Repurposing the oncolytic virus VSV∆51M as a COVID-19 vaccine

• Published in: Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology Vol. 11; p. 1150892
• Main Authors: Alkayyal, Almohanad A, Darwish, Manar, Ajina, Reham, Alabbas, Saleh Y, Alotaibi, Mohammed A, Alsofyani, Abeer, Bokhamseen, Maha, Hakami, Maumonah, Albaradie, Omar A, Moglan, Abdulaziz M, Hala, Sharif, Alsahafi, Abdullah Faisal, Zakri, Samer, Almuzaini, Adnan, Alsharari, Khamis, Kaboha, Feras, Taher, Mustafa Y, Zein, Haggag S, Alroqi, Fayhan, Mahmoud, Ahmad Bakur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 17.07.2023
• Subjects: Bioengineering and Biotechnology; COVID-19 pandemic; oncolytic virus; repurposing oncolytic virus; SARS-CoV2 vaccine; VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine; SARS-CoV2 vaccine; COVID-19 pandemic; VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine; repurposing oncolytic virus; oncolytic virus
• ISSN: 2296-4185; 2296-4185
• DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1150892

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposes an urgent and continued need for the development of safe and cost-effective vaccines to induce preventive responses for limiting major outbreaks around the world. To combat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we repurposed the VSV∆51M oncolytic virus platform to express the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigen. In this study, we report the development and characterization of the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine. Our findings demonstrate successful expression of the RBD gene by the VSV∆51M-RBD virus, inducing anti-RBD responses without attenuating the virus. Moreover, the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine exhibited safety, immunogenicity, and the potential to serve as a safe and effective alternative or complementary platform to current COVID-19 vaccines.