Abstract: 【Objective】 The immunogenicity of the recombinant Musovy Duck Reovirus (DRV) capsid proteins (σC and σB) expressed in E. coli was investigated and thus the base of the research of effective subunit vaccine for DRV was established. 【Method】The stability of the recombinant E.coli pET-30a-S3/BL21 and pET-30a-S4 ORF2/BL21 were detected, while the recombinant proteins were emulsified after purification and renaturation. Fifty young musovy ducks were randomly divided into 5 groups including 3 treatment groups, the PBS control group and the infection control group. The treatment groups were injected subcutaneously with a dosage of 500 μg per injection, on 1 d and 7 d respectively. The recombinant DRV σB protein, the recombinant DRV σC protein, as well as both σB and σC proteins were used. On the 14d, the animals except the PBS control group, were challenged with YB isolate of DRV. The titer of the antibody raised by the recombinant proteins and the protection rate were detected. 【Result】The recombination E.coli was stable. The titers of the antibody of the immunity groups were all raised on the 7th day after the second injection. It was found that the titer of antibody in the group injected with both σB and σC proteins as well as the group injected with recombinant σC was 1﹕200, but in the meanwhile, that in the group injected with recombinant σB protein was just 1﹕100. The protection test showed that the injection with both σB and σC proteins could provide best protection for DRV infection with protection index 70, and then the second was the group injected with DRV σC protein with 60, while the last was the group with DRV σB protein with 40. 【Conclusion】The injection with both recombinant σB and σC protein expressed in E.coli and emulsified could provide protection to young musovy ducks resisting DRV infection.

Key words: Musovy Duck Reovirus , σC and σB protein , immunization