npj Vaccines (Jul 2022)

A single immunization with a modified vaccinia Ankara vectored vaccine producing Sudan virus-like particles protects from lethal infection

  • Delphine C. Malherbe,
  • Arban Domi,
  • Mary J. Hauser,
  • Caroline Atyeo,
  • Stephanie Fischinger,
  • Matthew A. Hyde,
  • Julie M. Williams,
  • Galit Alter,
  • Farshad Guirakhoo,
  • Alexander Bukreyev

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-022-00512-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract A new vectored vaccine MVA-VLP-SUDV was generated against Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV) combining the advantages of the immunogenicity of a live attenuated vaccine vector (Modified Vaccinia Ankara, MVA) with the authentic conformation of virus-like particles (VLPs). The vaccine expresses minimal components to generate self-assembling VLPs in the vaccinee: the envelope glycoprotein GP and the matrix protein VP40. Guinea pigs vaccinated with one dose of MVA-VLP-SUDV generated SUDV-specific binding and neutralizing antibody responses as well as Fc-mediated protective effects. These responses were boosted by a second vaccine dose. All vaccinated animals which received either one or two vaccine doses were protected from death and disease symptoms following challenge with a lethal dose of SUDV. These data demonstrate single dose protection and potency of the MVA-VLP platform for use in emergency situations to contain outbreaks.