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Protocol for constructing and characterizing recombinant vectored vaccines for rabies virus
Manar E Khalifa1, Muhammad Munir1
1Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YG, UK.
STAR Protocols
|October 18, 2024
Summary
This study details a protocol for creating novel rabies virus (RV) vaccines using a recombinant vectored vaccine approach. These engineered vaccines offer a promising strategy for rapid and cost-effective immunization against rabies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Vaccinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Recombinant vectored vaccines offer efficient, adaptable, and cost-effective immunization solutions.
- Rabies virus (RV) poses a significant global public health threat, necessitating innovative vaccine development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a detailed protocol for the construction and characterization of recombinant vectored vaccines against rabies virus (RV).
- To engineer replication-competent vesicular stomatitis virus (rcVSV) expressing the RV glycoprotein (G) for vaccine development.
Main Methods:
- Generation of rcVSV by replacing the native VSV glycoprotein (G) with the RV G gene.
- Recovery of engineered rcVSV through co-transfection of baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells with the antigenomic VSV cDNA plasmid (pVSV).
- Comprehensive functional, structural, and molecular characterization of the resulting rcVSV-RV-G constructs.
Main Results:
- Successful generation of replication-competent VSV vectors expressing the rabies virus G gene.
- Detailed characterization confirming the integrity and functionality of the recombinant virus.
- Establishment of a reproducible protocol for producing these novel vaccine candidates.
Conclusions:
- The presented protocol enables the efficient development and characterization of recombinant vectored vaccines for rabies.
- Engineered rcVSV-RV-G represents a promising platform for future rabies immunization strategies.
- This work contributes to the advancement of vaccine technology for controlling rabies transmission.
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