Development of a potent Zika virus vaccine using self-amplifying messenger RNA.

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is the cause of a pandemic associated with microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. Currently, there are no available treatments or vaccines for ZIKV, and the development of a safe and effective vaccine is a high priority for many global health organizations. We describe the development of ZIKV vaccine candidates using the self-amplifying messenger RNA (SAM) platform technology delivered by cationic nanoemulsion (CNE) that allows bedside mixing and is particularly useful for rapid responses to pandemic outbreaks. Two immunizations of either of the two lead SAM (CNE) vaccine candidates elicited potent neutralizing antibody responses to ZIKV in mice and nonhuman primates. Both SAM (CNE) vaccines protected these animals from ZIKV challenge, with one candidate providing complete protection against ZIKV infection in nonhuman primates. The data provide a preclinical proof of concept that a SAM (CNE) vaccine candidate can rapidly elicit protective immunity against ZIKV.

• Authors: Kate Luisi, Kaitlyn M Morabito, Katherine E Burgomaster, Mayuri Sharma, Wing-Pui Kong, Bryant M Foreman, Sonal Patel, Brian Fisher, Maya A Aleshnick, Jason Laliberte, Madison Wallace, Tracy J Ruckwardt, David N Gordon, Christine Linton, Nicole Ruggiero, Jessica L Cohen, Russell Johnson, Kunal Aggarwal, Sung-Youl Ko, Eun Sung Yang, Rebecca S Pelc, Kimberly A Dowd, Derek O'Hagan, Jeffrey Ulmer, Sally Mossman, Anna Sambor, Edith Lepine, John R Mascola, Theodore C Pierson, Barney S Graham, Dong Yu
• Journal: Science advances (Sci Adv) Vol. 6 Issue 32 Pg. eaba5068 (08 2020) ISSN: 2375-2548 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32821824 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• RNA, Messenger
• Viral Vaccines

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Viral
• Mice
• RNA, Messenger (genetics)
• Viral Vaccines
• Zika Virus (genetics)
• Zika Virus Infection (prevention & control)