The Emory MVA COVID-19 vaccine has been proven safe and effective in mice and monkeys

Researchers at Emer University’s Yerkes National Priority Research Center have developed a COVID-19 vaccine that has been shown to be safe and effective in mice and monkeys. Results from this funded study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are published online today in Immunity.

The Emory MVA COVID-19 vaccine contains a protective vaccine modified by Ankara vaccinia (MVA), a harmless version of poxvirus known for use in HIV / AIDS vaccines. Like the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, the Emory MVA COVID-19 vaccine stimulates strong neutral antibodies, which support the immune system’s ability to fight disease. The Emory MVA COVID-19 provides protection several steps later, starting by stimulating the killing of CD8 T cells in addition to the neutral antibodies, providing a multifactorial means of inhibition SAR-COV-2. In addition, Emory researchers say the vaccine is easily modified to treat disease changes, it can be used in combination with existing vaccines to increase their ability to fight off changes and has the potential to be just as effective with a single dose.

Lead researcher Rama Amara, PhD, built the Emory MVA COVID-19 vaccine based on his more than 20 years of experience working with MVA and animal models to develop the HIV / AIDS vaccine. He and his Yerkes-based research team tested two MVA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in mice. One of them, MVA / S, used the whole spike protein of coronavirus to induce strong neutral antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, this vaccine stimulated a strong CD8 T cell-killing response.

According to Amara, a researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology of Yerkes and the Emory Vaccine Center (EVC) as well as Charles Howard Candler professor of microbiology and immunology at the Emory School of Medicine (SOM) , “Generating neutral antibodies is part of the COVID-19 vaccine is successful because the antibodies can prevent the virus from entering the body’s cells. It is so important for CD8 T cells to activation that can clear infectious cells, so this allows us to stop the virus two ways at once T cells also provide a sustained value as they are essential for counteracting Other changes in the virus, especially if antibodies fail. “

Based on the encouraging study results in mice, Amara’s team advanced the MVA / S COVID-19 vaccine to a study with 10 rhesus monkeys at Yerkes. For five animals, the researchers administered two doses of the vaccine a month apart and then challenged them with SARS-CoV-2. The researchers also challenged a group of five monkeys who received the placebo MVA vaccine, which contained no genes from the COVID-19 virus. The virus developed to high levels in the lungs of the five placebo animals before the second day, but was below detection rates in all five animals with MVA / S vaccine.

Comparing the virus in vaccine and placebo groups gave clear results that the MVA / S vaccine is safe and effective against SARS-CoV-2. These results are even more promising because the MVA / S vaccinated animals showed no signs of lung inflammation like what a medical professional sees in people with COVID – 19. “

Rama Amara, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Rafi Ahmed, PhD, director of the EVC and an international expert on how vaccines work, credits Amara for his comprehensive approach. “Based on decades of research, we know that MVA vaccines are safe, effective and can be used in combination with other vaccines, including mRNA vaccines, to boost the immune system response. Emory MVA COVID vaccine- 19, which builds on the MVA HIV The vaccine developed Dr. Amara who recently conducted level 2a human clinical trials, achieved several goals by extracting neutral antibodies, stimulating cells CD8 T kills and prevents lung inflammation.This multi-series approach to developing the COVID-19 vaccine is well placed to fight the normal strain of SARS-CoV-2 in addition to the variables we are administering. start seeing. “

“My research team and I as well as the entire Yerkes community are excited to move the Emory MVA COVID-19 vaccine forward,” says Amara. “The world needs several COVID-19 vaccines to meet demand. Our vaccine can stand on its own as well as supplement the available mRNA versions. It is a perfect combination of scientific knowledge and collaboration, and a commitment to improving human health. “

Amara will continue its work on COVID-19 vaccines. One study focuses on the efficacy of a single dose of the Emory MVA COVID-19 vaccine. A single dose may be particularly valuable in ensuring vaccine compliance and, therefore, efficacy, which will help guide a reduction in COVID-19 and hospital diagnosis. Amara received two FastGrant awards to augment its NIAID offering and to accelerate this COVID-19 follow-up investigation.

In a second study, Amara’s team focuses on stimulating broader T cell responses capable of fighting new COVID-19 mutations and other human coronaviruses. “The redesigned vaccines aim to stimulate T cells against several other genes of the virus as well as target the spike protein,” says Amara. “This requires several genes of the coronavirus into the vaccine, which can be challenging. MVA, however, is well suited for this because of its unique ability to carry additional genes. “