Development of chimeric virus-like particles containing the E glycoprotein of duck Tembusu virus.

• The chimeric VLPs, designated as E-HA2, contains E protein of the DTMUV and HA2 protein of the H3N2 AIV. • The chimeric VLPs E-HA2 could induce specific antibody responses in both mice and ducks. • The chimeric VLPs E-HA2 could provide 100% protection against homologous virus infection. Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) has caused enormous economic losses to the poultry industry in China. In the current study, we generated chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) containing E protein of the DTMUV and HA2 protein of the H3N2 avian influenza virus (AIV). The chimeric VLPs could induce specific antibody responses in both mice (n = 5/group) and ducks (n = 10/group). After immunizing ducklings with the chimeric VLPs, all immunized ducks (n = 10/group) were 100% (10/10) protected against homologous DTMUV strain and virus shedding was not detected on day 5 post-challenge, whereas 60% (6/10) of the ducklings immunized with PBS presented typical symptoms with a virus shedding rate of 90% (9/10). Furthermore, viral loads were significantly decreased in the birds of the chimeric VLPs immunized group, comparing to that of the PBS immunized group. Our data demonstrated that the chimeric VLPs used in the current study could be applied as a potential vaccine candidate to control DTMUV infections in young ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]