SUBUNIT VACCINE AGAINST AVIAN ADENOVIRUS AND A METHOD FOR ITS PRODUCTION

Claims

1. A subunit vaccine against avian adenovirus (FAdV) comprising at least a chimeric FAdV fiber protein and an adjuvant.

2. The vaccine of claim 1, wherein the chimeric FAdV fibrous protein comprises an N-terminal fragment of a fibrous protein from a first serotype of FAdV and a C-terminal fragment of a fibrous protein from a second serotype of FAdV.

3. The vaccine according to claim 2, wherein the first serotype of FAdV and the second serotype of FAdV belong to different species of FAdV.

4. The vaccine according to claim 3, wherein the first serotype of FAdV belongs to the FAdV species FAdV-C and the second serotype of FAdV belongs to the FAdV species selected from FAdV-B, FAdV-D and FAdV-E, or vice versa; or wherein the first serotype of FAdV belongs to the FAdV species FAdV-A and the second serotype of FAdV belongs to the FAdV species selected from FAdV-B, FAdV-D and FAdV-E, or vice versa; or wherein the first serotype of FAdV belongs to the FAdV species FAdV-C and the second serotype of FAdV belongs to the FAdV species FAdV-A or vice versa.

5. The vaccine according to one of claims 2-4, wherein the first serotype of FAdV is FAdV-4 and the second serotype of FAdV is selected from FAdV-2, FAdV-11, FAdV-8a and FAdV-8b or vice versa; or wherein the first serotype of FAdV is FAdV-1 and the second serotype of FAdV is selected from FAdV-2, FAdV-11, FAdV-8a and FAdV-8b or vice versa; or wherein the first serotype of FAdV is FAdV-4 and the second serotype of FAdV is FAdV-1 or vice versa.

6. The vaccine according to one of claims 2-4, wherein the first serotype of FAdV is selected from FAdV-2, FAdV-11, FAdV-8a and FAdV-8b, and the second serotype of FAdV is selected from FAdV-2, FAdV-11, FAdV-8a and FAdV-8b, or vice versa, provided that two different serotypes of FAdV are selected.

7. The vaccine according to one of claims 1-6, wherein the N-terminal fragment of the fibrous protein comprises a rod domain of the fiber and an N-terminal region of a globular domain of the fiber, wherein the C-terminal fragment of the fibrous protein comprises a C-terminal region of a globular domain of the fiber.

8. The vaccine according to one of claims 1-7, wherein the N-terminal fragment of the fibrous protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95% or even 97.5%, particularly preferably 99%, or even completely identical to the sequence presented in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-4.

9. The vaccine according to one of claims 1-8, wherein the C-terminal fragment of the fibrous protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95% or even 97.5%, particularly preferably 99%, or even completely identical to the sequence presented in any of SEQ ID NOs: 5-8.

10. A vaccine according to one of paragraphs 1-9, wherein the vaccine provides cross-protection.

11. A vaccine according to one of claims 1-10, intended for use in immunizing birds, preferably poultry, especially chickens, against infection caused by FAdV.

12. A vaccine according to one of claims 1-10, intended for use in the amelioration or prevention of adenovirus gizzard erosion (AGE), inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and / or hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) in birds, preferably in poultry, especially in chickens.

13. A method for vaccinating birds against FAdV infection, comprising the steps of: - receive the vaccine according to one of paragraphs 1-10 and - administer the vaccine to birds.

14. A method for producing a subunit vaccine against FAdV, comprising the steps of: - express the chimeric fibrous protein FAdV in an expression system, - cleanse fibrous protein and - combine the fibrous protein with an adjuvant to produce a subunit vaccine against FAdV; wherein preferably the subunit vaccine against FAdV is a vaccine according to one of claims 1-10.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the expression system is selected from a baculovirus expression system, a bacterial expression system, and a yeast expression system.