Peptide-based candidate vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus

• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.01.039
• Publication Date: 2005-01-18T12:18:57Z
• Authors: V YUSIBOV; V METT; V METT; C DAVIDSON; K MUSIYCHUK; S GILLIAM; A FARESE; T MACVITTIE; D MANN
• Keywords: Virus-like particle

We engineered a 21-mer peptide representing amino acids 170-190 of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) G protein as a fusion with the Alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV) coat protein (CP), produced recombinant AlMV particles presenting this peptide (VMR-RSV) on their surfaces and tested the immunogenicity in vitro in human dendritic cells and in vivo in non-human primates. Significant pathogen-specific immune responses were generated in both systems: (i) human dendritic cells armed with VMR-RSV generated vigorous CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses; (ii) non-human primates that received these particles responded by mounting strong cellular and humoral immune responses. This approach may validate the use of a novel RSV vaccine delivery vehicle in humans.