1
|
Kurup D, Malherbe DC, Wirblich C, Lambert R, Ronk AJ, Zabihi Diba L, Bukreyev A, Schnell MJ. Inactivated rabies virus vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine prevents disease in a Syrian hamster model. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009383. [PMID: 33765062 PMCID: PMC8023494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emergent coronavirus that has caused a worldwide pandemic. Although human disease is often asymptomatic, some develop severe illnesses such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death. There is an urgent need for a vaccine to prevent its rapid spread as asymptomatic infections accounting for up to 40% of transmission events. Here we further evaluated an inactivated rabies vectored SARS-CoV-2 S1 vaccine CORAVAX in a Syrian hamster model. CORAVAX adjuvanted with MPLA-AddaVax, a TRL4 agonist, induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies and generated a strong Th1-biased immune response. Vaccinated hamsters were protected from weight loss and viral replication in the lungs and nasal turbinates three days after challenge with SARS-CoV-2. CORAVAX also prevented lung disease, as indicated by the significant reduction in lung pathology. This study highlights CORAVAX as a safe, immunogenic, and efficacious vaccine that warrants further assessment in human trials. We have developed an inactivated rabies virus vectored vaccine platform that has been used to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 (CORAVAX). CORAVAX induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Here we show that vaccinated hamsters, the best animal model for COVID-19, were protected against viral replication, indicating that this vaccine can stop transmission. CORAVAX also prevented lung disease. Rabies virus vaccines have been used in more than 100 million people worldwide, are safe and used in children and pregnant women. Therefore, it is anticipated that CORAVAX will generate robust immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 in humans that may also mimic the long-term protection seen in rabies vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Drishya Kurup
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Delphine C. Malherbe
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Galveston National Laboratory, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Christoph Wirblich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Rachael Lambert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Adam J. Ronk
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Galveston National Laboratory, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Leila Zabihi Diba
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alexander Bukreyev
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Galveston National Laboratory, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AB); (MJS)
| | - Matthias J. Schnell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Jefferson Vaccine Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AB); (MJS)
| |
Collapse
|