• Vaccine Name: Recombinant DOBV nucleocapsid protein (rDOBV N)
• Target Pathogen: Hantavirus
• Target Disease: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
• Vaccine Ontology ID: VO_0004102
• Type: Subunit vaccine
• S nucleocapsid protein from Dobrava-Belgrade virus gene engineering:
  • Type: Recombinant protein preparation
  • Description: Dobrava hantavirus nucleocapsid protein was used for the vaccine development (Klingstrom et al., 2004).
  • Detailed Gene Information: Click Here.
• Adjuvant:
  • Adjuvant name:
  • VO adjuvant ID: VO_0000133
  • Description: Dobrava hantavirus nucleocapsid protein in Freund's adjuvant (Klingstrom et al., 2004).
• Preparation: Recombinant DOBV nucleocapsid protein (rDOBV N) given with Alum or Freund's as adjuvant (Klingstrom et al., 2004).
• Virulence: Not virulent
• Description: Dobrava hantavirus (DOBV) causes a severe form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Currently there is no therapy or vaccine available for HFRS (Klingstrom et al., 2004).

Mouse Response

• Host Strain: C57/BL6 mice
• Vaccination Protocol: His-tagged rDOBV N and recombinant mouse dihydrofolate reductase (rDHFR) was emulsified with Imject® Alum (Pierce, Rockford, IL), Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) or incomplete (FIA) adjuvant (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) or PBS. A total of 50 μg of recombinant protein was mixed with Alum and FCA/FIA, or PBS, in a total volume of 200 μl per dosage. All immunizations and boosters were administered subcutaneously. rDOBV N or rDHFR in Alum, FCA or PBS were administered at day 0. At days 21 and 92, mice were boosted with rDOBV N or rDHFR in Alum, FIA or PBS. At day 118, all mice were challenged with 10 mouse ID50 of DOBV and 21 days later, all mice were sacrificed. Serum, plasma, and EDTA-blood were drawn at the time points indicated below (Klingstrom et al., 2004).
• Side Effects: No side effects.
• Challenge Protocol: All vaccinated mice were subcutaneously challenged with 10 mouse ID50 DOBV at day 118. The challenge did not kill mice. Three weeks after challenge, the mice were sacrificed and serum tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies (Klingstrom et al., 2004).
• Efficacy: The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of recombinant DOBV nucleocapsid protein (rDOBV N) given with Alum or Freund’s as adjuvant, or PBS, in C57/BL6 mice, were compared. All mice given Alum or Freund’s seroconverted as did 6/8 mice given rDOBV N with PBS. Reciprocal geometric mean total IgG-titers were 5380, 18,100, and 800, respectively, while the mean IgG1/IgG2a ratios were 17.5, 9.25, and 12, respectively. Furthermore, ELIspot assays showed higher levels of IL-4 producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the group given Alum as compared to the other groups. Interestingly, only mice receiving rDOBV N with Freund’s adjuvant were protected from challenge (75% protected), indicating that the strong Th2-type of immune response induced by Alum against rDOBV N did not induce protection in mice (Klingstrom et al., 2004).