A computer-based codon-pairs deoptimization technology, synthetic attenuated virus engineering (SAVE), is utilized to lower virulence of various viruses. The rapid viral attenuation concept by the codon pair deoptimization is to decrease codon pair bias (CPB), which demonstrated the potential usefulness as a technology to develop live attenuated vaccine. For this, we produced field PRRSVs attenuated by codon-pair deoptimization. The affection of SAVE on virulence of the attenuated strains was confirmed in pigs. Type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSVs) isolated from PRRS-affected swine farms in South Korea were attenuated by de-optimization of codon pair bias in NSP1. In animal infection using 3 weeks-old pigs, the attenuated viruses showed significantly lowered replication ability than the parental viruses without distinct clinical sign and pathological lesions, which were observed in pig infected with the parental viruses. Regarding induction of PRRSV specific immunity, the level of the neutralizing antibodies as well as secretion of IFN-γ-SCs in PBMCs was not different between the attenuated viruses and the parent viruses. Conclusively, the attenuated viruses generated by SAVE in this study demonstrated the potential usefulness as vaccine strains to provide immune protection against diverse PRRSVs

Biography:
Dr. Cha has his expertise in Animal virology and passion in developing vaccine and diagnostics against animal viral diseases to improve economy of livestock industry as well as welfare of pet animals. He has many experiences in research about developing measures to minimize outbreak of animal diseases. Also, he has a big interest in combining high advanced technology on the research area.