Zhu Yilong, Li Dapeng, Zhao Renshuang, Chen Minghua, Li Yue, Yang Xia, Mao Hongyue, Li Xiao, Li Yiquan, Shang Chao, Xia Xianzhu
Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130122, People's Republic of China.
Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, College of Integrative Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, People's Republic of China.
Virol J. 2025 Jan 25;22(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s12985-025-02629-6.
Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an important zoonotic pathogenic virus, which poses serious threats to public health. MPXV infection can be prevented by immunization against the variola virus. Because of the safety risks and side effects of vaccination with live vaccinia virus (VACV) strain Tian Tan (VTT), we constructed two gene-deleted VTT recombinants (TTVAC7 and TTVC5). The immunogenicity and protective effects of the gene-deleted VTT vaccine were assessed using BALB/C mice challenged with VTT and New Zealand rabbits challenged with MPXV. The results demonstrated strong humoral and cellular immune responses. The VTT-specific and neutralizing antibody titers, specific T cell levels, and degree of dendritic cell maturation of the mice, in addition to the MPXV neutralizing antibody titers and IFN-γ, IL-6, and TNF-α levels of the rabbits were markedly higher in the groups immunized with TTVAC7 and TTVC5 than the control groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, immunization with TTVAC7 and TTVC5 reduced morbidities caused by VACV and MPXV infection. The weight change, lung histological score, and residual virus of the mouse model (p < 0.05). Similarly, the temperature change, pock number, lung histological score, and residual virus of the rabbit model were significantly reduced in the groups immunized with TTVAC7 and TTVC5 (p < 0.05). Collectively, these results demonstrate that TTVAC7 and TTVC5 may be used as potential live attenuated vaccines against MPXV infection.
猴痘病毒（MPXV）是一种重要的人畜共患病致病病毒，对公众健康构成严重威胁。接种天花病毒疫苗可预防MPXV感染。由于使用天坛株痘苗病毒（VACV）（VTT）进行疫苗接种存在安全风险和副作用，我们构建了两种基因缺失的VTT重组体（TTVAC7和TTVC5）。使用感染VTT的BALB/C小鼠和感染MPXV的新西兰兔评估基因缺失的VTT疫苗的免疫原性和保护效果。结果显示出强烈的体液免疫和细胞免疫反应。在接种TTVAC7和TTVC5的组中，小鼠的VTT特异性中和抗体滴度、特异性T细胞水平和树突状细胞成熟度，以及兔子的MPXV中和抗体滴度和IFN-γ、IL-6和TNF-α水平均明显高于对照组（p < 0.05）。此外，接种TTVAC7和TTVC5降低了由VACV和MPXV感染引起的发病率。小鼠模型的体重变化、肺组织学评分和残余病毒量（p < 0.05）。同样，在接种TTVAC7和TTVC5的组中，兔子模型的体温变化、痘疹数量、肺组织学评分和残余病毒量均显著降低（p < 0.05）。总体而言，这些结果表明TTVAC7和TTVC5可作为预防MPXV感染的潜在减毒活疫苗。
