title: Adenovirus vectors expressing hantavirus proteins protect hamsters against lethal challenge with andes virus.
abstract: Hantaviruses infect humans following aerosolization from rodent feces and urine, producing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Due to the high rates of mortality and lack of therapies, vaccines are urgently needed. Nonreplicating adenovirus (Ad) vectors that express Andes hantavirus (ANDV) nucleocapsid protein (AdN) or glycoproteins (AdG(N) and AdG(C)) were constructed. Ad vectors were tested for their ability to protect Syrian hamsters from a lethal ANDV infection that mimics the pulmonary disease seen in humans. When administered once, all three Ad vectors, individually or in combination, elicited a robust immune response that protected hamsters. No vaccinated animal died, and there were no obvious clinical signs of disease. Further, hantavirus RNA was not detected by sensitive reverse transcription-PCR in tissues and blood of hamsters immunized with both AdG(N) and AdG(C). Cellular immunity appeared to be important for protection because the AdN vector completely protected animals. All three Ad vectors produced strong cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses directed to hantavirus proteins in mice. Moreover, hamsters vaccinated with AdN, AdG(N), or AdG(C) produced no detectable neutralizing antibodies yet were protected. These Ad vectors represent the first vaccines that prevent lethal hantavirus disease and, in some instances (AdG(N) and AdG(C)), provide sterile immunity. These observations set the stage for a more detailed characterization of the types of immunity required to protect humans from hantavirus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Safronetz
authors.forename: Nagendra R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebihara
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denton
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kobinger
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: St Jeor
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feldmann
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014611:Vaccination; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C111782:nucleocapsid protein, Hantaan virus