Inactivated rabies virus vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine prevents disease in a Syrian hamster model

PLoS Pathog. 2021 Mar 25;17(3):e1009383. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009383. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emergent coronavirus that has caused a worldwide pandemic. Although human disease is often asymptomatic, some develop severe illnesses such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death. There is an urgent need for a vaccine to prevent its rapid spread as asymptomatic infections accounting for up to 40% of transmission events. Here we further evaluated an inactivated rabies vectored SARS-CoV-2 S1 vaccine CORAVAX in a Syrian hamster model. CORAVAX adjuvanted with MPLA-AddaVax, a TRL4 agonist, induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies and generated a strong Th1-biased immune response. Vaccinated hamsters were protected from weight loss and viral replication in the lungs and nasal turbinates three days after challenge with SARS-CoV-2. CORAVAX also prevented lung disease, as indicated by the significant reduction in lung pathology. This study highlights CORAVAX as a safe, immunogenic, and efficacious vaccine that warrants further assessment in human trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / immunology*
  • COVID-19* / immunology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Mesocricetus
  • Rabies virus / immunology*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines

Grants and funding

This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development” and a grant from Bharat Biotech, India. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.