title: Deletion of immunomodulator C6 from vaccinia virus strain Western Reserve enhances virus immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy.
abstract: Vectors based on vaccinia virus (VACV), the vaccine used to eradicate smallpox, are currently popular candidates for the vaccination against numerous infectious diseases including malaria and AIDS. Although VACV induces robust cellular and humoral responses, enhancing the safety and efficacy of these vectors remains an important area of research. Here, we describe the enhanced immunogenicity of a recombinant VACV Western Reserve (WR) strain lacking the immunomodulatory protein C6 (vΔC6). Intradermal infection of mice with vΔC6 was shown previously to induce smaller lesions, indicating viral attenuation, and this was confirmed here using a different inoculation dose. In addition, data presented show that vaccination with vΔC6 provided better protection against challenge with a lethal dose of VACV WR, indicating this virus is a better vaccine. Increased protection was not due to improved humoral responses, but instead enhanced cytotoxic activity of T-cells 1 month post-inoculation in the spleens of vΔC6-vaccinated mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Sumner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors.forename: Geoffrey L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000592:standards; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines