1. Safety and Immunogenicity of Four-Segmented Rift Valley Fever Virus in the Common Marmoset
- Author
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Paul J. Wichgers Schreur, Petra Mooij, Gerrit Koopman, Babs E. Verstrepen, Zahra Fagrouch, Daniella Mortier, Nikki van Driel, Jet Kant, Sandra van de Water, Willy M. Bogers, Carine Punt, Lucien van Keulen, Ernst J. Verschoor, and Jeroen Kortekaas
- Subjects
Host Pathogen Interaction & Diagnostics ,Pharmacology ,Bacteriologie ,Immunology ,Bacteriology ,Bacteriology, Host Pathogen Interaction & Diagnostics ,PE&RC ,Host Pathogen Interactie & Diagnostiek ,Virology & Molecular Biology ,Virologie & Moleculaire Biologie ,Infectious Diseases ,Bacteriologie, Host Pathogen Interactie & Diagnostiek ,Life Science ,Pharmacology (medical) - Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging mosquito-borne bunyavirus that is highly pathogenic to wild- and domesticated ruminants, camelids and humans. While animals are exclusively infected via mosquito bites, humans can also be infected via contact with tissues or blood released during the slaughtering of RVFV-infected animals. No human vaccine is available and currently commercialized veterinary vaccines do not optimally combine efficacy with safety. We previously reported the development of two novel live-attenuated RVF vaccines, created by splitting the M genome segment and deleting the major virulence determinant NSs. The vaccine candidates, referred to as the veterinary vaccine vRVFV-4s and the human vaccine hRVFV-4s, were shown to induce protective immunity in multiple species after a single vaccination. Anticipating on accidental exposure of humans to the veterinary vaccine, and to evaluate the safety of the hRVFV-4s candidate vaccine for humans, the safety of each vaccine was evaluated in the most susceptible nonhuman primate model, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Marmosets were inoculated with high doses of each vaccine and were monitored for clinical signs as well as for vaccine virus dissemination, shedding and spreading to the environment. To accurately assess the attenuation of both vaccine viruses, separate groups of marmosets were inoculated with the parent wild-type RVFV strains. Both wild-type strains induced high viremia and disseminated to primary target organs, associated with mild- to severe morbidity, while both vaccines were well tolerated with absence of dissemination and shedding, while inducing potent neutralizing antibody responses. The results of the studies support the unprecedented safety profile of both vaccines for animals and humans.
- Published
- 2021
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