Evaluation in Mice of the Immunogenicity of a Tetravalent Subunit Vaccine Candidate Against Dengue Virus Using Mucosal and Parenteral Immunization Routes

• Published in: Viral immunology Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 35 - 358
• Main Authors: Lazo Vázquez, Laura, Gil González, Lázaro, Marcos López, Ernesto, Pérez Fuentes, Yusleidi, Cervetto de Armas, Lázaro, Brown Richards, Enma, Valdés Prado, Iris, Suzarte Portal, Edith, Cobas Acosta, Karem, Yaugel Novoa, Melyssa, Romero Fernández, Yaremis, Guillén Nieto, Gerardo, Hermida Cruz, Lisset
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mary Ann Liebert, Inc 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Neutralizing - blood; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Capsid protein; Capsid Proteins - immunology; Cell-mediated immunity; Children; Dengue fever; Dengue Virus - immunology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Genetic engineering; Immune response (humoral); Immunization; Immunogenicity; Interferon; Interferon-gamma - secretion; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mucosa; Neutralization Tests; Original Articles; Rodents; Serotypes; Spleen; Vaccines; Vaccines, Subunit - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Subunit - genetics; Vaccines, Subunit - immunology; Vaccines, Synthetic - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Synthetic - genetics; Vaccines, Synthetic - immunology; Viral envelope proteins; Viral Envelope Proteins - immunology; Viral Plaque Assay; Viral Vaccines - administration & dosage; Viral Vaccines - genetics; Viral Vaccines - immunology; Viruses; Cuba; vaccine; intranasal; mice; recombinant protein; dengue virus
• ISSN: 0882-8245; 1557-8976
• DOI: 10.1089/vim.2016.0150

Our group has developed a subunit vaccine candidate against Dengue virus (DENV) based on two different viral regions, the domain III of the envelope protein and the capsid protein. The chimeric proteins for each serotype (DIIIC1-4), aggregated with the oligodeoxynucleotide 39 M, form the tetravalent formulation named Tetra DIIIC. Tetra DIIIC induces a protective immune response in mice when it is inoculated by intraperitoneal route. However, if children are the main targets for a DENV vaccine, then a needle-free route of administration should be attractive and advantageous. In this study, we evaluated for the first time, in vivo, a vaccine candidate against DENV based on recombinant proteins using the intranasal route. After three doses of Tetra DIIIC in mice, we measured the humoral immune response against the four DENV serotypes and the corresponding recombinant proteins. Moreover, the functionality of these antibodies was evaluated through a plaque reduction neutralization test. Finally, to assess the cellular immune response induced, we measured the IFN- γ -levels secreted by spleen cells after in vitro stimulation with DENV. The results presented in this study indicate that the intranasal immunization with Tetra DIIIC favors the generation of DENV-specific cell-mediated immunity. On the other hand, the immunization using intraperitoneal and intranasal routes, simultaneously, generate functional antibodies (anti-DIIIC and anti-DENV) and an in vitro response of IFN- γ secretion.