Inactivated PRRSV Antigenicity Assessment via UV and BEI

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current PRRSV vaccines are inefficient due to lack of quality control for viral antigenicity after inactivation, leading to insufficient virological protection and immune response, particularly as they do not preserve neutralizing epitopes essential for inducing protective antibodies.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine the antigenicity of inactivated viruses by assessing their ability to bind and internalize into host cells, specifically using UV radiation and binary ethyleneimine as inactivation procedures that preserve neutralizing epitopes, allowing for the development of effective inactivated vaccines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If inactivated virus vaccines are used to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but virological protection and immune response are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidvirological protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the inactivation parameters (using UV radiation or binary ethyleneimine at controlled doses) to achieve partial inactivation that preserves neutralizing epitopes while ensuring safety. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal point between complete inactivation (safety) and epitope preservation (protection).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by selectively preserving specific viral components (neutralizing epitopes) while inactivating other parts of the virus. The inactivation process targets viral replication capacity while leaving surface antigens intact, creating a vaccine with localized functional properties that simultaneously ensures safety and immunogenicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conventional inactivation procedures are used to eliminate viral replication, then viral replication is stopped, but neutralizing epitopes are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviral replication controlVSAvoidepitope integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs precise parameter control in the inactivation process, using specific UV radiation doses or binary ethyleneimine concentrations that are sufficient to stop viral replication but insufficient to denature neutralizing epitopes. This precise parameter selection resolves the contradiction between replication control and epitope integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional chemical inactivation methods (formalin, beta-propiolactone) with alternative mechanisms (UV radiation, binary ethyleneimine) that have different action profiles. These alternative mechanisms achieve replication control through different pathways that are less damaging to surface epitopes, thus resolving the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If current inactivated vaccines are administered, then vaccination is performed, but protective antibody induction is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevaccination coverageVSAvoidimmune response magnitude
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes vaccination parameters by using inactivated viruses with preserved neutralizing epitopes, which inherently elicit stronger immune responses. The changed parameter (epitope integrity) directly translates to improved immune response magnitude while maintaining vaccination coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates quality control feedback mechanisms to assess epitope integrity before vaccine administration. By measuring whether neutralizing epitopes are preserved, the system provides feedback that ensures only vaccines with sufficient immunogenicity are administered, thereby resolving the contradiction between coverage and response magnitude.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method effectively induces a protective immune response and reduces viremia in PRRSV-negative piglets, outperforming commercial inactivated vaccines by maintaining the capability of the virus to internalize into host cells, thus conserving neutralizing epitopes.

Implementation Method 1

it has been surprisingly found that vaccination with PRRSV, inactivated by procedures such as treatment with ultraviolet (UV) radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUV radiation: Radiation

Implementation Method 2

treatment with binary ethyleneimine (BEI)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical modification: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2257808B1Method to determine the antigenicity of inactivated prrsv virus
Publication Date: 2015.12.16 UNIV GENT
  • EP2257808B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2257808B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2257808B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for determining the effect of a viral inactivation procedure on the antigenicity of the inactivated virus. In particular for a virus that is a member of the family Arteriviridae or Coronaviridae or Asfarviridae, in particular for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). The invention further provides methods to determine the antigenicity of an inactivated virus as well as methods to screen for anti-viral compounds using any one of the aforementioned methods Methods of using the inactivated and immunogenic virus thus obtained, in particular in the manufacture of a vaccine are also provided by the present invention.