Modification of the infectious bronchitis virus spike protein for growth in Vero cells; potential for vaccine growth and production in cell culture

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Live attenuated and inactivated vaccines, produced in embryonated specific pathogen free hens eggs, are used to control infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). This is an expensive process both in handling terms and availability of eggs. Other vaccines, such as influenza virus, are produced in embryonated eggs but other safer and more efficient cell culture based systems are being used and developed. Recent work, resulting from a BBSRC DTA funded studentship, has shown that sequences in the S2 subunit allow the growth of IBV in Vero cells; an African green monkey cell line used for the production of vaccines. This project is to extend our initial proof of principle results that have shown we can produce rIBVs for potential vaccine purposes that can be grown in cell culture rather than in embryonated hens eggs. The work builds on our expertise on the manipulation of the IBV genome using reverse genetics and on our ability to produce recombinant viruses that express modified S proteins.

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