trivalent equine encephalitis DNA vaccine

The trivalent equine encephalitis DNA vaccine is an investigational vaccine candidate designed to provide broad protection against three major alphaviruses: Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV), Western Equine Encephalitis Virus (WEEV), and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV). Developed by the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in collaboration with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), the vaccine consists of three separate DNA plasmids. Each plasmid encodes the structural proteins (capsid and envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2) of one of the three viruses. Upon intramuscular administration, typically via a needle-free jet injector or electroporation, host cells take up the DNA and express the viral antigens, which assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs). These VLPs stimulate the immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies and activate T-cell mediated responses. This DNA-based platform is intended to offer a safer and more stable alternative to traditional live-attenuated or inactivated vaccines, which have historically faced challenges regarding reactogenicity and manufacturing complexity.

Other names

WEV DNA vaccineTrivalent alphavirus DNA vaccineEEEV/WEEV/VEEV DNA vaccine