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

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

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	4260
Journal	Nature communications
Volume	14
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40033-2
State	Published - Dec 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Physics and Astronomy

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10.1038/s41467-023-40033-2

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Machado, R. R. G., Walker, J. L., Scharton, D., Rafael, G. H., Mitchell, B. M., Reyna, R. A., de Souza, W. M., Liu, J., Walker, D. H., Plante, J. A., Plante, K. S., & Weaver, S. C. (2023). Immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 in male Syrian hamsters. Nature communications, 14(1), Article 4260. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40033-2

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

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.",

author = "Machado, {Rafael R.G.} and Walker, {Jordyn L.} and Dionna Scharton and Rafael, {Grace H.} and Mitchell, {Brooke M.} and Reyna, {Rachel A.} and {de Souza}, {William M.} and Jianying Liu and Walker, {David H.} and Plante, {Jessica A.} and Plante, {Kenneth S.} and Weaver, {Scott C.}",

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doi = "10.1038/s41467-023-40033-2",

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AU - Machado, Rafael R.G.

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AU - Scharton, Dionna

AU - Rafael, Grace H.

AU - Mitchell, Brooke M.

AU - Reyna, Rachel A.

AU - de Souza, William M.

AU - Liu, Jianying

AU - Walker, David H.

AU - Plante, Jessica A.

AU - Plante, Kenneth S.

AU - Weaver, Scott C.

PY - 2023/12

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AB - 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.

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

Abstract

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