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Cooper CL, Morrow G, Yuan M, Coleman JW, Hou F, Reiserova L, Li SL, Wagner D, Carpov A, Wallace-Selman O, Valentin K, Choi Y, Wilson A, Kilianski A, Sayeed E, Agans KN, Borisevich V, Cross RW, Geisbert TW, Feinberg MB, Gupta SB, Parks CL. Nonhuman Primates Are Protected against Marburg Virus Disease by Vaccination with a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vector-Based Vaccine Prepared under Conditions to Allow Advancement to Human Clinical Trials. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1582. [PMID: 36298451 PMCID: PMC9610558 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are needed to disrupt or prevent continued outbreaks of filoviruses in humans across Western and Central Africa, including outbreaks of Marburg virus (MARV). As part of a filovirus vaccine product development plan, it is important to investigate dose response early in preclinical development to identify the dose range that may be optimal for safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy, and perhaps demonstrate that using lower doses is feasible, which will improve product access. To determine the efficacious dose range for a manufacturing-ready live recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine vector (rVSV∆G-MARV-GP) encoding the MARV glycoprotein (GP), a dose-range study was conducted in cynomolgus macaques. Results showed that a single intramuscular injection with as little as 200 plaque-forming units (PFUs) was 100% efficacious against lethality and prevented development of viremia and clinical pathologies associated with MARV Angola infection. Across the vaccine doses tested, there was nearly a 2000-fold range of anti-MARV glycoprotein (GP) serum IgG titers with seroconversion detectable even at the lowest doses. Virus-neutralizing serum antibodies also were detected in animals vaccinated with the higher vaccine doses indicating that vaccination induced functional antibodies, but that the assay was a less sensitive indicator of seroconversion. Collectively, the data indicates that a relatively wide range of anti-GP serum IgG titers are observed in animals that are protected from disease implying that seroconversion is positively associated with efficacy, but that more extensive immunologic analyses on samples collected from our study as well as future preclinical studies will be valuable in identifying additional immune responses correlated with protection that can serve as markers to monitor in human trials needed to generate data that can support vaccine licensure in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Krystle N. Agans
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Viktoriya Borisevich
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Robert W. Cross
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Thomas W. Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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2
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Espeseth AS, Yuan M, Citron M, Reiserova L, Morrow G, Wilson A, Horton M, Rukhman M, Kinek K, Hou F, Li SL, Li F, Choi Y, Heidecker G, Luo B, Wu G, Zhang L, Strable E, DeStefano J, Secore S, Mukhopadhyay TK, Richardson DD, Sayeed E, Welch LS, Bett AJ, Feinberg MB, Gupta SB, Cooper CL, Parks CL. Preclinical immunogenicity and efficacy of a candidate COVID-19 vaccine based on a vesicular stomatitis virus-SARS-CoV-2 chimera. EBioMedicine 2022; 82:104203. [PMID: 35915046 PMCID: PMC9338221 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To investigate a vaccine technology with potential to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and reduce transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with a single vaccine dose, we developed a SARS-CoV-2 candidate vaccine using the live vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) chimeric virus approach previously used to develop a licensed Ebola virus vaccine. Methods We generated a replication-competent chimeric VSV-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate by replacing the VSV glycoprotein (G) gene with coding sequence for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein (S). Immunogenicity of the lead vaccine candidate (VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2) was evaluated in cotton rats and golden Syrian hamsters, and protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection also was assessed in hamsters. Findings VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2 delivered with a single intramuscular (IM) injection was immunogenic in cotton rats and hamsters and protected hamsters from weight loss following SARS-CoV-2 challenge. When mucosal vaccination was evaluated, cotton rats did not respond to the vaccine, whereas mucosal administration of VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2 was found to be more immunogenic than IM injection in hamsters and induced immunity that significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 challenge virus loads in both lung and nasal tissues. Interpretation VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2 delivered by IM injection or mucosal administration was immunogenic in golden Syrian hamsters, and both vaccination methods effectively protected the lung from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Hamsters vaccinated by mucosal application of VSV∆G-SARS-CoV-2 also developed immunity that controlled SARS-CoV-2 replication in nasal tissue. Funding The study was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme, Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, and The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA. Parts of this research was supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the US Department of Defense.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maoli Yuan
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Lucia Reiserova
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | - Gavin Morrow
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | - Aaron Wilson
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Mark Rukhman
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Fuxiang Hou
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | - Shui L Li
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Yesle Choi
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | - Bin Luo
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Guoxin Wu
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lan Zhang
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Joanne DeStefano
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | - Eddy Sayeed
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA
| | - Lisa S Welch
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA; Currently at Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Mark B Feinberg
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA
| | - Swati B Gupta
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), New York, USA
| | - Christopher L Cooper
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA
| | - Christopher L Parks
- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc. (IAVI), Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, New York, USA.
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3
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Rudge TL, Machesky NJ, Sankovich KA, Lemmon EE, Badorrek CS, Overman R, Niemuth NA, Anderson MS. Assays for the Evaluation of the Immune Response to Marburg and Ebola Sudan Vaccination-Filovirus Animal Nonclinical Group Anti-Marburg Virus Glycoprotein Immunoglobulin G Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and a Pseudovirion Neutralization Assay. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1211. [PMID: 36016099 PMCID: PMC9413256 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10081211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of the Marburg virus (MARV) in 1967 and Ebola virus (EBOV) in 1976, there have been over 40 reported outbreaks of filovirus disease with case fatality rates greater than 50%. This underscores the need for efficacious vaccines against these highly pathogenic filoviruses. Due to the sporadic and unpredictable nature of filovirus outbreaks, such a vaccine would likely need to be vetted through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following the Animal Rule or similar European Medicines Agency (EMA) regulatory pathway. Under the FDA Animal Rule, vaccine-induced immune responses correlating with survival of non-human primates (NHPs), or another well-characterized animal model, following lethal challenge, will need to be bridged for human immune response distributions in clinical trials. A correlate of protection has not yet been identified for the filovirus disease, but antibodies, specifically anti-glycoprotein (GP) antibodies, are believed to be critical in providing protection against the filovirus disease following vaccination and are thus a strong candidate for a correlate of protection. Thus, species-neutral methods capable of the detection and bridging of these antibody immune responses, such as methods to quantify anti-GP immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies, are needed. Reported here is the development and qualification of two Filovirus Animal Nonclinical Group (FANG) anti-GP IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) to quantify anti-MARV and anti-Sudan virus (SUDV) IgG antibodies in human and NHP serum samples, as well as the development of pseudovirion neutralization assays (PsVNAs) to quantify MARV- and SUDV-neutralizing antibodies in human and NHP serum samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L. Rudge
- Battelle, West Jefferson, OH 43162, USA; (N.J.M.); (K.A.S.); (E.E.L.); (N.A.N.); (M.S.A.)
| | - Nicholas J. Machesky
- Battelle, West Jefferson, OH 43162, USA; (N.J.M.); (K.A.S.); (E.E.L.); (N.A.N.); (M.S.A.)
| | - Karen A. Sankovich
- Battelle, West Jefferson, OH 43162, USA; (N.J.M.); (K.A.S.); (E.E.L.); (N.A.N.); (M.S.A.)
| | - Erin E. Lemmon
- Battelle, West Jefferson, OH 43162, USA; (N.J.M.); (K.A.S.); (E.E.L.); (N.A.N.); (M.S.A.)
| | - Christopher S. Badorrek
- Contract Support for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPM CBRN Medical), Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA;
| | - Rachel Overman
- U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPM CBRN Medical), Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA;
| | - Nancy A. Niemuth
- Battelle, West Jefferson, OH 43162, USA; (N.J.M.); (K.A.S.); (E.E.L.); (N.A.N.); (M.S.A.)
| | - Michael S. Anderson
- Battelle, West Jefferson, OH 43162, USA; (N.J.M.); (K.A.S.); (E.E.L.); (N.A.N.); (M.S.A.)
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4
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Malherbe DC, Domi A, Hauser MJ, Atyeo C, Fischinger S, Hyde MA, Williams JM, Alter G, Guirakhoo F, Bukreyev A. A single immunization with a modified vaccinia Ankara vectored vaccine producing Sudan virus-like particles protects from lethal infection. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:83. [PMID: 35879311 PMCID: PMC9314403 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00512-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A new vectored vaccine MVA-VLP-SUDV was generated against Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV) combining the advantages of the immunogenicity of a live attenuated vaccine vector (Modified Vaccinia Ankara, MVA) with the authentic conformation of virus-like particles (VLPs). The vaccine expresses minimal components to generate self-assembling VLPs in the vaccinee: the envelope glycoprotein GP and the matrix protein VP40. Guinea pigs vaccinated with one dose of MVA-VLP-SUDV generated SUDV-specific binding and neutralizing antibody responses as well as Fc-mediated protective effects. These responses were boosted by a second vaccine dose. All vaccinated animals which received either one or two vaccine doses were protected from death and disease symptoms following challenge with a lethal dose of SUDV. These data demonstrate single dose protection and potency of the MVA-VLP platform for use in emergency situations to contain outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine C Malherbe
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Galveston National Laboratory, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | | | - Caroline Atyeo
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Alexander Bukreyev
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Galveston National Laboratory, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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Natural History of Sudan ebolavirus to Support Medical Countermeasure Development. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10060963. [PMID: 35746571 PMCID: PMC9228702 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV) is one of four members of the Ebolavirus genus known to cause Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in humans, which is characterized by hemorrhagic fever and a high case fatality rate. While licensed therapeutics and vaccines are available in limited number to treat infections of Zaire ebolavirus, there are currently no effective licensed vaccines or therapeutics for SUDV. A well-characterized animal model of this disease is needed for the further development and testing of vaccines and therapeutics. In this study, twelve cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) were challenged intramuscularly with 1000 PFUs of SUDV and were followed under continuous telemetric surveillance. Clinical observations, body weights, temperature, viremia, hematology, clinical chemistry, and coagulation were analyzed at timepoints throughout the study. Death from SUDV disease occurred between five and ten days after challenge at the point that each animal met the criteria for euthanasia. All animals were observed to exhibit clinical signs and lesions similar to those observed in human cases which included: viremia, fever, dehydration, reduced physical activity, macular skin rash, systemic inflammation, coagulopathy, lymphoid depletion, renal tubular necrosis, hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis. The results from this study will facilitate the future preclinical development and evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics for SUDV.
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Wolfe DN, Sabourin CL, Merchlinsky MJ, Florence WC, Wolfraim LA, Taylor KL, Ward LA. Selection of Filovirus Isolates for Vaccine Development Programs. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9091045. [PMID: 34579282 PMCID: PMC8471873 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9091045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The continuing outbreaks of ebola virus disease highlight the ongoing threat posed by filoviruses. Fortunately, licensed vaccines and therapeutics are now available for Zaire ebolavirus. However, effective medical countermeasures, such as vaccines for other filoviruses such as Sudan ebolavirus and the Marburg virus, are presently in early stages of development and, in the absence of a large outbreak, would require regulatory approval via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Animal Rule. The selection of an appropriate animal model and virus challenge isolates for nonclinical studies are critical aspects of the development program. Here, we have focused on the recommendation of challenge isolates for Sudan ebolavirus and Marburg virus. Based on analyses led by the Filovirus Animal and Nonclinical Group (FANG) and considerations for strain selection under the FDA Guidance for the Animal Rule, we propose prototype virus isolates for use in nonclinical challenge studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N. Wolfe
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Washington, DC 20201, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(202)-205-8968
| | - Carol L. Sabourin
- Tunnell Government Services, Inc., Supporting Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA), Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Washington, DC 20201, USA;
| | - Michael J. Merchlinsky
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Washington, DC 20201, USA;
| | - William C. Florence
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Rockville, MD 20852, USA; (W.C.F.); (L.A.W.); (K.L.T.)
| | - Larry A. Wolfraim
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Rockville, MD 20852, USA; (W.C.F.); (L.A.W.); (K.L.T.)
| | - Kimberly L. Taylor
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Rockville, MD 20852, USA; (W.C.F.); (L.A.W.); (K.L.T.)
| | - Lucy A. Ward
- U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPM CBRN Medical), Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA;
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7
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Vangelista L, Secchi M. Prepare for the Future: Dissecting the Spike to Seek Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies and Universal Vaccine for Pandemic Coronaviruses. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:226. [PMID: 33033717 PMCID: PMC7490329 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Learning from the lengthy fight against HIV-1, influenza, and Ebola virus infection, broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), directed at conserved regions of surface proteins crucial to virus entry (Env, hemagglutinin, and GP, respectively), are an essential resource for passive as well as active immunization. Rare in their emergence and antigen recognition mode, bnAbs are active toward a large set of different viral strains. Isolation, characterization and production of bnAbs lead to their possible use in passive immunotherapy and form the basis for an educated effort in the development of vaccines for universal coverage. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies targeting the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) may lead to antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection, possibly hampering the field of vaccine development. This perspective points to the identification of conserved regions in the spike of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV through investigation, dissection and recombinant production of isolated moieties. These spike moieties should be capable of independent folding and allow the detection as well as the elicitation of bnAbs, thus setting the basis for an effective passive immunotherapy and the development of a universal vaccine against human epidemic coronaviruses (HCoVs). SARS, MERS and, most of all, COVID-19 demonstrate that humanity is the target of HCoV, preparedness for future hits is thus no longer an option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Vangelista
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
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