Preclinical toxicity and efficacy testing of RiVax, a recombinant protein vaccine against ricin

Joan E. Smallshaw, James A. Richardson, Seth Pincus, John Schindler, Ellen S. Vitetta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ricin toxin is a plant-derived ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) of extraordinary toxicity. Vaccination using ricin toxoid or its A chain (RTA) is protective in animals but both vaccines have two potential toxicities, RIP and vascular leak syndrome (VLS). Previously we described three recombinant RTA constructs from which both toxicities were eliminated by site-specific mutations. One mutant, V76M/Y80A, RiVax, has now been further characterized for immunogenicity and toxicity in animals. We have found that RiVax is safe at doses of at least 8 mg in mice, 800-fold higher than the protective dose, and induces neutralizing antibodies in both mice and rabbits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4775-4784
Number of pages10
JournalVaccine
Volume23
Issue number39
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2005

Keywords

  • Bioterrorism
  • RiVax
  • Ricin
  • Vaccine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Veterinary
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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