CpG used as an adjuvant for an adenovirus-based Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vaccine increases the immune response to the vector, but not to the transgene product.

An adenovirus-based (ad-based) vaccine delivering antigens from the Alphavirus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a strategy that offers clinical potential. A vaccine against VEEV is desirable because of the re-emerging nature of this virus, and also the potential that it may be used as a biological weapon. This study was designed to investigate whether the co-administration of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) with an ad-based VEEV vaccine could enhance the protective efficacy of the vaccine. We report that the co-administration of CpG ODN was unable to increase VEEV-specific antibody responses in mice, and was unable to increase the protective efficacy of the vaccine against aerosol challenge with virulent VEEV. However, it was noted that antibody responses directed against the adenovirus vaccine vector were increased, which may be detrimental, particularly in the context of homologous boosting.