An alphavirus replicon-derived candidate vaccine against Rift Valley fever virus

• DOI: 10.1017/s0950268808001696
• Publication Date: 2009-01-27T09:43:47Z
• Authors: M. T. HEISE; A. WHITMORE; J. THOMPSON; M. PARSONS; A. A. GROBBELAAR; A. KEMP; J. T. PAWESKA; K. MADRIC; L. J. WHITE; R. SWANEPOEL; F. J. BURT
• Keywords: Replicon; Rift Valley Fever; Phlebovirus; Sindbis virus

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-transmitted bunyavirus (genus Phlebovirus) associated with severe disease in livestock and fatal encephalitis or haemorrhagic proportion of infected humans. Although live attenuated inactivated vaccines have been used livestock, on limited scale humans, there need for improved anti-RVFV vaccines. Towards this goal, Sindbis replicon vectors expressing the RVFV Gn Gc glycoproteins, as well non-structural nsM protein, were constructed evaluated their ability to induce protective immune responses against RVFV. These shown produce glycoproteins high levels vitro systemic antibody immunized mice, determined by RVFV-specific ELISA, fluorescent tests, demonstration neutralizing response. Replicon vaccination also provided 100% protection lethal challenge either intraperitoneal intranasal route. Furthermore, preliminary results indicate that elicit vaccinated sheep. suggest alphavirus-based can immunity RVFV, approach merits further investigation into its potential utility vaccine.