title: The evolution of poxvirus vaccines.
abstract: After Edward Jenner established human vaccination over 200 years ago, attenuated poxviruses became key players to contain the deadliest virus of its own family: Variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox. Cowpox virus (CPXV) and horsepox virus (HSPV) were extensively used to this end, passaged in cattle and humans until the appearance of vaccinia virus (VACV), which was used in the final campaigns aimed to eradicate the disease, an endeavor that was accomplished by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980. Ever since, naturally evolved strains used for vaccination were introduced into research laboratories where VACV and other poxviruses with improved safety profiles were generated. Recombinant DNA technology along with the DNA genome features of this virus family allowed the generation of vaccines against heterologous diseases, and the specific insertion and deletion of poxvirus genes generated an even broader spectrum of modified viruses with new properties that increase their immunogenicity and safety profile as vaccine vectors. In this review, we highlight the evolution of poxvirus vaccines, from first generation to the current status, pointing out how different vaccines have emerged and approaches that are being followed up in the development of more rational vaccines against a wide range of diseases.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain. lsanchez@cnb.csic.es.
authors: Lucas
authors: L
authors: Sánchez-Sampedro
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain. perdigue@cnb.csic.es.
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Perdiguero
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain.
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Mejías-Pérez
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: García-Arriaza
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain. mauro.dipilato@cnb.csic.es.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Di Pilato
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid-28049, Spain. mesteban@cnb.csic.es.
authors: Mariano
authors: M
authors: Esteban
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D011212:Poxviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012899:Smallpox / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000266:history* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000266:history / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000266:history / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D012900:Smallpox Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic