Raccoonpoxvirus safety in immunocompromised and pregnant mouse models.
Numerous poxviruses infect humans and animal hosts, and a poxvirus vaccine with an improved safety profile is needed as the current vaccinia virus vaccine is contraindicated in individuals that have a history of eczema or heart disease, or are immunocompromised or pregnant. In addition, poxviruses make excellent vaccine vectors for other infectious diseases and cancer. Raccoonpoxvirus is a naturally occurring attenuated North American poxvirus, and thus it is of interest as a vaccine vector platform. This study explores the effects of raccoonpoxvirus in SCID and Nude immunocompromised and pregnant mouse models to assess its virulence and probable safety for human and animal populations. We also analyzed the safety of recombinant raccoonpox carrying a gene expressing a foreign antigen, rabies virus glycoprotein, designed for heterologous vaccine protection. Our data show that recombinant raccoonpoxviruses are avirulent in many cases and are much safer than vaccinia virus (strain WR). Raccoonpoxviruses also have the advantage of being able to replicate in mammalian cells. This allows increased immunogenicity and production efficiency, giving an advantage over non replicating vectors such as Modified Vaccinia Ankara MVA or canarypoxvirus.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834, United States.
Gwendolyn J B
GJ
Jones
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834, United States.
Corey
C
Boles
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834, United States. Electronic address: roperr@ecu.edu.
Rachel L
RL
Roper
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011212:Poxviridae; D011247:Pregnancy; D014616:Vaccinia virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014774:Virulence
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C064951:glycoprotein G, Rabies virus
Immunocompromised mice; Mouse model; Poxvirus; Pregnancy; Raccoonpox virus; Safety