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Kulkarni R, Chen WC, Lee Y, Kao CF, Hu SL, Ma HH, Jan JT, Liao CC, Liang JJ, Ko HY, Sun CP, Lin YS, Wang YC, Wei SC, Lin YL, Ma C, Chao YC, Chou YC, Chang W. Vaccinia virus-based vaccines confer protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 virus in Syrian hamsters. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257191. [PMID: 34499677 PMCID: PMC8428573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 in humans is caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that belongs to the beta family of coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 causes severe respiratory illness in 10-15% of infected individuals and mortality in 2-3%. Vaccines are urgently needed to prevent infection and to contain viral spread. Although several mRNA- and adenovirus-based vaccines are highly effective, their dependence on the "cold chain" transportation makes global vaccination a difficult task. In this context, a stable lyophilized vaccine may present certain advantages. Accordingly, establishing additional vaccine platforms remains vital to tackle SARS-CoV-2 and any future variants that may arise. Vaccinia virus (VACV) has been used to eradicate smallpox disease, and several attenuated viral strains with enhanced safety for human applications have been developed. We have generated two candidate SARS-CoV-2 vaccines based on two vaccinia viral strains, MVA and v-NY, that express full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Whereas MVA is growth-restricted in mammalian cells, the v-NY strain is replication-competent. We demonstrate that both candidate recombinant vaccines induce high titers of neutralizing antibodies in C57BL/6 mice vaccinated according to prime-boost regimens. Furthermore, our vaccination regimens generated TH1-biased immune responses in mice. Most importantly, prime-boost vaccination of a Syrian hamster infection model with MVA-S and v-NY-S protected the hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 infection, supporting that these two vaccines are promising candidates for future development. Finally, our vaccination regimens generated neutralizing antibodies that partially cross-neutralized SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kulkarni
- Molecular and Cell Biology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, National Defense Medical Center, Academia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life Science, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ching Chen
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying Lee
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Fei Kao
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiu-Lok Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Hsiu-Hua Ma
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Tsrong Jan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Che Liao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Jong Liang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ying Ko
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Pu Sun
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yin-Shoiou Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chiuan Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Academi Sinica SPF Animal Facility, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Chan Wei
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Che Ma
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chan Chao
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chi Chou
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen Chang
- Molecular and Cell Biology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, National Defense Medical Center, Academia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life Science, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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