A Single Dose of the Deactivated Rabies-Virus Vectored COVID-19 Vaccine, CORAVAX, Is Highly Efficacious and Alleviates Lung Inflammation in the Hamster Model

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 14; no. 6; p. 1126
• Main Authors: Kurup, Drishya, Wirblich, Christoph, Zabihi Diba, Leila, Lambert, Rachael, Watson, Megan, Shaikh, Noor, Ramage, Holly, Solomides, Charalambos, Schnell, Matthias J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 24.05.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Antibodies; Antigens; Biotechnology industry; Cloning; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 vaccines; Cytokine storm; Cytokines; Disease transmission; efficacy; FDA approval; Genetic vectors; Herd immunity; Identification and classification; Immunogenicity; Infections; Inflammation; Kidneys; Laboratory animals; Lung diseases; lung inflammation; Membrane filters; Product development; protection; Proteins; Rabies; RNA polymerase; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; single dose; vaccine; Vaccines; Viruses; India; St Louis Missouri; United States > US
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v14061126

Without sufficient herd immunity through either vaccination or natural infection, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is unlikely to be controlled. Waning immunity with the currently approved vaccines suggests the need to evaluate vaccines causing the induction of long-term responses. Here, we report the immunogenicity and efficacy of our adjuvanted single-dose Rabies-vectored SARS-CoV-2 S1 vaccine, CORAVAX, in hamsters. CORAVAX induces high SARS-CoV-2 S1-specific and virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAs) that prevent weight loss, viral loads, disease, lung inflammation, and the cytokine storm in hamsters. We also observed high Rabies VNA titers. In summary, CORAVAX is a promising dual-antigen vaccine candidate for clinical evaluation against SARS-CoV-2 and Rabies virus.