title: Rabies vaccine preserved by vaporization is thermostable and immunogenic.
abstract: A rabies vaccine that is thermostable over a range of ambient environmental temperatures would be highly advantageous, especially for tropical regions with challenging cold-chain storage where canine rabies remains enzootic resulting in preventable human mortality. Live attenuated rabies virus (RABV) strain ERAG333 (R333E) was preserved by vaporization (PBV) in a dry, stable foam. RABV stabilized using this process remains viable for at least 23 months at 22°C, 15 months at 37°C, and 3h at 80°C. An antigen capture assay revealed RABV PBV inactivated by irradiation contained similar levels of antigen as a commercial vaccine. Viability and antigen capture testing confirmed that the PBV process stabilized RABV with no significant loss in titer or antigen content. Live attenuated and inactivated RABV PBV both effectively induced RABV neutralizing antibodies and protected mice from peripheral RABV challenge. These results demonstrate that PBV is an efficient method for RABV stabilization.
authors: Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. Electronic address: tgsmith1@cdc.gov.
authors: Todd G
authors: TG
authors: Smith
authors: Universal Stabilization Technologies Inc., 4050 L Sorrento Valley Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Siirin
authors: Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
authors: Xianfu
authors: X
authors: Wu
authors: Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
authors: Cathleen A
authors: CA
authors: Hanlon
authors: Universal Stabilization Technologies Inc., 4050 L Sorrento Valley Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Bronshtein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004355:Drug Stability; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D050296:Microbial Viability; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
keywords: Efficacy; Immunogenicity; Preservation by vaporization; Rabies virus; Stability