Expression of the G1 epitope of bovine ephemeral fever virus G glycoprotein in eukaryotic cells

The envelope glycoprotein (protein G) of bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) has been identified as a plausible vaccine candidate against the BEF disease. In the present study, G1 epitope of the G gly-coprotein gene was cloned in an eukaryotic expression vector, pcDNA3.1(+), under the control of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. The pcDNA3.1-G1 construct was transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cell line and the expression efficiency was verified by immunofluorescence staining of transfected cells and Western blot analysis. The results indicated that G1 protein was expressed by the recombinant pcDNA3.1-G1 construct in the transfected cells. The recombinant plasmid constructed in this study can be used as a DNA vaccine to evaluate its potential for immunogenicity and protection against BEF virus in animal models.