Abstract
Second-generation COVID-19 vaccines could contribute to establish protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants. We developed COH04S1, a synthetic multiantigen Modified Vaccinia Ankara-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that co-expresses spike and nucleocapsid antigens. Here, we report COH04S1 vaccine efficacy in animal models. We demonstrate that intramuscular or intranasal vaccination of Syrian hamsters with COH04S1 induces robust Th1-biased antigen-specific humoral immunity and cross-neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and protects against weight loss, lower respiratory tract infection, and lung injury following intranasal SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Moreover, we demonstrate that single-dose or two-dose vaccination of non-human primates with COH04S1 induces robust antigen-specific binding antibodies, NAb, and Th1-biased T cells, protects against both upper and lower respiratory tract infection following intranasal/intratracheal SARS-CoV-2 challenge, and triggers potent post-challenge anamnestic antiviral responses. These results demonstrate COH04S1-mediated vaccine protection in animal models through different vaccination routes and dose regimens, complementing ongoing investigation of this multiantigen SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in clinical trials.
Competing Interest Statement
Funds were allocated to Don J. Diamond by the City of Hope (COH) for research that resulted in the development of COH04S1, the multi-antigenic SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using a synthetic poxvirus platform that is discussed in this publication. While unknown whether publication of this report will aid in receiving grants and contracts, it is possible that this publication will be of benefit to COH. Don J. Diamond is a co-inventor on two patent applications that were submitted by COH to the USPTO. One patent application (PCT/US2021/016247) covers the design and construction of the synthetic MVA platform, and another patent application (PCT/US2021/032821) covers the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Felix Wussow is a co-inventor of the same two PCT applications that apply to Don J. Diamond. Flavia Chiuppesi is a co-inventor of the PCT application that covers the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. All remaining authors that have not been referenced above have no competing interests.
Footnotes
↵* These authors jointly supervised this work