Elisa para diagnóstico da doença de Aujeszky empregando gE recombinante estabilizada como proteína fusionada à tiorredoxina

Abstract

The economic impact caused by Aujeszky's disease (AD) has decreased with the use of vaccines deleted for the gE gene of the AD Virus and diagnostic tests for the detection of antibodies specific to the protein corresponding to the deleted gene for differentiation of infected animals from the vaccinated - DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated individuals). The goal of this work was to clone and express the gene related to the extramembrane portion of the gE glycoprotein of the DA virus in E. coli expression system using synthetic gene with optimized codons and thioredoxin fused protein (Trx), and to evaluate its potential use in ELISA. After cloning, expression and identification of recombinant gE protein (gErec*Trx) in Western blotting with anti-His antibody, gErec*Trx (approximately 60 kDa) was used as antigen in ELISA (ELISAgErec) using Protein G peroxidase as conjugate. Samples previously tested in virus neutralization (VN) and in commercial ELISA were tested in ELISAgErec, and the cutoff point (> 0.13) was defined by ROC curve analysis. A total of 599 sera from pigs were used, of which 208 were positive VN and 391 negative in commercial ELISA for the detection of antigE antibodies from the DA virus, of which 300 originated from Certified Porcine Breeding Farms (GRSCs) and 91 from Technological properties of the State of Pernambuco. ELISAgErec presented sensitivity of 97.6% and specificity of 96.4%. To evaluate the analytical sensitivity and limit of detection, the international reference serum for AD was used, and for analysis of the analytical specificity were tested sera from pigs Pathogen-Specific Free (SPF) vaccinated with the main vaccines used in pigs. ELISAgEr showed greater sensitivity than the commercial ELISA thus demonstrating its ability to distinguish healthy and vaccinated animals from infected animals. In addition, to showing good solubility, gErec remained immunoreactive in the same titre in ELISAgErec after several months stored at 4 °C, and even after thermal stress at 70 °C it presented the same results.