Alphavirus-Based Vaccines

Lundstrom, Kenneth

Recently, novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine candidates were developed by expressing all or a part of the HCV non-structural proteins (nsPs) from an SFV vector [32] . An insert as large as 6.1 kb allowed the expression of all nsPs leading to a strong and long-lasting NS3-specific CD8 + T-cell response. The level of T-cell response was similar to that observed for the expression of only NS3/4A. Immunization demonstrated significant growth delay of HCV-expressing EL4 tumors in a mouse model. In another study, glycoproteins for either Sudan virus (SUDV) or Ebola virus were expressed from VEE replicons and evaluated in vaccinated nonhuman primates [58] . A single intramuscular injection with VEE particles expressing SUDV GP provided complete protection against challenges with SUDV in cynomolgus macaques. However, VEE-SUDV GP vaccinated primates were not fully protected against back challenges with Ebola virus. On the other hand, co-injection of VEE particles expressing SUFV GP and Ebola virus GP showed protection against both virus types.