Immunogenicity and Contraceptive Potential of a Classical Swine Fever Viral Vector Live Vaccine Strain Containing Pig Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone.
An. Dong-Jun DJ; Shin. Ji-Hee JH; Choe. SeEun S; Lee. Young-Hyeon YH; Jang. Min-Kyung MK; An. Byung-Hyun BH; Park. Gyu-Nam GN; Cho. Yun-Sang YS; Chang. Kyung-Soo KS
Key Findings
- The GnRH‑containing vaccine triggered anti‑GnRH antibodies and reduced testosterone levels in male boars.
- Testis size and weight were modestly lower, with histological damage seen in 52.5% of injected and 20.8% of orally vaccinated animals.
- Oral delivery of the vaccine was less effective than intramuscular injection but still produced measurable effects.
Practical Outcomes
- This research shows that immunizing against GnRH can suppress male fertility in pigs, suggesting a possible route for non‑surgical contraception. However, the delivery method (a live viral vector for wildlife) isn’t applicable to humans or personal use, so biohackers can view it as a proof‑of‑concept rather than an actionable protocol.
Summary
Scientists made a virus‑based vaccine for wild boars that also carries a piece of the hormone GnRH. When boars got the vaccine, they made antibodies against GnRH, which lowered their testosterone and caused some shrinkage and damage to the testes. The vaccine worked both when given by mouth and by injection, though the injection was more effective.
Abstract
Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is a highly contagious and fatal disease in pigs and wild boars. While hunting and bait vaccination are effective for CSFV eradication, additional strategies are needed to control wild boar populations. This study aimed to develop an oral vaccine, Flc-LOM-GnRHx3, by inserting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) epitopes into the Flc-LOM clone. The Flc-LOM-GnRHx3 strain was rescued from CPK cells and propagated to high titers in MDBK cells. Male boars (20 weeks old) received three doses (10<sup>5.0</sup> TCID<sub>50</sub>/ml/dose) of Flc-LOM-GnRHx3 either orally or intramuscularly at 2-week intervals. Anti-CSFV E2 antibodies were detected via immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Both vaccination routes induced anti-GnRH antibodies and reduced testosterone levels. Testis size and weight were slightly lower than controls, with seminiferous tubule and spermatid deformities observed in 52.5% of intramuscularly vaccinated pigs and 20.8% of orally vaccinated pigs. Flc-LOM-GnRHx3 demonstrates potential as a dual-function oral vaccine that can eradicate CSFV and impair reproductive capacity in wild boars, offering a novel approach for integrated disease control and population management.
Study Information
pubmed
2025
2025-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
10.3390/vaccines13101048
79