An expression cassette, wherein said expression cassette comprises: (a) an ie 1 promoter from white spot syndrome virus or a variant thereof; (b) a nucleic acid sequence encoding an N-terminal gp64 signal peptide or variant thereof, a nucleic acid sequence encoding an antigenic peptide, a nucleic acid encoding a transmembrane region, and a nucleic acid encoding a gp64 cytoplasmic region or variant thereof; in which the promoter is operably linked to the nucleic acid sequence.

Vaccination methods to control PCV2 infection with different PCV2 subtypes are disclosed. Specifically, a PCV2 subtype b (PCV2b) ORF2 proteins or immunogenic compositions comprising a PCV2b ORF2 protein are used in a method for the treatment or prevention of an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b and/or different subtype; the reduction, prevention or treatment of clinical signs caused by an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b or a different subtype; and/or the prevention or treatment of a disease caused by an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b and/or a different subtype. The present invention in particular relates to PCV2 subtype b (PCV2b) ORF2 proteins characterized in that they contain at least one mutation in the BC loop that such that the expressed protein is preferably expressed in a higher amount compared to a PCV2 ORF2 protein that does not contain such mutation.

The present invention relates to novel immunogenic polypeptides and their use in vaccine compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acids, vectors and cells which express the polypeptides and the uses thereof. The polypeptides of the invention more specifically comprise an immunogenic domain and a cell membrane addressing domain which is derived from a B5R gene. The invention is particularly suited to produce vaccines for non-human animals, particularly for vaccinating swine against PCV2 infection.

The present invention relates to an immunogen-carrier, wherein the immunogen-carrier is preferably a virus-like particle (VLP) composed of a plurality of a modified PCV2 ORF2 protein. In particular, the present invention belongs to the field of compliance markers and marker vaccines which allow for the differentiation between infected and vaccinated individuals. In particular, it relates to a compliance marker for vaccines including a subunit antigen, and a DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) system which makes it possible to differentiate between animals infected with a pathogen and animals treated with a subunit antigen derived from said pathogen.

Vaccination methods to control PCV2 infection with different PCV2 subtypes are disclosed. Specifically, a PCV2 subtype b (PCV2b) ORF2 proteins or immunogenic compositions comprising a PCV2b ORF2 protein are used in a method for the treatment or prevention of an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b and/or different subtype; the reduction, prevention or treatment of clinical signs caused by an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b or a different subtype; and/or the prevention or treatment of a disease caused by an infection with PCV2 of the same PCV2b and/or a different subtype. The present invention in particular relates to PCV2 subtype b (PCV2b) ORF2 proteins characterized in that they contain at least one mutation in the BC loop that such that the expressed protein is preferably expressed in a higher amount compared to a PCV2 ORF2 protein that does not contain such mutation.

A new species of circovirus, porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), was identified from sows with clinical symptoms normally associated with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection and in aborted fetuses. Molecular and serological analyses suggest PCV3 commonly circulates in U.S. swine. The present disclosure provides immunological compositions and methods related to the production and administration of such compositions.

The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic composition that comprises a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen for treatment of several clinical manifestations (diseases). Preferably, the clinical manifestations are associated with a PCV2 infection. Preferably, they include lymphadenopathy, lymphoid depletion and/or multinucleated/giant histiocytes. Moreover, the clinical symptoms include lymphadenopathy in combination with one or a multiple of the following symptoms in pigs: (1) interstitial pneumonia with interlobular edema, (2) cutaneous pallor or icterus, (3) mottled atrophic livers, (4) gastric ulcers, (5) nephritis and (6) reproductive disorders, e.g. abortion, stillbirths, mummies, etc. Furthermore the clinical symptoms include Pia like lesions, normally known to be associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infections.

The genome sequences and the nucleotide sequences coding for the PWD circovirus polypeptides, such as the circovirus structural and non-structural polypeptides, vectors including the sequences, and cells and animals transformed by the vectors are provided. Methods for detecting the nucleic acids or polypeptides, and kits for diagnosing infection by a PWD circovirus, also are provided. Method for selecting compounds capable of modulating the viral infection are further provided. Pharmaceutical, including vaccine, compositions for preventing and/or treating viral infections caused by PWD circovirus and the use of vectors for preventing and/or treating diseases also are provided.

The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic composition comprising a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen for the prevention and treatment, including a reduction in the severity of, duration of, and manifestations of, porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) in animals, preferably in pigs.

An improved method for recovering the protein expressed by open reading frame 2 from porcine circovirus type 2 is provided. The method generally involves the steps of transfecting recombinant virus containing open reading frame 2 coding sequences into cells contained in growth media, causing the virus to express open reading frame 2, and recovering the expressed protein in the supernate. This recovery should take place beginning approximately 5 days after infection of the cells in order to permit sufficient quantities of recombinant protein to be expressed and secreted from the cell into the growth media. Such methods avoid costly and time consuming extraction procedures required to separate and recover the recombinant protein from within the cells.