Single intranasal immunization with recombinant adenovirus-based vaccine induces protective immunity against respiratory syncytial virus infection

J Virol. 2008 Mar;82(5):2350-7. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02372-07. Epub 2007 Dec 19.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in infancy and early childhood. Despite its importance as a pathogen, there is no licensed vaccine against RSV. The G glycoprotein of RSV, a major attachment protein, is a potentially important target for protective antiviral immune responses. Here, a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus-based vaccine, rAd/3xG, expressing the soluble core domain of G glycoprotein (amino acids 130 to 230) engineered by codon optimization and tandem repetition for higher-level expression, was constructed and evaluated for its potential as an RSV vaccine in a murine model. A single intranasal immunization with rAd/3xG provided potent protection against RSV challenge which lasted for more than 10 weeks. Strong mucosal immunoglobulin A responses were also induced by a single intranasal immunization but not by intramuscular or oral administration of rAd/3xG. Interestingly, neither gamma interferon- nor interleukin-4-producing CD4 T cells directed to I-E(d)-restricted epitope were detected in the lungs of rAd/3xG-immune mice upon challenge, whereas priming with vaccinia virus expressing RSV G (vvG) elicited strong Th1/Th2 mixed CD4 T-cell responses. Lung eosinophilia and vaccine-induced weight loss were significantly lower in the rAd/3xG-immune group than in the vvG-primed group. Together, our data demonstrate that a single intranasal administration of rAd/3xG elicits beneficial protective immunity and represents a promising vaccine regimen against RSV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Humans
  • Lung / virology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / immunology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / immunology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral