In vivo biodistribution of a highly attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus expressing HIV-1 Gag following intramuscular, intranasal, or intravenous inoculation.
Recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses (rVSVs) are being developed as potential HIV-1 vaccine candidates. To characterize the in vivo replication and dissemination of rVSV vectors in mice, high doses of a highly attenuated vector expressing HIV-1 Gag, rVSV(IN)-N4CT9-Gag1, and a prototypic reference virus, rVSV(IN)-HIVGag5, were delivered intramuscularly (IM), intranasally (IN), or intravenously (IV). We used quantitative, real-time RT-PCR (Q-PCR) and standard plaque assays to measure the temporal dissemination of these viruses to various tissues. Following IM inoculation, both viruses were detected primarily at the injection site as well as in draining lymph nodes; neither virus induced significant weight loss, pathologic signs, or evidence of neuroinvasion. In contrast, following IN inoculation, the prototypic virus was detected in all tissues tested and caused significant weight loss leading to death. IN administration of rVSV(IN)-N4CT9-Gag1 resulted in detection in numerous tissues (brain, lung, nasal turbinates, and lymph nodes) albeit in significantly reduced levels, which caused little or no weight loss nor any mortality. Following IV inoculation, both prototypic and attenuated viruses were detected by Q-PCR in all tissues tested. In contrast to the prototype, rVSV(IN)-N4CT9-Gag1 viral loads were significantly lower in all organs tested, and no infectious virus was detected in the brain following IV inoculation, despite the presence of viral RNA. These studies demonstrated significant differences in the biodistribution patterns of and the associated pathogenicity engendered by the prototypic and attenuated vectors in a highly susceptible host.
Johnson
J Erik
JE
Wyeth Vaccines Research, Pearl River, NY 10965, USA. johnsoe1@wyeth.com
Coleman
John W
JW
Kalyan
Narender K
NK
Calderon
Priscilla
P
Wright
Kevin J
KJ
Obregon
Jennifer
J
Ogin-Wilson
Eleanor
E
Natuk
Robert J
RJ
Clarke
David K
DK
Udem
Stephen A
SA
Cooper
David
D
Hendry
R Michael
RM
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018116:Vesiculovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus