A single dose of recombinant VSV-∆G-spike vaccine provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 imposes an urgent need for rapid development of an efficient and cost-effective vaccine, suitable for mass immunization. Here, we show the development of a replication competent recombinant VSV-∆G-spike vaccine, in which the glycoprotein of VSV is replaced by the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. In-vitro characterization of this vaccine indicates the expression and presentation of the spike protein on the viral membrane with antigenic similarity to SARS-CoV-2. A golden Syrian hamster in-vivo model for COVID-19 is implemented. We show that a single-dose vaccination results in a rapid and potent induction of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. Importantly, vaccination protects hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, as demonstrated by the abrogation of body weight loss, and  alleviation of the extensive tissue damage and viral loads in lungs and nasal turbinates. Taken together, we suggest the recombinant VSV-∆G-spike as a safe, efficacious and protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

• Authors: Yfat Yahalom-Ronen, Hadas Tamir, Sharon Melamed, Boaz Politi, Ohad Shifman, Hagit Achdout, Einat B Vitner, Ofir Israeli, Elad Milrot, Dana Stein, Inbar Cohen-Gihon, Shlomi Lazar, Hila Gutman, Itai Glinert, Lilach Cherry, Yaron Vagima, Shirley Lazar, Shay Weiss, Amir Ben-Shmuel, Roy Avraham, Reut Puni, Edith Lupu, Elad Bar-David, Assa Sittner, Noam Erez, Ran Zichel, Emanuelle Mamroud, Ohad Mazor, Haim Levy, Orly Laskar, Shmuel Yitzhaki, Shmuel C Shapira, Anat Zvi, Adi Beth-Din, Nir Paran, Tomer Israely
• Journal: Nature communications (Nat Commun) Vol. 11 Issue 1 Pg. 6402 (12 16 2020) ISSN: 2041-1723 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33328475 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Antigens, Viral
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
• Vaccines, Synthetic

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Viral (immunology)
• Antigens, Viral (immunology)
• Body Weight
• COVID-19 (immunology, prevention & control, virology)
• COVID-19 Vaccines (immunology)
• Cell Line
• Cricetinae
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
• Genome, Viral
• Lung (pathology, virology)
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mutation (genetics)
• SARS-CoV-2 (genetics, immunology)
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus (genetics, immunology, ultrastructure)
• Vaccination
• Vaccines, Synthetic (immunology)
• Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus (immunology)
• Viral Load