Protective Immune Responses Induced by an mRNA-LNP Vaccine Encoding prM-E Proteins against Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection

Tao Chen; Shuo Zhu; Ning Wei; Zikai Zhao; Junjun Niu; Youhui Si; Shengbo Cao; Jing Ye

doi:10.3390/v14061121

Protective Immune Responses Induced by an mRNA-LNP Vaccine Encoding prM-E Proteins against Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection

Viruses. 2022 May 24;14(6):1121. doi: 10.3390/v14061121.

Authors

Tao Chen^{1

2

3}, Shuo Zhu^{1

2

3}, Ning Wei^{1

2

3}, Zikai Zhao^{1

2

3}, Junjun Niu^{1

2

3}, Youhui Si^{1

2

3}, Shengbo Cao^{1

2

3}, Jing Ye^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
² Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
³ The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is an important zoonotic pathogen, which causes central nervous system symptoms in humans and reproductive disorders in swine. It has led to severe impacts on human health and the swine industry; however, there is no medicine available for treating yet. Therefore, vaccination is the best preventive measure for this disease. In the study, a modified mRNA vaccine expressing the prM and E proteins of the JEV P3 strain was manufactured, and a mouse model was used to assess its efficacy. The mRNA encoding prM and E proteins showed a high level of protein expression in vitro and were encapsulated into a lipid nanoparticle (LNP). Effective neutralizing antibodies and CD8+ T-lymphocytes-mediated immune responses were observed in vaccinated mice. Furthermore, the modified mRNA can protect mice from a lethal challenge with JEV and reduce neuroinflammation caused by JEV. This study provides a new option for the JE vaccine and lays a foundation for the subsequent development of a more efficient and safer JEV mRNA vaccine.

Keywords: Japanese encephalitis virus; immunogenicity; mRNA vaccine; prM-E protein.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibodies, Viral
Encephalitis Virus, Japanese* / genetics
Encephalitis, Japanese*
Immunity
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines* / genetics
Liposomes
Mice
Nanoparticles
RNA, Messenger / genetics
Swine
Vaccines, Synthetic
mRNA Vaccines

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines
Lipid Nanoparticles
Liposomes
RNA, Messenger
Vaccines, Synthetic
mRNA Vaccines

Grants and funding

The study was supported by The National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFC2600200), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31825025, 32022082, 32030107 and 31972721) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2021CFA056).