Immunogenicity and Efficacy of a Measles Virus-Vectored Chikungunya Vaccine in Nonhuman Primates
Shannan L Rossi, Jason E Comer, Eryu Wang, Sasha R Azar, William S Lawrence, Jessica A Plante, Katrin Ramsauer, Sabrina Schrauf, Scott C Weaver, Shannan L Rossi, Jason E Comer, Eryu Wang, Sasha R Azar, William S Lawrence, Jessica A Plante, Katrin Ramsauer, Sabrina Schrauf, Scott C Weaver
Abstract
Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection can result in chikungunya fever (CHIKF), a self-limited acute febrile illness that can progress to chronic arthralgic sequelae in a large percentage of patients. A new measles virus-vectored vaccine was developed to prevent CHIKF, and we tested it for immunogenicity and efficacy in a nonhuman primate model.
Methods: Nine cynomolgus macaques were immunized and boosted with the measles virus-vectored chikungunya vaccine or sham-vaccinated. Sera were taken at multiple times during the vaccination phase to assess antibody responses against CHIKV. Macaques were challenged with a dose of CHIKV previously shown to cause fever and viremia, and core body temperature, viremia, and blood cell and chemistry panels were monitored.
Results: The vaccine was well tolerated in all macaques, and all seroconverted (high neutralizing antibody [PRNT80 titers, 40-640] and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers) after the boost. Furthermore, the vaccinated primates were protected against viremia, fever, elevated white blood cell counts, and CHIKF-associated cytokine changes after challenge with the virulent La Reunión CHIKV strain.
Conclusions: These results further document the immunogenicity and efficacy of a measles-vectored chikungunya vaccine that shows promise in Phase I-II clinical trials. These findings are critical to human health because no vaccine to combat CHIKF is yet licensed.
Keywords: chikungunya virus; measles virus; nonhuman primate; vaccine.
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
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Source: PubMed