Replication-competent or attenuated, nonpropagating vesicular stomatitis viruses expressing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigens protect mice against RSV challenge

Foreign glycoproteins expressed in recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus ( VSV) can elicit specific and protective immunity in the mouse model. We hav e previously demonstrated the expression of respiratory syncytial virus (RS V) G (attachment) and F (fusion) glycoprotein genes in recombinant VSV. In this study, we demonstrate the expression of RSV F and G glycoproteins in a ttenuated, nonpropagating VSVs which lack the VSV G gene (VSV DeltaG) and t he incorporation of these RSV proteins into recombinant virions. We also sh ow that intranasal vaccination of mice with nondefective VSV recombinants e xpressing RSV G (VSV-RSV G) or RSV F (VSV-RSV F) elicited RSV-specific anti bodies in serum (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) as well as n eutralizing antibodies to RSV and afford complete protection against RSV ch allenge. In contrast, VSV DeltaG-RSV F induced detectable serum antibodies to RSV by ELISA, but no detectable neutralizing antibodies, yet it still pr otected from RSV challenge. VSV DeltaG-RSV G failed to induce any detectabl e serum (by ELISA) or neutralizing antibodies and failed to protect from RS V challenge. The attenuated, nonpropagating VSV DeltaG-RSV F is a particula rly attractive candidate for a live attenuated recombinant RSV vaccine.