One mucosal administration of a live attenuated recombinant COVID-19 vaccine protects non-human primates from SARS-CoV-2 (preprint)

ABSTRACT

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Vaccines are needed to control the disease and bring an end to the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped RNA virus that relies on its trimeric surface glycoprotein, spike, for entry into host cells. Here we describe the COVID-19 vaccine candidate MV-014-212, a live attenuated, recombinant human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) expressing a chimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike as the only viral envelope protein. MV-014-212 was attenuated and immunogenic in African green monkeys (AGMs). One mucosal administration of MV-014-212 in AGMs protected against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, reducing the peak shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in the nose by more than 200-fold. MV-014-212 elicited mucosal immunity in the nose and neutralizing antibodies in serum that exhibited cross neutralization against two virus variants of concern. Intranasally delivered, live attenuated vaccines such as MV-014-212 entail low-cost manufacturing suitable for global deployment. MV-014-212 is currently in phase I clinical trials as a single-dose intranasal COVID-19 vaccine.