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Decreased virulence of recombinant vaccinia virus expression vectors is associated with a thymidine kinase-negative phenotype

Nature volume 317, pages 813–815 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent advances in molecular genetics have led to the possibility of using large DNA viruses, such as vaccinia virus, as a biological delivery system for immunizing man against unrelated diseasecausing agents1–7. When live vaccinia virus recombinants expressing the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)8,9, the influenza A virus haemagglutinin10, the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 D glycoprotein11,12, the rabies virus G glycoprotein13,14 and the vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein15 were used for immunization, animals were protected upon challenge with the appropriate pathogenic agent. A major concern with using such vaccines, however, stems from the previously documented vaccinia virusassociated post-immunizing complications16. We present here experimental evidence that thymidine kinase-negative (TK−) vaccinia virus recombinants, constructed by inserting a variety of DNA coding sequences into the vaccinia virus tk gene, are less pathogenic for mice than wild-type virus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20205, USA

    R. M. L. Buller, G. L. Smith & Bernard Moss

  2. Laboratory of Oral Medicine, National Institutes of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20205, USA

    K. Cremer & A. L. Notkins

Authors
  1. R. M. L. Buller
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  2. G. L. Smith
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  3. K. Cremer
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  4. A. L. Notkins
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  5. Bernard Moss
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Buller, R., Smith, G., Cremer, K. et al. Decreased virulence of recombinant vaccinia virus expression vectors is associated with a thymidine kinase-negative phenotype. Nature 317, 813–815 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/317813a0

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