ADAPTATION OF ATTENUATED INFECTIOUS BRONCHITIS VIRUS (IBV) TO EMBRYONIC KIDNEY CELLS AND VACCINE THEREBY PRODUCED

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Applications No. 62/066,135, filed on Oct. 20, 2014, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The field of the present invention relates to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and methods for passaging IBV. The disclosed methods may be utilized to prepare vaccine compositions comprising the passaged IBV.

[0003] In the poultry industry avian infectious bronchitis (IB) coronavirus (IBV) continues to be the most common contributor to respiratory disease in chicken populations despite worldwide extensive vaccination with a multiplicity of type-specific vaccines. IBV replicates primarily in the upper respiratory tract causing respiratory disease in large chicken populations. IBV's surface (S) glycoprotein is post-translationally cleaved into a S1 subunit (˜550 amino acids) and a S2 subunit (˜600 amino acids) (Lai and Holmes, 2001). Like other coronaviruses, the S1 subunit of the S glycoprotein is responsible for viral attachment to cells and is important for host protective immune responses as it induces virus neutralizing-antibodies (Cavanagh, 1981, 1983, 1984; Cavanagh and Davis, 1986; Koch et al., 1990; Koch and Kant, 1990; Mockett et al., 1984). Because of the relevance of S1 for the first step of replication (i.e., attachment to cells) and immunological escape, the extensive variation exhibited by the S1 glycoprotein among IBV coronaviruses (Kusters et al., 1987; Kusters et al., 1989b) is likely the most relevant phenotypic characteristic for this virus's “adaptation” and evolutionary success (Toro et al., 2012b). Genetic diversity among coronaviruses is achieved by high mutation frequency and recombination events (Enjuanes et al., 2000a; Enjuanes et al., 2000b; Lai and Cavanagh, 1997; Stadler et al., 2003). Selection acting on diverse populations results in rapid evolution of the virus and the emergence of antigenically different strains (Toro et al., 2012b). More than 30 different IBV types have been identified during the last 5 decades in the U.S. alone. According to a 2012 review, over 50 different genotypes of IBV are currently affecting chicken populations worldwide (Jackwood, 2012). Multiple recent surveillance studies performed in the U.S. have demonstrated that serotypes/genotypes Arkansas (Ark), Massachusetts (Mass). Connecticut (Conn), DE072, Georgia variants GAV and GA98 are currently the most prevalent (Jackwood et al., 2005; Nix et al., 2000; Toro et al., 2006).

[0004] Because IBV exists as multiple different serotypes that do not provide for cross-protection after host exposure, a multiplicity of serotype-specific IBV vaccines have been developed worldwide. For example, vaccination programs in the U.S. currently comprise mono- or polyvalent vaccines including Mass. Conn., GA98, DE072, and Ark serotypes. In Europe, IBV vaccines commonly include strains belonging to serotypes UK4/91, D274, and D-1466. However. IBV's high ability to evolve allows it to consistently circulate in commercial poultry and cause outbreaks of disease in spite of extensive vaccination. In addition, accumulating evidence indicates that attenuated IBV vaccines may also be contributing to the emergence and circulation of vaccine-like viruses in host populations (Toro et al., 2012b; Toro et al., 2012c). Indeed, viral sub-populations differing from the predominant live vaccine population have been shown to emerge during a single passage of attenuated IBV vaccine in chickens (McKinley et al., 2008; van Santen and Toro, 2008).

[0005] In an effort to understand the mechanisms underlying the emergence of vaccine-like viruses, S1 gene sequences of virus populations of all four commercially available IBV Ark-serotype attenuated vaccines were analyzed before and after replication in chickens (Gallardo et al., 2010; van Santen and Toro, 2008). The results from these analyses demonstrated different degrees of genetic heterogeneity among Ark-derived vaccines prior to inoculation into chickens, ranging from no apparent heterogeneity to heterogeneity in 20 positions in the S gene. In all except one position, nucleotide differences resulted in different amino acids encoded and therefore in phenotypic differences among subpopulations present in the vaccines. Significantly, it has been observed that specific minor subpopulations present in each of the vaccines were rapidly “selected” during a single passage in chickens. Indeed, by 3-days post-ocular vaccination, viral populations with S gene sequences distinct from the vaccine major consensus sequence at 5 to 11 codons were found to predominate in chickens (Gallardo et al., 2010; McKinley et al., 2008; van Santen and Toro, 2008). Thus, the use of attenuated coronavirus vaccines may be contributing to the problem of antigenic variation, and the development of a novel vaccine technology to increase the resistance of chicken populations to IBV and reduce economic losses is essential for the poultry industry.

[0006] Disclosed are methods for preparing a vaccine against infection by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The methods typically include passing a heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in chicken embryonic kidney cells, and optionally may include further passaging the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) in order to obtain passaged attenuated population of IBV. Also disclosed are passaged attenuated populations of IBV in which the populations display a desired degree of homogeneity. Also disclosed are vaccines comprising the passaged attenuated populations of IBV, isolated viruses from the passaged attenuated populations of IBV, polypeptides of the passaged attenuated populations of IBV, vaccines thereof, and methods of vaccination comprising administering the disclosed vaccines.

[0007] The disclosed methods typically include passing a heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in chicken embryonic kidney (CEK) cells, and optionally include passaging the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in ECE subsequent to passaging the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in CEK cells. The present inventor has determined that by passaging a heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in CEK cells and adapting the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV to growth in CEK cells, the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV begins to adapt to growth in the CEK cells, and/or begin to exhibit increasing percentage of homogeneity at one or more nucleotide positions in genes of IBV including the gene for the S1 polypeptide after each passage in CEK cells, and/or begin to exhibit increasing percentage of homogeneity at one or more amino acid positions in polypeptides of IBV including the S1 polypeptide after each passage in CEK cells. As such, in the disclosed methods, the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV may be passaged in CEK cells for a sufficient number of passages to obtain a population of IBV exhibiting a desired percentage of homogeneity at one or more amino acid positions in polypeptides of IBV including the S1 polypeptide and other polypeptides of IBV. The passaged attenuated population of IBV thus obtained by the disclosed methods, or any isolated virus or polypeptide of the passaged attenuated population of IBV, may be formulated as a vaccine. The vaccine then may be administered to subjects in need thereof in order to vaccinate the subjects against infection by IBV.

[0015] Disclosed herein are methods for passaging and propagating infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and compositions, including vaccine compositions, comprising the passaged IBV. The disclosed methods and compositions may be described using several definitions as discussed below.

[0016] Unless otherwise specified or indicated by context, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” mean “one or more.” In addition, singular nouns such as “a population” should be interpreted to mean “one or more populations,” unless otherwise specified or indicated by context.

[0017] As used herein. “about”. “approximately,” “substantially.” and “significantly” will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art and will vary to some extent on the context in which they are used. If there are uses of the term which are not clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art given the context in which it is used. “about” and “approximately” will mean plus or minus ≦10% of the particular term and “substantially” and “significantly” will mean plus or minus >10% of the particular term.

[0018] As used herein, the terms “include” and “including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise” and “comprising.” The terms “comprise” and “comprising” should be interpreted as being “open” transitional terms that permit the inclusion of additional components further to those components recited in the claims. The terms “consist” and “consisting of” should be interpreted as being “closed” transitional terms that do not permit the inclusion additional components other than the components recited in the claims. The term “consisting essentially of” should be interpreted to be partially closed and allowing the inclusion only of additional components that do not fundamentally alter the nature of the claimed subject matter.

[0019] As used herein, the terms “subject,” “host,” or “individual” typically refer to an avian at risk for acquiring an infection by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The terms “subject,” “host,” or “individual” may be used interchangeably. Suitable avians for the disclosed vaccines, compositions, and methods may include poultry such as members of the order Galliformes, and in particular the species Gallus gallus or the subspecies Gallus gallus domesticus.

[0020] As used herein “IBV” refers to “avian infectious bronchitis virus” which is a coronavirus that infects chicken and causes the associated disease “IB.” The term “IBV” is meant to encompass numerous serotypes of IBV which have been isolated and characterized including but not limited to: B/D207/84; B/D274/84; B/UK167/84; B/UK142/86; E/D3896/84; E/UK123/82; Brazil/BR1/USP-73/09; 793B/4-91/91; FR/CR88121/88; China/Q1/98; China/LDL971/97 aaz09202; CAV/CAV9437/95; CAV/CAV1686/95; CAV/CAV56b/91; PA/Wolgemuth/98; PA/171/99 CA/557/03 S1; JAA/04 S1 vaccine; HN99 S1; N1/62/S1; GA08 S1 GU301925; Ark/ArkDPI/81 S1; Ark/Ark99/73; CAL99/CAL99/99 S1; CAL99/NE15172/95 S1; Holte/Holte/54; JMK/JMK/64; Gray/Gray/60; Iowa/Iowa609/56; Ca/1737/04 S1; DMA/5642/06 S1; GA07/GA07/07 S1; QX/QXIBV/99; Mass/H52/S1; Mass/H120/S1; Mass/Mass41/41 S1; Conn/Conn46/51 S1 vaccine; FL/FL18288/71; DE/DE072/92 S1 vaccine; GA98/0470/98 S1; and Dutch/D1466/81.

[0021] The serotype of IBV is generally determined by a host's humoral immune response against the S1 polypeptide. Hence, the serotype of IBV is generally determined by the amino acid sequence of the S1 polypeptide. The amino acid sequence of the S1 polypeptide of Ark/ArkDPI/81 S1 is provided as SEQ ID NO:8.

[0022] The presently disclosed methods and composition may utilize naturally occurring avirulent strains of IBV. Alternatively, the presently disclosed vaccines, compositions, and methods may utilize live attenuated strains of IBV. Live attenuated strains of IBV are available commercially as vaccines and may include Ark/ArkDPI/81 S1. The complete genomic sequence of Ark/ArkDPI/81 has been reported. (See Ammayappan et al., Virology Journal 2008, 5:157, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The GenBank accession number for the Ark DPI genomic sequence is EU418976 and is provided herein as SEQ ID NO: 1. The nucleotide sequence of the gene for the spike protein (“S”) is provided herein as SEQ ID NO:2 and the amino acid sequence of the S protein is provided herein as SEQ ID NO:3. The amino acid sequence of the S1 protein is provided herein as SEQ ID NO:4 and the amino acid sequence of the S2 protein is provided herein as SEQ ID NO:5.

[0023] The complete genomes of the following strains are publicly available, for example from GenBank, under the succeeding accession number: TCoVMG 10, NC_010800; Beaudette, NC_001451; M41, AY851295; CK/CH/LSD/05I, EU637854; A2, EU526388; LX4. AY338732; SAIBK. DQ288927. The sequences for various structural genes are publicly available, for example from GenBank, under the succeeding accession numbers: (a) for the complete structural genes: HK, AY761141; Vic, DQ490221; KB8523, M21515; TW2296/95, DQ646404; (b) for S1; Jilin. AY839144; Gray, L18989; Conn, EU526403; Holte, L18988; UK/2/91, Z83976; Qul6, AF349620; JMK, L14070; H120, M21970; GAV-92, AF094817; DE072, AF274435; IS/1366, EU350550; (c) for S2; JMK, AF239982; Jilin. AY839146; Holte, AF334685; DE072, AY024337; Conn. AF094818; Gray, AF394180; H120, AF239982; (d) for S: Ark 99, L10384; CU-T2, U04739; (e) for gene 3: Jilin, AY846833; Conn, AY942752; CU-T2, U46036; Ark 99, AY942751; Gray, AF318282 (f) for M: Jilin. AY846833; JMK, AF363608; Conn, AY942741; H120, AY028295; Gray, AF363607; (g) for gene 5; Jilin, AY839142; Gray, AF469011; Conn, AF469013; DE072, AF203000; and (h) for N: Jilin, AY839145.

[0024] As used herein. “viral load” is the amount of virus present in a sample from a subject infected with the virus. Viral load is also referred to as viral titer or viremia. Viral load can be measured in variety of standard ways including copy Equivalents of the viral RNA (vRNA) genome per milliliter individual sample (vRNA copy Eq/ml). This quantity may be determined by standard methods that include RT-PCR.

[0025] The terms “polynucleotide,” “nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid sequence” refer to a polymer of DNA or RNA nucleotide of genomic or synthetic origin (which may be single-stranded or double-stranded and may represent the sense or the antisense strand). The polynucleotides contemplated herein may encode and may be utilized to express one or more IBV polypeptides.

[0026] As used herein, polypeptide, proteins, and peptides comprise polymers of amino acids, otherwise referred to as “amino acid sequences.” As used herein, the term “amino acid sequence” refers to a polymer of amino acid residues joined by amide linkages. The term “amino acid residue,” includes but is not limited to amino acid residues contained in the group consisting of alanine (Ala or A), cysteine (Cys or C), aspartic acid (Asp or D), glutamic acid (Glu or E), phenylalanine (Phe or F), glycine (Gly or G), histidine (His or H), isoleucine (Ile or I), lysine (Lys or K), leucine (Leu or L), methionine (Met or M), asparagine (Asn or N), proline (Pro or P), glutamine (Gln or Q), arginine (Arg or R), serine (Ser or S), threonine (Thr or T), valine (Val or V), tryptophan (Trp or W), and tyrosine (Tyr or Y) residues. A polypeptide or protein is typically of length ≧100 amino acids (Garrett & Grisham. Biochemistry, 2^nd edition, 1999. Brooks/Cole, 110). A peptide is defined as a short polymer of amino acids, of a length typically of 20 or less amino acids, and more typically of a length of 12 or less amino acids (Garrett & Grisham, Biochemistry, 2^nd edition, 1999, Brooks/Cole, 110). However, the terms “polypeptide,” “protein,” and “peptide” may be used interchangeably herein.

[0027] The amino acid sequences disclosed and contemplated herein may include “substitutions” related to a reference amino acid sequence. As used herein, a “substitution” means replacement of one or more amino acids at one or more positions in a reference amino acid sequence with a different amino acid at the one or more positions.

[0028] The words “insertion” and “addition” refer to changes in an amino acid sequence resulting in the addition of one or more amino acid residues. For example, an insertion or addition may refer to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, or 200 amino acid residues.

[0029] A “deletion” refers to a change in the amino acid or nucleotide sequence that results in the absence of one or more amino acid residues. For example, a deletion may remove at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, or 200 amino acids residues. A deletion may include an internal deletion or a terminal deletion (e.g., an N-terminal truncation or a C-terminal truncation of a reference polypeptide).

[0030] A “fragment” is a portion of an amino acid sequence which is identical in sequence to but shorter in length than a reference sequence. A “fragment” as contemplated herein refers to a contiguous portion of an amino acid reference sequence. For example, a fragment of a polypeptide refers to less than a full-length amino acid sequence of the polypeptide (e.g., where the polypeptide is truncated at the N-terminus, the C-terminus, or both termini). A fragment may comprise up to the entire length of the reference sequence, minus at least one amino acid residue. For example, a fragment may comprise from 5 to 1000 contiguous amino acid residues of a reference polypeptide. In some embodiments, a fragment may comprise at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 250, or 500 contiguous amino acid residues of a reference polypeptide, respectively. Fragments may be preferentially selected from certain regions of a molecule. The term “at least a fragment” encompasses the full length polypeptide. An “immunogenic fragment” of a polypeptide is a fragment of a polypeptide typically at least 5 or 10 amino acids in length that includes one or more epitopes of the full-length polypeptide.

[0031] The phrases “percent identity” and “% identity,” as applied to polypeptide sequences, refer to the percentage of residue matches between at least two polypeptide sequences aligned using a standardized algorithm. Methods of polypeptide sequence alignment are well-known. Some alignment methods take into account conservative amino acid substitutions. Such conservative substitutions, explained in more detail above, generally preserve the charge and hydrophobicity at the site of substitution, thus preserving the structure (and therefore function) of the polypeptide. Percent identity for amino acid sequences may be determined as understood in the art. A suite of commonly used and freely available sequence comparison algorithms is provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) (Altschul, S. F. et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403 410), which is available from several sources, including the NCBI, Bethesda. Md., at its website. The BLAST software suite includes various sequence analysis programs including “blastp,” that is used to align a known amino acid sequence with other amino acids sequences from a variety of databases.

[0032] Percent identity may be measured over the length of an entire defined polypeptide sequence, for example, as defined by a particular SEQ ID number, or may be measured over a shorter length, for example, over the length of a fragment taken from a larger, defined polypeptide sequence, for instance, a fragment of at least 15, at least 20, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 70 or at least 150 contiguous residues. Such lengths are exemplary only, and it is understood that any fragment length supported by the sequences shown herein, in the tables, figures or Sequence Listing, may be used to describe a length over which percentage identity may be measured.

[0033] A “variant.” “mutant,” or “derivative” of a particular polypeptide sequence is defined as a polypeptide sequence having at least 50% sequence identity to the particular polypeptide sequence over a certain length of one of the polypeptide sequences using blastp with the “BLAST 2 Sequences” tool available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information's website. (See Tatiana A. Tatusova, Thomas L. Madden (1999), “Blast 2 sequences—a new tool for comparing protein and nucleotide sequences”, FEMS Microbiol Lett. 174:247-250). Such a pair of polypeptides may show, for example, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% or greater sequence identity over a certain defined length of one of the polypeptides. A “variant” or a “derivative” may have substantially the same functional activity as a reference polypeptide. For example, a variant or derivative of the IBV S1 polypeptide may have one or more functional activities associated with the wild-type IBV S1 polypeptide including, but not limited to, interacting with the S2 polypeptide, interacting with the viral membrane of IBV, and/or facilitating fusion of IBV with a host cell membrane.

[0034] As disclosed herein, “passaging” refers to the process of growing viruses in a suitable host (e.g., CEK cells and/or ECE). Passaging encompasses serial passaging whereby a population of IBV (e.g., a heterogeneous population of IBV) is inoculated at a selected concentration into a first environment (e.g., fresh CEK cells), and after being allowed to grow for a period of time, a sample of the population of IBV is removed, optionally diluted (e.g., ten-fold) and inoculated at a selected concentration into a second environment (e.g. fresh CEK cells and/or ECE).

[0035] Formulation of the Vaccine Compositions

[0036] The compositions disclosed herein may be formulated as vaccine compositions for inducing an immune response against IBV. Vaccines, compositions, and methods for immunizing against infection by IBV are disclosed in U.S. Published Applilcation No. 2014/0141043, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As used herein, an “immune response” may include an antibody response (i.e., a humoral response), where an immunized individual is induced to produce antibodies against an administered antigen (e.g., IgY, IgA, IgM, IgG, or other antibody isotypes) and may also include a cell-mediated response, for example, a cytotoxic T-cell response against cells expressing foreign peptides derived from an administered antigen in the context of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule.

[0037] As used herein, “potentiating” or “enhancing” an immune response means increasing the magnitude and/or the breadth of the immune response. For example, the number of cells that recognize a particular epitope may be increased (“magnitude”) and/or the numbers of epitopes that are recognized may be increased (“breadth”).

[0038] The compositions disclosed herein may be formulated as vaccine compositions for administration to a subject in need thereof. Such compositions can be formulated and/or administered in dosages and by techniques well known to those skilled in the medical arts taking into consideration such factors as the age, sex, weight, and condition of the particular subject and the route of administration. The compositions may include carriers, diluents, or excipients as known in the art. Further, the compositions may include preservatives (e.g., anti-microbial or anti-bacterial agents such as benzalkonium chloride) or adjuvants.

[0039] A “vaccine” is defined herein in its broad sense to refer to any type of biological agent in an administrable form capable of stimulating a protective immune response in an animal inoculated with the vaccine. For purposes of this invention, the vaccine may comprise a passaged attenuated population of IBV.

[0040] The compositions may be administered prophylactically. In prophylactic administration, the vaccines may be administered in an amount sufficient to induce immune responses for protecting against IBV infection (i.e., a “vaccination effective dose” or a “prophylactically effective dose”).

[0041] The composition disclosed herein may be formulated for delivered via a variety of routes. Routes may include, but are not limited to, parenteral administration (e.g., intradermal, intramuscular or subcutaneous delivery), aerosol administration (e.g., using spray cabinets), oral administration, and intraocular administration.

[0042] Adjuvants

[0043] The disclosed compositions may include an adjuvant. The term “adjuvant” refers to a compound or mixture that enhances the immune response to an antigen. An adjuvant can serve as a tissue depot that slowly releases the antigen and also as a lymphoid system activator that non-specifically enhances the immune response. Examples of adjuvants which may be employed include MPL-TDM adjuvant (monophosphoryl Lipid A/synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate. e.g., available from GSK Biologics). Another suitable adjuvant is the immunostimulatory adjuvant AS021/AS02 (GSK). These immunostimulatory adjuvants are formulated to give a strong T cell response and include QS-21, a saponin from Quillay saponaria, the TLA ligand, a monophosphoryl lipid A, together in a lipid or liposomal carrier. Other adjuvants include, but are not limited to, nonionic block co-polymer adjuvants (e.g., CRL1005), aluminum phosphates (e.g., AlPO₄), R-848 (a Th1-like adjuvant), imiquimod, PAM3CYS, poly (I:C), loxoribine, potentially useful human adjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and Corynebacterium parvum, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), cholera toxin derived antigens (e.g., CTA1-DD), lipopolysaccharide adjuvants, complete Freund's adjuvant, incomplete Freund's adjuvant, saponin, mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil or hydrocarbon emulsions in water (e.g., MF59 available from Novartis Vaccines or Montanide ISA 720), keyhole limpet hemocyanins, and dinitrophenol.

[0044] Prime-Boost Vaccination Regimen

[0045] As used herein, a “prime-boost vaccination regimen” refers to a regimen in which a subject is administered a first composition one or more times (e.g., two or three times with about 2, 3, or 4 weeks between administrations) and then after a determined period of time (e.g., about 1 week, about 2 weeks, about 4 weeks, about 2 months, about 3 months, about 4 months, about 5 months, about 6 months, or longer), the subject is administered a second composition. The second composition may also be administered more than once, with at least 2, 3, or 4 weeks between administrations. The first and second compositions may be the same or different. For example, the first composition may include a recombinant viral vector and the second composition may include a live, attenuated virus.

[0046] Characterization of the Immune Response and Protection in Vaccinated Subjects

[0047] The immune response and protection in vaccinated subjects may be evaluated as described herein (e.g., as described in the Examples below) and/or as know in the art. For example, the vaccine compositions disclosed herein may be delivered to subjects at risk for infection with IBV. Subsequently, the efficacy of the vaccine may be assessed based on the immune response induced by administering the vaccine. In order to assess the efficacy of the vaccine, the immune response can be assessed by measuring the induction of antibodies to an antigen or particular epitopes of an antigen or by measuring a T-cell response to an antigen or particular epitopes of an antigen. Antibody responses may be measured by assays known in the art such as ELISA. T-cell responses may be measured, for example, by using tetramer staining of fresh or cultured PBMC. ELISPOT assays or by using functional cytotoxicity assays, which are well-known to those of skill in the art. The efficacy of the vaccine also may be assessed by

[0048] Protection against challenge may be evaluated after challenge by clinical signs, viral load, and tracheal histopathology. Respiratory rales (nasal and/or tracheal) may be evaluated blindly by close listening to each challenged subject (e.g., a bird) and scoring as 0 (absent), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), or 3 (severe). Viral load in tears may be determined by qRT-PCR. Tracheal histopathology may be evaluated and histomorphometry may be performed essentially. Necrosis and deciliation in the tracheal mucosa may be evaluated blindly and scored 1 through 5 based on severity (i.e., normal, mild, moderate, marked, severe). Histomorphometry may be performed on a single digitally photographed microscopic field (200× magnification) containing a representative longitudinal section of the cranial one-third of the tracheal mucosa and the supporting cartilage ring.

[0049] The following embodiments are illustrative and are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter.

[0050] A method for preparing a vaccine against infection by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), the method comprising passing a heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in chicken embryonic kidney (CEK) cells.

[0051] The method of embodiment 1, wherein the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV is passaged for a sufficient number of passages wherein at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of the passaged attenuated population of IBV exhibits homogeneity at one or more nucleotide positions in the gene for the S1 polypeptide after the sufficient number of passages, and/or wherein at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of the passaged attenuated population of IBV exhibits homogeneity at one or more amino acid positions in the S1 polypeptide after the sufficient number of passages.

[0052] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the one or more amino acids comprise an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ser at amino acid position 213 of the S1 polypeptide, Arg at amino acid position 323 of the S1 polypeptide. Arg at amino acid position 386 of the S1 polypeptide. Gin at amino acid position 398 of the S1 polypeptide, and His at amino acid position 399 of the S1 polypeptide, and any combination thereof.

[0053] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the one or more amino acids comprise Ser at amino acid position 213 of the S1 polypeptide.

[0054] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of the passaged attenuated population of IBV further exhibits homogeneity at one or more amino acid positions in a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of NSP2 (e.g., Val at genome position 1097; Phe at genome position 1107; Asn at genome position 2488), NSP3 (e.g., Asp at genome position 4256), NSP14 (e.g., Lys at genome position 17,550, and S2.

[0055] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV comprises a strain of IBV selected from the group consisting of B/D207/84; B/D274/84; B/UK167/84; B/UK142/86; E/D3896/84; E/UK123/82; Brazil/BR1/USP-73/09; 793B/4-91/91; FR/CR88121/88; China/Q1/98; China/LDL971/97 aaz09202; CAV/CAV9437/95; CAV/CAV1686/95; CAV/CAV56b/91; PA/Wolgemuth/98; PA/171/99; CA/557/03 S1; JAA/04 S1 vaccine; HN99 S1; N1/62/S1; GA08 S1 GU301925; Ark/ArkDPI/81 S1; Ark/Ark99/73; PPI4/PP13/??; CAL99/CAL99/99 S1; CAL99/NE15172/95 S1; Holte/Holte/54; JMK/JMK/64; Gray/Gray/60; Iowa/Iowa609/56; Ca/1737/04 S1; DMA/5642/06 S; GA07/GA07/07 S; QX/QXIBV/99; Mass/H52/S1; Mass/H120/S1; Mass/Mass41/41 S1; Conn/Conn46/51 S1 vaccine; FL/FL18288/71; DE/DE072/92 S1 vaccine; GA98/0470/98 S1; and Dutch/D1466/81.

[0056] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV is Ark/ArkDPI/81 S1.

[0057] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV is passaged in chicken embryonic kidney cells for at least 3 passages.

[0058] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV is passaged in chicken embryonic kidney cells for at least 5 passages.

[0059] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV is passaged in chicken embryonic kidney cells for at least 7 passages.

[0060] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein after the heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV is passaged in chicken embryonic kidney cells, the passaged attenuated population of IBV is further passaged in embryonated chicken eggs (ECE).

[0061] The method of any of the foregoing embodiments, further comprising formulating the passaged attenuated population of IBV as a vaccine by adding a carrier or excipient to the passaged attenuated population of IBV.

[0062] A vaccine comprising a passaged attenuated population of IBV and a suitable carrier or excipient, wherein at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of the passaged attenuated population of IBV exhibits homogeneity at one or more amino acid positions in the S1 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of Ser at amino acid position 213 of the S1 polypeptide, Arg at amino acid position 323 of the S1 polypeptide, Arg at amino acid position 386 of the S1 polypeptide, Gln at amino acid position 398 of the S1 polypeptide. His at amino acid position 399 of the S1 polypeptide, and any combination thereof.

[0063] The vaccine of embodiment 13, wherein at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of the passaged attenuated population of IBV comprises Ser at amino acid position 213 of the S1 polypeptide.

[0064] The vaccine of embodiment 13 or 14, wherein at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of the passaged attenuated population of IBV comprises Ser at amino acid position 213 of the S1 polypeptide; Arg at amino acid position 323 of the S1 polypeptide; Arg at amino acid position 386 of the S polypeptide, Gln at amino acid position 398 of the S1 polypeptide, and His at amino acid position 399 of the S1 polypeptide, and optionally, wherein at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of the passaged attenuated population of IBV comprises an S1 polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6, or a variant or mutant thereof.

[0065] The vaccine of embodiment 15, wherein at least about 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of the passaged attenuated population further exhibits homogeneity at one or more amino acid positions in a polypeptide selected from NSP2, NSP3, NSP14, and S2.

[0066] A method for vaccinating a subject against infection by IBV, the method comprising administering to the subject the vaccine of embodiment 13.

[0067] The method of embodiment 17, wherein the vaccine comprises an effective amount of the passaged attenuated population of IBV for inducing an immune response against S1 polypeptide.

[0068] The method of embodiment 18, wherein the immune response is an antibody response.

[0069] The method of any of embodiments 17-19, wherein the vaccine is administered comprising in a prime/boost regimen.

[0070] A vaccine comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6, or a variant or mutant thereof, together with a suitable carrier or excipient.

[0071] A method for vaccinating a subject in need thereof against infection by IBV, the method comprising administering the vaccine of embodiment 21 to the subject.

[0072] An isolated virus obtained from passing a heterogeneous attenuated population of IBV in chicken embryonic kidney (CEK) cells, optionally back-passaging the passaged attenuated population in embryonated chicken eggs (ECE), and isolating a virus from the passaged attenuated population.

[0073] A vaccine comprising the isolated virus of embodiment 23, together with a suitable carrier or excipient.

[0074] A method for vaccinating a subject in need thereof against infection by IBV, the method comprising administering the vaccine of embodiment 24 to the subject.

[0075] The following examples are illustrative and are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter.

[0076] Reference is made to Ghetas et al., “Effects of Adaptation of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Arkansas Attenuated Vaccine to Embryonic Kidney Cells,” Avian Diseases 59:106-113, 2015, published ahead of print on Dec. 11, 2014, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0077] ANOVA=analysis of variance; Ark=Arkansas; CEK=chicken embryo kidney; CEKp7=CEK passage 7; CPE=cytopathogenic effect; DPI=Delmarva Poultry Industry; ECE=embryonated chicken egg; ELISA=enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IBV=infectious bronchitis virus; RT-PCR=reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; qRT-PCR=quantitative RT-PCR; S=spike protein; S/P ratio=sample to positive ratio; EID50=50% embryo infectious dose; amino acid=aa; nucleotide=nt; N=nucleocapsid protein; NSP=Nonstructural protein; UTR=untranslated region.

[0078] The population structure of an embryo-attenuated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) Arkansas (Ark) Delmarva Poultry Industry (DPI)-derived vaccine was characterized during serial passages in chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells and after back-passage in embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) and in chickens. Both conventional and deep sequencing results consistently showed population changes occurred during adaptation to CEK cells. Specifically, thirteen amino acid (aa) positions seemed to be targets of selection when comparing the vaccine genome prior to and after 7 passages in CEK (CEKp7). Amino acid changes occurred at four positions in the S gene, and at two positions in the S gene large shifts in frequencies of aa encoded were observed. CEK adaptation shifted the virus population towards homogeneity in S. The changes achieved in the S1 gene in CEKp7 were maintained after a backpassage in ECE. Outside the S gene, amino acid changes at three positions and large shifts in frequencies at four positions were observed. Synonymous nucleotide changes and changes in non-coding regions of the genome were observed at eight genome positions. Inoculation of early CEK passages into chickens induced higher antibody levels and CEKp4 induced increased respiratory signs compared to CEKp7. From an applied perspective, the fact that CEK adaptation of embryo-attenuated Ark vaccines reduces population heterogeneity and that changes do not revert after one replication cycle in ECE or in chickens provides an opportunity to improve commercial ArkDPI-derived vaccines.

[0079] Abundant epidemiological information indicates that most infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) outbreaks of respiratory disease during the last decade in the U.S. have been caused by Arkansas (Ark)-type strains in spite of extensive vaccination with Ark Delmarva Poultry Industry (ArkDPI)-derived vaccines (17,27,35). We and others have reported that commercially available Ark serotype IBV vaccines exhibit heterogeneity in the structure of their viral population despite being derived from the same ArkDPI isolate. The high number of Ark-like viruses obtained from Ark-vaccinated chickens suggests not only that these attenuated vaccines provide inadequate protection, but also that they may themselves be contributing to the problem.

[0080] The 5′ two-thirds of the single-stranded positive-sense RNA IBV genome of ≧27 kb encode 15 non-structural proteins (NSP) including the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The remainder of the genome encodes four structural proteins including the spike (S), envelope, membrane, and nucleocapsid (N) proteins (6,11,12). S is post-translationally cleaved into the S1 and S2 subunits. S1 of ˜550 amino acids (aa) constitutes the bulbous end, and S2 of ˜620 aa forms the stalk anchoring S to the envelope (22). The role of S1 in viral attachment to cells and determining the species- and tissue/cell tropism of several corona viruses, including IBV, has been reported extensively [e.g. (3-5,13,14,16,24)]. The S1 subunit is important for host protective immune responses as it induces virus neutralizing-antibodies (7,8,18). Thus, the extensive variation among IBV populations exhibited by the S1 protein is relevant for immunological escape (9,19,20). IBV evolves by natural selection, i.e. generation of genetic diversity by high mutation frequency and recombination events followed by selection acting on diverse phenotypes (32). Earlier work showed that during adaptation of the chicken embryo-adapted IBV Beaudette strain to Vero cells a total of 49 aa changes took place. The majority of these aa substitutions (53%) were concentrated in the S protein (13). During attenuation of IBV ArkDPI by passages in embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) 17 aa changes occurred, with most located in the replicase 1a and S regions, again with changes in the S gene overrepresented (1). Based on S1 gene sequences, we previously identified five distinct virus subpopulations in ArkDPI-derived vaccines that became rapidly positively selected in the chicken upper respiratory tract, whereas the predominant IBV phenotype contained in the embryo-attenuated vaccines was negatively selected (15, 38). Differences in frequencies of phenotypes within IBV populations are associated with differences in the behavior of these viruses in the host (26). From an applied perspective, genetic and phenotypic shifts occurring in Ark-type IBV vaccine populations during replication in chickens are most likely responsible for the emergence of Ark-like viruses in the U.S. poultry industry.

[0081] In this study, we investigated genetic and phenotypic changes associated with adaptation of an attenuated IBV Ark DPI-derived vaccine to chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells. We also evaluated the effects of back-passage of CEK-adapted Ark virus both in chickens and ECE.

[0082] Materials and Methods

[0083] Chickens and ECE.

[0084] White-leghorn specific pathogen free (SPF) ECE (Sunrise Farms, Catskill, N.Y.) and SPF chickens hatched from them were used in all experiments. Animal experimental procedures and care were performed in biosafety level 2 facilities at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in compliance with all applicable federal and institutional animal use guidelines. Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine is an Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care-accredited institution.

[0085] CEK Cell Cultures.

[0086] Primary CEK cell cultures were prepared as described (30). In brief, kidneys were obtained from 17-20 day-old SPF chicken embryos. After trypsinization, cells were washed with phosphate buffer saline, centrifuged, and resuspended in minimal essential medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were placed in 24-well tissue culture plates and incubated at 37° C. and 5% CO₂.

[0087] IBV Passage in CEK.

[0088] A commercially available single-entity attenuated IBV ArkDPI-derived vaccine was used. The chosen Ark-type vaccine, previously coded as vaccine B, shows a wider variety of subpopulations selected in chickens than other Ark-type vaccines (15,38). The lyophilized vaccine was reconstituted in sterile tryptose broth and titrated in 9-day-old embryonated chicken eggs as accepted (39). Tenfold dilutions from 10⁻¹ through 10⁻⁵ were prepared from the vaccine suspension containing 10^5.5 egg infectious doses 50%/100 Id and each dilution independently inoculated in CEK cultures by adding 25 μl of virus suspension to 500 μl cell culture suspension in each well (4 wells per dilution). Viruses in cell cultures were serially passaged every 48 hours. For each passage cells were harvested, pooled for each initial concentration of inoculum, subjected to 3 cycles of freezing and thawing, cell debris removed by low-speed centrifugation, and 100 μl of the supernatant used in the subsequent passage. This supernatant obtained from the freeze-thaw lysates is further referred to as culture supernatant. The remaining culture supernatant was stored at −80° C. until use for inoculation in chickens.

[0089] Effect of CEK-Adapted IBV in Chickens.

[0090] Fifty-three 5-day-old chickens, divided into 4 groups (n=12/group) and an uninoculated control group (n=5) were maintained in Horsfall-type isolators. Chickens in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were inoculated ocularly with 100 μl of culture supernatant of IBV Ark vaccine CEK passages 1, 3, 4, and 7 respectively. Five days postinoculation respiratory signs were blindly scored [O (negative), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), 3 (severe)] for all chickens individually. On the same day tear fluids were collected as described (33) for IBV RNA detection by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Finally, serum samples were collected 18 and 27 days after inoculation and IBV specific antibodies determined by ELISA (ldexx Laboratories. Inc., Westbrook, Me.) using a 1:100 serum dilution. Data obtained from all groups were compared by analysis of variance (ANOV A) and multiple comparisons post-tests.

[0091] CEK-Adapted IBV Back-Passage in ECE.

[0092] 0.1 ml of culture supernatant from each IBV CEK passage 1, 3, 4, and 7 were inoculated in 9 day-old ECE (n=2/group). Allantoic fluids were harvested 72 hours after inoculation, centrifuged, and stored at −80° C. until RNA extraction for IBV genome sequencing.

[0093] IBV RNA Extraction and RT-PCR.

[0094] IBV RNA was extracted from IBV CEK cell culture passages, tear samples collected from individual chickens, and from allantoic fluids (described above) using the Qiagen QIAmp viral RNA mini kit (Qiagen. Valencia, Calif.) following the manufacturer's protocol. RT-PCR was carried out using the Qiagen one-step RT-PCR kit. Primers NEWS1OLIGO5′ (10) and S1OLIGO3′ (21) were used to amplify the S1 gene of 113V from CEK passages, from allantoic fluids, and tear samples. Primers S17F and S18R (15) and S2F (38) and S1OLIGO3′ were also used to amplify portions of the IBV S1 gene from tear samples. RT-PCR products were visualized by gel green stain (Phoenix Research, Candler, N.C.) after agarose gel electrophoresis.

[0095] Sequencing of ecDNA Generated by RT-PCR.

[0096] The amplified cDNA was purified using the QIAquick PCR purification kit (Qiagen. Valencia, Calif.) and submitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital DNA core facility for sequencing using S1R, S2F (38), and S1OLIGO3′ primers for cDNA amplified with primers NEWS1OLIGO5″, S1OLIGO3′ from supernatants of CEK cell culture passages, allantoic fluids, and tear fluids; or S1R for cDNA amplified with S17F and S18R primers from tear samples. Sequences were aligned using Mac Vector 10.6.0 software (MacVector Inc., Cary, N.C.). All sequence chromatograms were examined to identify positions containing more than one peak indicating the presence of a mixed IBV population. The quantitative analysis of nucleotide peak heights in the chromatograms at heterogeneous positions was obtained after normalizing the height of major and minor peaks to peak heights obtained in samples with a single population.

[0097] Quantification of IBV RNA in CEK Cell Culture Supernatant by qRT-PCR.

[0098] Viral RNA (5 μl) extracted from culture supernatant of each IBV CEK passage was used to determine relative IBV RNA concentration by fluorescence resonance energy transfer qRT-PCR. Primers and probes used amplified a portion of the Ark IBV N gene as previously described (36).

[0099] Sequence Analyses of Embryo-Attenuated ArkDPI after CEK Adaptation by Deep Sequencing.

[0100] RNA extracted from the IBV vaccine virus stock and from the virus after 7 passages in CEK (CEKp7) was subjected to next-generation sequencing. Because of heavy host cell nucleic acid contamination in the cell culture supernatant, the CEKp7 was replicated once in ECE prior to deep-sequencing. IBV RNA was extracted from allantoic fluid using TRI Reagent LS RNA Isolation Reagent (Molecular Research Center. Cincinnati. Ohio) according to the manufacturer's protocol and omitting the isopropanol precipitation step. RNA was further purified using the Qiagen RNeasy mini kit, following the RNA cleanup protocol. Purified RNA was submitted for next-generation Illumina Sequencing at HudsonAlpha (Huntsville. Ala.), (50 bp paired-end reads; 15 million reads). The resultant paired-end sequencing data were trimmed using CLC Genomics Workbench Software, using a trim setting (0.01) to achieve high quality sequences with low error probability. The trimmed sequences were then used for a reference assembly using the ArkDPI passage 101 genome (1) (Genbank accession #EU418975) as the reference genome using the default setting of 0.80 for sequence match. Single nucleotide polymorphism detection of nucleotides at >0.001% frequency was then performed on the reference assembly and analyzed using CLC Genomnics Workbench.

[0101] Results

[0102] Virus Concentrations During Serial Passages in CEK Cells.

[0103] Ten-fold serial dilutions (from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁵) of an ArkDPI-derived IBV vaccine were initially inoculated into CEK cells to determine which virus concentration allowed the most successful replication and adaptation. A cytopathogenic effect (CPE) characterized by detachment of cells and formation of syncytia (not shown) was initially observed during the 2nd CEK passage and became more obvious during the 5^th passage in wells that had been inoculated with the higher vaccine virus concentrations (10⁻¹ and 10⁻² dilutions). No CPE was observed in wells inoculated with higher (10⁻³-10⁻⁵) virus dilutions. IBV RNA was successfully amplified by qRT-PCR from cell cultures during all passages in wells inoculated with the 1^st and 2^nd tenfold dilutions (FIG. 1). In contrast, IBV RNA was only detected in the 1^st passage of the 3^rd tenfold dilution and not detected in cultures inoculated with the 4^th and 5^th tenfold dilutions. As seen in FIG. 1, IBV RNA levels declined from the 1^st or 2^nd through the 4^th passages and subsequently increased from the 5^th passage to reach maximal levels at the 7^th passage.

[0104] Genome Changes Detected During Adaptation to CEK Cells.

[0105] The S1 gene sequence was determined for CEK cell IBV vaccine serial passages that allowed consistent IBV RNA amplification. In cells inoculated with the highest initial virus concentration changes were detected during serial passages at S1 aa positions 163, 323, 386, 398, and 399 (Table 1).

TABLE 1
S1 amino acid (aa) differences of IBV ArkDPI-derived embryo-
attenuated vaccine during serial passages in CEK cells.
	nt
	488	911	968	1157	H92	1195
	aa
	163	304	323	386	398	399
	Vaccine
	R1	T	T(R)	R((H))	E/Q	H((Y))
A
CEK p12	R(I)3	T	T/R	R (L, H)	Q(E)	H((Y))
CEK p2	I(R)	T	R ((T))	R ((L))	Q	H
CEK p3	I/R	T	R ((T))	L/R((H))	Q	H((Y))
CEK p4	I/R	T	R	L/R	Q	H
CEK p5	I/R	T	R	L/R	Q	H
CEK p6	I((R))	T	R	R((L))	Q	H
CEK p7	I	T	R	R	Q	H
B
CEK p1	R	T	R	R	Q	H
CEK p2	R	T(I)	R	R	Q	H
CEK p3	R	T/I	R	R	Q	H
CEK p4	R	I((T))	R	R	Q	H
CEK p5	R	I((T))	R	R	Q	H
CEK p6	R	I	R	R	Q	H
CEK p7	R	I	R	R	Q	H
A = 10−1 initial dilution of vaccine stock;
B = 10−2 initial dilution used.
1Single letter aa code is used. Bold and Arial font used to facilitate identification of aa differing from vaccine.
2CEKp1-p7 = passage number in chicken embryonic kidney cells.
3Mixed populations inferred from double nucleotide peaks at some positions.
Quantitative analysis of chromatogram peak heights at these positions specified as follows: (( )) indicates minor peak <20%; ( ) minor 20% to 40%; / = minor 40% to 50%.

[0106] Changes were characterized by presence of mixed populations during early passages and establishment of a single population in passage 7, which was maintained after further passages (not shown). In the lower initial virus concentration (10²) aa changes during adaptation were observed at S1 aa positions 304, 323, 386, 398, and 399. Interestingly, changes at aa positions 163 and 304 during adaptation to CEK differed in the two passage series.

[0107] Further nucleotide and deduced aa changes within and outside the S gene resulting during ArkDPI adaptation to CEK cells were identified by next generation genome sequencing of the attenuated vaccine virus stock and CEKp7 obtained starting with the highest initial virus concentration. Large shifts in nucleotide frequencies in both protein coding regions (including both non-synonymous and synonymous changes) and non-protein coding regions were observed (Tables 2 and 3).

TABLE 2
Amino acid frequency differences 1 detected in non-structural (NSP) and
spike (S) proteins of a commercial embryo-attenuated IBV ArkDPI-derived
vaccine after 7 passages in chicken kidney cell cultures (CEKp7).
		Major		Minor		Major		Minor
Genome		aa in		aa in		aa in		aa in
position	Protein	vaccine	%	vaccine	%	CEKp7	%	CEK p7	%
1,097	NSP2	A	92.4	V	7.6	V	94.9	A	5.0
1,107	NSP2	L	78.7	F	21.3	F	96.4	L	3.5
2,488	NSP2	N3	82.8	H	17.2	N	100	—	<0.03
4,256	NSP3	C	78.9	D	20.6	D	95.7	G	4.2
17,550	NSP14	K	54.1	Q	45.9	K	100	—	0.01
17,641	NSP14	D	100	G	0.03	D	87.0	G	13.0
20,798	S1 (163)2	R	97.7	I	2.3	I	97.2	R	2.8
20,947	S1 (213)	S	93.0	A	7.0	S	100	—	<0.03
21,278	S1 (323)	T	73.4	R	26.2	R	99.9	T	0.03
21,467	S1(386)	R	90.1	H	7.5	R	97.2	L	2.8
21,502	S1 (398)	E	55.5	Q	44.5	Q	100	—	<0.03
21,505	S1 (399)	H	93.8	Y	6.2	H	100	—	<0.03
22,976	S2 (889)	S	100	F/Y	0.01	F	96.3	S	17
27,244	ORF 6b	A	100	V	0.04	A	84.5	V	15.5
1Only genome positions where nt frequencies change by >10% or minor codon >6% are shown.
2Numbers in parentheses indicate aa position in S.
3Bold and Arial font indicates aa predominant in CEKp7 to facilitate visual sizing proportion they were in vaccine.

TABLE 3
Synonymous nucleotide frequency differences and nucleotide frequency
differences in non-protein-coding regions of it commercial embryo-attenuated
IBV ArkDPI-derived vaccine after 7 passages in chicken kidney cell
cultures (CEKp7).
		Major		Minor		Major		Minor
Genome	Genome	nt in		nt in		nt in		nt in
position	region	vaccine	%	vaccine	%	CEKp7	%	CEKp7	%
1,917	NSP2	C	89.1	T	10.9	T	96.8	C	3.2
6,468	NSP3	T	99.9	A	0.04	C	96.5	T	3.5
16,229	NSP13	T	96.8	C	3.2	C	96.3	T	3.7
24,837	M	C	100	T	0.02	C	88.9	T	11.1
25,481	M	C	98.9	A	1.1	C	70.5.	A	29.5
	ORF5
25,482	M	G	98.9	A	1.1	G	70.4	A	29.6
	ORF5
26,802	N	C	100	T	0.03	C	88.1	T	11.9
27,244	3′ UTR	C	100	T	0.04	C	84.5	T	15.5
Bold and Arial font indicates nt that are predominant in CEKp7 to facilitate visualization of proportion they were in vaccine.
M = membrane;
N = nucleocapsid;
Arrow = between *27,244 is included in two tables, as belonging to ORF6b and as part of 3′ UTR, because this part of the genome is traditionally considered part of the 3′ UTR, and the significance of protein potentially encoded by ORF6b is unknown.

[0108] As seen in Table 2, a shift of populations based both on NSP and S genes was detected during CEK passage. In some cases changes indicate that the predominant population declined and a minor population became predominant. For example, the vaccine's predominant population (92.4%) displayed alanine in NSP2 at nt position 1097 and a minor population (7.6%) displayed valine at this position. After selection in CEK the predominant population (94.9%) displayed valine in NSP2 and populations displaying alanine became marginal (5%). As seen in Table 2, other examples of similar trends were observed for S1 (nt 20798) and S2 (nt 22976) genes. In other cases a different trend was observed; amino acids encoded by the initially predominant population increased even more, indicating that the amino acid encoded at these positions was shared between the minor subpopulations selected during CEK passage and the initially predominant population. Examples of this trend were seen for NSP2 gene at nt position 2,488, and S1 at nt position 20,947. More interesting was the fact that, based on S1 sequencing, populations tended to become more homogeneous as evidenced at S1 nt positions 20,947; 21,278; and 21,502. Indeed, at these positions heterogeneity in the mixed populations contained in the vaccine was eliminated after CEK adaptation. However, this was not the case throughout the genome. For example at nucleotide position 17,641, in NSPI4 coding sequences, heterogeneity increased. An increase in heterogeneity was also observed in the 3′UTR, and in the N gene, without affecting the amino acid encoded (Table 3).

[0109] CEK-Adapted ArkDPI Back-Passage in ECE.

[0110] A single ECE passage of CEK ArkDPI passages 1, 3, 4, and 7 did not reverse the selection process occurring in the S1 gene during CEK passages. Amino acids encoded at selected S1 positions in back-passages of CEKp1 and CEKp7 are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4
S1 amino acid differences in CEK cell-passaged IBV Ark-derived
vaccine after one back-passage in embryonated chicken eggs.
				CEKp1		CEKp7
Nt	Aa	Vace	CEKp11	Ep12	CEKp7	Ep1
488	163	R	R (I)3	I	I	I
968	323	T (R)	T/R	R	R	R
1157	386	R ((H))	R(L, H)	R	R	R
1192	398	E/Q	Q (E)	Q	Q	Q
1EKp1, p3, or p7 = passage number in chicken kidney cells.
2CEKp1Ep1 = CEKp1 after 1 embryo passage.
3Mixed populations inferred from double nucleotide peaks at some positions.
Quantitative analysis of chromatogram peak heights at such positions specified by parenthesis: (( )) = minor peak <20% of total; ( ) = minor 20% to 40%.

[0111] For instance, the vaccine predominant population displaying arginine at S1 aa position 163, was replaced by a population displaying isoleucine in CEKp7, and maintained in CEKp7 embryo passage 1.

[0112] CEK-Adapted ArkDPI Passage in Chickens.

[0113] Absent or mild respiratory signs were blindly detected in chickens inoculated with different passages of Ark in CEK cells (FIG. 2). Slightly increased incidence of mild signs detected in chickens inoculated with CEKp4 resulted in a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) compared to all other groups. Birds of all groups, except uninoculated controls, were positive for IBV RNA in the tear fluids by RT-PCR (not shown). As seen FIG. 3. CEK passages 1, 3, and 4 elicited specific antibodies by day 18 after inoculation while the rise of antibodies induced by CEKp7 did not achieve a significant difference compared to the uninoculated control. On day 27 post-inoculation all groups, including CEKp7, showed a significant increase (P<0.05) of IBV antibodies compared to uninoculated controls. However, antibodies induced in group CEKp3 were significantly higher than in group CEKp7 (FIG. 3). Amino acids encoded at positions that differ among S1 sequences of IBV recovered from tear fluids of individual chickens 5 days after inoculation with ArkDPI CEK passages 1, 3, and 7 are shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5
Amino acids (aa) encoded at positions that differ among IBV SJ sequences
recovered from tear fluids of individual Chicken 5 days after inoculation
with IBV ArkDPI vaccine subjected to passages in CEK cells.
	nt
	233	263	488	637	914	968	1052	1058	1157	1192	1195
Chicken	aa
#	78	88	163	213	305	323	351	353	386	398	399
	CEKp11
	A2	S	R (I)3	S	A	R/T	S	S	R(L/H)	Q(E)	H((Y))
1	A	S	R/I	S(A)	A	R/T	S	F/S	H/R	Q(E)	H(Y)
2					A	T	S	S	R	E	H
3	A	S	R	A(S)	A	T	S	S	H	E	Y(H)
4	A	S	R	S	A	R	S	S	H	E	H
5					A	T	S	S	H	Q	Y
6	A	S	R	S(A)	A	T	S	S	H/R	E/Q	H/Y
7	V	S	R	S	A	T	S	S	R	E	H
8	A	N	R	S
9					A	T	S	S	H	Q	Y
10					A	T(R)	S	S	H/R	Q(E)	H(Y)
11					A	R(T)	S(F)	S	H(R)	Q	H(Y)
12					A	T	S	S	H(R)	Q((E))	Y(H)
	CEKp3
	A	S	I/R	S	A	R((T))	S	S	L/R((H))	Q	H((Y))
1	A	S	I	S
2	A	S	I	S	A	R	R	S	R	Q	H
3	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
4	A	S	I	S
5	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
6	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
7	A	S	I/R	S	A	R	S	S	L/R	Q	H
8	A	S	I/R	S
9	A	S	R	A	L	T	S	S	H	Q	Y
10					A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
11	A	S	R	S
	CEKp7
	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
1	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
2	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
3	A	S	I	S
4	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
5	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
6	A	S	I	S
7	A	S	I	S
8	A	S	I	S	A	R	S	S	R	Q	H
1CEKp1-p7 = passage number in chicken embryonic kidney cells.
2Single letter amino acid code is used.
3Mixed populations inferred from double nucleotide peaks at some positions.
Quantitative analysis of chromatogram peak heights at these positions specified as follows: (( )) indicates minor peak <20% of total; ( ) minor 20% to 40%; / = minor 40% to 50%. Shaded cells indicate S 1 positions at which the composition of the virus population found in chickens differed from the pre-inoculation population,

[0114] As seen in Table 5, most chickens inoculated with CEKp1 showed abundant mixed populations (reflected by detection of more than one aa codon at distinct positions). In contrast, the frequency of mixed populations found in chickens inoculated with CEKp3 was considerably lower. Finally, only S1 homogeneous virus populations were rescued from chickens inoculated with CEKp7. It was also interesting to notice that changes in populations further adapted to CEK (i.e. CEKp7) were not reverted by a passage in chickens. Indeed, while a few differences were observed between the inoculated CEKp1 and CEKp3 and the viruses recovered from chickens, no differences in S1 were seen between the consensus of CEKp7 and the consensus of the virus rescued from chickens inoculated with CEKp7.

[0115] Discussion

[0116] The fact that only the higher concentrations of the ArkDPI vaccine stock (1^st and 2^nd tenfold dilutions) induced CPE and could be successfully further passaged in CEK indicates that a minimum concentration of virus, even in the absence of an immune response, is required to establish successful expansion of a distinct virus population. Even more interesting is the kinetic pattern of the observed viral concentrations, i.e., declining virus concentration during initial serial passages and increasing concentrations concomitant with further passages. This kinetic pattern was observed using either initial dilution of the virus and thus strongly suggests adaptation to the new environment. During initial passages the predominant population in the vaccine was negatively selected likely due to lack of fitness, whilst after several replication cycles a minor subpopulation more fit in the new environment of the CEK, was able to replicate more successfully.

[0117] Both conventional and deep sequencing results consistently showed population changes resulting from adaptation of the embryo-attenuated vaccine virus to CEK cells (Tables 1 and 2). The fact that the virus replication dynamics (discussed above) were accompanied by changes in the population strongly indicates selection applied on diverse phenotypes resulted in adaptation to the kidney cell environment.

[0118] Interestingly, changes at S1 aa positions 163 and 304 differed during adaptation to CEK contingent with initial virus concentration used. Whilst it is possible that the initial virus concentration plays a relevant role on selection of IBV subpopulations, it is also plausible that the differences in subpopulations selected were the result of chance. Perhaps more interesting is the observation that subpopulations encoding the same aa at S1 position 398 quickly predominated in both passage series.

[0119] Additional nt and aa changes inside and outside the S gene resulting from adaptation to CEK cell cultures were identified by next generation sequencing of the vaccine genome prior to and after CEK cell passages. These results, which were consistent with the results of conventional sequencing, showed that, based on changes at several positions in S, the original population structure had changed during CEK adaptation (Table 2). Some changes were of particular interest. For example, the minor population in the vaccine identical to ArkDPI original passage 11 (ArkDPIp11) containing arginine at position 20,947 (1) becomes undetectable in CEKp7. The vaccine minor population identical to ArkDPIp11 in S at genome positions 21,278 and 21, 502 was strongly selected in CEKp7. Interestingly, the phenylalanine cod on encoding S amino acid 889 within the S2 subunit, which was detected at 96.3% frequency in CEKp7, was not the major codon in ArkDPIp11 nor ArkDPIp101 (1), suggesting that this change could be highly beneficial during adaptation of ArkDPI to CEK cell. The importance of this particular change during adaptation to CEK cells will require further studies using reverse genetics.

[0120] Outside the S gene, apparent selection was observed at seven positions, where nucleotide changes between the vaccine virus and CEK-adapted virus resulted in amino acid differences (Table 2). These include six positions where the frequency of minor nucleotides in the vaccine virus increased over 10% in CEK-adapted virus, reaching frequencies of at least 95% in four of those positions. At the seventh position, a minor nucleotide in the vaccine virus was eliminated in CEK-adapted virus. In NSP3 at nt position 4,256 the selected population encoded aspartic acid, the same as ArkDPIp11. Interestingly, we have observed the same pattern of selection at this position in a previous study (37) after inoculation of chickens with commercial ArkDPI-derived vaccine. Papain-like protease domain 2 encoded in the NSP3 of coronaviruses is an interferon antagonist (40,41). Therefore, selection of this phenotype may be indicative of involvement in inhibition of the type 1 interferon pathway and subsequent evasion of the host innate immune response.

[0121] As discussed above. S is responsible for viral attachment and cell tropism. S has also been associated with pathogenicity (14,23,28) but pathogenicity of coronaviruses is also associated with genes outside S (31,42). There is accumulating evidence that IBV virulence is influenced by NSPs encoded within the NSP 2-16 genome region (1,2,29). In the current study early CEK passages induced higher antibody levels and CEKp4 increased respiratory signs compared to CEKp7. CEK adaptation shifted the virus population towards homogeneity in S (Tables 2, 3). Several changes were also detected in NSPs (Table 3). Unfortunately the current study does not allow attributing distinct changes to the behavior observed in the chickens. Others have speculated that S heterogeneous viral populations may have an advantage over more homogeneous populations as they might more readily adapt to changes in the host environment (27). Thus, the lack of heterogeneity achieved in S after CEK passages may have precluded optimal replication of CEKp7 in chickens and consequently explains the lower antibody levels (FIG. 3) elicited in this group. However, the presence of increased phenotype diversity in the virus population might also result from absence of strong selective pressure which would prevent extinction of less fit phenotypes. This scenario would fit embryo-attenuated viruses because embryos harbor undifferentiated cells and lack strong immune responses at the stage used for IBV passage.

[0122] Both conventional and deep sequencing results consistently showed more homogeneous virus populations resulting from adaptation of the embryo-attenuated vaccine virus to CEK cells. As indicated above, previous work in our laboratories as well as by others has shown selection of distinct ArkDPI populations after replication in chickens (25,38). However, other IBV attenuated vaccines, such as Mass-type vaccines, seem to be more stable as S1 sequences different from the original virus stock do not emerge during a single passage in chickens (38). We previously found that the ability of commercial Ark-type vaccines to protect chickens against Ark virulent challenge differs (34). In addition to different protection efficacy, the three vaccines compared differed in degree of variation in challenge virus following challenge. The vaccine used in the present study resulted in variation of challenge virus. The vaccines differ in their concentration of subpopulations subsequently selected in chickens as follows: while in all of these vaccines the previously identified subpopulations selected in chickens can be detected by RT-PCR, the vaccine used in the present study, coded as A in (34), shows a more homogeneous S1 population structure in the sequence chromatogram (38). Therefore, and from an applied perspective, the results presented herein indicate that CEK adaptation of current embryo-attenuated commercial Ark vaccines would reduce their heterogeneity. The current results also show that these changes are maintained after one passage in ECE, which is required for mass vaccine production, and do not revert after one replication cycle in the chicken. However, further studies to assess the protective capabilities of these more homogeneous virus populations against virulent Ark challenge are needed.

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[0165] Ark=Arkansas; CEK=chicken embryo kidney; CEKp7-Ep1=seven passages in CEK and one passage in chicken embryo; DPI=Delmarva Poultry Industry; EID50=50% embryo infectious dose; IBV=infectious bronchitis virus; NSP=non-structural protein; qRT-PCR=quantitative RT-PCR; RT-PCR=reverse transcriptase PCR; S=spike; SPF=specific pathogen free

[0166] Summary

[0167] We previously demonstrated that adaptation of an embryo-attenuated infectious bronchitis Arkansas Delmarva Poultry Industry (ArkDPI)-derived vaccine to chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cell shifted the virus population towards homogeneity in spike (S) and non-structural protein (NSP) genes. Moreover, the typical Ark subpopulations emerging in chickens vaccinated with commercial Ark vaccines were not detected in chickens vaccinated with the CEK-adapted virus. In this study, chickens vaccinated with a low dose (1.6×10³ EID₅₀/bird) of CEK-adapted Ark vaccine at 5 days of age showed a significant reduction of IBV RNA in the lachrymal fluids and decreased incidence of IBV RNA detection in tracheal swabs 5 days after challenge compared to unvaccinated challenged chickens. In a second experiment 5-day-old chickens were vaccinated with 10⁴ or 10⁵ EID₅₀/chicken of CEK-adapted Ark and protection was compared to chickens vaccinated with 10⁵ EID₅₀/chicken of the commercially available ArkDPI-derived vaccine. All vaccinated chicken groups showed a significant reduction of respiratory signs and viral load 5 days after Ark virulent challenge compared to unvaccinated-challenged controls. No subpopulations different from the challenge virus were detected in chickens vaccinated with CEK-Ark after challenge. In contrast. IBV S1 sequences differing from the predominant in the challenge virus were detected in chickens vaccinated with the commercial Ark attenuated vaccine. From an applied perspective, the CEK-adapted IBV ArkDPI-derived vaccine is an improved and effective vaccine candidate to protect chickens against virulent Ark-type strains.

[0168] Background Information

[0169] In the United States IBV Arkansas (Ark)-type wild and vaccine-like strains have accounted for more than 50% of IBV respiratory disease in chickens during the last decade and beyond (7,9,12,15). The high prevalence of Ark viruses occurs despite extensive vaccination with different commercial embryo-attenuated Ark vaccines which all originate from the same Ark Delmarva Poultry Industry (DPI) IBV isolate. ArkDPI-derived vaccine viruses show increased persistence in commercial broilers compared to IBV vaccines belonging to other serotypes (8) which increases the opportunities for viral recombination and/or mutation. Furthermore, gene sequence analyses have revealed ArkDPI-derived vaccines containing multiple viral minor subpopulations which become predominant in the chickens after vaccination (9,18). These viral subpopulations, which show distinct behaviors in chickens (3,4,10,11), likely provide a source for the emergence of vaccine-like viruses commonly isolated from broiler respiratory disease. Finally, the varying proportions of viral subpopulations contained in the commercial Ark-derived vaccines influence the vaccine replication ability in the host and subsequently induced immune responses. Weaker immune responses after Ark vaccination have been shown to result in rise of virus subpopulations from a wild Ark challenge virus (14), a phenomenon that might also contribute to emergence of novel Ark variants.

[0170] IBV evolves by natural selection, i.e. generation of genetic diversity from mutation and recombination events followed by selection of the most fit IBV phenotypes (13). We previously investigated genetic and phenotypic changes associated with adaptation of an embryo-attenuated IBV ArkDPI-derived vaccine virus to chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells. The virus population shifted towards homogeneity in spike (S) and nonstructural (NSP) genes after seven passages in CEK. Based on S gene sequencing the changes of the predominant Ark population after CEK adaptation were not reverted after one back-passage in embryonated chicken eggs nor after a passage in chickens (6). Because of the advantages of this more stable and homogeneous CEK-adapted ArkDPI virus, this study was aimed at evaluating its ability to confer protection against homologous challenge.

[0171] Materials and Methods

[0172] Chickens.

[0173] White leghorn chickens hatched from specific pathogen free (SPF) fertile eggs (Sunrise Farms, Catskill, N.Y.) were used in two experiments. Hatched chickens were maintained in Horsfall-type isolators in biosafety level 2 facilities. Experimental procedures and animal care were performed in compliance with all applicable federal and institutional animal use guidelines. Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine is an Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care-accredited institution.

[0174] Viruses. The previously described CEK passage 7ArkDPI vaccine virus subjected to one additional passage in embryonated chicken eggs (CEKp7-Ep1) (6) was used a 3 different dose levels as indicated in the experimental design below. In the second experiment a commercially available ArkDPI-type embryo-attenuated vaccine, from which the CEK-adapted virus originated, was used as an additional control. An IBV Ark-type virulent strain (GenBank accession #JN861120) previously described (2) was used for challenge purposes. Viruses were titered in embryonated chicken eggs as generally accepted (5,19) but in addition to embryo macroscopic changes, we used the embryo weight and detection of IBV RNA in embryo kidneys to determine virus replication and subsequently calculate the virus titer. In brief, embryos were evaluated macroscopically for IBV typical changes which are usually obvious at lower dilutions of the virus. Live embryos without obvious lesions were weighed and considered positive if the value fell below 2 standard deviations of the average of uninfected controls. Finally, kidney samples were obtained from embryos inoculated with higher virus dilutions and presence of IBV RNA determined by RT-PCR as previously described (17). Thus, the titration method is more sensitive than the generally accepted method. Vaccinations and challenge were performed with a total volume of 100 μl of virus stock; i.e., each bird was inoculated with 25 μl in each nostril and each eye.

[0175] Experimental Design

[0176] Experiment 1.

[0177] Two groups of chickens were established. Chickens in group 1 (n=14) were vaccinated with 1.6×10³ EID₅₀/bird of CEKp7-EP1 at 5 days of age. Chickens in group 2 (n=17) were the unvaccinated controls. Chickens of groups 1 and 2 were challenged 23 days after vaccination with 10^5.0 EID₅₀/bird 100 μl of virulent IBV Ark. An additional non-vaccinated/non-challenged chicken group (n=10) served as the negative control. Protection conferred by CEKp7-EP1 was evaluated 5 day after challenge by relative viral load in the tears by qRT-PCR and incidence of detectable IBV RNA in the trachea detectable by RT-PCR. Extraction of RNA from lachrymal fluids and tracheal swabs was performed with the Qiagen QIAamp viral RNA mini kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). Relative viral load in lachrymal fluids was determined by Taqman® quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) (1) using Bio-Rad CFX96 Real-Time PCR detection system to quantitate viral RNA. The incidence of detectable IBV RNA in tracheal swabs was determined by conventional RT-PCR detecting the N gene as previously described (15).

[0178] Experiment 2.

[0179] Four chicken treatment groups were established (each n=18). Chickens in group 1 were vaccinated with 10⁵ EID₅₀/bird of a commercially available ArkDPI-type vaccine at 5 day of age. Chickens in groups 2 and 3 were vaccinated with 10⁴ EID₅₀/bird and 10⁵ EID₅₀/bird of CEKp7-EP1 at 5 days of age respectively. Chickens in group 4 served as non-vaccinated/challenged controls. All birds were challenged 15 day after vaccination with 10^5.0 EID₅₀/bird 100 μl of the virulent IBV Ark. An additional non-vaccinated/non-challenged chicken group (n=10) served as the negative control. Protection against challenge was evaluated 5 days after challenge by clinical signs, viral load, and tracheal histopathology. Respiratory rales (nasal and/or tracheal) were evaluated blindly by close listening to each bird and scored as 0 (absent), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), or 3 (severe) as described (15). Viral load in tears was determined by qRT-PCR as described above for tears (15,16). In addition, IBV RNA obtained from chickens vaccinated with the commercial Ark vaccine or CEK7Ep1 after challenge was submitted for spike gene (S1) sequencing performed as previously described (14). In addition, the spike (S1) gene sequence of IBV RNA obtained from tears after challenge from chickens vaccinated with the commercial Ark vaccine or CEK7-Ep1 was determined as previously described (14). Finally, tracheal histopathology was evaluated and histomorphometry was performed essentially as previously described (15,16). In brief, necrosis and deciliation in the tracheal mucosa were evaluated blindly and scored 1 through 5 based on severity (i.e., normal, mild, moderate, marked, severe). Histomorphometry was performed on a single digitally photographed microscopic field (200× magnification) containing a representative longitudinal section of the cranial one-third of the tracheal mucosa and the supporting cartilage ring. Histomorphometric data for mucosal thickness and lymphocyte infiltration were collected using the ImageJ morphometry program (rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/download.html). Five measurements were performed at regular intervals along the length of a single tracheal ring with the linear tool. Values for each chicken group were analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey multiple comparisons test. Differences were considered significant with P values of <0.05.

[0180] Results

[0181] The results of experiment 1 are shown in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 4, chickens vaccinated with CEKp7-Ep1 at 5 day of age showed a significant reduction of viral load in the lachrymal fluids (FIG. 4A) and a significant reduction of the incidence of IBV RNA in the tracheas (FIG. 4B) 5 days after challenge compared to unvaccinated challenged controls.

[0182] The results of experiment 2 are shown in FIGS. 5-7. As seen in FIG. 5, all vaccinated chickens, i.e., chickens vaccinated with the commercial ArkDPI-derived vaccine, as well as chickens vaccinated with CEKp7-Ep1 at 2 different dosage levels, were protected from respiratory signs 5 days after challenge (FIG. 5A), while unvaccinated controls showed severe respiratory disease. Similarly, both vaccines significantly reduced the IBV viral load in the lachrymal fluids (FIG. 5B) compared to unvaccinated challenged controls 5 days after challenge. Moreover, chickens vaccinated with 10⁵ EID₅₀ of CEKp7-EP1 showed a significantly lower viral load in tears compared to chickens vaccinated with the lower dose (10⁴ EID₅₀/chicken) of this virus. Both vaccines also eliminated detection of viral RNA in tracheal swabs by qRT189 PCR 5 days after challenge in all but at most one chicken per vaccinated group, compared to detection of challenge virus in tracheas of 44% of unvaccinated challenged chickens (FIG. 5C). Consistent with results of viral load and clinical signs, both tracheal histomorphometry (FIG. 6) and histopathology (FIG. 7) showed that all vaccines protected similarly without significant differences, based on tracheal mucosal thickness (FIG. 6A) lymphocyte infiltration (FIG. 6B) and tracheal lesion scores (FIG. 7 A,B,C) compared to unvaccinated challenged chickens.

[0183] IBV populations based on S1 sequences recovered 5 days after challenge from the tears of chickens vaccinated with the Ark commercial vaccine are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6
Predominant virus populations identified in chickens 5 days after challenge at 20 days-old with a wild type
Ark IBV strain. Chickens had been vaccinated at 5 days of age with a commercial ArkDPI-type IBV vaccine.
Number of	S1 AA positionA	Virus
chickensB	56	76	95	95	95	115	144	160	171	PopulationC
14	Asn	Phe	Ser	Ser	Ser	Phe	Thr	Pro	His	P1
1	Asn	Phe	Ser	Ser	Ser	Phe	Thr	Leu/Pro	His	P2/P1
1	Ser	Leu	Asn	Asn	Asn	Tyr	Met	Pro	Tyr	P5D
1	Ser/Asn	Leu/Phe	Asn/Ser	Asn/Ser	Asn/Ser	Tyr/Phe	Met/Thr	Pro	Tyr/His	P5/P1
AOnly amino acid positions where viral populations recovered differ are shown. Bold letters indicate amino acids different from challenge virus major population (P1).
BTears from one of the 18 chickens in the group vaccinated with commercial ArkDPI-type vaccine and challenged with wild Ark IBV strain did not yield an S1 sequence.
CVirus populations as designated in Toro et al., 2012 (14).
DThe virus population designated P5 in Toro et al.. 2012 (14) was a mixture of at least two distinct populations. The virus population designated P5 here contains only one of those two populations.

[0184] As seen in Table 6, while IBV recovered from most chickens had S1 sequences identical to the challenge virus, subpopulations differing from the predominant population of the challenge virus predominated in 3 chickens vaccinated with the commercial Ark vaccine. The IBV S1 sequences found correspond to two distinct populations detected in chickens vaccinated with Ark attenuated vaccines in a previous study, which were designated P2 and P5 (14). In contrast, no subpopulations different from the challenge virus were detected in chickens vaccinated with CEKp7-Ep1.

[0185] Genetic heterogeneity has been demonstrated among commercial IBV Ark serotype vaccines from different manufacturers (9,18) and different production stocks (9) despite being derived from the same ArkDPI original IBV isolate. Selection of distinct ArkDPI phenotypes has also been reported after replication of IBV ArkDPI-derived vaccines in chickens (4,9,18). Additionally, new Ark-like isolates continue to emerge (7). We previously compared the effectiveness of three ArkDPI-derived attenuated vaccines from different companies to protect against Ark virulent challenge (14). These vaccines differed in the proportion of subpopulations prior to selection in the host and behaved differently in terms of vaccine viral load and respiratory reactions (10). Vaccinated chickens were protected against challenge but slight differences in the severity of signs and lesions were observed. In addition, chickens in the group with the strongest immune response were able to successfully impede replication of the challenge virus in most chickens, and only the population predominant in the challenge strain was detected in a few IBV-positive birds. In contrast, in groups showing less than optimal specific immune responses, IBV was detected in most chickens, and subpopulations different from the predominant one in the challenge strain were selected and became predominant. Therefore, improvement of this type of vaccine is necessary.

[0186] Adaptation of an embryo attenuated IBV ArkDPI-derived vaccine to CEK cell culture shifted the virus population towards homogeneity in S and NSP genes, and the changes achieved in the S1 gene in CEK-adapted virus were maintained after one back-passage in embryonated chicken eggs or chickens (6). Results of the present vaccination/challenge study indicate effective protection against challenge following immunization with the CEK-adapted virus. No adverse clinical vaccine reactions were detected in vaccinated chickens and when used at the same dose or even a 10-fold lower dose than the commercial vaccine, protection was as effective. Moreover, the CEKp7Ep1 Ark vaccine successfully reduced replication of the challenge virus, and only the virus population predominant in the challenge strain was detected. Therefore, the homogeneous kidney cell-adapted IBV ArkDPI-derived vaccine (CEKp7-Ep1) offers an improvement/refinement of current ArkDPI-derived vaccines by both eliminating emergence of vaccine subpopulations after vaccination and eliminating subpopulations after wild Ark challenge.

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[0206] It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been illustrated by specific embodiments and optional features, modification and/or variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention.

[0207] Citations to a number of patent and non-patent references are made herein. The cited references are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. In the event that there is an inconsistency between a definition of a term in the specification as compared to a definition of the term in a cited reference, the term should be interpreted based on the definition in the specification.