AUTHOR=Beicht Jana , Kubinski Mareike , Zdora Isabel , Puff Christina , Biermann Jeannine , Gerlach Thomas , Baumgärtner Wolfgang , Sutter Gerd , Osterhaus Albert D. M. E. , Prajeeth Chittappen Kandiyil , Rimmelzwaan Guus F. TITLE=Induction of humoral and cell-mediated immunity to the NS1 protein of TBEV with recombinant Influenza virus and MVA affords partial protection against lethal TBEV infection in mice JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1177324 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1177324 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=Introduction

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is one of the most relevant tick-transmitted neurotropic arboviruses in Europe and Asia and the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Annually more than 10,000 TBE cases are reported despite having vaccines available. In Europe, the vaccines FSME-IMMUN® and Encepur® based on formaldehyde-inactivated whole viruses are licensed. However, demanding vaccination schedules contribute to sub-optimal vaccination uptake and breakthrough infections have been reported repeatedly. Due to its immunogenic properties as well as its role in viral replication and disease pathogenesis, the non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of flaviviruses has become of interest for non-virion based flavivirus vaccine candidates in recent years.

Methods

Therefore, immunogenicity and protective efficacy of TBEV NS1 expressed by neuraminidase (NA)-deficient Influenza A virus (IAV) or Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors were investigated in this study.

Results

With these recombinant viral vectors TBEV NS1-specific antibody and T cell responses were induced. Upon heterologous prime/boost regimens partial protection against lethal TBEV challenge infection was afforded in mice.

Discussion

This supports the inclusion of NS1 as a vaccine component in next generation TBEV vaccines.