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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Intranasal Administration of Recombinant Influenza Vaccines in Chimeric Mouse Models to Study Mucosal Immunity
Published on: June 25, 2015
Recombinant measles viruses expressing heterologous antigens of mumps and simian immunodeficiency viruses
Z Wang1, L Hangartner, T I Cornu
1Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Zurich-Irchel, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
We have genetically engineered a panel of recombinant measles viruses (rMVs) that express from various positions within the MV genome either the HN or F surface glycoproteins of mumps virus (MuV) or the env, gag or pol proteins from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). All rMVs were rescued from the respective antigenomic plasmid constructs; progeny viruses replicated comparably to the progenitor Edmonston B MV, but showed slight propagation retardation, which was dependent on the size and nature of the expressed proteins and on the genomic position of the inserts. All transgenes except that encoding mumps F glycoprotein were faithfully maintained and expressed even after virus amplification by 10(20). Our results suggest possible applications of rMVs as live-attenuated, multivalent vaccines against retroviruses such as SIV and HIV as well as other pathogens more distantly related to MV than MuV.
Insights
Scientists created novel measles viruses (rMVs) expressing foreign proteins, showing potential as vaccines against viruses like SIV and HIV. These engineered viruses offer a promising platform for developing multivalent vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Vaccinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Measles virus (MV) is a well-characterized virus with a genome amenable to genetic engineering.
- Developing effective vaccines against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases remains a global health priority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer recombinant measles viruses (rMVs) expressing foreign viral proteins.
- To assess the replication, stability, and expression of these transgenes within the rMV system.
- To explore the potential of rMVs as a platform for live-attenuated, multivalent vaccines.
Main Methods:
- Genetic engineering of measles virus (MV) to create recombinant MVs (rMVs).
- Insertion of genes encoding mumps virus (MuV) glycoproteins (HN, F) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) proteins (env, gag, pol) into the MV genome.
- Rescue of rMVs from plasmid constructs and subsequent virus amplification.
- Analysis of viral replication, transgene expression, and stability.
Main Results:
- rMVs expressing various transgenes were successfully rescued and replicated.
- Transgene expression and stability were maintained even after extensive virus amplification (10^20).
- Replication efficiency was comparable to the progenitor MV, with minor retardation influenced by transgene size and genomic insertion site.
Conclusions:
- rMVs can stably express foreign viral proteins, demonstrating their potential as a versatile vaccine platform.
- Engineered rMVs show promise for developing live-attenuated, multivalent vaccines against pathogens like SIV and HIV.
- This technology could be extended to target other pathogens distantly related to measles virus.
