RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Antibodies induced with recombinant VP1 from human rhinovirus exhibit cross-neutralisation JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 44 OP 52 DO 10.1183/09031936.00149109 VO 37 IS 1 A1 J. Edlmayr A1 K. Niespodziana A1 T. Popow-Kraupp A1 V. Krzyzanek A1 M. Focke-Tejkl A1 D. Blaas A1 M. Grote A1 R. Valenta YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/37/1/44.abstract AB Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the major cause of the common cold and account for 30–50% of all acute respiratory illnesses. Although HRV infections are usually harmless and invade only the upper respiratory tract, several studies demonstrate that HRV is involved in the exacerbation of asthma. VP1 is one of the surface-exposed proteins of the viral capsid that is important for the binding of rhinoviruses to the corresponding receptors on human cells. Here we investigated its potential usefulness for vaccination against the common cold. We expressed VP1 proteins from two distantly related HRV strains, HRV89 and HRV14, in Escherichia coli. Mice and rabbits were immunised with the purified recombinant proteins. The induced antibodies reacted with natural VP1 and with whole virus particles as shown by immunoblotting and immunogold electron microscopy. They exhibited strong cross-neutralising activity for different HRV strains. Therefore, recombinant VP1 may be considered a candidate HRV vaccine to prevent HRV-induced asthma exacerbations.