Shengqiang Li

Respiratory Syncytial Virus That Lacks Open Reading Frame 2 of the M2 Gene (M2-2) Has Altered Growth Characteristics and Is Attenuated in Rodents

ABSTRACT The M2 gene of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) encodes two putative proteins: M2-1 and M2-2; both are believed to be involved in the RNA transcription or replication process. To understand the function of the M2-2 protein in virus replication, we deleted the majority of the M2-2 open reading frame from an infectious cDNA clone derived from the human RSV A2 strain. Transfection of HEp-2 cells with the cDNA clone containing the M2-2 deletion, together with plasmids that encoded the RSV N, P, and L proteins, produced a recombinant RSV that lacked the M2-2 protein (rA2ΔM2-2). Recombinant virus rA2ΔM2-2 was recovered and characterized. The levels of viral mRNA expression for 10 RSV genes examined were unchanged in cells infected with rA2ΔM2-2, except that a shorter M2 mRNA was detected. However, the ratio of viral genomic or antigenomic RNA to mRNA was reduced in rA2ΔM2-2-infected cells. By use of an antibody directed against the bacterially expressed M2-2 protein, the putative M2-2 protein was detected in cells infected with wild-type RSV but not in cells infected with rA2ΔM2-2. rA2ΔM2-2 displayed a small-plaque morphology and grew much more slowly than wild-type RSV in HEp-2 cells. In infected Vero cells, rA2ΔM2-2 exhibited very large syncytium formation compared to that of wild-type recombinant RSV. rA2ΔM2-2 appeared to be a host range mutant, since it replicated poorly in HEp-2, HeLa, and MRC5 cells but replicated efficiently in Vero and LLC-MK2 cells. Replication of rA2ΔM2-2 in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of mice and cotton rats was highly restricted. Despite its attenuated replication in rodents, rA2ΔM2-2 was able to provide protection against challenge with wild-type RSV A2. The genotype and phenotype of the M2-2 deletion mutant were stably maintained after extensive in vitro passages. The attenuated phenotype of rA2ΔM2-2 suggested that rA2ΔM2-2 may be a potential candidate for use as a live attenuated vaccine.

Viral vectors for malaria vaccine development

Abstract A workshop on viral vectors for malaria vaccine development, organized by the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, was held in Bethesda, MD on October 20, 2005. Recent advancements in viral-vectored malaria vaccine development and emerging vector technologies were presented and discussed. Classic viral vectors such as poxvirus, adenovirus and alphavirus vectors have been successfully used to deliver malaria antigens. Some of the vaccine candidates have demonstrated their potential in inducing malaria-specific immunity in animal models and human trials. In addition, emerging viral-vector technologies, such as measles virus (MV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and yellow fever (YF) virus, may also be useful for malaria vaccine development. Studies in animal models suggest that each viral vector is unique in its ability to induce humoral and/or cellular immune responses. Those studies have also revealed that optimization of Plasmodium genes for mammalian expression is an important aspect of vaccine design. Codon-optimization, surface-trafficking, de-glycosylation and removal of toxic domains can lead to improved immunogenicity. Understanding the vectors ability to induce an immune response and the expression of malaria antigens in mammalian cells will be critical in designing the next generation of viral-vectored malaria vaccines.