VennVax, a DNA-prime, peptide-boost multi-T-cell epitope poxvirus vaccine, induces protective immunity against vaccinia infection by T cell response alone.

Abstract

The potential for smallpox to be disseminated in a bioterror attack has prompted development of new, safer smallpox vaccination strategies. We designed and evaluated immunogenicity and efficacy of a T-cell epitope vaccine based on conserved and antigenic vaccinia/variola sequences, identified using bioinformatics and immunological methods. Vaccination in HLA transgenic mice using a DNA-prime/peptide-boost strategy elicited significant T cell responses to multiple epitopes. No antibody response pre-challenge was observed, neither against whole vaccinia antigens nor vaccine epitope peptides. Remarkably, 100% of vaccinated mice survived lethal vaccinia challenge, demonstrating that protective immunity to vaccinia does not require B cell priming.

• Authors: Leonard Moise, R Mark Buller, Jill Schriewer, Jinhee Lee, Sharon E Frey, David B Weiner, William Martin, Anne S De Groot
• Journal: Vaccine (Vaccine) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 501-11 (Jan 10 2011) ISSN: 1873-2518 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21055490 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Chemical References

• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
• Smallpox Vaccine
• Vaccines, DNA
• Vaccines, Synthetic

Topics

• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (genetics, immunology)
• Immunization, Secondary (methods)
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Smallpox (prevention & control)
• Smallpox Vaccine (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Survival Analysis
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Vaccination (methods)
• Vaccines, DNA (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Vaccines, Synthetic (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Vaccinia (prevention & control)