact on the horse industry, as outbreaks of EHV-1 disease occur every year despite the frequent use of vaccines. Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) are important for protection from primary and reactivating latent EHV-1 infection. DNA vaccination is a powerful technique for stimulating CTLs, and the aim of this study was to assess antibody and cellular immune responses and protection resulting from DNA vaccination of ponies with combinations of EHV-1 genes. Fifteen ponies were divided into three groups of five ponies each. Two vaccination groups were DNA vaccinated on four different occasions with combinations of plasmids encoding the gB, gC, and gD glycoproteins or plasmids encoding the immediate early (IE) and early proteins (UL5) of EHV-1, using the PowderJect XR research device. Total dose of DNA/plasmid/vaccination were 25 microg. A third group comprised unvaccinated control ponies. All ponies were challenge infected with EHV-1 6 weeks after the last vaccination, and protection from clinical disease, viral shedding, and viremia was determined. Virus neutralizing antibodies and isotype specific antibody responses against whole EHV-1 did not increase in either vaccination group in response to vaccination. However, glycoprotein gene vaccinated ponies showed gD and gC specific antibody responses. Vaccination did not affect EHV-1 specific lymphoproliferative or CTL responses. Following challenge infection with EHV-1, ponies in all three groups showed clinical signs of disease. EHV-1 specific CTLs, proliferative responses, and antibody responses increased significantly in all three groups following challenge infection. In summary, particle-mediated EHV-1 DNA vaccination induced limited immune responses and protection. Future vaccination strategies must focus on generating stronger CTL responses.     

Effects of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection on the development of the immune response against pseudorabies virus

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection on the development of the immune response after pseudorabies virus (PRV) vaccination in pigs. Pigs were intranasally inoculated with the European PRRSV strain, Lelystad virus ter Huurne, and were vaccinated intramuscularly with PRV 2 weeks later (LV-PRV group). Control pigs were vaccinated with PRV only (PRV group). Eight weeks after PRV vaccination, pigs from both groups were challenged intranasally with wild-type PRV. We measured the lymphoproliferative, and the cytolytic responses to PRV of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), isolated from blood samples. In addition, serum samples were examined for antibodies against PRV and LV. One week after PRV vaccination, PBMC proliferated abundantly to PRV in both groups. However, in the LV-PRV group the lymphoproliferative response declined after 1 week, whereas, in the PRV group, the lymphoproliferative response was high for 3 weeks and declined thereafter (P<0.05). After challenge, the lymphoproliferative response was 1 week earlier and was consistently and significantly higher in the PRV group than in the LV-PRV group. The PRV-specific killing was higher at 3 weeks after PRV vaccination and 5 weeks after PRV challenge 19+/-3 and 24+/-6%, respectively, in the PRV group, compared to 7+/-4 and 6+/-9%, respectively, in the LV-PRV group (P<0.05). However, later after vaccination and challenge the cytolytic response was identical in both groups. The antibody titre against PRV developed equally in both groups. After challenge, no PRV virus was isolated from both groups. From these results we conclude that, although PRRSV infection did cause changes in the time course of the T-lymphocyte response after PRV vaccination, PRRSV infection did not inhibit the development of vaccine-induced protection after PRV.     

The effects of challenge on the humoral and cellular immune responses in pseudorabies vaccinated swine.

The effects of challenge exposure on the humoral and cellular immune responses in pseudorabies vaccinated swine were studied in 84 barrows. The pigs were divided into seven groups and challenge exposed to a virulent strain of pseudorabies virus on months 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 and 14 after vaccination. The pigs were vaccinated with commercial attenuated and inactivated pseudorabies virus vaccines. The protection conferred by vaccination was equally effective with both types of vaccines. The levels of cellular and humoral immunity after challenge exposure in pigs vaccinated with either type of vaccine were similar. The cell-mediated immune response can be effectively used for the early detection of pigs exposed to pseudorabies virus. Virus isolation attempts from the brain and spleen in most of the vaccinated pigs were unsuccessful.     

Efficacy of a killed gpX deleted pseudorabies virus vaccine.

Ten inactivated vaccines containing one of four adjuvants and varying concentrations of pseudorabies virus (PRV) antigens were compared in order to select a vaccine suitable for commercial production. A genetically engineered strain of PRV lacking the gene coding for glycoprotein X (gpX) was used in these vaccines. Vaccinated pigs were challenged intranasally with virulent PRV to determine the efficacy of vaccines. Vaccination of pigs with one dose of experimental vaccines adjuvanted with 50% Montanide ISA 50 or 20% Syntrogen induced a protective immunity at least equal to that induced by two commercially available killed PRV vaccines also evaluated. An experimental vaccine containing 20% Syntrogen was selected and further evaluated according to United States Department of Agriculture licensing requirements. None of the pigs vaccinated with this vaccine produced gpX antibodies detectable by the HerdChek: Anti-PRV-gpX assay. Therefore, this assay could differentiate PRV vaccine induced antibodies from antibodies induced by natural exposure when used in conjunction with this killed gpX deleted PRV vaccine.     

伪狂犬病病毒弱毒株LY株的分离鉴定

从辽阳某猪场的10日龄仔猪中分离到1株病毒,经纯化后测得其毒价为107.29TCID50/mL.细胞中和试验表明,该病毒能被猪伪狂犬病病毒标准阳性血清所中和.电镜下可见到典型的疱疹病毒粒子,具有囊膜及外周纤突.所分离的病毒对氯仿、胰蛋白酶、乙醚敏感,在pH5.0～9.0下稳定,56℃ 30 min可以灭活.应用特异性引物,通过PCR能扩增出伪狂犬病病毒1 240 bp的gD基因.分离病毒对3日龄乳鼠有一定的致病力,但对家兔、3～5日龄仔猪及妊娠母猪都有很高的安全性.用不同剂量的病毒培养液肌肉注射于3～5日龄仔猪,14 d后用105.7TCID50伪狂犬病病毒强毒攻击,所有试验仔猪均可得到有效保护.用分离毒免疫母猪,其后代可获高滴度的母源抗体,15日龄的仔猪能抵抗105.7TCID50强毒的攻击.试验的结果初步说明,所分离的病毒为伪狂犬病病毒(命名为PRV LY株),并可能是一株弱毒株,而且具有很好的免疫保护作用.     

猪伪狂犬病病毒福建株gB、gD基因的克隆和序列分析

参照已发表的扩增伪狂犬病毒（pseudorabies virus, PRV）gB和gD表位基因的PCR扩增引物合成2对引物,以福建分离株（LY株）提取的DNA为模板,得到目的片段gB、gD基因的长度分别为578和653 bp,并进行了克隆和测序,然后与国内外其他分离株进行了核苷酸序列及推导的氨基酸序列的同源性分析,并构建了遗传进化关系图。结果表明,LY株与GenBank中收录的国内外有代表性的标准参考分离株相比,gB、gD基因核苷酸序列的同源性分别为74.9%～98.8%、97.2%～98.1%;氨基酸序列的同源性分别为62.9%～96.4%、94.5%～96.8%。进化分析结果表明,LY株与目前国内流行的毒株在同一个进化分支内,和Ea株（湖北）、LA株（山东）亲缘关系最近,与国外分离株有一定差异。     

Protective effects of intranasal vaccination with plasmid encoding pseudorabies virus glycoprotein B in mice

Intranasal administration of plasmid DNA encoding glycoprotein B of pseudorabies virus into mice induced both serum and secretory antibody responses. These mice resisted intranasal challenge with lethal dose of the virus, but did not intraperitoneal challenge. On the other hand, intramuscular injection of the plasmid induced less secretory and higher serum antibody responses than those of intranasally vaccinated mice. None of them was protected from virus challenge. The present results suggest that administration of plasmid DNA encoding glycoprotein B by respiratory mucosal route generates local secretory antibodies which serve to protect animals from pseudorabies virus infection.     

Effect of experimental infection with pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease) virus on pigs with maternal immunity from vaccinated sows.

Live-virus and inactivated-virus vaccines were used to immunize sows against pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease) virus. To test the efficacy of the vaccination, 53 pigs of different ages were taken from the 1st and the 2nd litters of vaccinated sows and placed separately in isolation units. The pigs were challenge exposed with virulent pseudorabies virus and examined for clinical signs, virus excretion, and serologic reaction. The challenge inoculum caused severe nervous or respiratory signs of disease in 12 of the 13 control pigs, with a mortality of 76%. The pigs from the 1st litters of sows vaccinated with the live-virus vaccine did not become sick, whereas 2 of the 9 pigs (22%) from the 2nd litters had clinical signs and died of pseudorabies. All pigs from sows vaccinated with the inactivated-virus vaccine remained healthy. The results of virus isolation from oronasal swabs, combined with the serotest results, indicated that challenge exposure of all except 1 of the pigs resulted in a subclinical infection with the formation of active immunity.     

伪狂犬病病毒囊膜蛋白gD研究进展

伪狂犬病是目前危害养猪业最主要的传染病之一,虽然一些国家实施了根除计划,但在绝大多数国家,尤其是发展中国家,该病仍然频繁发生,造成的经济损失巨大,严重制约着这些国家和地区养殖业的发展。成熟的伪狂犬病病毒粒子约有50种蛋白质,包括各种糖蛋白。其中,已有10种糖蛋白被鉴定,并分别命名为gB、gC、gD、gE、gH、gI、gK、gL,gM和gN。他们在病毒与细胞的相互作用,病毒感染的病理过程和免疫原性中各具特殊作用。囊膜糖蛋白gD是病毒最主要的免疫原性成分之一,在病毒的感染和增殖过程中具有重要作用。研究其基因组和蛋白结构对伪狂犬病的防控具有重要的意义。     

Genetic immunisation of cattle against bovine herpesvirus 1: glycoprotein gD confers higher protection than glycoprotein gC or tegument protein VP8

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) has frequently been used as a model for testing parameters affecting DNA immunisation in large animals like cattle. However, the selection of target antigens has been poorly studied, and most of the experiments have been conducted in mice. In the present study, we demonstrated in cattle that a DNA vaccine encoding BoHV-1 glycoprotein gD induces higher neutralising antibody titres than vaccines encoding BoHV-1 gC. Additionally, we show that a DNA vaccine encoding a secreted form of gD induces a higher immune response than a vaccine encoding full-length gD. However, the enhanced immunogenicity associated with the secretion of gD could not be extended to the glycoprotein gC. The current study also describes for the first time the development and the evaluation of a DNA vaccine encoding the major tegument protein VP8. This construct, which is the first BoHV-1 plasmid vaccine candidate that is not directed against a surface glycoprotein, induced a high BoHV-1 specific cellular immunity but no humoral immune response. The calves vaccinated with the constructs encoding full-length and truncated gD showed a non-significant tenfold reduction of virus excretion after challenge. Those calves also excreted virus for significantly (p < 0.05) shorter periods (1.5 days) than the non-vaccinated controls. The other constructs encoding gC and VP8 antigens induced no virological protection as compared to controls. Altogether the DNA vaccines induced weaker immunity and protection than conventional marker vaccines tested previously, confirming the difficulty to develop efficient DNA vaccines in large species.