Molecular Therapy: Methods & Clinical Development (Dec 2021)

Immunological evaluation of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in rhesus macaques

  • Hongbo Chen,
  • Zhongping Xie,
  • Runxiang Long,
  • Shengtao Fan,
  • Heng Li,
  • Zhanlong He,
  • Kangwei Xu,
  • Yun Liao,
  • Lichun Wang,
  • Ying Zhang,
  • Xueqi Li,
  • Xingqi Dong,
  • Tangwei Mou,
  • Xiaofang Zhou,
  • Yaoyun Yang,
  • Lei Guo,
  • Jianbo Yang,
  • Huiwen Zheng,
  • Xingli Xu,
  • Jing Li,
  • Yan Liang,
  • Dandan Li,
  • Zhimei Zhao,
  • Chao Hong,
  • Heng Zhao,
  • Guorun Jiang,
  • Yanchun Che,
  • Fengmei Yang,
  • Yunguang Hu,
  • Xi Wang,
  • Jing Pu,
  • Kaili Ma,
  • Lin Wang,
  • Chen Cheng,
  • Weiguo Duan,
  • Dong Shen,
  • Hongling Zhao,
  • Ruiju Jiang,
  • Xinqiang Deng,
  • Yan Li,
  • Hailian Zhu,
  • Jian Zhou,
  • Li Yu,
  • Mingjue Xu,
  • Huijuan Yang,
  • Li Yi,
  • Zhenxin Zhou,
  • Jiafang Yang,
  • Nan Duan,
  • Huan Yang,
  • Wangli Zhao,
  • Wei Yang,
  • Changgui Li,
  • Longding Liu,
  • Qihan Li

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23
pp. 108 – 118

Abstract

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Because of the relatively limited understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis, immunological analysis for vaccine development is needed. Mice and macaques were immunized with an inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine prepared by two inactivators. Various immunological indexes were tested, and viral challenges were performed on day 7 or 150 after booster immunization in monkeys. This inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was produced by sequential inactivation with formaldehyde followed by propiolactone. The various antibody responses and specific T cell responses to different viral antigens elicited in immunized animals were maintained for longer than 150 days. This comprehensive immune response could effectively protect vaccinated macaques by inhibiting viral replication in macaques and substantially alleviating immunopathological damage, and no clinical manifestation of immunopathogenicity was observed in immunized individuals during viral challenge. This candidate inactivated vaccine was identified as being effective against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in rhesus macaques.

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