Protective Efficacy and Immunogenicity of an Adenoviral Vector Vaccine Encoding the Codon-Optimized F Protein of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Adenoviral vectors (AdV) have received considerable attention for vaccine development because of their high immunogenicity and efficacy. In previous studies, it was shown that DNA immunization of mice with codon-optimized expression plasmids encoding the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV F) resulted in enhanced protection against RSV challenge compared to immunization with plasmids carrying the wild-type cDNA sequence of RSV F. In this study, we constructed AdV carrying the codon-optimized full-length RSV F gene (AdV-F) or the soluble form of the RSV F gene (AdV-Fsol). BALB/c mice were immunized twice with AdV-F or AdV-Fsol and challenged with RSV intranasally. Substantial levels of antibody to RSV F were induced by both AdV vaccines, with peak neutralizing-antibody titers of 1:900. Consistently, the viral loads in lung homogenates and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were significantly reduced by a factor of more than 60,000. The protection against viral challenge could be measured even 8 months after the booster immunization. AdV-F and AdV-Fsol induced similar levels of immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Therefore, these results encourage further development of AdV vaccines against RSV infection in humans.Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly infectious member of the paramyxovirus family causing upper and lower respiratory tract infections in humans. Serious acute RSV infections, including fatal cases of bronchiolitis and pneumonia, occur particularly in premature infants, immunocompromised adults, and patients with pre-existing chronic lung diseases or underlying heart defects (11, 12, 14, 39, 46, 56). In young children, RSV is the most common respiratory tract pathogen, accounting for approximately 50% of hospitalizations due to lower respiratory tract infections (21). In population-based surveillance studies for hospitalization in Europe, RSV was identified in 42 to 45% of enrolled children younger than 2 years with lower respiratory tract infections, and the rate of hospitalization due to RSV-induced respiratory illnesses was estimated at 3 to 6% among industrialized nations (45). Children with severe RSV infections suffer from oxygen deficiency with cyanosis and require intensive medical care. Furthermore, RSV infection in childhood is suspected to be a risk factor for development of asthma (36, 41, 43, 59). The urgent need for an RSV vaccine is further demonstrated by a study showing that levels of disease burden, mortality, and morbidity caused by RSV infections in the elderly are comparable to those induced by nonpandemic influenza A infections (11). However, the immunization of children with a formalin-inactivated (FI) RSV vaccine in the 1960s resulted in a more severe clinical illness, with two fatal cases, than in nonvaccinated infants following RSV infection, pointing out the difficulties in developing a safe and efficacious RSV vaccine (7, 29). It was shown previously that the enhanced disease severity and the development of pulmonary eosinophilia are mainly attributable to an excessive Th2-polarized immune response (15, 35, 57). Furthermore, the lack of high-affinity antibodies after poor Toll-like receptor stimulation has been suggested to be a key factor of the enhanced disease induced by FI RSV vaccination and subsequent RSV infection shown recently (8). However, the enhanced disease induced by FI RSV could partially be reversed by the chemical reduction of the carbonyl groups produced by prior treatment with aldehyde (34).Passive transfer of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody directed against RSV F (palivizumab) results in significant reduction of hospitalization rate due to RSV infection in children and preterm infants (16, 25), making RSV F a promising vaccine candidate for active immunization. Besides being a target for neutralizing antibodies, RSV F additionally contains cytotoxic-T-cell epitopes (1, 37). Moreover, RSV F based DNA vaccines induced encouraging immune responses of a balanced Th1/Th2 type in mice, as pulmonary eosinophilia and disease-enhancing effects were not observed after viral challenge (4, 5, 19, 31, 52). Additionally, RSV F is highly conserved between the two antigenic subgroups of RSV, which allows generation of cross-reactive antibodies after immunization (26).We recently showed that vaccination with codon-optimized RSV F expression plasmids induced improved humoral immune responses in mice compared to vaccination with wild-type cDNA expression plasmids (52). Consequently, viral load was reduced 13-fold in mice immunized with full-length RSV F and 170-fold in mice immunized with the soluble form of RSV F following RSV challenge in comparison to nonimmunized mice. Based on these results, we inserted the codon-optimized open reading frame (ORF) of both full-length RSV F and its soluble form into a replication-deficient adenoviral serotype 5 vector (AdV), generating AdV-F and AdV-Fsol, respectively, to further enhance the immunogenicity and efficiency of the delivered RSV F transgenes. AdVs were chosen because these viral vectors have been extensively studied and have proven their potential as vaccine vectors in multiple successful preclinical studies (reviewed in references 47, 24, and 51). AdVs are also potent inducers of both humoral and cellular immune responses in animal models and in humans (48, 49, 55). Furthermore, convenience of vector design, ease of handling and a robust antigen expression make AdVs a promising vaccine delivery platform. Another main advantage is their natural tropism for mucosal surfaces, which makes adenoviral vaccines convenient for the purpose of immunization against respiratory pathogens that preferentially initiate infection at the mucosal site (40).However, AdV vaccines expressing the wild-type RSV F protein were tested in several animal models without achieving convincing protection against RSV challenge (13, 22, 23). This might be due to poor RSV F expression levels caused by premature polyadenylation, which could be overcome by codon optimization (53). Hence, here we used the codon-optimized RSV F based AdVs AdV-F and AdV-Fsol and evaluated their potential as RSV vaccines, showing greatly improved vaccine efficacy.     

不同蛋白载体的痢疾多糖结合疫苗小鼠免疫原性对比试验

试验中以小鼠为动物模型,对不同蛋白载体的痢疾多糖结合疫苗进行免疫效果观察。3种福氏2a痢疾结合疫苗和3种宋内氏痢疾结合疫苗分别皮下免疫NIH小鼠,同时设置O-SP(O-特异性多糖)对照组,免疫3针,在不同免疫针次间采血,用ELISA测定抗体滴度。单独使用福氏2aO-SP和宋内氏O-SP免疫后,小鼠血清中几乎没有抗LPS IgG抗体产生,而用结合疫苗免疫后,小鼠血清中产生了抗LPS IgG抗体,且第二次、第三次免疫后,小鼠血清中抗LPS IgG抗体水平有显著升高,表明结合疫苗具有加强免疫应答效应。三种不同的痢疾结合疫苗相比较,F2a-O-SP-rEPA结合疫苗较F2a-O-SP-TT结合疫苗和F2a-0-SP—DT结合疫苗的小鼠抗LPS IgG抗体水平高,S-O-SP-rEPA结合疫苗较S-O-SP-TT结合疫苗和S-O-SP—CRM9,结合疫苗的小鼠抗LPS IgG抗体水平高。以rEPA作为载体的痢疾结合疫苗比DT,TT作为载体的痢疾结合疫苗的免疫原性要强。     

结核杆菌Ag85B基因疫苗的免疫保护效果研究

为研究结核杆菌Ag85B基因疫苗的免疫原性和免疫保护效果,将雌性C57BL/6N小鼠32只,随机分为4组,即结核杆菌Ag85B基因疫苗组、BCG组、pcDNA3.1( )组和PBS组.取各免疫组小鼠脾细胞培养上清检测细胞因子水平;同时进行CTL杀伤活性检测;进一步用结核杆菌H37Rv国际标准强毒株静脉注射攻击小鼠,计数肺和脾组织中的结核杆菌菌落数,对小鼠部分肺和脾组织作病理切片,HE染色观察组织病变程度,Z-N染色检查抗酸杆菌,观察该疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果.结果表明,结核杆菌Ag85B基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染有一定的免疫保护效果,能够诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,细胞因子IFN-γ和IL-1分泌增加,IL-4分泌减少,CTL特异性活性增加;使小鼠肺和脾组织中的结核杆菌菌落数较空载体组显著减少,组织病变明显减轻.     

Efficacy of a Vaccine Formula against Tuberculosis in Cattle

“Test-and-slaughter” has been successful in industrialized countries to control and eradicate tuberculosis from cattle; however, this strategy is too expensive for developing nations, where the prevalence is especially high. Vaccination with the Calmette-Guérin (BCG) strain has been shown to protect against the development of lesions in vaccinated animals: mouse, cattle and wildlife species. In this study, the immune response and the pathology of vaccinated (BCG-prime and BCG prime-CFP-boosted) and unvaccinated (controls) calves were evaluated under experimental settings. A 10⁶ CFU dose of the BCG strain was inoculated subcutaneously on the neck to two groups of ten animas each. Thirty days after vaccination, one of the vaccinated groups was boosted with an M. bovis culture filtrate protein (CFP). Three months after vaccination, the three groups of animals were challenged with 5×10⁵ CFU via intranasal by aerosol with a field strain of M. bovis. The immune response was monitored throughout the study. Protection was assessed based on immune response (IFN-g release) prechallenge, presence of visible lesions in lymph nodes and lungs at slaughter, and presence of bacilli in lymph nodes and lung samples in histological analysis. Vaccinated cattle, either with the BCG alone or with BCG and boosted with CFP showed higher IFN-g response, fewer lesions, and fewer bacilli per lesion than unvaccinated controls after challenge. Animals with low levels of IFN-g postvaccine-prechallenge showed more lesions than animals with high levels. Results from this study support the argument that vaccination could be incorporated into control programs to reduce the incidence of TB in cattle in countries with high prevalence.     

A Mathematical Model of the Enhancement of Tumor Vaccine Efficacy by Immunotherapy

TGF-β is an immunoregulatory protein that contributes to inadequate antitumor immune responses in cancer patients. Recent experimental data suggests that TGF-β inhibition alone, provides few clinical benefits, yet it can significantly amplify the anti-tumor immune response when combined with a tumor vaccine. We develop a mathematical model in order to gain insight into the cooperative interaction between anti-TGF-β and vaccine treatments. The mathematical model follows the dynamics of the tumor size, TGF-β concentration, activated cytotoxic effector cells, and regulatory T cells. Using numerical simulations and stability analysis, we study the following scenarios: a control case of no treatment, anti-TGF-β treatment, vaccine treatment, and combined anti-TGF-β vaccine treatments. We show that our model is capable of capturing the observed experimental results, and hence can be potentially used in designing future experiments involving this approach to immunotherapy.     

A Dual TLR Agonist Adjuvant Enhances the Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of the Tuberculosis Vaccine Antigen ID93

With over eight million cases of tuberculosis each year there is a pressing need for the development of new vaccines against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Subunit vaccines consisting of recombinant proteins are an attractive vaccine approach due to their inherent safety compared to attenuated live vaccines and the uniformity of manufacture. Addition of properly formulated TLR agonist-containing adjuvants to recombinant protein vaccines enhances the antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cell response characterized by IFN-γ and TNF, both of which are critical for the control of TB. We have developed a clinical stage vaccine candidate consisting of a recombinant fusion protein ID93 adjuvanted with the TLR4 agonist GLA-SE. Here we examine whether ID93+GLA-SE can be improved by the addition of a second TLR agonist. Addition of CpG containing DNA to ID93+GLA-SE enhanced the magnitude of the multi-functional T_H1 response against ID93 characterized by co-production of IFN-γ, TNF, and IL-2. Addition of CpG also improved the protective efficacy of ID93+GLA-SE. Finally we demonstrate that this adjuvant synergy between GLA and CpG is independent of TRIF signaling, whereas TRIF is necessary for the adjuvant activity of GLA-SE in the absence of CpG.     

M.tuberculosis Mutants Lacking Oxygenated Mycolates Show Increased Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy as Compared to M. bovis BCG Vaccine in an Experimental Mouse Model

The existing vaccine against tuberculosis (M. bovis BCG) exerts some protection against the extrapulmonary forms of the disease, particularly in young children, but is not very effective against the pulmonary form of TB, which often results from the reactivation of a latent M. tuberculosis (M.tb)infection. Among the new approaches in TB vaccine development, live attenuated M.tb mutants are a promising new avenue. Here we report on the vaccine potential of two highly attenuated M.tb mutants, MGM1991 and M.tbhma::hyg (HMA), lacking all oxygenated mycolates in their cell wall. In C57BL/6 mice, stronger Th1 (IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α) and IL-17 responses could be induced following subcutaneous vaccination with either of the two mutants, than following vaccination with M. bovis BCG. Significantly more mycobacteria specific IFN-γ producing CD4⁺ and particularly CD8⁺ T cells could be detected by intracellular cytokine staining in mice vaccinated with the M.tb mutants. Finally, vaccination with either of the two mutants conferred stronger protection against intratracheal M.tb challenge than vaccination with BCG, as indicated by reduced bacterial replication in lungs at 4 to 12 weeks after challenge. Protection against M. tb dissemination, as indicated by reduced bacterial numbers in spleen, was comparable for both mutants to protection conferred by BCG.     

冻干口服霍乱rBS—WC菌苗安全及保护效果评价的小鼠模型探讨

本文仿照人口服免疫程序用小鼠为模型对冻干口服霍乱ｒＢＳ－ＷＣ菌苗制品进行了安全及保护率评价。给ＫＭ小鼠口服三种不同剂量的ｒＢＳ－ＷＣ菌苗后,无发病,无体重减轻,无死亡现象,表明该菌苗安全,无毒副作用。免疫组与安慰剂组小鼠用肠结扎攻毒试验评价保护效果,两组小鼠用吴江－２及滨－４３活菌攻击后,免疫组显示良好保护作用（Ｐ＜０．０５）。此法可以用于口服型ｒＢＳ－ＷＣ菌苗的评价,但也存在需要动物数较多,个体间差异较大,手术较麻烦的问题。     

Safety and Immunogenicity Study of Multiclade HIV-1 Adenoviral Vector Vaccine Alone or as Boost following a Multiclade HIV-1 DNA Vaccine in Africa

Background

We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase I study of a recombinant replication-defective adenovirus type 5 (rAd5) vector expressing HIV-1 Gag and Pol from subtype B and Env from subtypes A, B and C, given alone or as boost following a DNA plasmid vaccine expressing the same HIV-1 proteins plus Nef, in 114 healthy HIV-uninfected African adults.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Volunteers were randomized to 4 groups receiving the rAd5 vaccine intramuscularly at dosage levels of 1×10¹⁰ or 1×10¹¹ particle units (PU) either alone or as boost following 3 injections of the DNA vaccine given at 4 mg/dose intramuscularly by needle-free injection using Biojector® 2000. Safety and immunogenicity were evaluated for 12 months. Both vaccines were well-tolerated. Overall, 62% and 86% of vaccine recipients in the rAd5 alone and DNA prime - rAd5 boost groups, respectively, responded to the HIV-1 proteins by an interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) ELISPOT. The frequency of immune responses was independent of rAd5 dosage levels. The highest frequency of responses after rAd5 alone was detected at 6 weeks; after DNA prime - rAd5 boost, at 6 months (end of study). At baseline, neutralizing antibodies against Ad5 were present in 81% of volunteers; the distribution was similar across the 4 groups. Pre-existing immunity to Ad5 did not appear to have a significant impact on reactogenicity or immune response rates to HIV antigens by IFN-γ ELISPOT. Binding antibodies against Env were detected in up to 100% recipients of DNA prime - rAd5 boost. One volunteer acquired HIV infection after the study ended, two years after receipt of rAd5 alone.

Conclusions/Significance

The HIV-1 rAd5 vaccine, either alone or as a boost following HIV-1 DNA vaccine, was well-tolerated and immunogenic in African adults. DNA priming increased the frequency and magnitude of cellular and humoral immune responses, but there was no effect of rAd5 dosage on immunogenicity endpoints.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00124007","term_id":"NCT00124007"}}NCT00124007     

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy with Monomeric Allergoid in a Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread and difficult to treat allergic skin disease and is a tough challenge for healthcare. In this study, we investigated whether allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) with a monomeric allergoid obtained by succinylation of ovalbumin (sOVA) is effective in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. An experimental model of AD was reproduced by epicutaneous sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA). ASIT was performed with subcutaneous (SC) administration of increasing doses of OVA or sOVA. The levels of anti-OVA antibodies, as well as cytokines, were detected by ELISA. Skin samples from patch areas were taken for histologic examination. ASIT with either OVA or sOVA resulted in a reduction of both the anti-OVA IgE level and the IgG1/IgG2a ratio. Moreover, ASIT with sOVA increased the IFN-γ level in supernatants after splenocyte stimulation with OVA. Histologic analysis of skin samples from the sites of allergen application showed that ASIT improved the histologic picture by decreasing allergic inflammation in comparison with untreated mice. These data suggest that ASIT with a succinylated allergen represents promising approach for the treatment of AD.     

Efficacy of Mycobacterium indicus pranii Immunotherapy as an Adjunct to Chemotherapy for Tuberculosis and Underlying Immune Responses in the Lung

Background

The 9-month-long chemotherapy of tuberculosis often results in poor compliance and emergence of drug-resistant strains. So, improved therapeutic strategy is urgently needed. Immunotherapy could be beneficial for the effective management of the disease. Previously we showed the protective efficacy of Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) when given as prophylactic vaccine in animal models of tuberculosis.

Methods

We sought to investigate whether MIP can be used as an adjunct to the chemotherapy in guinea pig models of tuberculosis. Efficacy of MIP was evaluated when given subcutaneously or by aerosol.

Results

MIP-therapy as an adjunct to the chemotherapy was found to be effective in accelerating bacterial killing and improving organ pathology. MIP-immunotherapy resulted in higher numbers of activated antigen-presenting cells and lymphocytes in the infected lungs and also modulated the granulomatous response. Early increase in protective Th1 immune response was observed in the immunotherapy group. Following subsequent doses of MIP, decrease in the inflammatory response and increase in the immunosuppressive response was observed, which resulted in the improvement of lung pathology.

Conclusion

MIP immunotherapy is a valuable adjunct to chemotherapy for tuberculosis. Aerosol route of immunotherapy can play a crucial role for inducing immediate local immune response in the lung.     

A Neonatal Mouse Model of Coxsackievirus A16 for Vaccine Evaluation

To evaluate vaccine efficacy in protecting against coxsackievirus A16 (CA16), which causes human hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), we established the first neonatal mouse model. In this article, we report data concerning CA16-induced pathological changes, and we demonstrate that anti-CA16 antibody can protect mice against lethal challenge and that the neonatal mouse model could be used to evaluate vaccine efficacy. To establish a mouse model, a BJCA08/CA16 strain (at 260 50% lethal doses [LD₅₀]) was isolated from a patient and used to intracerebrally (i.c.) inoculate neonatal mice. The infection resulted in wasting, hind-limb paralysis, and even death. Pathological examination and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining indicated that BJCA08 had a strong tropism to muscle and caused severe necrosis in skeletal and cardiac muscles. We then found that BJCA08 pretreated with goat anti-G10/CA16 serum could significantly lose its lethal effect in neonatal mice. When the anti-G10 serum was intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected into the neonatal mice and, within 1 h, the same mice were intracerebrally inoculated with BJCA08, there was significant passive immunization protection. In a separate experiment, female mice were immunized with formaldehyde-inactivated G10/CA16 and BJCA08/CA16 and then allowed to mate 1 h after the first immunization. We found that there was significant protection against BJCA08 for neonatal mice born to the immunized dams. These data demonstrated that anti-CA16 antibody may block virus invasion and protect mice against lethal challenge, and that the neonatal mouse model was a viable tool for evaluating vaccine efficacy.     

滴鼻途径建立鼠结核病模型的探讨

目的 探讨滴鼻途径建立BALB/C小鼠结核分枝杆菌感染的模型的可行性.方法 人型Mtb H_(37)Rv标准株经腹腔接种小鼠,取小鼠腹腔冲洗液100 μl接种改良罗-琴氏培养基.刮取上述培养基上生长4周已恢复毒力的结核分枝杆菌H_(37)Rv标准株,加0.05%Tween80生理盐水磨菌制成悬液,菌落计数,计数后稀释悬液为5×10~3 CFU/50 μl、5×10~4 CFU/50 μl、5×10~5 CFU/50 μl及50 μl生理盐水分别感染4组Balb/c小鼠,制作结核分枝杆菌感染模型.结果 滴鼻感染小鼠4周后,所有小鼠肺、脾组织中均可见抗酸阳性菌,在感染小鼠肺、脾组织匀浆均培养出Mtb.肺组织病理改变明显,正常肺泡结构消失,以充血实变、淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞浸润为主,增生性改变不明显,未见明显的组织坏死.脾组织病理改变主要是巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞增生.结论 滴鼻感染途径建立小鼠结核病模型简便、可行,为进一步研究开发重组BCG疫苗对鼠结核病的防治打下良好的基础. 0~4 CFU/50 μl、5×10~5 CFU/50 μl及50 μl生理盐水分别感染4组Balb/c小鼠,制作结核分枝杆菌感染模型.结果 滴鼻感染小鼠 周后,所有小鼠肺、脾组织中均可见抗酸阳性菌,在感染小鼠肺、脾组织匀浆均培养出Mtb.肺组织病理改变明显,正常肺泡结构消失,以充血实变、淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞浸润为主,增生性改变不明显,未见明显的组织坏死.脾组织病理改变主要是巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞增生.结论 滴鼻感染途径建立小鼠结核病模型简便、可行,为进一步研究开发重组BCG疫苗对鼠结核病的防治打下良好的基础. 0~4 CFU/50 μl、5×10~5 CFU/50 μl及50 μl生理盐水分别感染4组Balb/c     

Epithelial V-Like Antigen Mediates Efficacy of Anti-Alpha4 Integrin Treatment in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Natalizumab inhibits the transmigration of activated T lymphocytes into the brain and is highly efficacious in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, from a pharmacogenomic perspective, its efficacy and safety in specific patients remain unclear. Here our goal was to analyze the effects of epithelial V-like antigen (EVA) on anti-alpha₄ integrin (VLA4) efficacy in a mouse model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). EVA has been previously characterized in human CD4 T lymphocytes, mouse thymic development, and choroid plexus epithelial cells. Further analysis here demonstrated expression in B lymphocytes and an increase in EVA⁺ lymphocytes following immunization. Following active induction of EAE using the MOG^35–55 active immunization model, EVA deficient mice developed more severe EAE and white matter tissue injury as compared to wild type controls. This severe EAE phenotype did not respond to anti-VLA4 treatment. In both the control antibody and anti-VLA4 conditions, these mice demonstrated persistent CNS invasion of mature B lymphocyte (CD19⁺, CD21⁺, sIgG⁺), increased serum autoantibody levels, and extensive complement and IgG deposition within lesions containing CD5⁺IgG⁺ cells. Wild type mice treated with control antibody also demonstrated the presence of CD19⁺, CD21⁺, sIgG⁺ cells within the CNS during peak EAE disease severity and detectable serum autoantibody. In contrast, wild type mice treated with anti-VLA4 demonstrated reduced serum autoantibody levels as compared to wild type controls and EVA-knockout mice. As expected, anti-VLA4 treatment in wild type mice reduced the total numbers of all CNS mononuclear cells and markedly decreased CD4 T lymphocyte invasion. Treatment also reduced the frequency of CD19⁺, CD21⁺, sIgG⁺ cells in the CNS. These results suggest that anti-VLA4 treatment may reduce B lymphocyte associated autoimmunity in some individuals and that EVA expression is necessary for an optimal therapeutic response. We postulate that these findings could optimize the selection of treatment responders.     

Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Intramuscular Replication-Defective and Subunit Vaccines against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in the Mouse Genital Model

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted virus that is highly prevalent worldwide, causing a range of symptoms that result in significant healthcare costs and human suffering. ACAM529 is a replication-defective vaccine candidate prepared by growing the previously described dl5-29 on a cell line appropriate for GMP manufacturing. This vaccine, when administered subcutaneously, was previously shown to protect mice from a lethal vaginal HSV-2 challenge and to afford better protection than adjuvanted glycoprotein D (gD) in guinea pigs. Here we show that ACAM529 given via the intramuscular route affords significantly greater immunogenicity and protection in comparison with subcutaneous administration in the mouse vaginal HSV-2 challenge model. Further, we describe a side-by-side comparison of intramuscular ACAM529 with a gD vaccine across a range of challenge virus doses. While differences in protection against death are not significant, ACAM529 protects significantly better against mucosal infection, reducing peak challenge virus shedding at the highest challenge dose by over 500-fold versus 5-fold for gD. Over 27% (11/40) of ACAM529-immunized animals were protected from viral shedding while 2.5% (1/40) were protected by the gD vaccine. Similarly, 35% (7/20) of mice vaccinated with ACAM529 were protected from infection of their dorsal root ganglia while none of the gD-vaccinated mice were protected. These results indicate that measuring infection of the vaginal mucosa and of dorsal root ganglia over a range of challenge doses is more sensitive than evaluating survival at a single challenge dose as a means of directly comparing vaccine efficacy in the mouse vaginal challenge model. The data also support further investigation of ACAM529 for prophylaxis in human subjects.     

Immunogenicity of an Electron Beam Inactivated Rhodococcus equi Vaccine in Neonatal Foals

Rhodococcus equi is an important pathogen of foals that causes severe pneumonia. To date, there is no licensed vaccine effective against R. equi pneumonia of foals. The objectives of our study were to develop an electron beam (eBeam) inactivated vaccine against R. equi and evaluate its immunogenicity. A dose of eBeam irradiation that inactivated replication of R. equi while maintaining outer cell wall integrity was identified. Enteral administration of eBeam inactivated R. equi increased interferon-γ production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to stimulation with virulent R. equi and generated naso-pharyngeal R. equi-specific IgA in newborn foals. Our results indicate that eBeam irradiated R. equi administered enterally produce cell-mediated and upper respiratory mucosal immune responses, in the face of passively transferred maternal antibodies, similar to those produced in response to enteral administration of live organisms (a strategy which previously has been documented to protect foals against intrabronchial infection with virulent R. equi). No evidence of adverse effects was noted among vaccinated foals.