Leader-proteinase deleted foot-and-mouth disease viruses and their use as vaccines

Abstract

A foot-and-mouth disease virus has been genetically engineered by deleting the nucleic acid sequence encoding the leader (L) proteinase from an infectious cDNA copy of the viral genome and producing an L proteinase-deleted virus. The L proteinase-deleted viruses are able to assemble and grow in cells in culture, but, since they lack L proteinase, they are less toxic to infected cells within the animal, producing an attenuated infection. The recombinant virus can be formulated into an effective vaccine for the prevention of foot-and-mouth disease.

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