Modified vaccinia Ankara

Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) is a highly attenuated strain of the vaccinia virus that has been developed as a vaccine vector for its safety profile and potent immune responses it elicits.

History

MVA was initially developed in the 1960s at the University of Ankara, Turkey, by serial passage of vaccinia virus in chicken embryo fibroblasts. This resulted in a virus that is unable to replicate in most mammalian cells, but can still stimulate a strong immune response.

Characteristics

MVA is characterized by its inability to replicate in most mammalian cells, making it a safer alternative to other vaccinia strains. Despite this, it is still able to express foreign genes inserted into its genome, allowing it to be used as a vector for vaccines against various diseases.

Use in Vaccines

MVA has been used as a vector in a number of experimental vaccines, including those for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. It is also the basis for the smallpox vaccine currently stockpiled by the United States government.

Safety

Due to its inability to replicate in most mammalian cells, MVA is considered to be a very safe vaccine vector. It has been administered to thousands of individuals in clinical trials without serious adverse effects.

Future Directions

Research is ongoing to further improve the safety and efficacy of MVA-based vaccines. This includes efforts to increase the immunogenicity of MVA vectors and to develop methods for large-scale production.

See Also

• Vaccine
• Vaccinia
• Vaccine vector
• Attenuated vaccine

References

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