Cattle protected by glowing shields representing immunity against a virus

Boosting Bovine Immunity: Can a Recombinant Protein Ward Off Herpes?

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Innovative vaccine strategy shows promise in protecting cattle against bovine herpesvirus types 1 and 5, offering new hope for reducing economic losses in the livestock industry."

Bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) poses a significant threat to young cattle, often leading to outbreaks of meningoencephalitis with high mortality rates, resulting in substantial economic losses for farmers. Current strategies to combat this virus, like using vaccines against the related bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1), offer some cross-protection but aren't always sufficient.

Recognizing the need for more effective solutions, scientists have been exploring subunit vaccines that target key viral components. Glycoprotein D (gD) is crucial for the herpesvirus's ability to attach to and enter host cells. This makes gD a prime target for vaccine development because it can stimulate strong immune responses.

This article delves into a recent study investigating the potential of a recombinant form of BoHV-5 glycoprotein D (rgD5) as a vaccine antigen in cattle. We'll explore how the researchers formulated and tested vaccines containing rgD5, and what their findings suggest for the future of bovine herpesvirus prevention.

Unlocking gD5: A New Approach to Bovine Herpesvirus Vaccines

Cattle protected by glowing shields representing immunity against a virus

The study, conducted by researchers in Brazil, involved vaccinating 72 heifers with different vaccine formulations. These formulations included inactivated BoHV-5 (iBoHV-5), recombinant gD5 (rgD5), and adjuvants (substances that boost the immune response). The researchers compared these experimental vaccines against a commercial vaccine and a control group that received a placebo.

Here's a breakdown of the vaccine groups:

Group 1: Inactivated BoHV-5 (iBoHV-5) with ISA50V2 adjuvant
Group 2: iBoHV-5 + 100 µg rgD5 with ISA50V2 adjuvant
Group 3: 100 µg rgD5 with ISA50V2 adjuvant
Group 4: 100 µg rgD5 with Al(OH)3 adjuvant
Group 5: Commercial vaccine
Group 6: Control group (placebo)

The cattle received two initial doses of the vaccines, followed by a booster shot nearly a year later. Throughout the study, the researchers monitored the animals' immune responses by measuring antibody levels and assessing the ability of their serum to neutralize the virus.

The Future of Bovine Herpesvirus Prevention

The research indicates that vaccines formulated with inactivated BoHV-5 and recombinant gD5 triggered a significant increase in total immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels for BoHV-5, BoHV-1, and rgD5, suggesting a strong overall immune response. The vaccines also stimulated the production of IgG1 and IgG2a, specific antibody subtypes, against rgD5.

Importantly, the vaccines containing rgD5 led to higher titers of neutralizing antibodies against both BoHV-1 and BoHV-5. This is promising because it demonstrates that rgD5 contains key viral components capable of stimulating a protective immune response against both viruses.

These findings suggest that rgD5 holds significant potential as a vaccine antigen for use in BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 endemic areas. Further research is needed to optimize vaccine formulations and delivery methods, rgD5 could play a key role in preventing outbreaks and minimizing economic losses in the cattle industry.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.10.080, Alternate LINK

Title: Immune Responses In Bovines To Recombinant Glycoprotein D Of Bovine Herpesvirus Type 5 As Vaccine Antigen

Subject: Infectious Diseases

Journal: Vaccine

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Itauá Leston Araujo, Luana Alves Dummer, Paulo Ricardo Centeno Rodrigues, Alceu Gonçalves Dos Santos, Geferson Fischer, Rodrigo Casquero Cunha, Fábio Pereira Leivas Leite

Published: 2018-11-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) and why is it a problem?

Bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) is a significant threat to young cattle. It often leads to meningoencephalitis outbreaks, resulting in high mortality rates and economic losses. Addressing this, scientists are investigating innovative vaccine strategies to prevent BoHV-5 infections. The focus is on developing more effective solutions.

What is glycoprotein D (gD) and why is it important in the context of vaccines?

Recombinant glycoprotein D (gD) is a crucial component of the herpesvirus, essential for its ability to attach to and enter host cells. As such, gD is considered a prime target for vaccine development because it can stimulate strong immune responses. Researchers are exploring recombinant forms of BoHV-5 glycoprotein D (rgD5) as a vaccine antigen in cattle.

How were the vaccines tested in this study?

Researchers formulated and tested vaccines containing recombinant glycoprotein D (rgD5), inactivated BoHV-5 (iBoHV-5), and adjuvants. Adjuvants like ISA50V2 and Al(OH)3 were used to boost the immune response. These experimental vaccines were compared against a commercial vaccine and a control group that received a placebo. The cattle received multiple doses of the vaccines, and their immune responses were monitored by measuring antibody levels and assessing the serum's ability to neutralize the virus.

What were the key findings of the study regarding the vaccines?

The study found that vaccines formulated with inactivated BoHV-5 and recombinant gD5 triggered a significant increase in total immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels for BoHV-5, BoHV-1, and rgD5. The vaccines also stimulated the production of IgG1 and IgG2a, specific antibody subtypes, against rgD5, indicating a strong overall immune response. This suggests that the vaccines have the potential to provide protection against BoHV-5.

Why is a new vaccine strategy important in fighting bovine herpesvirus?

Current strategies, such as vaccines against the related bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1), offer some cross-protection but are not always sufficient. This study indicates that vaccines formulated with inactivated BoHV-5 and recombinant gD5 could offer better protection. This approach offers hope for reducing economic losses in the livestock industry, by preventing BoHV-5 infections and meningoencephalitis outbreaks.