Loading...
Many live viral vaccines have not been used in immunocompromised patients because of the risk of vaccine- related illness. Investigators at the NIH used a novel approach to enhance immunogenicity and attenuate viral virulence -- they incorporated the gene for interleukin-2 (IL-2) into a recombinant vaccinia virus vaccine.
Immunodeficient nude mice given vaccinia virus vaccine that did not contain the IL-2 gene died rapidly from disseminated vaccinia infection, whereas mice given vaccine containing the IL-2 gene survived. The effects varied depending on the site of insertion of the IL-2 gene. Mice given vaccine containing the IL-2 gene produced IL-2 in vivo, but the mechanisms for their greater resistance to the virus could not be determined.…