Development of an intradermal DNA vaccine delivery strategy to achieve single-dose immunity against respiratory syncytial virus

Vaccine. 2017 May 15;35(21):2840-2847. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.04.008. Epub 2017 Apr 14.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a massive medical burden in infants, children and the elderly worldwide, and an effective, safe RSV vaccine remains an unmet need. Here we assess a novel vaccination strategy based on the intradermal delivery of a SynCon® DNA-based vaccine encoding engineered RSV-F antigen using a surface electroporation device (SEP) to target epidermal cells, in clinically relevant experimental models. We demonstrate the ability of this strategy to elicit robust immune responses. Importantly we demonstrate complete resistance to pulmonary infection at a single low dose of vaccine in the cotton rat RSV/A challenge model. In contrast to the formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) vaccine, there was no enhanced lung inflammation upon virus challenge after DNA vaccination. In summary the data presented outline the pre-clinical development of a highly efficacious, tolerable and safe non-replicating vaccine delivery strategy.

Keywords: DNA vaccines; Electroporation; Respiratory syncytial virus.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electroporation / instrumentation*
  • Female
  • Lung / pathology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / immunology*
  • Sigmodontinae
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology*

Substances

  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines
  • Vaccines, DNA