Vaccine Advances Against Venezuelan, Eastern, and Western Equine Encephalitis Viruses

Overview

Journal Vaccines (Basel)

Date 2020 Jun 7

PMID 32503232

Citations 18

Authors

Zachary R Stromberg

Will Fischer

Steven B Bradfute

Jessica Z Kubicek-Sutherland

Peter Hraber

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Vaccinations are a crucial intervention in combating infectious diseases. The three neurotropic Alphaviruses, Eastern (EEEV), Venezuelan (VEEV), and Western (WEEV) equine encephalitis viruses, are pathogens of interest for animal health, public health, and biological defense. In both equines and humans, these viruses can cause febrile illness that may progress to encephalitis. Currently, there are no licensed treatments or vaccines available for these viruses in humans. Experimental vaccines have shown variable efficacy and may cause severe adverse effects. Here, we outline recent strategies used to generate vaccines against EEEV, VEEV, and WEEV with an emphasis on virus-vectored and plasmid DNA delivery. Despite candidate vaccines protecting against one of the three viruses, few studies have demonstrated an effective trivalent vaccine. We evaluated the potential of published vaccines to generate cross-reactive protective responses by comparing DNA vaccine sequences to a set of EEEV, VEEV, and WEEV genomes and determining the vaccine coverages of potential epitopes. Finally, we discuss future directions in the development of vaccines to combat EEEV, VEEV, and WEEV.

Citing Articles

Eastern equine encephalitis virus: Pathogenesis, immune response, and clinical manifestations.

Parashar B, Malviya R, Sridhar S, Wadhwa T, Talath S, Shareef J Infect Med (Beijing). 2025; 4(1):100167.

PMID: 40026316 PMC: 11869868. DOI: 10.1016/j.imj.2025.100167.

Host-Driven Ubiquitination Events in Vector-Transmitted RNA Virus Infections as Options for Broad-Spectrum Therapeutic Intervention Strategies.

Sreepangi S, Baha H, Opoku L, Jones N, Konadu M, Alem F Viruses. 2024; 16(11).

PMID: 39599842 PMC: 11599102. DOI: 10.3390/v16111727.

Arbovirus infection increases the risk for the development of neurodegenerative disease pathology in the murine model.

Fongsaran C, Jirakanwisal K, Peng B, Fracassi A, Taglialatela G, Dineley K Brain Behav Immun Health. 2024; 38:100780.

PMID: 38706571 PMC: 11067009. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100780.

Structural and functional basis of VLDLR usage by Eastern equine encephalitis virus.

Adams L, Raju S, Ma H, Gilliland Jr T, Reed D, Klimstra W Cell. 2024; 187(2):360-374.e19.

PMID: 38176410 PMC: 10843625. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.031.

Structural and functional basis of VLDLR receptor usage by Eastern equine encephalitis virus.

Adams L, Raju S, Ma H, Gilliland Jr T, Reed D, Klimstra W bioRxiv. 2023; .

PMID: 38014196 PMC: 10680733. DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.15.567188.

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