Frontiers in Immunology (Mar 2022)
Poxvirus MVA Expressing SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Induces Robust Immunity and Protects Rhesus Macaques From SARS-CoV-2
- Petra Mooij,
- Juan García-Arriaza,
- Juan García-Arriaza,
- Patricia Pérez,
- Patricia Pérez,
- Adrian Lázaro-Frías,
- Adrian Lázaro-Frías,
- Babs E. Verstrepen,
- Kinga P. Böszörményi,
- Daniella Mortier,
- Zahra Fagrouch,
- Gwendoline Kiemenyi-Kayere,
- Henk Niphuis,
- Roja Fidel Acar,
- Lisette Meijer,
- Marieke A. Stammes,
- Ivanela Kondova,
- Ernst J. Verschoor,
- Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel,
- Erwin de Bruin,
- Reina S. Sikkema,
- Joanna Luczkowiak,
- Rafael Delgado,
- Rafael Delgado,
- Dolores Montenegro,
- Eugenia Puentes,
- Esteban Rodríguez,
- Willy M. J. M. Bogers,
- Gerrit Koopman,
- Mariano Esteban
Affiliations
- Petra Mooij
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Juan García-Arriaza
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Juan García-Arriaza
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
- Patricia Pérez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Patricia Pérez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
- Adrian Lázaro-Frías
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Adrian Lázaro-Frías
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
- Babs E. Verstrepen
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Kinga P. Böszörményi
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Daniella Mortier
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Zahra Fagrouch
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Gwendoline Kiemenyi-Kayere
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Henk Niphuis
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Roja Fidel Acar
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Lisette Meijer
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Marieke A. Stammes
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Ivanela Kondova
- Animal Science Department, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Ernst J. Verschoor
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erwin de Bruin
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Reina S. Sikkema
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Joanna Luczkowiak
- Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- Rafael Delgado
- Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- Rafael Delgado
- Department of Medicine, Universidad Complutense School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain
- Dolores Montenegro
- Biofabri, O Porriño, Spain
- Eugenia Puentes
- Biofabri, O Porriño, Spain
- Esteban Rodríguez
- Biofabri, O Porriño, Spain
- Willy M. J. M. Bogers
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Gerrit Koopman
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, Netherlands
- Mariano Esteban
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.845887
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 13
Abstract
Novel safe, immunogenic, and effective vaccines are needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2. Here, we describe the safety, robust immunogenicity, and potent efficacy elicited in rhesus macaques by a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector expressing a full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein (MVA-S). MVA-S vaccination was well tolerated and induced S and receptor-binding domain (RBD)-binding IgG antibodies and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and several variants of concern. S-specific IFNγ, but not IL-4, -producing cells were also elicited. After SARS-CoV-2 challenge, vaccinated animals showed a significant strong reduction of virus loads in bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and decreased levels in throat and nasal mucosa. Remarkably, MVA-S also protected macaques from fever and infection-induced cytokine storm. Computed tomography and histological examination of the lungs showed reduced lung pathology in MVA-S-vaccinated animals. These findings favor the use of MVA-S as a potential vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 in clinical trials.
Keywords
