Novel vaccine against Venezuelan equine encephalitis combines advantages of DNA immunization and a live attenuated vaccine

► Novel iDNA platform was used for vaccination against VEEV alphavirus. ► Less than 10 ng of pTC83 iDNA initiated replication of the vaccine virus in vitro. ► BALB/c mice vaccinated with a single dose of pTC83 iDNA have seroconverted. ► After challenge with VEEV, all pTC-83-vaccinated mice were protected. ► Proposed platform allows conversion of live attenuated virus into DNA vaccine.