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Mutating chikungunya virus non-structural protein produces potent live-attenuated vaccine candidate.

ABSTRACT: Currently, there are no commercially available live-attenuated vaccines against chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Here, CHIKVs with mutations in non-structural proteins (nsPs) were investigated for their suitability as attenuated CHIKV vaccines. R532H mutation in nsP1 caused reduced infectivity in mouse tail fibroblasts but an enhanced type-I IFN response compared to WT-CHIKV Adult mice infected with this nsP-mutant exhibited a mild joint phenotype with low-level viremia that rapidly cleared. Mechanistically, ingenuity pathway analyses revealed a tilt in the anti-inflammatory IL-10 versus pro-inflammatory IL-1? and IL-18 balance during CHIKV nsP-mutant infection that modified acute antiviral and cell signaling canonical pathways. Challenging CHIKV nsP-mutant-infected mice with WT-CHIKV or the closely related O'nyong-nyong virus resulted in no detectable viremia, observable joint inflammation, or damage. Challenged mice showed high antibody titers with efficient neutralizing capacity, indicative of immunological memory. Manipulating molecular processes that govern CHIKV replication could lead to plausible vaccine candidates against alphavirus infection.

SUBMITTER: Chan YH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6554673 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mutating chikungunya virus non-structural protein produces potent live-attenuated vaccine candidate.

Chan Yi-Hao YH Teo Teck-Hui TH Utt Age A Tan Jeslin Jl JJ Amrun Siti Naqiah SN Abu Bakar Farhana F Yee Wearn-Xin WX Becht Etienne E Lee Cheryl Yi-Pin CY Lee Bernett B Rajarethinam Ravisankar R Newell Evan E Merits Andres A Carissimo Guillaume G Lum Fok-Moon FM Ng Lisa Fp LF

EMBO molecular medicine 20190601 6

Currently, there are no commercially available live-attenuated vaccines against chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Here, CHIKVs with mutations in non-structural proteins (nsPs) were investigated for their suitability as attenuated CHIKV vaccines. R532H mutation in nsP1 caused reduced infectivity in mouse tail fibroblasts but an enhanced type-I IFN response compared to WT-CHIKV Adult mice infected with this nsP-mutant exhibited a mild joint phenotype with low-level viremia that rapidly cleared. Mechanist ...[more]

PMID: 31015278

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Mutating chikungunya virus non-structural protein produces potent live-attenuated vaccine candidate.

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Mutating chikungunya virus non-structural protein produces potent live-attenuated vaccine candidate.

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