The canarypox virus vector ALVAC induces distinct cytokine responses compared to the vaccinia virus-based vectors MVA and NYVAC in rhesus monkeys.

Despite the growing use of poxvirus vectors as vaccine candidates for multiple pathogens and cancers, their innate stimulatory properties remain poorly characterized. Here we show that the canarypox virus-based vector ALVAC induced distinct systemic proinflammatory and antiviral cytokine and chemokine levels following the vaccination of rhesus monkeys compared to the vaccinia virus-based vectors MVA and NYVAC. These data suggest that there are substantial biological differences among leading poxvirus vaccine vectors that may influence resultant adaptive immune responses following vaccination.