The invention provides isolated polynucleotide molecules that comprise a DNA sequence encoding an infectious RNA sequence encoding a genetically-modified North American PRRS virus, methods to make it and related polypeptides, polynucleotides, and various components. Vaccines comprising the genetically modified virus and polynucleotides and a diagnostic kit to distinguish between naturally infected and vaccinated animals are also provided.

The invention provides isolated polynucleotide molecules that comprise a DNA sequence encoding an infectious RNA sequence encoding a genetically-modified North American PRRS virus, methods to make it and related polypeptides, polynucleotides, and various components. Vaccines comprising the genetically modified virus and polynucleotides and a diagnostic kit to distinguish between naturally infected and vaccinated animals are also provided.

The present invention provides exosomes isolated from an animal, wherein the animal (a) has overcome a disease caused by a pathogen, and (b) it is free from the pathogen that causes the diseases. The invention also provides process for obtaining these exosomes and the use thereof in therapy.

The present invention encompasses recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines or compositions. In particular, the invention encompasses recombinant adenovirus vectors encoding and expressing PRRSV gp2, gp3, gp4, gp5a, gp5 and/or E antigens, proteins, epitopes or immunogens. Such vaccines or compositions can be used to protect animals from PRRSV.

The invention provides isolated polynucleotide molecules that comprise a DNA sequence encoding an infectious RNA sequence encoding a genetically-modified North American PRRS virus, methods to make it and related polypeptides, polynucleotides, and various components. Vaccines comprising the genetically modified virus and polynucleotides and a diagnostic kit to distinguish between naturally infected and vaccinated animals are also provided.

The invention provides isolated polynucleotide molecules that comprise a DNA sequence encoding an infectious RNA sequence encoding a genetically-modified North American PRRS virus, methods to make it and related polypeptides, polynucleotides, and various components. Vaccines comprising the genetically modified virus and polynucleotides and a diagnostic kit to distinguish between naturally infected and vaccinated animals are also provided.

The present invention relates to vaccines containing enveloped viruses whose envelopes have been depleted of lipids using methyl -cyclodextrin (MBCD). Delipidation of enveloped viruses in a two-step process abolishes the infectivity of those viruses, which allows delipidated viruses to be used safely in vaccines. Use of MBCD to deplete lipids such as cholesterol, in contrast to other methods, results in viruses with less than 20% of the cholesterol of an untreated virus but such delipidated viruses retain at least 85% of the protein content of an untreated virus. Delipidation by MBCD also preserves the immunogenicity of the viral proteins. The present invention of using MBCD treatment in a two-step process to delipidate enveloped virus represents a new alternative for generation of inactivated viruses which are incorporated into effective vaccines.

The present invention relates to immortalized porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), to cell cultures comprising such PAMs, to methods for the immortalization of PAMs, to methods of replicating PRRS virus on immortalized PAMs and to methods for the preparation of vaccines comprising PRRSV.

The present invention relates to vaccines containing enveloped viruses whose envelopes have been depleted of lipids using methyl -cyclodextrin (MBCD). Delipidation of enveloped viruses in a two-step process abolishes the infectivity of those viruses, which allows delipidated viruses to be used safely in vaccines. Use of MBCD to deplete lipids such as cholesterol, in contrast to other methods, results in viruses with less than 20% of the cholesterol of an untreated virus but such delipidated viruses retain at least 85% of the protein content of an untreated virus. Delipidation by MBCD also preserves the immunogenicity of the viral proteins. The present invention of using MBCD treatment in a two-step process to delipidate enveloped virus represents a new alternative for generation of inactivated viruses which are incorporated into effective vaccines.

The present invention encompasses recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines or compositions. In particular, the invention encompasses recombinant adenovirus vectors encoding and expressing PRRSV gp2, gp3, gp4, gp5a, gp5 and/or E antigens, proteins, epitopes or immunogens. Such vaccines or compositions can be used to protect animals from PRRSV.