Inactivated rabies virus vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine prevents disease in a Syrian hamster model

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 17; no. 3; p. e1009383
• Main Authors: Kurup, Drishya, Malherbe, Delphine C, Wirblich, Christoph, Lambert, Rachael, Ronk, Adam J, Zabihi Diba, Leila, Bukreyev, Alexander, Schnell, Matthias J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.03.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Binding sites; Biology and Life Sciences; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines - immunology; Disease Models, Animal; Ebola virus; Glycoproteins; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunogenicity; Immunoglobulin G; Lymphocytes T; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mesocricetus; mRNA vaccines; Prevention; Proteins; Rabies; Rabies virus - immunology; Research and Analysis Methods; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Storage temperature; Temperature requirements; Vaccination; Vaccines; Vectors (Biology); Viral diseases; Viral infections; Viruses; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 1553-7374; 1553-7366; 1553-7374
• DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PPAT.1009383

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.