mRNA vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challenge
Abstract The recent outbreaks of mpox have raised concerns over the need for effective vaccines. However, the current approved vaccines have either been associated with safety concerns or are in limited supply. mRNA vaccines, which have shown high efficacy and safety against SARS-CoV-2 infection, ar...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41628-5 |
| _version_ | 1797558816297975808 |
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| author | Fujun Hou Yuntao Zhang Xiaohu Liu Yanal M Murad Jiang Xu Zhibin Yu Xianwu Hua Yingying Song Jun Ding Hongwei Huang Ronghua Zhao William Jia Xiaoming Yang |
| author_facet | Fujun Hou Yuntao Zhang Xiaohu Liu Yanal M Murad Jiang Xu Zhibin Yu Xianwu Hua Yingying Song Jun Ding Hongwei Huang Ronghua Zhao William Jia Xiaoming Yang |
| author_sort | Fujun Hou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The recent outbreaks of mpox have raised concerns over the need for effective vaccines. However, the current approved vaccines have either been associated with safety concerns or are in limited supply. mRNA vaccines, which have shown high efficacy and safety against SARS-CoV-2 infection, are a promising alternative. In this study, three mRNA vaccines are developed that encode monkeypox virus (MPXV) proteins A35R and M1R, including A35R extracellular domain -M1R fusions (VGPox 1 and VGPox 2) and a mixture of encapsulated full-length mRNAs for A35R and M1R (VGPox 3). All three vaccines induce early anti-A35R antibodies in female Balb/c mice, but only VGPox 1 and 2 generate detectable levels of anti-M1R antibodies at day 7 after vaccination. However, all three mRNA vaccine groups completely protect mice from a lethal dose of vaccinia virus (VACV) challenge. A single dose of VGPox 1, 2, and 3 provide protection against the lethal viral challenge within 7 days post-vaccination. Long-term immunity and protection were also observed in all three candidates. Additionally, VGPox 2 provided better passive protection. These results suggest that the VGPox series vaccines enhance immunogenicity and can be a viable alternative to current whole-virus vaccines to defend against mpox. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:35:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1ef86529e484fa7b1404a32b53e7fc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:35:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1ef86529e484fa7b1404a32b53e7fc62023-11-20T09:51:10ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-09-0114111010.1038/s41467-023-41628-5mRNA vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challengeFujun Hou0Yuntao Zhang1Xiaohu Liu2Yanal M Murad3Jiang Xu4Zhibin Yu5Xianwu Hua6Yingying Song7Jun Ding8Hongwei Huang9Ronghua Zhao10William Jia11Xiaoming Yang12Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.CNBG-Virogin Biotech (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.Virogin Biotech Canada Ltd.Virogin Biotech Canada Ltd.Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.Shanghai Virogin Biotech Co. Ltd.China National Biotec Group Company Limited (CNBG)Abstract The recent outbreaks of mpox have raised concerns over the need for effective vaccines. However, the current approved vaccines have either been associated with safety concerns or are in limited supply. mRNA vaccines, which have shown high efficacy and safety against SARS-CoV-2 infection, are a promising alternative. In this study, three mRNA vaccines are developed that encode monkeypox virus (MPXV) proteins A35R and M1R, including A35R extracellular domain -M1R fusions (VGPox 1 and VGPox 2) and a mixture of encapsulated full-length mRNAs for A35R and M1R (VGPox 3). All three vaccines induce early anti-A35R antibodies in female Balb/c mice, but only VGPox 1 and 2 generate detectable levels of anti-M1R antibodies at day 7 after vaccination. However, all three mRNA vaccine groups completely protect mice from a lethal dose of vaccinia virus (VACV) challenge. A single dose of VGPox 1, 2, and 3 provide protection against the lethal viral challenge within 7 days post-vaccination. Long-term immunity and protection were also observed in all three candidates. Additionally, VGPox 2 provided better passive protection. These results suggest that the VGPox series vaccines enhance immunogenicity and can be a viable alternative to current whole-virus vaccines to defend against mpox.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41628-5 |
| spellingShingle | Fujun Hou Yuntao Zhang Xiaohu Liu Yanal M Murad Jiang Xu Zhibin Yu Xianwu Hua Yingying Song Jun Ding Hongwei Huang Ronghua Zhao William Jia Xiaoming Yang mRNA vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challenge Nature Communications |
| title | mRNA vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challenge |
| title_full | mRNA vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challenge |
| title_fullStr | mRNA vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challenge |
| title_full_unstemmed | mRNA vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challenge |
| title_short | mRNA vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challenge |
| title_sort | mrna vaccines encoding fusion proteins of monkeypox virus antigens protect mice from vaccinia virus challenge |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41628-5 |
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