Avian hepatitis E virus, vaccines and methods of protecting against avian hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome and mammalian hepatitis E

An isolated polynucleotide comprising

• an immunogenic fragment selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence in the partial helicase gene of ORF1 set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, a nucleotide sequence in the RdRp gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF2 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF3 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:9 and their complementary strands.

A purified, immunogenic protein encoded by an isolated nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or its complementary strand;

• or an isolated immunogenic fragment selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence in the partial helicase gene of ORF1 set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, a nucleotide sequence in the RdRp gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF2 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF3 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:9 and their complementary strands.

An immunogenic composition comprising a nontoxic, physiologically acceptable carrier and an isolated immunogenic fragment selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence in the partial helicase gene of ORF1 set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, a nucleotide sequence in the RdRp gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF2 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF3 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:9 and their complementary strands;

• an antigenic protein encoded by the isolated immunogenic fragment or complementary strand thereof;
• or an antigenic protein encoded by an isolated nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or its complementary strand.

A diagnostic reagent for detecting an avian hepatitis E viral infection or diagnosing hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome in an avian or mammalian species comprising an antibody raised or produced against an immunogenic composition comprising a nontoxic, physiologically acceptable carrier and an isolated nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or its complementary strand;

• an isolated immunogenic fragment selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence in the partial helicase gene of ORF1 set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, a nucleotide sequence in the RdRp gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF2 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF3 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:9 and their complementary strands;
• an antigenic protein encoded by the isolated immunogenic fragment or complementary strand thereof;
• or an antigenic protein encoded by the isolated nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or its complementary strand.

A vaccine that protects an avian or mammalian species from viral infection or hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome caused by an avian or mammalian hepatitis E virus comprising a nontoxic, physiologically acceptable carrier and a member selected from the group consisting of:

• a purified, immunogenic protein encoded by an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or its complementary strand;
• and an immunogenic fragment selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence in the partial helicase gene of ORF1 set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, a nucleotide sequence in the RdRp gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF2 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, a nucleotide sequence in the ORF3 gene set forth in SEQ ID NO:9 and their complementary strands.

(canceled)

14-16. (canceled)

19-20. (canceled)