Recombinant measles virus incorporating heterologous viral membrane proteins for use as vaccines.

Recombinant measles virus (rMV) vectors expressing heterologous viral membrane protein antigens are potentially useful as vaccines. Genes encoding the mumps virus haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (MuV-HN), the influenza virus haemagglutinin (Flu-HA) or the respiratory syncytial virus fusion (RSV-F) proteins were inserted into the genome of a live attenuated vaccine strain of measles virus. Additionally, in this case rMV with the MuV-HN or the influenza HA inserts, chimeric constructs were created that harboured the measles virus native haemagglutinin or fusion protein cytoplasmic domains. In all three cases, sucrose-gradient purified preparations of rMV were found to have incorporated the heterologous viral membrane protein on the viral membrane. The possible utility of rMV expressing RSV-F (rMV.RSV-F) as a vaccine was tested in a cotton rat challenge model. Vaccination with rMV.RSV-F efficiently induced neutralizing antibodies against RSV and protected animals from infection with RSV in the lungs.

Comparative seroprevalence and immunogenicity of six rare serotype recombinant adenovirus vaccine vectors from subgroups B and D.

Recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) vector-based vaccines are currently being developed for both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and other pathogens. The potential limitations associated with rAd5 vectors, however, have led to the construction of novel rAd vectors derived from rare Ad serotypes. Several rare serotype rAd vectors have already been described, but a detailed comparison of multiple rAd vectors from subgroups B and D has not previously been reported. Such a comparison is critical for selecting optimal rAd vectors for advancement into clinical trials. Here we describe the construction of three novel rAd vector systems from Ad26, Ad48, and Ad50. We report comparative seroprevalence and immunogenicity studies involving rAd11, rAd35, and rAd50 vectors from subgroup B; rAd26, rAd48, and rAd49 vectors from subgroup D; and rAd5 vectors from subgroup C. All six rAd vectors from subgroups B and D exhibited low seroprevalence in a cohort of 200 individuals from sub-Saharan Africa, and they elicited Gag-specific cellular immune responses in mice both with and without preexisting anti-Ad5 immunity. The rAd vectors from subgroup D were also evaluated using rhesus monkeys and were shown to be immunogenic after a single injection. The rAd26 vectors proved the most immunogenic among the rare serotype rAd vectors studied, although all rare serotype rAd vectors were still less potent than rAd5 vectors in the absence of anti-Ad5 immunity. These studies substantially expand the portfolio of rare serotype rAd vectors that may prove useful as vaccine vectors for the developing world.

Genetic evaluation of localized prostate cancer in a cohort of forty patients: gain of distal 8q discriminates between progressors and nonprogressors.

Over-representation of sequences on chromosome 7 and 8 have been reported to be associated with aggressive behavior of prostate cancer. In this study we have performed a molecular cytogenetic survey by comparative genomic hybridization of a cohort of 40 prostate cancer patients, consisting of 20 progressors and 20 nonprogressors, after radical surgery for localized adenocarcinoma. Progression was defined as a biochemical relapse, ie, an elevation in prostate-specific antigen level in the serum. The mean follow-up after prostatectomy for the progressor group was 10.6 years, for the nonprogressor group, 9.1 years. Using comparative genomic hybridization, we found that progressors harbored on average more aberrations than nonprogressors. Gains were especially more prominent among progressors (p < 0.05), whereas a statistical trend was detected for losses (p = 0.10). As a consequence we examined all chromosome arms separately. The frequencies of loss for areas known to be frequently deleted in prostate cancer, such as 6q, 8p, or 13q, were not different between the two groups. A tendency was observed for more frequent gain on 3q in the progressor group (p = 0.09). However, gain of 8q (minimal overlapping region at 8q24-qter) was significantly more frequent in the progressor group (p = 0.04). This biomarker retained its significance when adjusted for the factors age, tumor grade, tumor stage, resection margin status, and preoperative prostate-specific antigen level. In conclusion we have created a map of genetic changes in progressive and nonprogressive prostatic carcinomas. Importantly, the presence of gain of distal 8q markedly reduced the progression-free survival, suggesting a clinical role for 8q gain in assessing the malignant potential of localized prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Replication-deficient human adenovirus type 35 vectors for gene transfer and vaccination: efficient human cell infection and bypass of preexisting adenovirus immunity.

Replication-deficient human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) can be produced to high titers in complementing cell lines, such as PER.C6, and is widely used as a vaccine and gene therapy vector. However, preexisting immunity against Ad5 hampers consistency of gene transfer, immunological responses, and vector-mediated toxicities. We report the identification of human Ad35 as a virus with low global prevalence and the generation of an Ad35 vector plasmid system for easy insertion of heterologous genes. In addition, we have identified the minimal sequence of the Ad35-E1B region (molecular weight, 55,000 [55K]), pivotal for complementation of fully E1-lacking Ad35 vector on PER.C6 cells. After stable insertion of the 55K sequence into PER.C6 cells a cell line was obtained (PER.C6/55K) that efficiently transcomplements both Ad5 and Ad35 vectors. We further demonstrate that transduction with Ad35 is not hampered by preexisting Ad5 immunity and that Ad35 efficiently infects dendritic cells, smooth muscle cells, and synoviocytes, in contrast to Ad5.