Our main vaccine platform is based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSVs), a live-attenuate vaccine approach. Over the years we have generated several rVSVs expressing the glycoproteins (GP) of representative isolates of all ebolavirus species: Sudan ebolavirus, Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), Ta Forest ebolavirus, Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) and Reston ebolavirus (RESTV). Additionally, we generated rVSVs expressing the GPs of two isolates of Marburg virus (MARV), Musoke and Angola. All vaccine vectors have been extensively characterized in cell culture and their protective efficacy has been evaluated at least in animal models (rodents, nonhuman primates) largely against homologous challenges. In response to the West African Ebola epidemic, rVSV-EBOV was fast-tracked and shown to be safe and immunogenic in humans. Human phase II and III clinical trials with rVSV-EBOV were initiated in West Africa. rVSV-EBOV is currently being used in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. (summarized in Suder et al. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018). Cross-protection among the different filovirus species is an important consideration as endemicity zones may overlap in Sub-Saharan Africa. This, however, seems difficult to achieve due to relatively high genetic variability and therefore limited cross-protective immune responses among viruses of different species and genera. In a first attempt to address this issue, we previously used a single-injection protocol with three blended vaccine vectors and demonstrated complete protection against challenge with the three homologous virus species (Geisbert et al. J Virol 2009). We have also performed another proof-of-concept study, in which we evaluated cross-protection following immunization with a single vaccine vector (rVSV-EBOV) and demonstrated partial cross-protection against challenge with a heterologous virus species (BDBV) (Falzarano et al. J Infect Dis 2011). This demonstrates that monovalent rVSV-based vaccines may be useful against a newly emerging filovirus species; however, heterologous protection across species remains challenging and may depend on enhancing the immune responses either through booster immunizations or through the inclusion of multiple immunogens. Overall, we can conclude that single monovalent rVSV vaccine vectors can provide partial cross-protection in cases of challenge virus species that are genetically more closely related. As mentioned above, one approach to overcome this limitation is the use of blended monovalent rVSV vaccine vectors, which provide broader protection against homologous and partial protection against certain heterologous challenges. This approach can be immediately implemented if needed. Another approach to overcome the limitations in cross-protection is the use of multivalent rVSV vaccine vectors. In a proof-of-concept study in hamsters protection against ZEBOV and Andes virus (ANDV) challenge was demonstrated using a single rVSV vector expressing both the ZEBOV GP and the ANDV glycoprotein (Tsuda et al. J Infect Dis 2011). This data showed that the use of bivalent rVSV vectors is a feasible approach to vaccination against multiple pathogens. EBOV GP provides targeting to important immune cells such as monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells. Using this favorable targeting, we have generated further bivalent rVSV vaccines to proof the concept of immune enhancement through EBOV GP (Prescott et al., Vaccine 2015). We have developed rVSV-EBOV vectors expressing the Nipah virus glycoproteins (G and F) (de Buysscher et al Vaccine 2014; de wit et al., unpublished), the Zika virus preM and E proteins (Emanuel et al. Sci Rep 2018), the influenza hemagglutinin (H5) (Furuyama et al., in revision) and the preM and E proteins of Kyasanur Forest Disease virus (Bhatia et al., unpublished). In all cases we could demonstrate complete or nearly complete protection against homologous challenge in respective animal models. We postulate that vaccine vectors based on rVSV-EBOV will show enhanced protection due to favorable immune cell targeting. Following this concept, we recently have generated a rVSV-EBOV vector expressing the Lassa virus glycoprotein (GP); efficacy testing in animals is ongoing. To optimize the rVSV-EBOV vector for immune responses directed to a foreign antigen we have generated vectors carrying an EBOV GP deleted for its mucin-like domain as well as the mucin-like and glycan cap domains. These vectors will maintain the EBOV GP-driven cell targeting but are supposed to show reduced immune responses to EBOV GP as the main antigenic regions of the protein have been removed. We are currently characterizing and evaluating these new rVSV-EBOV vectors in tissue culture and animal models. Recently, we have evaluated rVSV-RESTV as a vaccine vector in a livestock species. Young Yorkshire cross pigs were immunized with a single shot of rVSV-RESTV 7 days prior to challenge. The vaccine provided 66% protection from disease in this new animal disease model. Further studies are planned to optimize vaccine administration to increase vaccine efficacy (Haddock et al., unpublished). Overall, this project has shown promise and should be continued as the rVSV approach has demonstrated efficacy for emergency vaccination. Vectors can be generated in a short period of time (1-2 months) and a vaccine product can be available in several months (6-9 months). Thus, this platform has potential for our response capabilities to counteract emerging infectious diseases.
| Emanuel, Jackson; Callison, Julie; Dowd, Kimberly A et al. (2018) A VSV-based Zika virus vaccine protects mice from lethal challenge. Sci Rep 8:11043 |
| Domi, Arban; Feldmann, Friederike; Basu, Rahul et al. (2018) A Single Dose of Modified Vaccinia Ankara expressing Ebola Virus Like Particles Protects Nonhuman Primates from Lethal Ebola Virus Challenge. Sci Rep 8:864 |
| Best, Sonja M; Feldmann, Heinz (2018) Tip Your Cap for Ebola Virus Neutralization. Immunity 49:204-206 |
| Suder, Ellen; Furuyama, Wakako; Feldmann, Heinz et al. (2018) The vesicular stomatitis virus-based Ebola virus vaccine: From concept to clinical trials. Hum Vaccin Immunother :1-7 |
| Prescott, Joseph B; Marzi, Andrea; Safronetz, David et al. (2017) Immunobiology of Ebola and Lassa virus infections. Nat Rev Immunol 17:195-207 |
| Banadyga, Logan; Marzi, Andrea (2017) Closer than ever to an Ebola virus vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 16:401-402 |
| Reynolds, Pierce; Marzi, Andrea (2017) Ebola and Marburg virus vaccines. Virus Genes 53:501-515 |
| Menicucci, Andrea R; Sureshchandra, Suhas; Marzi, Andrea et al. (2017) Transcriptomic analysis reveals a previously unknown role for CD8+ T-cells in rVSV-EBOV mediated protection. Sci Rep 7:919 |
| Mire, Chad E; Geisbert, Thomas W; Feldmann, Heinz et al. (2016) Ebola virus vaccines - reality or fiction? Expert Rev Vaccines 15:1421-1430 |
| Marzi, Andrea; Murphy, Aisling A; Feldmann, Friederike et al. (2016) Cytomegalovirus-based vaccine expressing Ebola virus glycoprotein protects nonhuman primates from Ebola virus infection. Sci Rep 6:21674 |
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