Increased neutralization and IgG epitope identification after MVA-MERS-S booster vaccination against Middle East respiratory syndrome
Anahita Fathi, Christine Dahlke, Verena Krähling, Alexandra Kupke, Nisreen M A Okba, Matthijs P Raadsen, Jasmin Heidepriem, Marcel A Müller, Grigori Paris, Susan Lassen, Michael Klüver, Asisa Volz, Till Koch, My L Ly, Monika Friedrich, Robert Fux, Alina Tscherne, Georgia Kalodimou, Stefan Schmiedel, Victor M Corman, Thomas Hesterkamp, Christian Drosten, Felix F Loeffler, Bart L Haagmans, Gerd Sutter, Stephan Becker, Marylyn M Addo, Anahita Fathi, Christine Dahlke, Verena Krähling, Alexandra Kupke, Nisreen M A Okba, Matthijs P Raadsen, Jasmin Heidepriem, Marcel A Müller, Grigori Paris, Susan Lassen, Michael Klüver, Asisa Volz, Till Koch, My L Ly, Monika Friedrich, Robert Fux, Alina Tscherne, Georgia Kalodimou, Stefan Schmiedel, Victor M Corman, Thomas Hesterkamp, Christian Drosten, Felix F Loeffler, Bart L Haagmans, Gerd Sutter, Stephan Becker, Marylyn M Addo
Abstract
Vaccine development is essential for pandemic preparedness. We previously conducted a Phase 1 clinical trial of the vector vaccine candidate MVA-MERS-S against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), expressing its full spike glycoprotein (MERS-CoV-S), as a homologous two-dose regimen (Days 0 and 28). Here, we evaluate the safety (primary objective) and immunogenicity (secondary and exploratory objectives: magnitude and characterization of vaccine-induced humoral responses) of a third vaccination with MVA-MERS-S in a subgroup of trial participants one year after primary immunization. MVA-MERS-S booster vaccination is safe and well-tolerated. Both binding and neutralizing anti-MERS-CoV antibody titers increase substantially in all participants and exceed maximum titers observed after primary immunization more than 10-fold. We identify four immunogenic IgG epitopes, located in the receptor-binding domain (RBD, n = 1) and the S2 subunit (n = 3) of MERS-CoV-S. The level of baseline anti-human coronavirus antibody titers does not impact the generation of anti-MERS-CoV antibody responses. Our data support the rationale of a booster vaccination with MVA-MERS-S and encourage further investigation in larger trials. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03615911.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no competing interests.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Source: PubMed