Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 16;13:845887.
Petra Mooij, Juan García-Arriaza, Patricia Pérez, 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, Dolores Montenegro, Eugenia Puentes, Esteban Rodríguez, Willy M J M Bogers, Gerrit Koopman, Mariano Esteban
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.
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.845887