INTRANASAL SENDAI VIRUS-VACCINE PROTECTS AFRICAN-GREEN MONKEYS FROM INFECTION WITH HUMAN PARAINFLUENZA VIRUS-TYPE ONE

Human paraininfluenza virus-type I (hPIV-1) infections are a common ca use of ''croup'' and hospitalizations among young children. Here we ad dress the possibility, of using the xenotropic Sendai virus [a mouse p arainfluenza virus (PIV)] as a vaccine for hPIV-1. Sendai virus was ad ministered to six African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) by, t he intranasal (i.n.) route. A long lasting virus-specific antibody, re sponse was elicited, both in the serum and nasal cavity. Sendai virus caused no apparent clinical symptoms in the primates, but live virus w as detected in the nasal cavity for several days after inoculation. No virus was detected after a second dose of Sendai virus was administer ed on day 126 after the initial priming. Animals were challenged with hPIV-1 i.n. on day 154. All six vaccinated animals were fully protecte d from infection while six of six control animals were infected with h PIV-1. The antibody responses induced by Sendai virus immunizations pr oved to be greater than those induced by hPIV-1. These results demonst rate that unmanipulated Sendai virus is art effective vaccine against hPIV-1 in a primate model and may constitute a practical vaccine for h uman use. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.