Oral Immunization with rVSV Bivalent Vaccine Elicits Protective Immune Responses, Including ADCC, against Both SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A Viruses
Maggie Jing Ouyang,
Zhujun Ao,
Titus A. Olukitibi,
Peter Lawrynuik,
Christopher Shieh,
Sam K. P. Kung,
Keith R. Fowke,
Darwyn Kobasa,
Xiaojian Yao
Affiliations
Maggie Jing Ouyang
Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 508-745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
Zhujun Ao
Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 508-745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
Titus A. Olukitibi
Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 508-745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
Peter Lawrynuik
Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 508-745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
Christopher Shieh
Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 508-745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
Sam K. P. Kung
Department of Immunology, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
Keith R. Fowke
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
Darwyn Kobasa
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
Xiaojian Yao
Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 508-745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
COVID-19 and influenza both cause enormous disease burdens, and vaccines are the primary measures for their control. Since these viral diseases are transmitted through the mucosal surface of the respiratory tract, developing an effective and convenient mucosal vaccine should be a high priority. We previously reported a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV)-based bivalent vaccine (v-EM2/SPΔC1Delta) that protects animals from both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses via intramuscular and intranasal immunization. Here, we further investigated the immune response induced by oral immunization with this vaccine and its protective efficacy in mice. The results demonstrated that the oral delivery, like the intranasal route, elicited strong and protective systemic immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus. This included high levels of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2, as well as strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SP) antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and anti-influenza M2 ADCC responses in mice sera. Furthermore, it provided efficient protection against challenge with influenza H1N1 virus in a mouse model, with a 100% survival rate and a significantly low lung viral load of influenza virus. All these findings provide substantial evidence for the effectiveness of oral immunization with the rVSV bivalent vaccine.