VennVax, a DNA-prime, peptide-boost multi-T-cell epitope poxvirus vaccine, induces protective immunity against vaccinia infection by T cell response alone.
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.
EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA. LMoise@EpiVax.com
Leonard
L
Moise
R Mark
RM
Buller
Jill
J
Schriewer
Jinhee
J
Lee
Sharon E
SE
Frey
David B
DB
Weiner
William
W
Martin
Anne S
AS
De Groot
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012899:Smallpox / Q000517:prevention & control; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000517:prevention & control*
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic