Immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 in male Syrian hamsters

Rafael R G Machado; Jordyn L Walker; Dionna Scharton; Grace H Rafael; Brooke M Mitchell; Rachel A Reyna; William M de Souza; Jianying Liu; David H Walker; Jessica A Plante; Kenneth S Plante; Scott C Weaver

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-40033-2

Immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 in male Syrian hamsters

Nat Commun. 2023 Jul 17;14(1):4260. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40033-2.

Authors

Rafael R G Machado^{1

2}, Jordyn L Walker^{1

3}, Dionna Scharton^{1

3}, Grace H Rafael¹, Brooke M Mitchell^{1

3}, Rachel A Reyna^{1

4}, William M de Souza¹, Jianying Liu¹, David H Walker^{4

5

6}, Jessica A Plante^{1

3}, Kenneth S Plante^{7

8

9}, Scott C Weaver^{10

11

12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
² Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508000, Brazil.
³ World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
⁴ Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
⁵ Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
⁶ Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
⁷ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA. ksplante@utmb.edu.
⁸ World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA. ksplante@utmb.edu.
⁹ Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA. ksplante@utmb.edu.
¹⁰ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA. sweaver@utmb.edu.
¹¹ World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA. sweaver@utmb.edu.
¹² Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA. sweaver@utmb.edu.
¹³ Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA. sweaver@utmb.edu.

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 rapidly spread worldwide and replaced BA.1/BA.2 in many countries, becoming globally dominant. BA.5 has unique amino acid substitutions in the spike protein that both mediate immune escape from neutralizing antibodies produced by immunizations and increase ACE2 receptor binding affinity. In a comprehensive, long-term (up to 9 months post primary vaccination), experimental vaccination study using male Syrian hamsters, we evaluate neutralizing antibody responses and efficacy against BA.5 challenge after primary vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) followed by a homologous or heterologous booster with mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax). Notably, one high or low dose of Ad26.COV2.S provides more durable immunity than two primary doses of BNT162b2, and the NVX-CoV2373 booster provides the strongest augmentation of immunity, reduction in BA.5 viral replication, and disease. Our data demonstrate the immunogenicity and efficacy of different prime/boost vaccine regimens against BA.5 infection in an immune-competent model and provide new insights regarding COVID-19 vaccine strategies.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Ad26COVS1
Animals
Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral
BNT162 Vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Cricetinae
Humans
Male
Mesocricetus
SARS-CoV-2
Vaccines*

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines
Ad26COVS1
BNT162 Vaccine
Vaccines
Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding