Immunogenicity of novel mumps vaccine candidates generated by genetic modification
Pei Xu1, Zhenhai Chen, Shannon Phan
1Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Abstract:
Mumps is a highly contagious human disease, characterized by lateral or bilateral nonsuppurative swelling of the parotid glands and neurological complications that can result in aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. A mumps vaccination program implemented since the 1960s reduced mumps incidence by more than 99% and kept the mumps case numbers as low as hundreds of cases per year in the United States before 2006. However, a large mumps outbreak occurred in vaccinated populations in 2006 and again in 2009 in the United States, raising concerns about the efficacy of the vaccination program. Previously, we have shown that clinical isolate-based recombinant mumps viruses lacking expression of either the V protein (rMuVΔV) or the SH protein (rMuVΔSH) are attenuated in a neurovirulence test using newborn rat brains (P. Xu et al., Virology 417:126-136, 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2011.05.003; P. Xu et al., J. Virol. 86:1768-1776, 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JVI.06019-11) and may be good candidates for vaccine development. In this study, we examined immunity induced by rMuVΔSH and rMuVΔV in mice. Furthermore, we generated recombinant mumps viruses lacking expression of both the V protein and the SH protein (rMuVΔSHΔV). Analysis of rMuVΔSHΔV indicated that it was stable in tissue culture cell lines. Importantly, rMuVΔSHΔV was immunogenic in mice, indicating that it is a promising candidate for mumps vaccine development.
Insights
New mumps virus strains lacking V and SH proteins (rMuVΔSHΔV) show promise as vaccine candidates. These modified viruses are stable and immunogenic in mice, offering potential for improved mumps prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Mumps is a contagious viral illness causing parotid gland swelling and potential neurological issues.
- Mumps vaccination significantly reduced incidence, but outbreaks in vaccinated populations raise concerns about vaccine efficacy.
- Previous research identified attenuated mumps virus strains (rMuVΔV, rMuVΔSH) as potential vaccine candidates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the immunogenicity of recombinant mumps viruses lacking V (rMuVΔV) and SH (rMuVΔSH) proteins in mice.
- To generate and characterize a novel recombinant mumps virus lacking both V and SH proteins (rMuVΔSHΔV).
- To assess the stability and immunogenicity of rMuVΔSHΔV as a potential mumps vaccine candidate.
Main Methods:
- Generation of recombinant mumps viruses with deletions in V and/or SH genes.
- Assessment of virus stability in cell culture.
- Immunization of mice with recombinant mumps viruses.
- Evaluation of immune responses induced by the modified viruses.
Main Results:
- The novel recombinant mumps virus lacking both V and SH proteins (rMuVΔSHΔV) was found to be stable in cell culture.
- Mice immunized with rMuVΔSHΔV developed an immune response.
- The rMuVΔSHΔV strain demonstrated immunogenicity, suggesting its potential as a vaccine.
Conclusions:
- Recombinant mumps viruses lacking V and SH proteins are stable and immunogenic.
- The rMuVΔSHΔV strain is a promising candidate for developing a new generation of mumps vaccines.
- Further research into rMuVΔSHΔV could lead to improved strategies for mumps prevention.
