Short report: Antibody responses of mice immunized with a tetravalent dengue recombinant protein subunit vaccine

Recombinant proteins containing the B domain of dengue virus serotypes 1-4 fused to the maltose binding protein (MBP) of Escherichia coli were evaluated individually and as a tetravalent vaccine candidate in mice. Sera from mice immunized with monovalent DEN-MBP recombinant protein vaccines developed high titers of serotype homologous antibody in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the plaque-reduction neutralization test. Cross-reactive antibody titers were either several dilutions lower or not detectable. Sera from mice immunized with the tetravalent DEN subunit vaccine neutralized all 4 DEN viruses in the plaque-reduction neutralization test. The neutralizing antibody titers to each individual serotype were significantly greater than any cross-reactive neutralizing antibody titers induced by the monovalent vaccines, providing evidence that the tetravalent DEN recombinant subunit vaccine produced specific neutralizing antibody to all 4 serotypes of dengue virus.