Good cross-reactivity against genotype X isolate virulent Uganda 1965 ( Fig. 5A) was observed, and this is the reason why pigs were challenged with virulent Uganda 1965 in experiment 2. As predicted from this ex vivo assay, all of the pigs immunised and challenged with virulent Uganda 1965 virus were protected. No cross-reactivity to genotype XIII isolate Malawi

LIL 20/1 was detected and this correlates with the observation that OURT88/3 and OURT88/1 immunised pigs are not protected from Malawi LIL 20/1 challenge [2,Denyer et al. unpublished observation]. Taken together these data suggest that this ex vivo, IFN-γ ELISPOT assay might be a useful tool to assess vaccine efficacy and/or to assess possibility of ASFV isolate-cross-protection. An anti-ASFV antibody response also developed after OURT88/3 immunisation and was boosted after the OURT88/1 inoculation. The anti-ASFV antibody titre buy LY2109761 was measured by a p72 competition ELISA, however we could not conclude from these experiments whether the level of antibody developed by our immunisation protocol is either sufficient or necessary for protection. OURT88/3 has been

used as a vaccine model to identify what is required for inducing ASFV protective immunity in domestic pigs. The observations of adverse effects of OURT88/3 immunisation in some of the pigs vaccinated in France suggest that further attenuation of this isolate by deleting additional genes or possibly changing the dose or route of vaccination may be useful. Secondly, the results selleck from experiment 2 showed that our current protocol did not induce complete protection in all of the pigs immunised with the virulent OURT88/1 boost. This may be due to the genetic background of the pigs as we have previously demonstrated that cc inbred pigs are also not always protected by OURT88/3 from OURT88/1 challenge [11]. It is possible that the age and/or size of pigs at the time of the first immunisation may be important for the induction of complete protection since the pigs used in France were smaller and younger than those used at Pirbright. Erastin research buy It will also be

useful in future to compare the effects of boosting with the non or low virulent OURT88/3 since this would help to avoid adverse effects resulting from boosting with virulent OURT88/1. Our observation that cross-protection can be induced between different genotypes is important since this suggests when an ASFV vaccine is developed, its practical use in the field is likely to be extended in areas where several genotypes are present. Additional experiments are required to establish the extent of cross-protection. This work was financially supported by Wellcome Trust (Animal Health in the Developing World Initiative), DEFRA (SE1512), BBSRC, and was supported by the EU Network of Excellence, EPIZONE (Contract No FOOD-CT-2006-016236). Jordi M. Argilaguet was supported by Spanish Research Council.