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Regulated microbe vaccines: from concept to (pre-clinical) reduction to practice
Richard Voellmy1, David C Bloom2, Nuria Vilaboa3,4
1HSF Pharmaceuticals SA, La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland.
Expert Review of Vaccines
|January 28, 2025
Summary
Replication-competent controlled herpesviruses (RCCVs) show promise as novel vaccine platforms. RCCVs expressing influenza antigens protected mice against lethal flu challenges, suggesting potential for broad-spectrum vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Vaccinology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Existing vaccines for influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and HIV are insufficient.
- Regulated microbes offer a novel platform for developing more effective vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development and vaccine potential of replication-competent controlled herpesviruses (RCCVs).
- To explore RCCVs as a novel vaccine platform.
Main Methods:
- Development and characterization of RCCVs.
- Assessment of RCCV replication control and immunogenicity in mice.
- Evaluation of RCCV-induced protection against influenza virus challenge.
Main Results:
- RCCVs can be activated for transient replication at the administration site, with no replication in the nervous system.
- RCCVs induced potent anti-herpetic immune responses in mice.
- Vaccination with RCCVs expressing influenza hemagglutinin provided broad protection against lethal influenza challenge, partly mediated by antibodies.
Conclusions:
- RCCVs represent a promising, controllable vaccine platform.
- RCCVs demonstrate potential for developing universal, non-seasonal vaccines against influenza.
- RCCVs may also be applicable to other rapidly evolving pathogens.
