title: Vaccination with a Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara-based vaccine protects mice from allergic sensitization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, no treatment is available for food allergy and strict avoidance of the allergenic food remains the only way to manage the allergy. New strategies leading to a safe and efficacious food allergy treatment are required. Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), which allows high levels of expression of recombinant protein in vivo and gives rise to a Th1-biased specific immune response, was used as a prophylactic vaccine in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA) allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An MVA-OVA vector vaccine was prepared. Female BALB/c mice were vaccinated twice with a MVA-OVA vector vaccine, followed by sensitization with OVA plus alum. OVA-specific immunoglobulin E(IgE) activity was measured by mediator release from rat basophilic leukaemia cells, whereas specific IgG subclass titers were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of immunological active OVA in mammalian cells was demonstrated. OVA-specific IgE levels in sera from MVA-OVA-vaccinated mice were reduced and appeared delayed. The vaccine-mediated immune modulation was dose-dependent; the highest vaccine dose protected 50% of the animals from allergic sensitization. Upon sensitization, similar OVA-specific IgG1 titers were found in all mice, but the OVA-specific IgG2a antibody levels were strongly increased in MVA-OVA-vaccinated mice, signifying a Th1-biased and, non-allergic immune response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic vaccination with MVA-OVA delays and in part even prevents the onset of a successful allergen-specific sensitization. Recombinant MVA, which fulfills the requirements for clinical application, is a promising candidate vector for the development of novel approaches to allergen-specific prophylactic vaccination and specific immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Department of Allergology, Langen, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suezer
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staib
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sutter
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vieths
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014612:Vaccines; D010047:Ovalbumin