Progress in filovirus vaccine development: evaluating the potential for clinical use

Expert Rev Vaccines. 2011 Jan;10(1):63-77. doi: 10.1586/erv.10.152.

Abstract

Marburg and Ebola viruses cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates. Currently, there are no effective treatments and no licensed vaccines; although a number of vaccine platforms have proven successful in animal models. The ideal filovirus vaccine candidate should be able to provide rapid protection following a single immunization, have the potential to work postexposure and be cross-reactive or multivalent against all Marburg virus strains and all relevant Ebola virus species and strains. Currently, there are multiple platforms that have provided prophylactic protection in nonhuman primates, including DNA, recombinant adenovirus serotype 5, recombinant human parainfluenza virus 3 and virus-like particles. In addition, a single platform, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus, has demonstrated both prophylactic and postexposure protection in nonhuman primates. These results demonstrate that achieving a vaccine that is protective against filoviruses is possible; the challenge now is to prove its safety and efficacy in order to obtain a vaccine that is ready for human use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers
  • Ebolavirus / genetics
  • Ebolavirus / immunology*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Marburg Virus Disease / prevention & control*
  • Marburgvirus / genetics
  • Marburgvirus / immunology*
  • Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human / genetics
  • Primates
  • Vaccines, DNA / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vesiculovirus / genetics
  • Viral Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Viral Vaccines / genetics
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Vaccines