title: Rabies human diploid cell vaccine elicits cross-neutralising and cross-protecting immune responses against European and Australian bat lyssaviruses.
abstract: The ability of antibodies elicited against the rabies human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV) to neutralise European bat Lyssaviruses (EBLV types-1 and -2), Australian bat Lyssavirus and classical rabies virus (RABV) has been evaluated using modified fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation (mFAVN) assays. Ninety-six percent (48 of 50) of the human post-vaccinated sera tested cross-neutralised these viruses (>or=0.5 IU/ml). Cross-protection experiments using inbred mice (RIII, k/k haplotype) were also assessed. Mice were given HDCV (twice by the intra-peritoneal route) and challenged (intra-cranially or peripherally) with a lethal dose (25 MLD(50)) of the individual viruses. The vaccine conferred statistically significant protection in 80--100% of animals challenged via the peripheral route. Levels of protection were lower following intra-cranial (i.c.) challenge. Our data provides strong evidence for broad spectrum cross-neutralisation and cross-protection of phylogroup I lyssaviruses using rabies HDCV.
authors.affiliation: Rabies Research and Diagnostic Group, Virology Department, [World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre]Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, UK. s.brookes@val.defra.gsi.gov.uk
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: McElhinney
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fooks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007835:Lassa Fever / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011819:Rabies Vaccines