Reovirus compositions and methods of use

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel strains of avian reovirus isolated from severe cases of Runting Stunting Syndrome in young broiler chickens in southeast United States. The invention is directed to avian reoviruses that impair digestion in poultry, diagnostic assays using nucleotide- or amino acid-specific components of such viruses, and to vaccines that protect chickens from disease caused by such viruses. Nucleotide sequences for the S1 gene, encoding the sigma C minor outer capsid protein, were amplified, and the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences were compared with sequences from other recently isolated reovirus field isolates and vaccine strains. Antigenic and molecular characterization of the newly isolated reoviruses revealed a lack of homogeneity with current U.S. isolates, with less than 60% percent amino acid similarity across the sigma C protein. Sequence comparisons with previously reported malabsorption isolates from Europe and Asia revealed a higher amino acid similarity, approaching 80%.

1 . A vaccine comprising antigenic material derived from an avian reovirus, wherein said reovirus comprises an S1 protein, wherein said S1 protein comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30, and wherein said antigenic material is selected from the group consisting of live virus, live attenuated virus, inactivated virus, and one or more immunologically active subcomponents, thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein said reovirus comprises an S1 protein comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         3 . The vaccine of  claim 1  further comprising one or more vaccines selected from the group consisting of infectious bronchitis virus vaccine, Newcastle disease virus vaccine, infectious bursal disease virus vaccine, fowl adenovirus vaccine, EDS virus vaccine, and turkey rhinotracheitis virus vaccine. 
     
     
         4 . A method of eliciting an immune response in a chicken, the method comprising the step of administering to the chicken an amount of a composition comprising an isolated reovirus effective to elicit an immune response in the chicken, wherein the isolated reovirus comprises an S1 protein, and wherein said S1 protein comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the isolated reovirus is designated strain 40973 and has ATCC accession number PTA-7174. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or diluent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the isolated reovirus is an attenuated live reovirus. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the isolated reovirus is an inactivated reovirus. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises at least 10 2  titration units of the reovirus. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the composition is introduced into the chicken on multiple occasions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the composition is introduced into the chicken during a time period extending from day 1 after hatching to week 18 after hatching. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the composition further comprises additional isolated virus particles selected from the group consisting of infectious bronchitis virus, Newcastle disease virus, infectious bursal disease virus, fowl adenovirus, EDS virus, and turkey rhinotracheitis virus. 
     
     
         13 . A method for measuring the amount of a reovirus in a chicken, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting a chicken sample with an antibody that selectively binds to a reovirus that comprises an S1 protein that comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30, and   (b) measuring the amount of binding of the antibody to a component of the chicken sample.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein an ELISA is used to measure the amount of binding of the antibody to a component of the chicken sample.