Towne strain cytomegalovirus vaccine

The Towne strain cytomegalovirus vaccine is a live attenuated viral vaccine developed to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and its associated diseases. It was derived from the Towne strain of human cytomegalovirus through 125 serial passages in cultured human diploid fibroblasts (WI-38 cells), a process that significantly reduced its virulence while maintaining immunogenicity. The vaccine is designed to elicit both humoral (neutralizing antibodies) and cellular (T-cell) immune responses. Historically, it has been evaluated for two primary indications: preventing severe CMV disease in seronegative renal transplant recipients and protecting seronegative women of childbearing age to prevent congenital CMV transmission to their offspring. Clinical studies involving nearly 1,000 volunteers have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe, does not establish latency, and is not excreted by recipients. However, its efficacy in preventing primary infection in seronegative individuals has been limited in low-dose formulations, leading to the exploration of higher doses and chimeric versions (such as Towne/Toledo chimeras).

Other names

Towne strain CMV vaccineLive attenuated cytomegalovirus vaccine (Towne strain)Towne-CMV