What Is a Chimera Vaccine?

A chimera vaccine is created by combining two similar viruses into one. In the development of PreveNile™, a WN-YF chimera vaccine, the structural genes of the attenuated human yellow fever (YF-17D) vaccine were replaced with the structural genes of the West Nile virus. The result is a WN-YF chimera vaccine that expresses the PreMembrane and Envelope proteins of WNV that stimulate a protective immune response in the horse.

PreveNile is the first and only equine vaccine that uses chimera technology. The combination of two things – like wings of a bird and the body of a horse – is a visual definition of chimera.

PreveNile is a combination of two similar flaviviruses. Because they are so similar, they help your horse generate a very powerful immune response. PreveNile stimulates two types of immunity (humoral & cell-mediated) for strong, long-lasting protection with a single dose.

It’s important to note that both components of the WN-YF chimera vaccine have been modified so they cannot produce the actual disease.