The present invention relates to a new pestivirus useful in the fields of veterinary virology and vaccines. Specifically, it relates to an isolated polynucleotide originating from pestivirus and a pestivirus, to vaccines and medical uses thereof, to chimeric virus comprising the polynucleotide and to expression vectors for heterologous expression of polypeptides.

The present invention relates to a novel porcine pestivirus, to proteins of the virus and to vaccines based upon the virus and proteins thereof. The invention also relates to DNA fragments comprising a gene of the virus and to DNA vaccines based upon genes of the virus. Furthermore the invention relates to antibodies that are reactive with the novel virus and to diagnostic tests for the detection of the virus or antibodies against the virus.

The present invention relates to a new pestivirus useful in the fields of veterinary virology and vaccines. Specifically, it relates to an isolated polynucleotide originating from pestivirus and a pestivirus, to vaccines and medical uses thereof, to chimeric virus comprising the polynucleotide and to expression vectors for heterologous expression of polypeptides.

The present invention relates to enveloped RNA viruses. The invention in particular relates to the generation of superior antigens for mounting an immune response by first identifying then mutating the immunosuppressive domains in fusion proteins of enveloped RNA viruses resulting in decreased immunosuppressive properties of viral envelope proteins from the viruses.

The present invention relates to a novel porcine pestivirus, to proteins of the virus and to vaccines based upon the virus and proteins thereof. The invention also relates to DNA fragments comprising a gene of the virus and to DNA vaccines based upon genes of the virus. Furthermore the invention relates to antibodies that are reactive with the novel virus and to diagnostic tests for the detection of the virus or antibodies against the virus.

The present invention relates to enveloped RNA viruses. The invention in particular relates to the generation of superior antigens for mounting an immune response by first identifying then mutating the immunosuppressive domains in fusion proteins of enveloped RNA viruses resulting in decreased immunosuppressive properties of viral envelope proteins from the viruses.

The present invention provides a mutant Pestivirus comprising a chimeric Erns gene, which provides the mutant Pestivirus with the capacity to evade serologic detection, but maintains good vaccine properties, and viral replication.

The application relates to a pestivirus, designated PMC virus, that is associated with porcine myocarditis syndrome, and the gene and protein sequences derived therefrom. The application further relates to detection methods, vaccine therapeutics, and diagnostic methods using the PMC virus or gene/protein sequences derived therefrom.

The present invention relates i.a. to a CSFV (classical swine fever virus) comprising a substitution of proline to lysine at amino acid position 44 of the E2 protein and a substitution of threonine to aspartic acid at amino acid position 45 of the E2 protein. Further, the present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising the CSFV of the present invention and the use of the immunogenic composition for reducing the incidence of or severity in an animal of one or more clinical signs associated with CSF. Moreover, the present invention provides a method of differentiating animals infected with CSFV from animals vaccinated with the immunogenic composition of the present invention.

The role of a specific E2 region containing a putative fusion peptide (FP) sequence was evaluated. FPs critically contribute to the interaction between proteins and the membrane system of the host cell. Reverse genetics utilizing a full-length infectious clone of the highly virulent CSFV strain Brescia (BICv) was used to evaluate how amino acid substitutions within this region of E2 may affect replication of BICv in cell cultures and affect virus virulence in swine. Interestingly, mutated virus FPi.c was completely attenuated when inoculated intranasally at a dose of 10.sup.5 TCID50 in swine. Importantly, animals infected with FPi.c virus were protected against the virulent challenge with Brescia virus at 3 and 28 days after vaccination. Protection was evidenced by absence of clinical signs related with CSF as well as the absence of viremia produced by the challenge virulent virus.