Protection of beagle dogs from mucosal challenge with canine oral papillomavirus by immunization with recombinant adenoviruses expressing codon-optimized early genes

Replication-deficient adenoviral (rAd5) vaccines containing codon-optimized E1, E2, E4, and E7 genes of canine oral papillomavirus (COPV) were tested singly or in combination to determine which vaccines could protect against mucosal challenge with COPV. In three studies, groups of 4–6 beagle dogs were immunized subcutaneously (s.c.) with 1011 rAd5 at 8–10 weeks and 4–6 weeks prior to challenge with infectious COPV particles at multiple oral mucosal sites. Control dogs were immunized with equivalent doses of rAd5 expressing human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 L1 (rAd5-HPV-16 L1). In the first study, complete protection from COPV-induced papillomas was achieved by immunization with rAd5 vaccine combinations expressing either E1 + E2 or E1 + E2 + E4 + E7; whereas two of six dogs immunized with rAd5-E4 + rAd5-E7 and six of six rAd5-HPV16-L1-immunized control dogs developed oral papillomas. In two subsequent studies, rAd5-E1 and rAd5-E2 vaccines were tested singly or in combination to assess levels of protective immunity to COPV challenge. Subcutaneous immunization with either one or two doses of rAd5 expressing the COPV E1 and E2 genes could protect >90% of challenged dogs from wart formation. In contrast, all eight dogs immunized with rAd5-HPV-16 L1 developed papillomas at multiple sites. Protection was accompanied by significant IFN-γ responses to COPV E1 and E2 peptides. Partial protection was conferred by two immunizations with either rAd5-E1 (6 of 9 protected) or rAd5-E2 (8 of 9 protected). These data indicate that rAd5 expressing papillomavirus E1 and E2 proteins can induce strong protective responses even in outbred populations under practical immunization conditions.