PCV2B divergent vaccine composition and methods of use

1. A vaccine composition for protecting pigs against PCV2, including a highly virulent porcine circovirus type 2b (PCV2b) divergent strain, the composition comprising a PCV2b ORF2 polypeptide encoded by a PCV2b divergent strain having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 66, wherein the ORF2 polypeptide comprises Leucine (L) at position 89, Threonine (T) at position 90, and Asparagine (N) at position 134, according to the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 1; and an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of an inactivated, PCV2b divergent whole virus that comprises the PCV2b ORF2 polypeptide as its viral capsid.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of an inactivated chimeric porcine circovirus type 1-type2 whole virus, wherein said chimeric porcine circovirus comprises an inactivated recombinant porcine circovirus type 1 that comprises the PCV2b ORF2 polypeptide in place of the ORF2 capsid of PCV1.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of an isolated, recombinant PCV2b ORF2 polypeptide.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the composition further includes an expression vector.

6. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the vector is baculovirus or parapoxvirus.

7. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the vector is a live or inactivated vector.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the PCV2b ORF2 polypeptide further comprises at least one residue selected from the group consisting of: a Lysine (K) at residue 59, a Lysine (K) at residue 234, a Threonine (T) at residue 190, an Isoleucine (I) at residue 53, an Asparagine (N) at residue 68, an Arginine (R) or Glycine (G) at residue 169, and an Isoleucine (I) at residue 215 according to the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 1.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the PCV2b ORF2 polypeptide further comprises a Lysine (K) at residue 59 and a Lysine (K) at residue 234 according to the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 1.

10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the PCV2b ORF2 polypeptide further comprises a Threonine (T) at residue 190, an Isoleucine (I) at residue 53, an Asparagine (N) at residue 68, an Arginine (R) or Glycine (G) at residue 169, and an Isoleucine (I) at residue 215 according to the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 1.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the PCV2 ORF2 polypeptide is represented by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or an immunogenic portion thereof corresponding to a truncated form of the ORF2 polypeptide.

12. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional porcine antigen.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the at least one additional antigen is protective against a disease in pigs caused by a microorganism.

14. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the microorganism comprises a bacterium, virus, or protozoan.

15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae ( M. hyo ), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine parvovirus (PPV), Haemophilus parasuis, Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcum suis, Staphylococcus hyicus, Actinobacilllus pleuropneumoniae, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Salmonella choleraesuis, Salmonella enteritidis, Erysipeiothrix rhusiopathiae, Mycoplama hyorhinis, Mycoplasma hyosynoviae , leptospira bacteria, Lawsonia intracellularis , swine influenza virus (SIV), Escherichia coli antigen, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae , porcine respiratory coronavirus, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) virus, rotavirus, Porcine enteroviruses, Encephalomyocarditis virus, a pathogen causative of Aujesky's Disease, Classical Swine fever (CSF) and a pathogen causative of Swine Transmissible Gastroenteritis, or combinations thereof.

16. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant is based on squalane and comprises a block copolymer.

17. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

18. A method of immunizing a pig against PCV2, including a highly virulent PCV2b divergent strain, the method comprising administering to the pig the composition of claim 1 .

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition is administered intranasally, intramuscularly, intradermally, transdermally, subcutaneously, or orally.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition is administered in a single dose.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition is administered as two doses.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition is administered to pigs having maternally-derived antibodies against PCV2.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the composition is administered to pigs at 3 weeks of age or older.

24. A kit comprising: a bottle comprising a vaccine composition for protecting pigs against PCV2, including a highly virulent porcine circovirus type 2b (PCV2b) divergent strain, the composition comprising a PCV2b ORF2 polypeptide encoded by a PCV2b divergent strain having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 66, wherein the ORF2 polypeptide comprises Leucine (L) at position 89, Threonine (T) at position 90, and Asparagine (N) at position 134 according to the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 1, and an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant.

25. The kit of claim 24 , wherein the PCV2b divergent ORF2 polypeptide further comprises at least one residue selected from the group consisting of: a Lysine (K) at residue 59, a Lysine (K) at residue 234, a Threonine (T) at residue 190, an Isoleucine (I) at residue 53, an Asparagine (N) at residue 68, an Arginine (R) or Glycine (G) at residue 169, and an Isoleucine (I) at residue 215 according to the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 1.

26. The kit of claim 25 , wherein the composition in the bottle is provided as a ready-to-use liquid composition.

27. The kit of claim 24 , wherein the composition is provided in a lyophilized form.

28. The kit of claim 27 , further comprising a diluent.