RISK ASSESSMENT OF A VACCINIA VIRUS DOUBLE RECOMBINANT VACCINE FOR RINDERPEST

T. Yilma^a, L. Jones^b, F. Yoseph^c, and M.G. Yesus^b

^aInternational Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Tropical Disease Agents; Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, and the ^bNational Veterinary Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia.

SUMMARY

The goal of the project is to elucidate any risks associated with the use of vaccinia virus recombinants as live vaccines to non-target species and to the environment. The rapidly expanding epidemic of HIV, particularly in Africa and Asia, demands that live vaccines not pose a health threat to populations, with full cognizance that many individuals are already immunosuppressed by infectious diseases and nutritional deficiencies. In this study, we are currently investigating the i. genetic stability of the recombinant in vitro and in vivo, ii. alteration of virulence as a result of recombination with other poxviruses in vivo, iii. effects of the release of the recombinant on the environment, and iv. effects of the recombinant on non-target species. We feel that the results obtained from these studies will have application for the release of other live recombinant vaccines, particularly those employing vaccinia virus as a vector. The application of vaccinia virus as a vector is important in terms of disease eradication of such zoonotic diseases as rabies, human diseases such as AIDS, and other viral, bacterial and protozoal diseases of animals since these immunogens can be successfully presented in vaccinia virus vectors. These results will be of benefit for both human and veterinary medicine and will have direct applications in the possible release of recombinant vaccines currently being developed for veterinary medicine in the United States as well as around the world. Preliminary data obtained from the National Veterinary Institute of Ethiopia will be presented.