A chikungunya virus-like particle vaccine induces broadly neutralizing and protective antibodies against alphaviruses in humans

Sci Transl Med. 2023 May 17;15(696):eade8273. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ade8273. Epub 2023 May 17.

Abstract

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that causes epidemics of acute and chronic musculoskeletal disease. Here, we analyzed the human B cell response to a CHIKV-like particle-adjuvanted vaccine (PXVX0317) from samples obtained from a phase 2 clinical trial in humans (NCT03483961). Immunization with PXVX0317 induced high levels of neutralizing antibody in serum against CHIKV and circulating antigen-specific B cells up to 6 months after immunization. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generated from peripheral blood B cells of three PXVX0317-vaccinated individuals on day 57 after immunization potently neutralized CHIKV infection, and a subset of these inhibited multiple related arthritogenic alphaviruses. Epitope mapping and cryo-electron microscopy defined two broadly neutralizing mAbs that uniquely bind to the apex of the B domain of the E2 glycoprotein. These results demonstrate the inhibitory breadth and activity of the human B cell response induced by the PXVX0317 vaccine against CHIKV and potentially other related alphaviruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Chikungunya Fever* / prevention & control
  • Chikungunya virus* / physiology
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Humans
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle*

Substances

  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal