Optimized Production and Immunogenicity of an Insect Virus-based Chikungunya Virus Candidate Vaccine in Cell Culture and Animal Models

Overview

Journal Emerg Microbes Infect

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2021 Feb 4

PMID 33539255

Citations 8

Authors

Awadalkareem Adam

Huanle Luo

Samantha R Osman

Binbin Wang

Christopher M Roundy

Albert J Auguste

Kenneth S Plante

Bi-Hung Peng

Saravanan Thangamani

Elena I Frolova

Ilya Frolov

Scott C Weaver

Tian Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A chimeric Eilat/ Chikungunya virus (EILV/CHIKV) was previously reported to replicate only in mosquito cells but capable of inducing robust adaptive immunity in animals. Here, we initially selected C7/10 cells to optimize the production of the chimeric virus. A two-step procedure produced highly purified virus stocks, which was shown to not cause hypersensitive reactions in a mouse sensitization study. We further optimized the dose and characterized the kinetics of EILV/CHIKV-induced immunity. A single dose of 10 PFU was sufficient for induction of high levels of CHIKV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies, memory B cell and CD8 T cell responses. Compared to the live-attenuated CHIKV vaccine 181/25, EILV/CHIKV induced similar levels of CHIKV-specific memory B cells, but higher CD8 T cell responses at day 28. It also induced stronger CD8, but lower CD4 T cell responses than another live-attenuated CHIKV strain (CHIKV/IRES) at day 55 post-vaccination. Lastly, the purified EILV/CHIKV triggered antiviral cytokine responses and activation of antigen presenting cell (APC)s but did not induce APCs alone upon exposure. Overall, our results demonstrate that the EILV/CHIKV vaccine candidate is safe, inexpensive to produce and a potent inducer of both innate and adaptive immunity in mice.

Citing Articles

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