Antiviral Activity of Bovine Type III Interferon Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

摘要

Interferons are the first line of defense against viral infections and administration of interferons as biotherapeutics has been demonstrated to be effective in controlling several viral infections. Here we report for the first time the identification and characterization of a member of the bovine type III IFN family, boIFN-λ3. We have expressed boIFN-λ3 using a recombinant replication defective human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) and demonstrated antiviral activity against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in bovine cells in vitro. Furthermore, we have tested the efficacy of boIFN-λ3 against FMDV in vivo by inoculation of cattle with Ad5-boIFN-λ3 followed by intradermolingual or aerosol virus challenge. Our results demonstrate that the type III IFN family is conserved in bovines and that treatment of cattle with boIFN-λ3 alone or in combination with IFN-αis able to confer delayed and reduced severity of FMD. Furthermore inoculation with Ad5-boIFN-λ3 alone conferred full protection against aerosol challenge for at least 7 days after administration suggesting that type III IFN used in combination with FMD vaccines could fill one of the current gaps in emergency vaccination against FMDV.