Hantaan/Andes virus DNA vaccine elicits a broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibody response in nonhuman primates

Virology. 2006 Mar 30;347(1):208-16. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.11.035. Epub 2005 Dec 27.

Abstract

At least four hantavirus species cause disease with prominent renal involvement-hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS); and several hantavirus strains cause disease with significant pulmonary involvement-hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The most prevalent and lethal hantaviruses associated with HFRS and HPS are Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Andes virus (ANDV), respectively. Here, we constructed a DNA vaccine plasmid (pWRG/HA-M) that contains both the HTNV and ANDV M gene segments. Rhesus macaques vaccinated with pWRG/HA-M produced antibodies that bound the M gene products (i.e., G1 and G2 glycoproteins), and neutralized both HTNV and ANDV. Neutralizing antibody titers elicited by the dual-immunogen pWRG/HA-M, or single-immunogen plasmids expressing only the HTNV or ANDV glycoproteins, increased rapidly to high levels after a booster vaccination administered 1-2 years after the initial vaccination series. Memory responses elicited by this long-range boost exhibited an increased breadth of cross-neutralizing activity relative to the primary response. This is the first time that hantavirus M gene-based DNA vaccines have been shown to elicit a potent memory response, and to elicit antibody responses that neutralize viruses that cause both HFRS and HPS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Cricetinae
  • Cross Reactions
  • Hantaan virus / genetics*
  • Hantaan virus / immunology*
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Orthohantavirus / genetics*
  • Orthohantavirus / immunology*
  • Species Specificity
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology*
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Vaccines / genetics
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • Viral Vaccines