Tetravalent dengue DNA vaccine

The tetravalent dengue DNA vaccine (TVDV) is an experimental DNA-based vaccine candidate designed to provide protection against all four serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). Developed by the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in collaboration with Vical, the vaccine consists of a mixture of four monovalent plasmid DNA constructs. Each plasmid utilizes the VR1012 backbone to deliver the pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) genes of a specific DENV serotype. The vaccine functions by entering host cells and expressing these viral proteins to elicit both cellular (T-cell) and humoral (antibody) immune responses. While Phase 1 clinical trials demonstrated that the vaccine was safe and capable of inducing T-cell responses, neutralizing antibody levels were initially lower than desired. Subsequent research has explored the use of adjuvants such as Vaxfectin and delivery methods like electroporation to enhance the vaccine's immunogenicity.

Other names

Dengue DNA vaccineDENV DNA vaccineNMRC/WRAIR dengue DNA vaccine